Some lower fee-paying schools require only a bachelor’s degree, but mid-range and upper-tier international schools will want to see teacher qualifications such as a PGCE, Bachelor’s of Education, or full teacher certification as well. There is no minimum experience requirement for Thailand, but the higher-tier schools won’t normally consider teachers without 2 or more years of consistent, relevant experience in a regular Primary/Secondary/Elementary/Middle/High school in your home country or high high-quality international school.
Note that state schools and lower-tier private schools might also hire teachers only to teach English as a Foreign Language rather than all or most subjects. For EFL, a degree and TEFL certification are normally all that is needed.
May to March for schools tied to the host national community. British and American International schools will usually run from August to July.
Friendly and laid back lifestyle, good standard of living, western amenities, a good balance of westernisation and Thai culture, nice beaches.
Warm and humid most of the year. Also, Thailand can be a more difficult assignment for single female teachers.
The region is tropical, so the weather is typically hot and humid. Average high in January is 30C (86F) and in October 32C (89F). From May to September, there is a warm and rainy monsoon, and from November to March is cooler and drier. April is the hottest time of year, with temperatures rising to 36C (96.8 F)
Most Thai International Schools serve Thai children and Asian expatriates. Very few serve predominantly Western children. Most use a British, American, or International Baccalaureate curriculum. EAL skills are also handy. Regardless of the type of school, education is valued culturally by Thais, so you can expect high parental expectations and few behaviour problems.
International School packages in Thailand vary depending on the kind of school. Schools in Bangkok, where the cost of living is higher, normally pay higher salaries. Lower fee-paying schools may provide only a lower salary and small housing allowance, but most mid to high range International Schools provide a flight every year or two, a housing allowance, salary, and some form of medical insurance.
Thailand is a Southeast Asian country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula. The north of the country shares borders with Burma and Laos, also bordering Cambodia and Laos to the east, to the south by Malaysia and the Gulf of Thailand. Thailand is marked by a number of different geographic regions and good place for those who wish to teach abroad in the International School of Thailand. The north of Thailand is extremely mountainous, distinguished by the Thai highlands. Isan, the northeast region, rests on the Khorat Plateau, with the Mekong River flowing along its eastern border.
When living in Thailand, you can take advantage of the wide range of experiences on offer. If you crave city life, Bangkok, the capital city, is a vibrant and cosmopolitan hub. With a population of over eight million, or 12.6 percent of the country’s population, it is a vast metropolis teaming with expatriates and Thais alike. It is also a shopping heaven and tourist mecca and one of the most diverse and compelling of Asian cities filled with temples, hotels, eclectic markets, palaces, glitzy shopping malls and a famous nightlife.
On the other hand, if you crave nature, whether it be beaches or rainforests, you will be spoilt for choice in Thailand. With stunning islands both to the east and the west, offering both idyllic retreats and party islands infamous for their full moon parties, you will find a place to match your mood. Rainforests such as Khao Yai National Park are home to endangered species such as tigers and the Asian elephant, and are easily accessible from Bangkok.
The cost of living in Thailand is inexpensive compared to Western countries, and is particularly so outside of Bangkok, and international teachers find they can save money quite easily on salaries that, by Western standards, are low.
Thailand is a good choice for teachers who wish to teach abroad, have access to a Western-friendly urban lifestyle in a welcoming country that also offers stunning natural beauty and good transport links to the wider Asian region. It’s an easy place to live in and to enjoy.
