Teaching English in Thailand

Teaching English as a foreign language, or TEFL as it is more commonly referred to, involves teaching English as a second language to those students that do not speak it as their primary language.

The practice occurs in the student’s native country on either a private level or within the school system.  It can also be taught as an after-hours format or by a tutor.  There are a number of opportunities for teaching english as a second language in Thailand.  Thailand has been a popular tourist destination and is very accessible as there are numerous flights to Bangkok from all the major international airports.

Teaching English Second Language - Thailand

Teaching English Second Language - Thailand

A career in TEFL in Thailand or other countries has experienced growing popularity in recent years for a number of reasons.

  • First and foremost, it is a great way to experience life in other countries and travel around the world.
  • The experience is not only beneficial and rewarding, it provides you with the opportunity to earn an excellent income in the process.  Taking the current economic situation as well as the international job climate, teaching English as a second language is a great opportunity for the recent college graduate that is having difficulty getting their careers started and finding employment.
  • Another one of the benefits to TEFL in Thailand or other countries is that it is a great way to gain teaching experience and possibly further your career in the education industry.

Earning a certificate for TEFL is not that difficult and usually involves a 4-week intensive program or a part-time one that is longer in duration.  Whether it is full-time or part-time, the program provides you with qualifications that are internationally recognized.

If you are considering TEFL in Thailand, you want to look for a certification program that meets the following criteria:

  • a minimum of 100 hours of training
  • a minimum of 6 hours of teaching real students while being observed and critiqued by a licensed teacher (a.k.a. Observed Teaching Practice)
  • get validated by a recognized examination board, university, or reputable examination body

This eBook How To Teach English Overseas offers up excellent advice on Teaching English as a Second Language in Thailand and in many other places throughout the world.

Teaching English Second Language

Teaching English Second Language

The bottom line is that if you are looking to pursue a career in the field of education, TEFL in Thailand is an excellent way to get experience in teaching.

Another benefit is that you can use the money you earn in a TEFL in Thailand position to fund your travels to other countries once the job expires.  Depending on the country you are teaching in, working for a year will enable you to save the funds necessary to continue traveling to other countries.

Teaching English as a Second Language is an excellent option for anyone who wants experience traveling the world, enjoys teaching, and wants valuable job experience.

Teaching English Second Language

Teaching English as a Second Language is an excellent way for you to travel around the world, experience life in countries different than your home, make good money, and gain a rewarding and beneficial experience. Especially given the current job climate, teaching English overseas is an increasingly good option for recent graduates who might be having difficulty finding work.

There are hundreds – or even thousands – of websites out there which try to make sense of Teaching English as a Second Language. Unfortunately, many of these sites are filed with spam that only confuse the situation.

Teaching English Second Language

Teaching English Second Language

We’ve created TeachingEnglishSecondLanguage.com to help you make sense of teaching English overseas. Another good resource is this eBook How to Teach English Overseas which goes into detail about everything you’d need to know if you are considering teaching English as a second language.

Teaching English Second Language – TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language)

TEFL is a certification program which teaches you how to teach English as a foreign language. One thing many people don’t know is this course isn’t always required for teaching English overseas. For example, while you will make more if you have a TEFL certificate, you don’t need one to teach English in Korea or to teach English in Taiwan.

A TEFL course will last anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months and will cost anywhere from $1000 – $2000 USD if you take it in a developed country. You’ll learn general English teaching skills and other teaching requirements such as classroom management.

Teaching English Second Language – Countries

Many people think that you can only get English teacher jobs in areas like SE Asia. In fact, you can teach English overseas anywhere! You can teach in Europe, in South America, or in Africa – essentially, you can teach English anywhere it is not the first language.

You do stand to make much better money teaching English as a second language in areas like Korea or Thailand as the cost of living is so much cheaper.

Also, there are other benefits to teaching English overseas in South Korea. There is such a need for English teachers in Korea that many companies will provide you rent-free accommodation and return airfare if you agree to a one-year contract teaching English.

Teaching English Second Language – Other Benefits

Even if you never imagined you’d consider teaching English as a second language as a profession, there are many benefits to doing it for a year. If you live someplace like Korea where the cost of living is very low, you’ll be able to save a significant amount of money.

Especially if your accommodation is being provided!

Also, you’ll be set up to explore an area of the world you may not have ever considered traveling to. We know many teachers in South Korea that have been lucky enough to take a guided day trip to North Korea.

Teaching English as a Second Language also provides you with great experience for your resume or CV. If you’re having difficulty finding a job after graduation, this is an option for you to get some unique experience for a year to set yourself apart from other recent graduates.

Teaching English Second Language

Teaching English Second Language

If Teaching English as a Second Language is something you’ve considered, then we highly recommend you check out the eBook How to Teach English Overseas.

This resource is filled with valuable information to help you find out where you should look for jobs, tells you how much you can expect to make in each country, the requirements of getting the English teacher jobs, and the author guarantees updates for life.

Click here to find out more.


Photo Credit: Creative Commons, Rex Pe


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