| Being able to live and work in Thailand would be a | | | | budget. In addition to this, there is little chance of |
| dream come true for many people. The majority | | | | career progression, and it will be hard to save |
| of visitors fall in love with the country, and it can | | | | build up and savings as security. |
| be a very seductive place for young people, | | | | There are many upsides to the job though, first |
| particularly backpackers. Unfortunately the labor | | | | of all it allows you to experience life in this |
| laws in Thailand are such that it is very difficult | | | | wonderful country, and for the right type of |
| for a foreigner to find employment legally. One of | | | | person it can be a great stepping stone on to |
| the few work options open to a foreigner is | | | | greater things. If you are good at what you do, |
| teaching English as a foreign language. You do not | | | | you can also build up extra income by charging |
| need to be a Thai speaker as you will be teaching | | | | for private lessons in your free time. |
| English in English. The classes that use foreigners | | | | The work itself can become tedious, and many |
| are more for conversational and accent training. | | | | people struggle with how the Thai education |
| As such, most classrooms will stick to a policy of | | | | system works. It is better to just go with the |
| only speaking English during the lesson, as a form | | | | flow instead of trying to change things to the |
| of immersion learning. | | | | way they are done in your home country. Often |
| The only qualifications required are that you are a | | | | you may feel like a salesman, and that your job is |
| native English speaker, and have a degree. This | | | | to simply persuade the students to sign up for |
| may sound like a great career option, however | | | | more classes. This feeling is particularly prevalent |
| there are some pitfalls. The monthly salaries in | | | | amongst teachers working in private schools. |
| Bangkok will only be around 30,000 baht which is | | | | If you have been to Thailand before and you are |
| about $900 depending on the current exchange | | | | keen to try living there, then it is a great way to |
| rate. This is very little for a westerner to live on, | | | | experience the real Thailand. However it is |
| as rent for an air conditioned apartment runs at | | | | advisable to have adequate savings and an exit |
| around 10,000 baht per month. For many, the | | | | strategy, as life there may not be quite what you |
| dream of living a holiday lifestyle is shattered | | | | expect. |
| when confronted by the realities of life on a low | | | | |