| Country Information | | | | · Will I receive a salary even it's summer |
| Thailand draws more visitor than any other | | | | or vacation?(Some schools include summer and |
| country in South East Asia. This country is well | | | | vacation in the contract, but others don't) |
| known in Western countries because of its unique | | | | If you are new to Thailand and new to teaching, |
| tradition and culture. Tourism plays a major role in | | | | be careful. Ask questions to your employer which |
| country's business. Every year, thousands of | | | | you don't understand. If you will sign a contract, |
| foreigners came to visit this country. | | | | never sign it, if it's written in Pasa Thai. This is to |
| | | | avoid possible problems in the future. Your |
| Thailand Fast Fact | | | | contract must be written in English, and please |
| · Capital: Bangkok | | | | keep a copy of it for your future use. |
| · Major Language: Thai | | | | Places to work in Thailand |
| · Major Religion: Buddhism | | | | In this section, I will just give a brief overview of |
| · Population: 65,444,371(July 2005 est.) | | | | different schools/institutions in this country. I will |
| · Area: 513,000 km | | | | group them into following: schools with MEP/EP; |
| · Currency: Baht | | | | schools without MEP/EP or Thai Regular Schools; |
| · Time Zone: UTC + 7 | | | | Universities; International Schools |
| · Internet TLD: .th | | | | A. School with MEP/EP (Mini English Program |
| · Calling Code: +66 | | | | English Program) |
| Thailand is the 49th largest country and it is home | | | | · This type of school is well funded. Most |
| to a distinct geographic. If you will go to the | | | | of the funds came from the government (if it's a |
| north, you will see that it is a mountainous area: | | | | government school) or usually from the parents. |
| Doi Inthanon, the highest point with 8,451 feet. | | | | · The salary here is high. - Native |
| The center of the country is dominated by Chao | | | | speakers starting salary is 30,000 baht a month |
| Phraya River which runs to the Gulf of Thailand. | | | | and can reach up to 50,000 baht depending on |
| The south consists of a narrow land bridge, | | | | the qualification of the teacher. Non native such as |
| known as Kra Isthmus that connects to the | | | | Asian teachers receives 15,000 baht a month up |
| Malaysian Peninsula. | | | | to 30,000 baht (the normal rate) depending on |
| Thailand's climate is tropical. high in temperature | | | | the qualification of the teachers, too. |
| and humidity, and dominated by moonsoon. April | | | | · Working hours is normally 15-18 periods |
| and May are the hottest months, but June is the | | | | a week, but other schools are 18-22 periods a |
| beginning of rainy season and it usually ends in the | | | | week. |
| month of October. From November until the end | | | | · Benefits are also included:BUPA Health |
| of February, the climate is cool especially in | | | | Insurance, Thai Health Insurance etc;free |
| Northern Thailand. | | | | accommodation or housing allowance; visa and |
| The year of 1997 was the time when Thailand's | | | | work permit are also provided |
| economy collapsed. Baht currency reached it's | | | | · There are some MEP/EP schools offers |
| lowest point of 56 from 25 against the US Dollar. | | | | some subjects integrated in English such as: music, |
| Many foreign investors closed it's door, resulting | | | | science, math, social science, PE etc |
| for many Thai people to lose their jobs. Banks | | | | · There are lots of foreign teachers |
| were bankrupt. Stocks and prices fell dramatically. | | | | employed and some do provide Thai assistant |
| After PM Thaksin Shinawatra won the 2001 | | | | teachers. |
| election, there was a rapid growth in the country's | | | | B. Schools without MEP/EP or Regular Thai |
| economy. He implemented various domestic | | | | Schools |
| programs known as Thaksinomics. Foreign | | | | · This type of school is very different |
| investors open it's door again for business, and | | | | compare to other school with MEP/EP. |
| tourism industry was in its peak.Thailands natural | | | | · Native speakers receive 20,000 baht up |
| resources like tin,rubber,timber etc, also helps and | | | | to 30,000 baht a month (still negotiable) depending |
| contributes to the country's economy's GDP. | | | | on the teachers' qualification. |
| Thailand is a Buddhist country. According to the | | | | · Asian teachers' receives 12,000 baht up |
| latest census, more than 95% of Thais are | | | | to 20,000 baht a month depending on the |
| Buddhist. Islam is also the second largest religion in | | | | qualification. (I know some schools do pay their |
| the country. You can see lots of Muslims in the | | | | Asian teacher/s with an amount of less than |
| south of Thailand, particularly in Yala,Pattani, and | | | | 12,000 baht a month) |
| Narathiwat. There are also some Christians, but it | | | | · Most schools do not pay their foreign |
| only represents a few percent of the population. | | | | teacher on summer or semester break. |
| Thailand is also a constitutional monarchy. His | | | | · Getting a benefit is a big issue between |
| Majesty the king Bhumibhol Adulyadej is the most | | | | the employer and the foreign teacher. |
| respected and the world's longest reigning | | | | · Having a visa or a work permit is a bit |
| monarch. He celebrated his 6oth anniversary of | | | | slow and will cause a foreign teacher some stress |
| ascension on the throne last June. Thais have a | | | | and frustration. Reasons are the following: it's their |
| deep respect with their king, including the other | | | | first time to employ a foreign teacher; school or |
| members of the royal family. Telling a joke or a | | | | employer does not have any idea how to apply |
| jest to the Royal family is a grave insult for the | | | | and process the visa and work permit of their |
| Thai people and its country. | | | | foreign teacher. |
| Each country has a unique culture and tradition, | | | | · Only 1-3 foreign teachers are employed. |
| same with Thailand. Once you visit this country, | | | | NO Thai Assistant. |
| there are some precautions and standard | | | | C. Thai Universities |
| behaviours that you must follow. Below are some | | | | There are numerous universities in Thailand. The |
| of the do's and don'ts in this country: | | | | best universities in this country are the following: |
| · As I mentioned earlier, Thai's have a | | | | (not in order) |
| deep respect to the Royal family. Never tell a | | | | · Chulalongkorn University |
| joke or a jest about them, even pictures or | | | | · Thammasat University |
| portrait of them must be respected too. | | | | · Chiangmai University |
| · If you will enter a temple, make it sure | | | | · Kasetsart University |
| that your dress is appropiate.Avoid wearing | | | | · Khon Kaen University |
| unsuitable attire. Also leave your shoes or slippers | | | | · Prince of Songhkla University |
| once you entered the inside chapel. | | | | · King's Mongkut Institute of Tech North |
| · If you are a woman, never touch the | | | | Bangkok |
| Buddhist monk because it's forbidden, or even sit | | | | · King's Mongkut Institute of Tech |
| beside him. If you want to give something to the | | | | Ladkrabang |
| monk, hand it to a man, and he will do it for you. | | | | · Mahanakorn University of Technology |
| In case their is no male available, the Buddhist | | | | · Suranaree University of Technology |
| monk will spread a saffron robe in front of him, | | | | Salaries at government universities are different, |
| where you will lay the things that you want to | | | | compare to private universities. Government |
| give. | | | | universities pay their foreign teachers the normal |
| · Thai's don't normally shake hands when | | | | rate of 20,000 up to 30,000 per month depending |
| they greet people, but instead they wai(pressing | | | | on the qualification. Having an MA degree or a PhD |
| the palms together in a prayer gesture). Generally, | | | | degree is an advantage. It is also possible to |
| a younger people wai to the older ones. | | | | make extra good money. In my own experience, |
| · If you will enter any house or office, | | | | aside from my monthly salary that I receive, I do |
| please leave your shoes or slippers outside. | | | | have an extra job after my school working hours. |
| · Touching someone's head or pointing | | | | And it really helps. |
| with the feet is unacceptable. Thai regard the | | | | Legal Issues and Visa |
| head as the most sacred part of the body, while | | | | There are two types of foreign teachers in |
| the feet are the dirtiest and lowest part of the | | | | Thailand: A legal teacher and an illegal teacher. A |
| body. | | | | legal teacher has a Non-immigrant visa, a work |
| · Public affection is frowned between | | | | permit, and a teacher license (some schools). An |
| man and woman | | | | illegal teacher has no Non-immigrant visa, a work |
| Working in Thailand | | | | permit, and a teacher license. And an illegal |
| If you are looking for a different experience in | | | | teacher is always doing the border run visa every |
| teaching English in South East Asia, Thailand is one | | | | month at the neighboring country. I had this |
| the best destination to choose from. In my | | | | experience doing the border run visa while I'm |
| experience, I can say that I'm enjoying my stay | | | | working in this country, and it's a bit scary. But |
| in this country with my family. Aside from the low | | | | this so called border hopping will affect many |
| cost of living, there are other opportunities waiting | | | | foreigners who are working in Thailand because of |
| for you, if you are really serious to become an | | | | the new visa policy which has been effective |
| English teacher. Every one who comes in Thailand | | | | since October 1 2006. |
| to work as an English teacher has a different | | | | In order for you to become a legal teacher you |
| reason. Some are working here to save money; | | | | must do the following: |
| others want to gain more experience teaching | | | | · You must obtain a non-immigrant visa |
| abroad; some will tell you that the salary here is | | | | at any Thai consulate outside Thailand. |
| bigger compare to their country of origin. | | | | · Thai Consulate at Penang is the choice |
| Getting a job here is easy, especially for the | | | | of many foreigners who wants to get a Non B. |
| native speakers of English. Most schools in this | | | | You will be given 3 months to stay in Thailand. If |
| country do hire a white to educate their students | | | | you are planning to apply for a Non B, you need |
| even they are not qualified.(This may be a | | | | to prepare the following documents: a. official |
| shocking information for Asian teachers, but it's | | | | letter from the school/director with a valid seal |
| the truth)Some schools do still hire a teacher | | | | b.school contract c. 2 piece of two by two |
| based on the good qualification of the applicant no | | | | pictures d. school map e. school registration f. |
| matter where you came from. Others, do require | | | | copy of your passport, degree certificate, and |
| a TEFL certificate even you have or without a | | | | transcript of records. |
| bachelor degree. | | | | · Once you get your Non B you can now |
| Everyone who is planning to work in a certain | | | | go to the Ministry of Labor to apply for a work |
| school must check first the school's credibility to | | | | permit. The documents that you need to bring |
| avoid problems. There are some schools do take | | | | are also the same of what I listed above including |
| advantage of foreign teachers, especially Asian | | | | the copy of your NON-B, health certificate, and |
| teachers. There is a website that I'd like to | | | | the FORM WP 2 from the Ministry of Labor. The |
| recommend- This website gives information about | | | | amount is 750 baht for 3 months; 1500 baht for |
| teaching issue in Thailand. Below are things to | | | | 6 months; 3000 baht for 1 year and another 100 |
| consider before you work in a school: | | | | baht for the application form. It will take 1 week |
| · How many teaching hours/credit will I | | | | normally to process it. |
| teach? | | | | · When the work permit is ready you can |
| · Will the school process my visa and | | | | go to the Immigration Department to extend |
| work permit? (Effective this October 1,border run | | | | your visa. The cost for a 1 year extension is |
| will end) | | | | 1900. Make sure you have a re-entry visa each |
| · Will they provide accommodation and | | | | time you leave the country. If not, your visa |
| health insurance? | | | | extension will be forfeited. |