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What advice do you have for teaching English as a second language in Thailand and recommendations for TEFL certification programs?

Teaching English in Thailand TEFL Certification Cultural Orientation Work Permit for Teachers Visa Requirements for Expat Teachers Employment in Thailand

Nov 9, 2024

a month ago

Kevin *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Does anyone have any advice on teaching English as a second language in Thailand?

I've been told that Thailand has local programs for TEFL certification, which also offer cultural orientation. Any recommendations of those?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

To successfully teach English in Thailand, it's essential to have a TEFL certificate and a bachelor's degree. You'll face challenges if you don't secure a job offer that includes visa sponsorship. Many programs offer TEFL certification and cultural orientation, but make sure to verify their credibility. Additionally, be aware that you will need a work permit, which has strict requirements, including having a valid university degree.

Kool *******

Be fully aware that you will need a work permit to teach, and the main requirement, besides already having a job offer, is that you have a university degree. It can be in any subject,, but it is required, and it must be certified as being real, so you can't buy one anymore on khaosan road.

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Av **********

Just go on Groupon it's on 30 dollars for tefl course

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Jeff ********

If you're trying to land a job teaching English in Thailand, you would do best to have your TEFL and a bachelor's degree before you get there. Good luck finding a school to sponsor you for your visa if you don't.

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Kevin *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I have a bachelors and decades of teaching storytelling, comedy writing, and cinema studies in NYC

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David **********

@Kevin ********

Awesome experience. They will love you. Get the TEFL. Do it online. I did. I used The TEFL Academy. It will take about a month. Nice and cheap no one cares where or how you got it. Don’t fall victim to the high price scams and vision of grandeur. They are experts at SEO marketing and sales not getting you a job.

Don’t waste your time applying for jobs in Thailand from outside the country. Get your TEFL, go to Thailand, get a job. This was the advice I got from someone online and that’s what I did.

Don’t waste your time on those teaching jobs in Thailand groups.

Start studying the job posting on ajarn but don’t apply. Once they know your here they will call you. Get your profile ready for ajarn.com. Make sure it shows you are now in Thailand. Schools will call you.

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David ********

@David *********

great advise the schools want you to be in Thailand. So many people apply from outside and never turn up.Comr in a visa exemption then apply where you want once you get accepted the school will take care of the visa and work permit good luck. Don't get hung up on the TEFL as long as you have a degree in anything you will be ok good luck

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David **********

The TEFL will get you a little more pay per month.

If they want you they will help you get the visa

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David ********

@David *********

TEFL has nothing to do with the pay scale. It's a nice to have to add to your CV but not critical some teaching experience in anything is looked in more favourably. Basically if you get an interview they will choose who presents best and says the right things. They have a budget for salary that's it.

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David **********

At the school I was hired the TEFL got me an extra 2,000 Baht a month.

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David ********

@David *********

that's nice but it's not mandatory to getting a teaching position. Depends on the school ,location,and need l guess. Just trying to put it out there especially for Native Speakers there is a real shortage of them

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David **********

Yes, not mandatory. The school I interviewed at wanted it. Different schools have different requirements. Agreed. For me I thought it was worth it to go through the process to gain some exposure to what I might expect. It's totally different but the TEFL forces to pull something together which is what I ended up having to do. It will give you great experience using ChatGPT or other AI tools to create parts of your lesson plan.

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David **********

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Jeff ********

@Kevin ********

the other route you can go is private tutoring. You will still need work permit, which narrows your visa options, but pays better if you can get a few weekly gigs. Still legal and I only recommend the legal route cuz why as a guest in another country would you willingly do something to get kicked out? My thoughts anyway. Hopefully this is enough information to get you googling and learning more on your own.

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Kevin *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks so much Jeff!

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Kevin *********

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Jeff ********

@Kevin ********

you don’t need to get double certified. TEFL is recognized internationally. You might have some other requirements depending on who hires you i.e student teaching or assisting, etc., but your degree will need to be apostilized by the Thai embassy or consulate before you go.

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Jeff ********

@Kevin ********

bachelor's is good, your experience will not serve you on a resume, merely help you do your job. Yes. Get TEFL certified in the U.S. (if that is your home country). It's easier for VISA puproses, and qualifies you upon entry as opposed to the "education" route.

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Jeff ********

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Kevin *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Do you mean that it’s best to get certified in the U.S., and then get certified again in Thailand?

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Kevin *********

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