THAILAND - TRAVEL GUIDE

Why is there a demand for English teachers?
After a period of political unrest, Thailand is now much calmer and foreign teachers are warmly welcomed. Recently Thailand has gained popularity with foreign tourists and along with its trade in the international market place, a knowledge of English has become even more important to Thai people and to Thailand. In addition to the huge number of Thai's working in positions within the tourism industry or other industries that require the use of English, a large number of Thai students are choosing to study internationally, predominantly in the USA and the UK, and to a lesser extent in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

With the demand to learn English constantly increasing, English teaching has become the most popular choice of job for Westerners who want to stay in Thailand. For those people who choose Thailand as their new home, English teaching allows them a chance to get a foot in the door. There are a mixture of paid and voluntary positions available, and becoming a teacher of English is one of the few jobs that most Westerners can actually carry out legally in Thailand.

The visa regulations and enforcement are much stricter than they used to be, and the goal posts keep shifting. In order to obtain the correct visa a degree certificate is needed although there are ways around this requirement for those on short or voluntary contracts. It is worthwhile remembering that the authorities are clamping down on visas so it is best to ensure you have the correct one.

Where do EFL teachers live?
Some schools provide furnished accommodation or a living allowance for teachers but usually you will be expected to share with other teachers. Finding your own accommodation is neither difficult nor expensive, so if your employer does not arrange accommodation this will not be a problem. The cost of living in Thailand is very low, and the tax rates can be as little as 2%, plus Thailand's national health scheme applies to all visitors  so the modest salaries on offer will go further than you might think.

Do I need to learn/speak Thai? As an English teacher you are not required to speak any Thai, but for general survival you might want to learn some to help you in everyday life. A small amount of effort will give you the basics you need for shopping, ordering in restaurants etc, although you will find that any shop or restaurant frequented by tourists will have English speaking staff (to a level!) Conversational fluency will obviously take several years to acquire, but Thai is generally considered to be an easy language to learn. What is the food like? Many people visit Thailand purely for the food and use teaching English as a means of eating lots of it! Thai food is widely known for being hot and spicy since almost all Thai food is cooked with basic ingredients such as garlic, chillies, lime juice, lemon grass and fresh coriander leaf along with fermented fish sauce or shrimp paste to make it salty. You will find many cafes and restaurants serving excellent food cheaply on the street, so it is not necessary to go to expensive western orientated restaurants. What will I do in the evenings, on days off or on my holidays? Once you have marked all your homework and prepared lessons for the following day, there is still time to take a walk around the town, stop at a café for a cheap and tasty meal, have a couple of beers with fellow teachers or hit the cinema or an internet café. Most towns and cities are open for business until bedtime, so there is little chance of being bored.

For sightseeing and travel on your days off there are plenty of attractions. Since transport is pretty cheap, it is possible to see the whole country at minimal cost. The range of attractions include dazzling temples and palaces, awe-inspiring World Heritage Sites, vibrant resort towns, traditional giant markets, idyllic beaches and numerous national parks.

How much does it cost to fly to Thailand from the UK?
Flights can be found from £420 upwards. British Airways, Thai Airways and Qantas all fly direct from London in just over 11 hours.

When is the best time to travel to Thailand for English Teaching jobs?
Jobs contracts start all year round but March - May is a great time to find work when many secondary school and university students are on their holidays and looking for extra tuition.  Those looking to work in a private language school should search around October when more options will be available.
 

Is Thailand safe?
Thailand is generally safe but you should always take advice from the Foreign Office website before departing. The penalties for possession of all drugs is severe.

Further reading :
Tourism Thailand – Official Thailand Tourism Site
FCO Website – UK government website advising on safety in Thailand
Goto Thailand – Interesting Thailand Guide

PAID TEACHING PLACEMENTS:

One year paid placement in Petchaburi, Thailand.

Summer paid placement in Northern Thailand

VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT:

Volunteer in Thailand