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Is a TEFL qualification acceptable for private or online English tuition in Thailand without a degree?
Teaching English in ThailandTEFL QualificationVisa Requirements for TeachersWork Permit for TeachingPrivate Tutoring in ThailandOnline Teaching in ThailandForeign Teachers in ThailandLegal Work in Thailand
Oct 22, 2023
3 years ago
Terry ************
ORIGINAL POSTERIt’s seems you need to have a degree
to teach English in school in Thailand . Is TEFL qualification acceptable for private or online tuition in Thailand ?
to teach English in school in Thailand . Is TEFL qualification acceptable for private or online tuition in Thailand ?
TLDR : Answer Summary
To teach English in Thailand, you typically need a degree to qualify for a work permit, even for private or online tuition. Although a TEFL qualification (especially CELTA) is valuable in the teaching field, it alone does not suffice for legal teaching positions. Some may be able to find informal teaching opportunities without a degree, particularly in more rural areas where requirements may be relaxed due to demand. However, to engage in any work legally in Thailand, an appropriate work permit is necessary.
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Seb ***********
Work in Myanmar, enjoy holidays in Thailand
John *******
Must be a trick question Wow we learn something new every day who would've thought you needed a degree or qualifications to teach in thailand really 🤣🤣🤣 what you think you just turn up in thailand and start teaching what planet you live on before your arrival on earth
Ruth *******
@John ******
you were degrading the OP for not knowing Thailand had such requirements. Why should he know this? He asked a reasonable question based upon worldwide criteria. I was pointing that out. You’re simply a troll.Ruth *******
@John ******
private schools in many countries don’t require a degree. They look at other qualifications. I know someone who has bern teaching for many years and is far more skilled than someone walking out of school with a piece of paper. Degrees aren’t everything and often don’t actually define one’s skills. After a career in another field, although it also required a great deal of teaching, I taught kids for several years. I don’t have a teaching certificate. I’m not currently looking to teach in Thailand and I haven’t even decided for certain if I will stay. Many countries would allow me to teach without a teaching certificate though. There’s nothing magical about a piece of paper. It’s one assessment of one’s skills, not the only one.
John *******
@Ruth ******
well well well maybe its you who needs to go to school and learn how to read because the post was not about many countries as you put it it was about thailand as in my comment was it not Chokh diRuth *******
@John ******
and? You think that Thailand is so much higher educated that its criteria should be based solely upon that when more educated nations don’t use that as their primary criteria? 🤦♀️.Reply to
Ruth *******
Reply
Paul *******
It is illegal to do any work (even volunteering without pay) in Thailand without an appropriate work permit. To obtain a work permit for a teaching job, you need a degree, as a TEFL qualification is not sufficient. With a TEFL qualification you may be able to get work and a work permit as a teachers assistamt or a volunteer at a private school.
Terry ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Paul ******
thanks for the clarification.Reply to
Terry ************
Reply
Terry ************
ORIGINAL POSTERI’m not looking for teaching to obtain a visa . Only as a possible source of income . And way of contributing to language development for Thai students. My visa would come by other route .
John ********
Your pay will depend upon your qualifications and experience so the more qualifications you have the better pay you can get
Daniel **********
A university degree and teaching certificate needed to earn an average salary of 30k in Thailand? I wonder if there's a connection between the high requirement, low salary for English teachers and the low English level of Thais...
John *******
@Daniel *********
No correlation between the two! Keep dreaming! I taught for 14 years here at all levels except for Masters and beyond. Just a matter of wanting to learn. I had a few that were really good but would not comple their projects at the UNI level. Lazy for sure!Reply to
John *******
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Henry *********
A decent TEFL qualification like a CELTA is important for proper language schools where you'll be teaching all ages and some other nationalities but you'll need the degree for a work permit. Of course, some schools find a way around this 🙄
Billy *******
The main thing is to be able to communicate with students. Can you speak Thai? Oh wait! That's not the main thing at all. Lol
Frank **********
@Bradley ********
bull.Billy *******
@Bradley ********
this guy gets it.. ********************************************
Billy *******
@Bradley ********
Too bad the kids mostly don't understand English. You're all teaching English as a first languange. It's a second language for them. This explains the ONET and PISA scores.Frank **********
@Bradley ********
you still have to be able to understand the student if they have a problem or question. If you cannot speak their language and they are just starting English how will they understand. Doesn't make sense.Billy *******
@Frank *********
It's crazy we have to keep explaining the obvious to some. It's like they think we think Jedi mind tricks really work.Frank **********
@Billy ******
for sure students and teachers need to understand each other. Hard to do if neither one has basic knowledge of the others language.Billy *******
@Frank *********
In all my years of sitting in classrooms as a student, 17, i never had a teacher who didn't speak my language. And the few that had thick accents were difficult to listen to. I had to rely on the books more. So I can sympathize with Thai students. But why on Earth FFS do they make us use NES books? The easiest thing to fix are the books. Hello!! Bilingual books in all the book stores. Why do the schools insist on using NES books when obviously the students are not?Reply to
Billy *******
Reply
Billy *******
@Bradley ********
Wrong. I took Spanish in high school. They spoke English when necessary. The books were biligual. Learning Thai with Mod videos on youtube uses English as well.Billy *******
@Bradley ********
The only way this 67 year old American woman could keep teaching science in an expensive English program is her fluency in Thai. The parents are paying more for less.Billy *******
@Bradley ********
Well, we passed the New York state Regents exam for Spanish in just 2 years.Ruth *******
@Billy ******
I have never taken a language course (and I’ve learned five) where one walks in the door and all they speak is that language. 🤣🤣🤣Billy *******
@Ruth ******
Right?! And try teaching Trig to students who completely missed the English boat. Yet I know of at least one expensive school who keeps taking parent's money while also paying tutors on the side.Reply to
Billy *******
Reply
Carlos *********
The further north you go, the more they will relax the requirements. Supply and demand
Carlos *********
Steve Greiryou talk nonsense
Steve *******
@Carlos ********
😂😂😂😂😂 It's more like you don't understand, I guess English isn't your native language.Carlos *********
@Steve ******
*****
5Did you ever notice how people use personal insults when they can't make a civilized argument based on facts?
Cheers mate!
Steve *******
@Carlos ********
Never noticed and I certainly haven't used any personal insults. All my comments ARE based on fact.Reply to
Steve *******
Reply
Steve *******
@Carlos ********
Doesn't make it legal and if the sh*t hits the fan don't expect the school to clean it up!Reply to
Steve *******
Reply
Kool *******
You can not teach legally without a type B visa, and for teaching of any kind you need a degree in order to get the work permit. The government also understands that you can teach, or learn, online from anywhere in the world, you don't have to be in Thailand to do that.
Terry ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Kool ******
thanks for the reply . Much appreciated 🙏Reply to
Terry ************
Reply
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