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 Job Description
Accommodation
Expectations
Visa
Assistance
Medical
& Insurance
FAQ
Job Description
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Teachers
normally teach not more than 24 classes per week. Most schedules
vary between 20-22 hours per week. Classes are 50-60 minutes
long depending on the school. Most teachers will teach each
class once per week.
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The
teachers will be required to hand in a lesson planning every
month at the end of the month.
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For
Thai Schools Teachers will work at the school Monday-Friday from
the hours of 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. (Timing may change for different
schools but general timing is mentioned) For Language Schools,
teachers have teaching sessions mostly during the evening and
week ends.
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Teachers
will not be required to teach on Thai National holidays.
Saturdays and Sundays there is no class for Thai schools but
Language Schools are more busy during the week ends.
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Teachers
will attend the morning assembly which usually begins between
8:00 am. depending on the school.
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Teachers
will prepare (hopefully creative) lesson plans each week for
each level/grade that they teach. Teachers will likely be asked
by the school and us to provide examples of lesson plans.
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Teachers
will act in a professional manner both inside and outside of
school. You will be a representative for us, your country, and
most importantly yourself.
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Attendance
/ Punctuality
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Smart
/ Neat Appearance and Dress
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Organize
lesson plans
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Adaptability
to Thai culture
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Relationship
with Thai teachers
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Teachers
will dress in an appropriate fashion.
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In
schools, males are expected to wear dress pants (no jeans or
cargo pants) and a button-up/collared long or short sleeve dress
shirt (no golf shirts). Ties are required on Mondays and all
special occasions/days/festivities (e.g. Teacher Appreciation
Day). Ties may be required by some schools on a daily basis.
Brown or black dress shoes are accepted (no running shoes or
sandals). Males are expected to be clean shaven. Facial hair is
allowed only if it is properly trimmed and is presentable on a
daily basis. Earrings or visible facial rings (eyebrow, lip,
nose, chin, etc) are not accepted. Visible tattoos are not
accepted. Generally hair should be short and presentable. Males
with long hair may be expected to wear it pulled back and
presentable.
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Outside
schools, males are free to wear what they please, with a
reminder that no matter how hot it is, it is not acceptable (in
Thai society) to not wear a shirt in public (unless at a beach,
etc).
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In
schools, females are expected to wear knee length or longer
skirts with a presentable blouse (no low cut or revealing
shirts). Shoes should be dress shoes – open toe and high heel
shoes are acceptable (no sandals or running shoes). Visible
facial rings (eyebrow, lip, nose, chin, etc.) are not accepted.
Earrings are accepted providing that they are not worn in
excessive numbers (E.g. 4 earrings in each ear). Hair should be
presentable. Visible tattoos are not accepted.
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Outside
schools, females are free to wear what they please, with a
reminder that revealing clothes are not considered acceptable
for female teachers at any time (in Thai society).
Dress codes in Thai government schools may seem strict at first,
but appearances and first impressions are extremely important in
Thailand. If you are a teacher, you will be expected to dress
accordingly especially in school
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Teachers
will participate in an English club for students once per week.
This is scheduled during school hours at the same time as
various other clubs available to students. This can usually be
done as a group with any other foreign teachers at the school.
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Teachers
will respect all rules and regulations of the school unless
otherwise notified by us.
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Teachers
will keep organized records of student’s weekly attendance as
well as grades and additional notes
o Teachers will evaluate the listening and speaking skills of
each student throughout the year.
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Teachers
will perform the greeting activity once per week. This consists
of simply greeting students and parents at the school front
gates from roughly 7:30am-8:00am. All Thai teachers rotate this
responsibility as well.
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Teachers
will perform the English 1 minute activity once per week. This
consists of planning a short (2-3 minutes) speech/message to
present during the morning assembly in English. Topics may
include ideas such as public service type announcements,
riddles, tongue twisters, idioms, slang, nursery rhymes, etc.
This can be done as a group with any other foreign teachers at
the school.
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Teachers
will perform the Star Talk activity for 5 minutes before
starting each class. This consists of teaching the students a
short introduction and then having them introduce themselves to
the class using the format you provide.
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Teachers
will attend 1 English Camp for their school per semester. The
dates will be arranged by the school. There is little to no
preparation required, just attendance and participation. English
Camps generally fall on a Saturday and run from 8:00 am - 4:00
pm.
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Teachers
will teach an after school English class to the Thai teachers.
This is generally once per week and can usually be performed as
a group with other foreign teachers or split with other foreign
teachers. This does not count towards the limit of 24 classes
per week.
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Teachers
will be at school for all Non-Thai national holidays. This
includes Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Easter, Valentines Day,
etc. Most schools have special celebrations on these days and
you will be asked to help organize them as you will be the
resident expert on Western holidays.
Accommodation
We will aim to provide our teachers with the best possible
accommodations. As we deal with various schools in various
locations at various times, it is impossible to have
accommodations pre-arranged for all sites year round. Therefore,
exact information regarding specifics on accommodations may not
be available until a later date. Exact information for some
schools/cities may be available earlier than others.
Accommodations in Thailand and throughout SE Asia are generally
smaller and have fewer amenities than do Western style
accommodations. Most of the schools we work with are in smaller
more remote areas of Thailand and thus do not have
accommodations that are up to the standards of Western style
accommodations. *If you require (cannot live without) Western
style amenities (A/C, fridge, TV, DVD, kitchen, washing machine,
etc.), you will most likely not be happy working with us. The
majority of the accommodations in the past have had A/C*
Laundry is easily and inexpensively done by many local ladies
(300 - 500 baht/month) or at small coin-operated shops. There
are internet cafes everywhere and are usually very cheap.
Restaurants and street vendors are everywhere and usually very
inexpensive. TV’s and DVD players can be purchased for a
reasonable price, but there are many other things to do in
Thailand other than watch TV and movies.
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Accommodations that are arranged by the company will be
provided free of charge throughout the teaching contract.
Teachers accepting arranged accommodations must agree to remain
in arranged accommodations or may be liable for the costs of
lost security deposits.
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Most arranged accommodations will be apartments with en suite
bathrooms. Some accommodations for some schools/cities will be
shared houses with separate bedrooms for each teacher. Often
houses are required in cities or areas that are smaller and less
developed as thus there is an obvious lack of suitable apartment
style accommodations.
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Accommodations will vary from school to school and city to
city. All accommodations are scouted and chosen based on
location to the school, amenities provided, cleanliness,
comfort, and budget. Some accommodations are provided and/or
arranged by the individual schools.
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All accommodations will include basic amenities such as a
bed, fan (if no A/C), dresser, and closet or clothes rack.
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Some accommodations may include extras such as A/C, fridge,
TV, table, balcony (most apartments have balconies), etc.
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Accommodations do not include kitchens or cooking utensils as
most apartments in Thailand do not have kitchens.
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Monthly electric, water, and phone bills will be the
responsibility of the teacher. Average water bills per month are
50-150 baht. Landline phones generally cost 5 baht/minute.
Electricity is generally between 5-7 baht per unit which equates
to anywhere between 500-2500 baht/month depending on the use of
A/C and/or fan, fridge, lights and other electrical equipment.
Expectations
Smoking
Smoking is not accepted at any time on school grounds and/or
during school hours. You are free to smoke in your own time
outside of the school. *It is very uncommon for professional
females to smoke in Thai society. Basically, in Thai society,
“respectable” females do not smoke in Thailand. This does not
mean that you cannot smoke, but you should be prepared for even
more than the usual stares and subsequent repercussions (E.g.
not getting a tutoring job because someone saw you smoking -
they (Thai’s) wont tell you this directly, but it may be the
case)*
Alcohol
The use of alcohol is not accepted during school hours. Only
during school sponsored activities/parties is the use of alcohol
acceptable on school grounds. Use of alcohol or being found
under the influence of alcohol on school grounds other than
specified and arranged times, is grounds for immediate
dismissal. Alcohol consumption outside of the school is under
the discretion of the teacher with the reminder that being a
teacher carries responsibilities and expectations from the
community. Excessive alcohol abuse is not considered acceptable
behavior for a teacher in any country. *Again, the same stigma
is attached to females who drink excessively as is for smoking
Drugs
The use of illegal drugs at any time is grounds for immediate
dismissal and possible prosecution under Thai laws. Thailand has
extremely strict regulations and subsequent penalties regarding
the use and trafficking of illegal drugs. * It is the
foreigner’s responsibility to understand the laws and
regulations of the country that they choose to visit or live and
work in
Thai Culture
Thai people are extremely proud of their culture and are
generally passionate about sharing it with foreign teachers. It
is expected that foreign teachers make an effort to learn about
Thai culture. While this is not a requirement, it is a healthy
suggestion that will improve your standing as a teacher and
person within a Thai government school and community. Also, a
greater level of understanding and/or acceptance (at the very
least knowledge) of Thai culture will make your time in Thailand
that much more enjoyable. All teachers are expected to respect
all aspects of Thai culture and act accordingly.
Expressing anger or having confrontations (which results in a
“loss of face”) are avoided at all costs and are not considered
acceptable behavior in Thai society. By expressing anger towards
someone, especially to someone in a higher position than you and
particularly in public, you cause not only yourself but the
other person to “lose face”. This is extremely negative in Thai
society. It is strongly suggested that you will express and
discuss problems that you may encounter with us in a similar
fashion. NO Thai person responds positively to anger,
insistence, and yelling
Teachers are expected to understand this element of Thai society
or at the very least respect and accept it. While this and many
other elements of Thai society may seem “ridiculous” or even
“stupid” to some foreigners, it is a part of the culture in
which you choose to live and therefore must be accepted.
A calm, friendly, understanding, patient and smiling person will
achieve far greater things in Thailand than someone who is
hot-headed or quick-tempered. Expressing anger will only be
taking steps backwards in any situation.
Health / Illness
It is not uncommon for people who choose to live in a foreign
country to have difficulties regarding health in the initial
stages while their bodies are adapting to a new climate, diet,
and way of life. It is therefore strongly recommended that all
teachers purchase travelers/health insurance for a minimum of 3
months to cover emergencies. Health care is extremely cheap in
Thailand relative to most Western countries. Health care in
Thailand also meets a relatively high standard. Basic services
such as medication and doctor visits are very inexpensive. Basic
Thai Health insurance is obtainable through various
organizations such as BUPA or AIA.
Teachers are allowed paid sick days for the semester. Sick days
exceeding this limit: teacher’s monthly salary will be reduced
at a rate per day. Teachers may be required to provide a
doctor’s note proving illness in the case of any discrepancies
(E.g. frequent illness on Mondays/Fridays/before or after long
weekends). For any unexplained absences, the teacher’s monthly
salary will be reduced at a rate of 2000 baht/month. *Excessive
illness without doctor’s certificate may be grounds for
dismissal.
Teachers must notify both the school and the company before 8:00
am on the day that they will be absent. It is highly appreciated
if teachers phone the evening before so that preparations can be
arranged to cover your classes. Failure to notify both the
company and the school before 8:00 am of the day of absence will
be considered unexplained
There are no substitute teachers in some schools. Standard
procedure is for other teachers, when they have a free period,
to teach in place of the absent teacher. If a teacher is absent,
foreign or Thai, you may be asked to substitute in your free
periods (no teacher should teach more than 5 periods without a
break). In the case of an extended absence, overtime will be
paid (see contract) Keep in mind that the same courtesy will be
extended to you and your classes when you are absent. In some
cases, a spare teacher will be arranged by us.
Extra Curricular Activities
There are often many school activities/parties/special days that
may or may not fall during regular school hours. You may be
asked to join in these activities. It is strongly recommended
that you join at least SOME of these activities or it will be
thought that you don’t like the school or the teachers in the
school. Often these are great fun and a way to meet important
people in the community. Activities may include staff parties,
field trips to other areas of Thailand, weddings, dinner
invitations, after hours work (paid), etc.
Discrepancies
As many of the schools we work with have never had foreign
teachers or have had little exposure to foreign teachers and
cultures, there will undoubtedly be some ‘hiccups’ along the
way. Any discrepancies that arise between what the school asks
you to do and the contract you have with us should be reported
to our Coordinator. Often times these discrepancies result from
a communication error. By allowing the school and us to discuss
the matter, it is hoped, and been proven, that most of these
issues can be resolved much easier, faster and with less
cultural tensions than if you attempt to resolve them alone.
Often these schools want you to do many extra little things
because they want to take advantage of the fact that they
finally have a foreigner working at their school. It can be easy
to get frustrated and angry, but this will get you nowhere in
Thailand. *If you don’t mind doing a few extra little things…
great, AND this is the best way to get involved and score extra
PAID work after school hours. The more involved you are, the
more liked you will be and the more people you will meet, thus
more opportunities will arise. However, we all need our own time
and you will need to know when to say “Sorry, I can’t do that”
Visa Assistance
Non-Immigrant B Visa Sponsorship & Assistance
All costs related to acquiring the Non-Immigrant B Visa will
originally be the teacher’s responsibility if they are already
abroad.
Most teachers will be able to obtain their Non-Immigrant B Visa
at a Thai consulate or embassy in their home country prior to
their departure. All other teachers may enter the Kingdom of
Thailand on a free 30 day transit Visa, and obtain the
Non-Immigrant B Visa in Laos (Malaysia for South Africans).
Teachers who are unable to obtain the Visa prior to departure,
who are attending the training/orientation course, will be
assisted by our staff during a 2-3 day trip to Laos to obtain a
90 day single entry Non-Immigrant B Visa. Average costs for this
trip in previous years have ranged from 5000-6000 baht per
teacher. (This includes all transportation, accommodation, Laos
Visa, Thai Non-Immigrant B Visa). The estimated costs for the
trip will be prepared and teachers must pay costs in advance. If
the trip is completed under the estimated budget, the remaining
monies will be returned to each teacher upon return to Bangkok.
Teachers will be expected to follow the schedule and plan
arranged by us. All travel and accommodation plans will be
arranged and prepared by us.
Teachers arriving following the completion of the
training/orientation course may not be accompanied by a member
of our staff in obtaining the Non-Immigrant B Visa in Laos.
However, an information package will be provided, complete with
Thai and English instructions. Also, teachers will be assisted
and accompanied up until their departure at Bangkok’s Morchit
bus station. All teachers must have a Non-Immigrant B Visa
before they are able to begin teaching.
Work Permit
Schools will pay for the processing fees in obtaining the Work
Permit for teachers signing a longer contract. Teachers are
responsible for the costs of, supplying with, any and required
copies of educational documents, passport pages, health
certificate, and pictures. The application for Work Permits
cannot be made until a Non-Immigrant B Visa is secured.
Applications will begin roughly 2 weeks after teaching begins.
*In the case of changing school; if the teacher already received
the work permit but prefer to change to new school (differences
province), the cost of obtain the work permit for the new school
will be in the teacher’s responsibility.*
What you require to keep ready
• Original Degrees
• Passport valid for more than 6 months when landing in Thailand
• Passport size pictures
• Police criminal check from home country
Medical Insurance
It’s suggested all teachers to land with a minimum 3 months
Medical insurance. Schools cover Insurance if you are signing a
longer contract with them. The outdoor facility is not covered
with any medical insurance. Accident and 24 hours
hospitalization is covered. You may choose to buy your own
insurance locally.
FAQ
It is highly recommended that you look through the following
Frequently Asked Questions as there are many important aspects
involved with traveling to and working in Thailand that we
sometimes forget to ask about.
Q. Will I be able to save money or pay off student loans
while working with in this project in Thailand?
A. This is simply a matter of the lifestyle you are prepared or
are able to live. There are people who claim that trying to live
off less than 30,000 baht/month is difficult, and yet there are
teachers that are able to pay loan payments and live a
comfortable lifestyle on the same salary. If you are able to
adjust to the Thai lifestyle, weather and food, than you will be
able to save money. If you require western style food all or
most of the time and need western amenities (t.v, stereo, dvd,
personal computer, 24 hour air conditioning, etc.) than you will
be waiting for pay day every month. *In general, if money is a
major concern for you at this point in your life, then you may
be happier working in places such as Korea, Taiwan, or Japan
that are able to offer much higher salaries than Thailand.*
FAQ TOP
Q. How much money will I need to get set up and to live until
I start receiving my salary?
A. Again, this will vary on your needs and abilities to adapt to
Thai lifestyles. Accommodations in Bangkok are available from as
low as 200 baht/night or as high as 6000 baht/night. On average
you will probably want to spend about 500-800 baht for a decent
place. You will receive your first pay after 1 month of
teaching, so you will need enough money to last you at least 4 –
6 weeks. It is recommended that you bring (or have at your
disposal) a minimum of 30,000-45,000 baht (about $1000-$1500).
Any ATM cards with PLUS or CIRRUS can be used at most Thai bank
ATM’s.
FAQ TOP
Q. What is it like teaching English in a Thai government
school and Private schools?
A. Working in a Thai schools are different than working in
western schools, where most people tend to work
Benefits of working in a Thai School
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You are generally welcomed enthusiastically by the school and
the entire community
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You have the opportunity make many work/social contacts
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The students are generally more appreciative
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You become a part of a team and community
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You able to learn much more about Thai culture
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You will teach only basic conversational English (you don’t
have to be a grammar expert, although grammar knowledge doesn't
hurt)
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Very little weekend work
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You receive holidays during semester breaks and often don’t
teach (but be expected to attend) due to many school functions
and activities that fall during regular school hours.
Cons of working in a Thai School
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1. Large class sizes (40-55)
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You MUST be in school 8am-4:30pm Monday - Friday
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There can be communication errors/gaps between school and
teacher (that's where TEFL International tries to help)
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Less and lower quality available resources
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Generally offer lower 'BASE' monthly salaries
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You will be expected to be involved with school
administrative activities or extra-curricular activities such as
staff meetings, morning assembly, gate greeting and school
sponsored outings) – This is often a benefit for people who like
to get involved.
FAQ TOP
Q. Will I get to choose which city and school I will work at?
As we have to take into account both the teacher’s and the
school’s requirements and preferences, we cannot guarantee that
you will be placed in the exact city or exact school that you
desire. However, we will do our best to make both sides happy
and have rarely had any major difficulties in this task. The
more qualified you are, the more options you have. Many factors
must be considered. Some schools do not want couples, some
prefer them. Some schools refuse to have teachers older than 40
working for them, some don’t care. Some want female teachers,
some don’t care. Some require teachers with experience; some
just want good friendly, easy going, reliable people that will
try hard to improve their teaching skills as they go. Please
inform us of your preferences and your reasoning for them. Your
flexibility is appreciated. The sooner that you can commit, the
better your chances will be of acquiring a position that you
desire.
FAQ TOP
Q. What documents will I need to bring with me to get the
Work Permit and Non-Immigrant B Visa? What is the process?
You will need to bring your degrees (copies are ok usually, but
bring originals in case) and any other certificates, diplomas,
awards that you have regardless of their relevance to teaching.
Basically the more paperwork and fancy signatures or seals you
have, the better. All other documents you will need will either
be supplied by us or will be arranged in Thailand, such as
Health certificate, a plethora of pictures, and multiple copies
of all your passport pages.
The process is complicated, arduous, and involves a lot of red
tape. The nice thing is that this is all done for you. 1st - get
3 month Non-Immigrant B Visa. 2nd - Apply for Work Permit at
provincial Labor Office to match your Visa. 3rd - Take Work
Permit or receipt for Work Permit to Immigration to apply for an
extension on your Visa. 4th - Take new Visa to provincial Labor
Office to apply for an extension on Work Permit to match your
new Visa. There are many other steps along the way, but these
are the only steps that you will be involved in. * We are
usually able to obtain the initial 3 month Non-Immigrant B Visa
before your departure, however it is not always possible due to
certain countries and variations between numerous Thai embassies
and consulates around the world. Those who do not obtain a 3
month Non-Immigrant B Visa before departure will go to Laos or
Malaysia prior to their start date (if possible) to obtain the
proper Visa. Most countries may enter Thailand on a free 30 day
transit Visa.
FAQ TOP
Q. What are the students and schools like?
As we generally only work with schools in Bangkok and adjoining
areas, the schools are generally quite high in resources. Most
schools have beautiful campuses, All will have either a
blackboard or whiteboard. Some will have TV’s, CD players, DVD
players, overhead projectors, etc. Government schools will
simply have fans, but occasionally some classrooms have A/C
(most teachers’ offices have A/C). Almost all Thai schools have
computers and access to the internet for their teachers. How
fast it will be is another question. Usually school cafeterias
have good food at an extremely low price. The students are
almost always extremely respectful towards teachers. Because of
large classrooms, it can get loud during your English class, but
they are almost never malicious or overtly rude to teachers.
They might not listen because they don’t really like English,
but that is no different than when most of us were in high
school in a subject we didn’t like. In the smaller cities/towns,
you will be treated with awe and reverence for the first few
weeks with students being very shy and running away from you. A
big smile and many, “Hello, How are you?” s later, they will
start to open up and feel comfortable.
FAQ TOP
Q. Is there any way for me to make some extra money in my
free time?
A. While you are not permitted to work with any other company or
school while under contract with us, you are more than welcome
to do private tutoring or lessons throughout your community.
Inevitably, if you are a reliable, fun, easy-going and friendly
teacher and person who is involved with the school and
community, you will have many people approach you to do private
lessons. If you sit at home every night or go to the bar every
night, don’t expect people to come chasing after you. There are
also many opportunities to work at English camps on the weekends
or during the holidays. We have good connections with 2 English
Camp organizations that provide camps for schools year round
FAQ TOP
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