Teach English Abroad This Summer In Thailand

Everything You'll Eventually Ask Us

• What We Include

  • An experienced U.S.-based Cultural Exchange Project Manager who will serve as your coordinator and liaison with our in-country staff in Thailand.
  • 24-hour in-country support for the duration of the program, including 24-hour emergency phone numbers to reach a program manager at any time.
    
  • Guaranteed Teaching Placement
  • Airport Pickup (provided from the Bangkok airport on the Sunday prior to an intake date)
  • Comprehensive visa guidance
  • Visa support
  • Documentation & assistance in opening a bank account.
  • 3-day orientation in Bangkok.
  • Accommodation during the orientation
  • Half-day practical teaching experience at a local Thai school.

• What We Don't Include

  • Schools in Thailand will not pay your international airfare. You will be responsible for your local transportation.
  • We've got your accommodation covered for orientation. Otherwise, when you begin teaching, you'll be responsible for your own accommodation, such as rent. But we'll help you find an apartment.
  • Plan to pay for your meals. Eating in Thailand is very affordable, though.
  • Visas.
  • Take out a health insurance policy for the time you're teaching.
  • Be sure to bring your laptop. That is required so that you can do your lesson plans.
  • A deposit for your orientation or course, accommodation, electricity, and water usage ($70). But if you're smart about energy usage, you'll get that back.
  • We recommend having sufficient startup funds to cover you until your first paycheck arrives. Think in terms of ($1,500).

• Degree Requirements

  A bachelor's degree is required for this program.

• Medical/Mental Health

  Medical test required?
  Not required for the program.
  
  Medical Disqualifiers
  Speech impediment
  Autism
  Walking with a cane
  Legally blind or deaf
  Dyslexia
  Chronic dizziness
  Schizophrenia
  
  Conditions Require Discussion with us before approval:
  HIV
  Bipolar
  Epilepsy
  Depression
  Cancer
  Anxiety
  
  Notes
  All listed conditions, with the exception of HIV, require a doctor’s note.
  
  If taking any medication for mental health, a doctor’s note is required.

• Dependents and Pets

  Dependents Thailand:
  No dependents (spouse/partner/children) can be accommodated on this program. You would be on a visa that allows you to teach, get paid and remain in Thailand. Your partner would need to do a visa run every 30-days.
  
  Pets Thailand:
  No pets can be accommodated on this program.

• Tattoos

  Minor, visible tattoos are possible on this program, but must be disclosed at signup and handled on a case-by-case basis.
  
  No visible tattoos of Buddha.

• Age Restrictions

  Eligible age range is 21 to 55 years old.

  Those aged 56-59 can be screened and accepted on a case-by-case basis.

• Background Check

  Clean background checks. Minor offenses can be reviewed for acceptance on a case-by-case basis.

• Language and Citizenship

  This program has a preference for applicants from (passport holders) the following 7 nationalities:
  USA
  Canada
  UK
  Ireland
  Australia
  New Zealand
  South Africa
  
  Non-native speakers
  We can screen and accept you as long as you have at least a C1 level of English. If you don't have a CEFR certificate from the past 2 years, we can arrange an English exam to help you obtain one.

• TEFL Certification

  A minimum of 120 hours of internationally accredited TEFL/TESOL certification is required UNLESS you are a current teacher or a recent graduate with a degree in Education.

• Contract Length

  7 weeks minimum. Choose the length of time you want to teach. If you decide you like it, you are welcome to stay and begin teaching in the next term.

• Religious Attire And Garments

  Religious garments (hijabs) may be reviewed and accepted on a case-by-case basis. 
  
  Note: You would need to be flexible with placements and willing to remove it during work hours if requested by the school

• Taxes

  The tax rate in Thailand for teachers ranges from 0% to 10%. Teachers are taxed on personal income once they receive their work permits.

  You will follow a progressive tax system.
  Net income (THB*) PIT rate (%):
  0 to 150,000: Exempt
  150,001 to 300,000: 5%
  300,001 to 500,000: 10%
  500,001 to 750,000: 15%
  750,001 to 1,000,000: 20%
  1,000,001 to 2,000,000: 25%
  2,000,001 to 5,000,000: 30%
  Over 5,000,000: 35%

• Types Of Schools For Placement

  Public Schools and Private Schools
  70% chance of placement at public schools, 30% chance of placement at private schools.

• Working Hours And Class Sizes

  40 working hours per week (17-25 hours of teaching). The rest of the time is grading, meetings and lesson prep.
  
  Saturdays and Sundays are off each week (no weekend work).

  Class Size:

  Public Schools: 30-50 students.  (Sometimes have a co-teacher. On average, classes range from 25 to 35 students.

• Visa Support

  Tourist Visa or Visa Exemption
  
  Arrive on a tourist visa or visa exemption. The in-country team will confirm. Visa type will depend on nationality, program length, and intake date. Please wait for our go-ahead before applying for your visa. We will send you a visa application guide and give you the green light to apply for the visa 1-2 months prior to your intake.

  Arrive on a visa exemption or a tourist visa. The initial 60 days can be extended one time for 30 days. Extension costs ฿1,900 ($60).
  
  No Visa Trip Required.

• Start Up Costs

  Housing Onsite Orientation - Accommodation is included. Utilities not included.
  
  Housing once at Placement - It's common for landlords to ask for the first month's rent as well as 1 to 2 months of rent as a deposit. Rent is inexpensive, usually ranging from $150 - $300/month.
  
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  Placement Startup Costs" - $1,100 to get teachers through to their first paycheck.
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  Health Insurance - teachers should purchase travel insurance that covers them for the duration of their contract in Thailand.
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  Accommodation Assistance: After accepting a placement, the placement team can review accommodation options in the area.

• Included In Orientation

  3-day orientation in Bangkok. We provide housing and a practice teaching day.

• Other Important FAQs

  1) What is the living expense per day?
  It’s best to plan on ฿100 ($3) per meal, which includes a drink; however, local Thai food can range from ฿30 to ฿60 ($1 to $3).

  
  2) Do schools provide lunch?
  Some do, but not all. This will depend on each individual employer and their policy.

  
  3) What is the cost of transport?
  Taxis can range from ฿60 to ฿200 ($3 to $6) for a 15-30-minute trip. Motorbike taxi is roughly ฿50 ($5). Songtaews are the cheapest option for transport. In most places, songtaews have set routes and can cost anywhere between ฿10 and ฿30 per trip ($4).

  
  4) Is transportation from my accommodation to work included?
  Some schools will assist teachers with transportation, but this is very rare. However, public transport in Thailand is very good.

  
  5) How safe is it?
  Like anywhere else, it is recommended that you remain alert; however, Thailand is a relatively safe place for both men and women to be alone.

  
  7) What are the age groups I will be teaching?
  Anything from kindergarten to high school. While we do try to meet individual preferences, we cannot guarantee that you will be placed with the age group of your choice.

  
  8) What are the working hours? And days per week?
  You should expect to be at school for 8 hours per day, but you will only have about 4-5 hours in class. In most cases, you will work a regular Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM to 4 PM, with an hour for lunch. There may be times when you are asked to participate in events or activities outside of these hours.

  9) Are there sports after school that you have to attend or teach?
  This will depend on your school. In most cases, teaching activities outside of work hours are voluntary; however, there are concerts, cultural festivals and after-school activities every now and again that you will be expected to attend.

  
  10) After my contract, can I still travel in the country, or do I need to leave straight away?
  You can stay as long as you like, as long as you maintain a legal visa status.

  
  11) What type of visa will I be arriving on?
  It depends on the country of residence. For some countries (UK, South Africa), it is very unlikely you will receive a non-immigrant B visa in your home country. Participants who are unable to obtain a Non-B visa should enter Thailand on a tourist visa.

  
  12) Are there organized activities during evenings and weekends?
  Your evenings and weekends will usually be your own. We do hold meet-ups for teachers throughout Thailand at different times throughout the year. These meet-ups are a great way to catch up with old friends and meet new people in your area.

  
  13) Will I receive any language lessons? How will I understand my students?
  During your orientation week, you will have several Thai language lessons to get you started. One of the key things to remember in your classroom is to gesture your directions. You may find that your students have lower proficiency in English than you expected, but over time, you will learn to communicate with your students and colleagues.

  
  14) Where is the best place to work?
  This will differ from person to person. There are no bad places to work, as every person has their own preferences. We find that there are tremendous benefits to working in both rural and urban areas.

  
  15) What is the possibility of a second job to make more money?
  Many of our teachers take on extra work to build up their monthly income. In some cases, people can double their income by doing extra work on the side. This can be negotiated through your employer or done privately, usually for English tuition.

  
  16) How are the authorities?
  The authorities are genuinely helpful and professional. They should be treated with respect, as in your own home country.

  
  17) Medical services and insurance?
  We require that participants be fully insured in Thailand with travel insurance for the duration of their stay. This must be arranged prior to obtaining insurance, as once you have left your home country, it can be difficult and expensive. The insurance that schools may provide is too basic to provide good-quality medical care.

  
  18) What is phone and Internet connectivity like?
  WIFI can be spotty throughout Thailand, so we recommend getting a larger data plan on your phone in case you need to hotspot for your other devices. Phone connectivity is really good and cheap, and there are many places to assist you with this process. We will provide you with a Thai SIM card upon arrival and help you get up and running within the first two days of the course.

  
  19) What if you are unhappy in a job? Can you get a new one?
  Yes, but we don’t often find this to be a problem. If the applicant really dislikes the job and has a good reason, we can help move them. But they need to understand that this can take time, and we ask that they be patient and flexible.

  
  20) What is the dress code for teaching?
  Men are expected to wear smart trousers and a collared shirt. Depending on the school, you may also be required to wear a tie. Women are expected to wear a skirt, a smart shirt or blouse, or a dress. Some schools may permit women to wear trousers. The dress code varies by school, but you should plan to dress to impress.

  
  21) Must the teachers have CV’s?
  Yes.

  
  22) Are there any serious laws that are very strict?
  Thailand has a zero tolerance for drug possession and speaking negatively about the Royal Family.

  
  23) Can couples be placed together?
  This can be done, but not always at the same school. The schools may be within the same town. Participants traveling in couples or groups need to be extremely flexible and open to placement location.

  
  24) What is the level of English and the behavior of students?
  This will vary from city to city; however, there is typically a basic level of English throughout the country. Thai students are generally well-behaved.

  
  25) What curriculum will they follow at school?
  There is no set curriculum; each school will have its own curriculum and procedures.

  
  26) Will my colleagues speak English?
  Yes. Sometimes, only limited English, though.

  
  27) Will I work with any special needs children?
  Yes, probably, but they won’t necessarily be classified as such. They will just be in your normal classes.

  
  28) What are the chances of schools deducting security money? And how does this work?
  Schools may sometimes hold a portion of a teacher's salary in escrow until the end of the contract to discourage teachers from leaving mid-term. This is, however, a rare policy.

  
  29) Will I get paid overtime?
  No.

  
  30) What are the chances of teaching English in neighboring countries?
  We work with several other Asian countries, and we can help participants interested in teaching elsewhere get started.

  
  31) Are all the paperwork and books supplied by the school?
  Yes, most of the time, but not all the time.

  
  32) When are the school holidays?
  Typically, Thai government schools have a month-long holiday in October and two months in March-April.

  
  33) What is the big difference between language schools, private schools, government schools and varsity?
  Starting times and salaries vary. Also, they have different holidays. Language schools typically do not have long holidays.

  
  34) Can the participant choose part-time or full-time? Most of our positions are full-time.

  
  35) Is religion a big issue?
  No, however, it is important to be respectful at all times toward other religions.

  
  36) What happens if you lose your job? Can you get a new one?
  If you are fired for poor conduct, we will no longer assist with placement.

  
  37) Are you expected to work during school holidays?
  Not normally; however, your school may ask you to participate in an English camp or some kind of activities camp.

  
  38) Can you drink tap water?
  It is recommended not to drink tap water, as it may contain bacteria our bodies are unfamiliar with. Bottled water is cheap, and it’s safer to go buy a bottle. But if you happen to get a mouth full brushing your teeth, etc., there’s no need for concern.