Web Exclusive: Susan Griffith catches up with the constantly changing TEFL scene in Thailand
Here is Susan Griffith's extensive list of Thailand resources, including teaching agencies, schools, volunteer opportunities and TEFL training centres. See the full story on page 12 of Verge’s Winter 2010 issue.
How to get the Job
Ajarn.com is a treasure trove of information—AjarnJobspace.com lists current job vacancies for teachers. Craigslist serves Bangkok and publishes employment opportunities. Various online recruitment sites, such as totalesl.com, carry listings for Bangkok and beyond. The English-language daily newspaper, the Bangkok Post, is also worth scouring, including the site JobJob.co.th, which is supported by the Bangkok Post and Post Today.
For more information on visa requirements, visit www.mfa.go.th, magma.ca/~thaiott/mainpage.htm and thaiconsulatetoronto.com.
Teaching Agencies
JP Education Ltd Thailand invites online applications. During the recent hiring period, for the term beginning mid-May 2009, owner Tom Peterson recruited at least 70 teachers, mainly by conducting interviews on open days in his Bangkok office for native speakers with or without a degree. Candidates applying from overseas must hold a bachelor’s degree.
Teach to Travel, a Thai company managed by an American TEFL teacher, recruits paid teachers (normally with a degree and a TEFL certificate) and volunteers. Placements to teach children are available in schools in central and northern Thailand and pay about 30,000 baht per month for 12 months.
Bangkok’s TLS Language School is a fully-licensed teaching agency that either employs teachers directly or places them in educational establishments. The agency also helps with work permit applications. TLS has satellite offices in Buriram (400 kilometres northeast of the capital) and Pattaya. The company also offers cultural courses, such as the 20-hour course that is a requirement for obtaining a teacher’s licence, and a 200-hour Thai language and culture course that facilitates another long-stay visa, the ED (Educational) Visa.
Training Consultant Centre (TCC) Bangkok (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) recruits part-time and full-time teachers for 10-month contracts, for example in the Phaya Thai area. The hourly wage is around 400 baht.
Bright Future International Training & Servicesis an agency that runs educational programs in both private and public schools, rather than a teacher recruiter.
AYC Intercultural Programs Thailand recruits native English speakers with a bachelor degree for more than 20 schools in Thailand and summer language camps.
Major English Language Institutes
American University Alumni Language Center has 20 branches throughout Thailand (5 in Bangkok, 15 provincial) that employ about 200 teachers. Teachers must have the standard qualifications of a BA plus CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) or equivalent. The starting wage is 300 baht per hour, depending on experience and qualifications. Participation in 32 hours of pre-service training is preferred before teaching hours are assigned.
British American employs about 40 native-speaking teachers at three schools in Rangsit, Ramintra and Lart Prow.
ECC Thailand is the largest language school in Thailand. They have 50 schools with locations in Bangkok and most other cities. They employ 500 foreign teachers, preferably with a BA plus a TEFL certificate.
Inlingua International School of Languages uses 90 full-time and 120 part-time teachers at 8 teaching centres in Bangkok and in their corporate training program. Children’s classes are on weekends. Teachers are guaranteed a monthly salary of 35,000 baht.
Siam Computer & Language Institute is a chain of language schools that needs dozens of native speakers with college degrees and ELT certificates.
At Spencer International, degree holders are preferred, but positions for non-degree holders are also available with in-house training.
Volunteer Agencies
At Dragonfly, volunteer teachers require some training, which can be acquired through local providers or in beach towns. Those with prior TEFL experience/qualifications pay 16,000 baht ($550) for the first two to four weeks and 2,500 baht ($85) per week thereafter.
Global Service Corps sends young volunteers for two, four or six weeks—or longer for interns—for a fee of $2,705 to $4,427. Students who are interested in Buddhism can teach English to Thai monks.
Openmind Projects has fees ranging from €495 for a fortnight to €1,955 for 24 weeks.
Starfish Ventures places volunteers in development projects in Surin, a town northeast of Bangkok, and other locations off the tourist trail. The current fee of £1,200 ($2,150) covers three months’ homestay accommodation and in-country supervision as you teach in a primary or secondary school or an orphanage.
Travel to Teach is a Thai-based organisation which provides volunteer teaching opportunities (among others) in various locations. Fees start at €550 for a month.
Volunteer Teacher Thailand provides free English lessons at the request of schools or communities.
Volunthai: Volunteers For Thailand places college-educated volunteers over the age of 21 in schools in northeastern Thailand. A modest participation fee is charged ($375 for two months) and homestays are available.
TEFL Training Courses in Thailand
Chichester College Thailand has TESOL certificate and diploma courses in cooperation with Chichester College UK. Graduates get teaching placements in Thailand or Cambodia.
Paradise TEFL offers a 25-day course monthly in Chiang Mai for USD$875 plus $125 for accommodation.
Text-And-Talk is a long-established TEFL training course that guarantees a job in Thailand to course graduates.
The TEFL Institute in Bangkok offers a 120-hour training course over four weeks with many start dates throughout the year. The cost is 44,500 baht.
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