Teaching Placements - Thailand

Salary range in USD per month	$800 - $1300 USD * * May fluctuate due to exchange rate volatility.
Salary local currency per month	30,000 - 40,000 Thai Baht
Saving potential in USD per month	$100 - $300+
Employment Type	Full-time
Contract Length	5 months, 1 year
Placement Types	Public Schools
Classroom Audience	Kindergarten, Primary (elementary and middle), High school students
Classroom Age	Between 4 - 18
Classroom Size	Public Schools: 30 - 50
Working Hours per week	25 - 40
Days off	Weekends
Holidays / Paid Leave	16 official public holidays (paid), as well as 2 and a half months of school holidays plus weekends (not paid)
Tax rate range for teachers	3-5% * * Only those with work permits will be expected to pay tax, however, depending on how much you earn overall, you may not be required to pay any tax at all.
Visa	Non-Immigrant B visa, Non-Immigrant O visa or a tourist visa
Initial Enrollment to Arrival	3 Months Minimum
Top Placement Locations	1. Bangkok 2. Trang 3. Sukhothai 4. Ubon 5. Chonburi

Teaching Placements

Placements are available in public schools.

Thai schools are generally very well-resourced and you will have a Thai teacher to assist you in the classroom.

Your books and teaching resources will be supplied, although you may want to get creative and supplement with your own. We’ll provide you with ton of resources and directories for all kinds of classrooms printouts and lesson plans!

Where will I be teaching English in Thailand?

• Urban or rural areas.
• In small or big towns.
• In some cases on Phuket island (Due to extreme demand these island placement locations are rarely available).

You can teach:

• Kindergarten.
• Primary (elementary and middle).
• High school.

Can I be placed with my friend or partner?

Yes, we can place you in the same town as your friend or partner. You might be teaching in the same school or in nearby schools, depending on the availability of jobs.

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 “in class” hours though.
• In most cases you will work a regular Monday to Friday, 7:30AM to 4PM with an hour for lunch.
• There may be times when you are asked to participate in events or activities outside of these hours.

Are there sports after school that you have to attend or teach?

This will depend on your school. In most cases, teaching activities out with work hours is voluntary, however they do have concerts, cultural festivals and after school activities every now and again that you will be expected to attend.

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 you really dislike the job and you have a good reason, then we can help move you. But you need to understand that this can take time, and we ask that you be patient and flexible.

What us 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 where a skirt and a smart shirt or blouse or a dress. Some schools may permit women to wear trousers. The dress code varies depending on the school but you should plan to dress to impress.

Can couples be placed together?

This can be done, but not always at the same school. The schools may be within the same town. For participants travelling in couples or friends, they need to be extremely flexible and open to placement location.

What is the level of English and behavior of students?

This will vary city to city; however, there is typically beginner knowledge of English throughout the country. Thai students are generally well behaved.

What curriculum will they follow at school?

There is no set curriculum; each school will have their own curriculum and procedures.

Will my colleagues speak English?

Yes. Sometimes only limited English though.

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.

What are the chances of schools deducting security money? And how does this work?

Schools may sometimes hold a small portion of salary in escrow until the end of the contract to dissuade teachers from leaving in the middle of a school term. This is, however, a rare policy.

What are the expected deductions from your paycheck? Does is differ from school to school?

Yes, some schools take off tax at 3%. But normally they don’t take off tax for the first year.

Will I get paid overtime?

No.

What are the chances of getting a salary increase?

If you do a good job there is potential to get a pay rise or a resigning bonus.

Is all paperwork and books supplied by the school?

Yes, most of the time, but not all the time.

When are the school holidays?

Typically, Thai government schools have a month holiday in October and two months in March-April.

Are you expected to work during school holidays?

Not normally, however your school may ask you to participate in an English camp or activities camp of some kind.

 

A TravelBud teacher in her classroom in Thailand.