Teach and Travel

Teach English in Thailand

Teach English In Thailand

Why Teach English in Thailand?

One of the world’s top tourist destinations, Thailand is a unique blend of ancient temples and urban living in a tropical haven. Thailand is the ideal choice for ESL teachers who want to gain teaching experience while enjoying a comfortable lifestyle with beaches and naturalistic adventures within reach.

Teach English in Thailand: Fact Sheet

Header ColumnData Column
Education RequirementsBachelor Degree Required
TEFL CertificationMinimum 120-hour TEFL Certification Required
Citizenship RequirementsUSA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Others with Proven English Fluency
Typical Contract Length3 - 12 months
Peak Hiring SeasonsYear-Round
Hiring ProcessOnline audio/video interviews
Visa RequirementsNon-Immigrant B or O visa
Typical StudentsChildren, Adults, Business Professionals
Average Monthly Salary$950 - $2,200
Average Monthly Cost of Living$600 - $1,600
Types of JobsPublic Schools, Private Schools, Universities, Language Schools
Teaching Hours Per Week25 hours
Other BenefitsSometimes Employers Provide Housing, Flight Reimbursement, Health Insurance

Top 5 Reasons to Teach English in Thailand

1. Thailand is one of the most popular tourism and expat destinations in the world

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Once a hidden gem and the domain of backpackers, Thailand has become one of the world’s largest tourism hubs, attracting millions of tourists each year. In 2016, the country had more than 32 million foreign visitors, and its capital, Bangkok, was ranked second of the world’s most top-visited cities, trailing only London, in 2014 and 2015. Thailand is now a largely developed country, and host to a large population of expats working, living, or retired in the Land of Smiles. One of the real advantages of teaching English in Thailand is that you will be able to make friends with locals who are otherwise generally reserved and sheltered from the country’s massive tourism industry. Besides, this is one of the most convenient and pleasant countries to live in, as attested by the countless people who live and work here.

2. Thailand's beaches are among the most beautiful in the world

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One of the main reasons Thailand is able to attract so many tourists is its countless beaches and islands. The country’s palm-fringed beaches and crystal clear blue waters draw millions of visitors from all corners of the world, ranging from the casual beach-going tourist to the scuba diver. Go east to Chonburi, where you can enjoy the perfect blend of urban living off the coast of the Gulf of Thailand. Head further east where you will discover the incredibly beautiful islands off the shores of Trat, Thailand easternmost province. Make your way down Thailand’s southern region, and take in the country’s longest stretch of coastline all the way down to the Malaysian border. Enjoy the white sandy beaches and turquoise waters on the southern islands.

3. There's much more to see in Thailand than beaches

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Thailand has an ancient past that has had a profound effect on the country’s culture and landscape. With more than 40,000 Buddhist temples throughout the nation, designed and constructed in different historical eras and upon diverse influences, you will frequently find yourself mesmerized, not just by the structures themselves, but also by the intricate artwork and artisanship one can expect to find in the temple grounds. Many of these temples are built atop picturesque mountains, seamlessly blending nature and tradition that is symbolic of this country. Beyond the temples, one can find mountains, rivers, and waterfalls in every region. At the crack of dawn, you can spot monks walking along paths and alleyways. Throughout the day, and often during evenings, markets, shops, and artisans come to life.

4. If you love Thai food, you're about to fall in love with authentic Thai food

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If there’s one thing most people can agree on, it’s that Thai cuisine is among the most popular of any, not just because Thai food is bursting with flavor, but also because the preparation of Thai dishes is very much about aesthetics. If you’re a fan of Thai food, and have never been to Thailand, you are going to discover Thai food for the first time, and fall in love with it, because in all likelihood, you haven’t had authentic Thai cuisine before. Fortunately, some of the best Thai food is served affordably and safely by street vendors, but if your budget allows for it, the sky’s the limit, and you’ll have ample choices to wine and dine fancifully in Thailand’s many exquisite restaurants. Experience the myriad of flavors, from ultra-spicy, to sweet and savory, rice or noodles, stir-fried or curry dishes. There’s no limit.

5. Thailand offers the best of everything - modern and high-octane, to traditional and tranquil

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While Thailand is world-famous for its exotic beaches and temples, it’s also a very popular destination for the hip, chic, and fashionable. Whether you want to relax on one of the many beaches, have a Thai massage, go elephant trekking in the jungles, shop your heart out in Thailand’s extravagant shopping malls, or sample the street food in one of the many outdoor markets, you’ll hardly ever be bored in this place. If you’ve ever experienced the nightlife in Thailand, you know you want to come back for more. Thailand’s night clubs and entertainment scene is truly one of a kind. Of course, you can also try your hand at cooking Thai food by taking Thai cooking lessons, learn and practice yoga, take some time out for some mindfulness and meditation in a temple. This place also loves coffee, and has some impressive cafés.

Requirements to Teach English in Thailand

Recommended TEFL Certification to Teach English in Thailand

The TEFL Academy

168 Hour Level 5 Online TEFL Certification
Accredited by Qualifi UK and DEAC U.S.A.

Opportunities to Teach English in Thailand

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Thailand has a significant demand for ESL teachers, and has long been the choice for many, going all the way back to the Vietnam War era. It’s not primarily because the salaries for ESL teachers in Thailand are high, but because what ESL teachers can earn in the Kingdom affords them a relatively comfortable lifestyle, particularly in suburban and rural areas.

Bangkok was once the choice for most ESL teachers, as jobs were abundant, pay was higher, and the cost of living in Bangkok was low compared with cosmopolitan cities in other countries. Unfortunately, ESL teacher salaries have been fairly stagnant since the early 2000s whereas the cost of living has risen significantly in Bangkok and other major cities in line with the country’s rapid economic growth. Thus, living in Bangkok on a typical ESL teacher’s salary just isn’t attractive, especially when considering other destinations such as China and Korea, where the potential to earn and save is higher.

The picture is quite different in Thailand’s rural areas, since the cost of living is significantly lower, and in some cases, housing costs are fully or partially covered by the school. The ability for ESL teachers to save in the outskirts and rural areas is almost always greater than in the bigger cities. Though it’s difficult to give specific amounts, many teachers living outside of the city can save between $300 to $500 per month, depending on their lifestyle and spending habits.

The key points to keep in mind if choosing to live and work in a rural area is that life is going to be much more simple. You’ll have to get accustomed to eating local food, shopping in local stores and wet markets, and while you will likely find one or more 7-elevens around town, there’s a good chance you won’t find a McDonald’s. This could be a good thing if you plan on living and eating healthier, and many foreign teachers lose weight after moving to Thailand simply because of the lifestyle changes that come with living in the countryside. Another factor to note is that hospitals and clinics are often substandard. For minor health issues, this won’t be much of a concern, but serious health issues will usually require heading to one of the major cities to get treatment. Finally, living in a rural town means you will need to learn some Thai language. The school you work for will probably have some staff or students who can speak some English and help you with your first steps, but at some point, you will need to stand on your own two feet. Your smartphone will come in handy in these situations.

Most ESL teachers based in Thailand today are a mixed bag of young individuals or couples who want to gain a cultural experience during their gap years, foreigners married to or in relationships with Thais, longtime expat residents, and retirees seeking to supplement their retirement income through teaching. In recent years, Thailand has become a popular choice for English speakers from nearby countries such as Philippines and India, for whom the teaching salaries are still very attractive.

Thailand remains an excellent choice for entry level ESL teachers who want to gain some ESL teaching experience before moving on to more lucrative destinations, or before returning home to start their careers in other fields. The laid back atmosphere of the country makes it easy for anyone to transition into a life abroad and still enjoy many of the comforts you would expect to find in a developed country.

Here are the typical employment opportunities you have as an English teacher in Thailand.

Public Schools

Working in a Thai public school is often challenging, due to the large class sizes that can be as high as 30-50 per class. Add to this, many public schools lack air conditioning, which, given the extremely hot weather in Thailand for most of the year, can be very uncomfortable for both teachers and students. Most teaching contracts will require you to teach 25 classes per week, and each class is typically 50 minutes. In addition to your teaching responsibilities, you may also be required to attend official ceremonies and events organized by the school. Public schools generally operate from 7:30am – 4:30pm, and teachers are generally expected to be present at the school during school hours. Be sure to confirm with the school, as each school may have its own policy.

Some public schools in Thailand are in fact high profile schools, attended by children from elite families. While most of these exist in the Bangkok metropolitan area, they do exist in other provinces in the country. If you opt to work in a public school, do some research to find out the names of these high profile schools, so you can apply to work with them.

If you have never lived or worked in Thailand, we recommend choosing a job in one of the larger cities, where you will be able to interact with foreign teachers and get accustomed to life in Thailand, before venturing off into more remote areas.

Private Schools

There are many private schools operating throughout Thailand. Private schools tend to have enrollment from middle class families who want their children to have a better quality education than what the public schools generally offer. There are different types of private schools in Thailand, the main ones being:

  • Catholic schools
  • Privately-held schools

Private schools typically offer a regular program and a bilingual program. In a regular program, students study all subjects in Thai, including English. If the school employs a foreign ESL teacher, then that is the only subject students will have in English. In a bilingual program, students study several subjects in English, which means the school typically employs several foreign teachers to teach various subjects, including math, science, and physical education.

These schools have some prestige attached to them, though the salaries for ESL teachers may not always be higher than what public school teachers are paid. The facilities in these schools are often better, and the class sizes are usually smaller, between 20 – 25 students per class. The working hours are usually similar to public school hours.

Private schools often have a foreign academic director / director of studies who handles all matters related to hiring and managing foreign teachers at the school. Sometimes this person may oversee several schools if the private school has more than one branch.

International Schools

Teaching at an international school in Thailand can indeed be rewarding, not only from a financial standpoint, but also a career one. There are different tiers of international schools in Thailand, but they mostly cater to expat families and Thailand’s upper class and elite families.

The pay is often more than double, and sometimes as much as 4 – 5 times the salary of a foreign ESL teacher working at a public or private school, plus benefits. International schools tend to be located in larger cities throughout the country, they have smaller class sizes, better classroom facilities, and on the whole, a better work atmosphere.

International schools will usually only hire teachers with a teaching qualification in their home country, and higher tier international schools will use the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. These positions can be extremely lucrative.

Language Schools

Thailand’s language schools were once overflowing with students of all ages enrolling in English language classes. At one stage, this was one of the few ways Thais could meet and interact with foreigners and learn English, and it was not uncommon for locals to befriend foreign teachers, because getting to know foreigners was rare. At the time, language school jobs were the most common and lucrative for ESL teachers in Thailand. Teachers were regularly employed by language schools on a full-time basis, receiving a monthly salary.

The situation has changed dramatically since the turn of the millennium. Most Thais living in larger cities grow up learning English in public schools or mainstream private schools. Consequently, the level of English proficiency has improved, particularly in the cities, and fewer people enroll in courses offered by language schools. English is widely spoken and understood in Bangkok, having studied English during their school years, which wasn’t the case prior to the 21st century.

This evolution has impacted the business of language schools. Where once you could find various language schools throughout Thailand, today, most of the remaining language schools are big brand names offering mostly part-time hours.

Today, language schools in Thailand mainly cater to:

  • Young learners
  • Business professionals / company employees

Many language schools are set up in shopping malls so families can drop their children off for 1 – 2 hours to learn English while they roam the shopping mall. Branch work usually happens during evenings and weekends.

Some language schools also offer business English classes catering to Thailand’s significant business and industrial sectors. Business English courses usually offer a higher hourly rate than branch work, and will sometimes include a travel allowance to cover some or all of the transportation cost to visit the client’s office where lessons. Business English classes are sold to companies who need their employees to improve their English communication skills. Some business English classes also focus on soft skills such as presentations or email writing in English. These are typically groups of 10 – 15 employees, though one-to-one lessons are also offered on occasion.

Although business English teachers can earn a decent hourly rate, the reality is that teaching business English usually doesn’t add up to a steady full-time income. Most business English teachers in Thailand are supplementing another income.

Most language schools in Thailand today pay an hourly rate for lessons completed, ranging between 300 – 700 baht per hour, though the typical hourly rate seems to be 500 baht per hour. While some teachers are full-time employees in language schools, most language school teaching opportunities are part-time work.

Other Considerations

Getting Hired

Most interviews are conducted via online video interviews, either by a school administrator, head teacher, or an agency working on behalf of many public and private schools.

One major advantage of getting hired through an agency is that it will usually be representing many mainstream schools in specific provinces or regions, giving you more choice where you want to be based in Thailand. Most public schools are not capable of hiring teachers directly, simply because they don’t have a dedicated English speaking staff member to perform the hiring duties. Unless you’re already in Thailand and can approach schools face-to-face, getting hired directly by public schools will be difficult.

Another reason getting hired through an agency can be advantageous is that you will typically have a point of contact within the agency who speaks English and Thai, who can deal with any employment matters, such as your visa and work permit, or salary payments.

In many cases, you will actually be employed by the agency rather than by the school you are assigned to work in, and your visa and work permit will be attached to the agency.

Though there are full-time agencies engaged in the recruitment of English teachers for public and private schools, many agencies in fact language schools that hire English teachers who are then assigned to work in public or private schools. This means the teacher is legally employed and paid by the language school rather than the public or private school where they teach.

Before accepting any employment contract, ask the interviewer these questions:

  • Who will be your official employer – the school or the agency?
  • How and when will your visa and work permit be arranged?
  • How and when will you be paid each month?
  • Who will be your point of contact for both work and personal issues during your contract term?

When interviewing for public or private school teaching positions, request the interviewer to provide contact information for a  foreign teacher currently employed with the school or agency, so you can ask pertinent questions about the working conditions and their personal experience with the school/agent.

Visa and Work Permit

According to government regulations, ESL teachers must have a university degree and a minimum 120-hour TEFL certification to be legally employed in Thailand. The Thai government recognizes citizens of USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Ireland as native English speakers. Other nationalities are considered to be non-native English speakers, and must produce evidence in the form of an official TOEIC test score of 600+ or an official IELTS test score of 5+ in addition to a university degree and TEFL certification. The originals of these documents will be necessary to obtain a teaching license and work permit. A medical certificate and a clear criminal background check from your country of citizenship will also be required. Your university transcripts may be required, too.

While the correct visa to enter Thailand in order to apply for a work permit is the Non-immigrant “B” (Business) visa, many schools will simply ask you to arrive on a 60-day tourist visa, because it is less upfront paperwork for them, and more straightforward to apply and be granted a tourist visa. If it’s the case that the school you have accepted to work with asks you to arrive on a 60-day tourist visa, your employer will need to assist you to apply for a change of visa status once you’re in Thailand.

Make sure to confirm all required documentation with your employer before arriving to Thailand, and allow ample time to arrange the documents you will need to bring with you. Also confirm all details regarding how the school will arrange your visa and work permit.

Startup Costs

The cost of living in Thailand is relatively low, making it an attractive place for people come and visit, or stay. Still, it’s important to have enough funds for upfront costs when moving to Thailand. Here are some costs you will need to plan for:

  • Airfare
  • Visa Fees
  • Rent x 3 months
  • Living expenses for first two months
  • Home supplies (bed and bath, kitchenware, household supplies, etc.)

Your startup costs will vary depending where you live in Thailand. To be on the safe side, plan to have between $3,000 – $5,000 in startup and safety funds.

Private Tutoring

Many ESL teachers engage in private tutoring in Thailand. Technically, this is illegal, and you can be fined, imprisoned, deported, and blacklisted for doing so. If you need to supplement your income, work with your school director to arrange after-school or weekend lessons through the school, so that you can be paid by your employer. If you work with a language school, this is easier, as you will typically have overtime work opportunities at the language school. Many teachers also teach online during evenings or weekends, and get paid in their home countries. This might be a safer option. As always, stay within the legal boundaries and understand the consequences of breaking the law.

Saving Money

If your goal is to save a good amount of money or pay down your student loans, teaching English in Thailand is frankly not your best option. Unfortunately, salaries and benefits for English teachers in Thailand are not as attractive as other ESL job markets like China and Korea. While it is possible to save money teaching English in Thailand, your savings potential will only go so far on the salary you earn. You will need to be very disciplined and frugal to save money, especially in Bangkok and other urbanized cities where the cost of living is significantly higher than the outskirts and rural areas. There are English teachers in Thailand who earn relatively high incomes, however, they are the exceptions, especially when considering that English teachers in China can easily earn the same income, with housing and airfare covered.

Earning a high income isn’t at the top of everyone’s list. Indeed, one of the best reasons to move to Thailand and teach English is to experience this wonderful country, its natural beauty, incredibly friendly people and culture, and be part of an intercultural exchange.

Typical Salaries to Teach English in Thailand

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English teachers in Thailand typically earn salaries in the ranges provided below. Note that many language schools pay an hourly rate for each lesson a teacher completes, so the monthly income for a language school teacher will vary month to month. Thus, we can estimate a monthly income based on a typical number of teaching hours completed per week.

School TypesTeaching Hours / WeekMonthly Salary (THB)Monthly Salary (USD)
Public Schools20 - 2530,000 - 40,000$1,600 - $1,300
Private Schools20 - 2535,000 - 50,000$1,100 - $1,600
International Schools20 - 2560,000 - 120,000$1,900 - $3,800
Language Schools12 - 3025,000 - 60,000$800 - $1,900

Benefits

Housing Allowance

Some schools will offer a housing allowance which is paid as part of your salary, to cover some of the cost of a single studio apartment. Such apartments are usually furnished but are small and minimalistic, but adequate for settling into your new life in Thailand.

Bonuses and Incentives

Many schools offer a bonus to teachers who complete their contracts, as well as incentives to renew their contracts, such as pay rises. Bonuses offered will vary from one school to another, so make sure to confirm the details of bonuses and pay rises before signing the employment contract.

Health Insurance

Foreigners who are legally employed in Thailand on a full-time basis can access the country’s social security scheme. This is technically not a benefit, but a legal requirement. A portion of your salary is deducted to contribute to the scheme, and your employer must match your contribution. This gives you access to basic free or subsidized healthcare at a public hospital. Having this access is generally fine for minor health issues requiring outpatient care, but inadequate for more serious health matters. It is thus advisable to purchase private health insurance that will cover you for major health issues, so you don’t end up with an expensive medical bill you can’t afford to pay in the event of an accident, injury, or unforeseen illness.

Meals

If you are employed in a public or private school, you will probably get free lunch at the school cafeteria. The food is usually nothing to write home about, so many teachers give a pass on the cafeteria meals and buy lunch off campus or bring their own.

Cost of Living

Life in Bangkok on the whole is more expensive than other areas, by a significant margin. It is fairly difficult to live in the core of Bangkok on an English teacher’s salary and have any money leftover for savings, though certainly possible to live in the suburbs and outskirts of this sprawling city and save a small amount.

As a general rule, life generally gets cheaper the further out of Bangkok you travel. Each province in Thailand has a provincial city, and surrounding districts that go from semi-rural to almost completely rural. Naturally, money goes further in more rural areas. 

Still, some areas outside of Bangkok have a high cost of living due to the presence of a large expat community, tourism, and urban development. These include:

  • Chiangmai
  • Pattaya
  • Hua Hin
  • Koh Samui
  • Phuket

Chiangmai, Pattaya, and Hua Hin are somewhat cheaper cities to live in than Bangkok, but can be just as expensive depending on your lifestyle and spending habits. These cities are hardly representative of local provincial life in Thailand.

Koh Samui and Phuket are among the most popular tourism destinations in Thailand, and both have become expensive to the point that the cost of living in these tropical islands is often higher than in Bangkok.

In terms of affordable, comfortable living on an English teacher’s salary, the best locations happen to be the provinces in the central and northern regions, and the eastern seaboard. These are all well-developed regions with good infrastructure and a relatively low cost of living. Northeastern Thailand is perhaps the most affordable region, and may be a good option for teachers interested in living and working in a more rural, less developed setting. Some of the less touristy provinces in Thailand’s south are also good choices, though these are few due to the long coastline in the south being premium seafront

To estimate your cost of living as an English teacher in Thailand, expect to have a minimum monthly spend as follows:

RegionMinimum Monthly Cost (THB)Minimum Monthly Cost (USD)
Bangkok40,000$1,200
Chiangmai/Pattaya/Hua Hin25,000$800
Provinces20,000$650

While it’s possible to live on less than the above baseline amounts, but you would be stretching yourself thin on planning to spend less than these minimums.

Popular Cities to Teach English in Thailand

Thailand is very much an emerging economy despite having the second largest GDP in Southeast Asia. Presently, there is one cosmopolitan city in the country: Bangkok. So, when speaking of other cities in Thailand, they are by no means at the same level of playing field as Bangkok. Still, each city serves its own purpose and has its own charm, and not everyone wants the hustle and bustle of the big city. This is what makes living in Thailand such an attractive proposition. You have vastly different choices of where to live and work as an English teacher, each offering something unique in terms of lifestyle. You could literally find English teaching jobs in any city or town in Thailand, because there’s such an enormous demand for English language education. We can’t get to all of these, but we can tell you which cities are among the most popular among expat English teachers.

Teach English in Bangkok

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One of Asia’s most iconic cities, Bangkok is densely populated, congested, and chaotic. Ironically, this is what endears so many to the country’s capital and commercial center. Once coined the Venice of Asia, Bangkok is a network of canals, weaving roads and alleys, highways and flyovers. The Chao Phraya River meanders through the city, making its way northward into Ayuthaya, the country’s former capital. Featuring some of the most upscale shopping centers you’ll ever see, not to mention luxury condos, five star hotels, skyscrapers, restaurants, entertainment venues, and street stalls, Bangkok is by any standard a modern city you can get around by road, bus, train, subway, or boat. Yet, Bangkok manages to maintain some of its old self with ornate Buddhist temples, the Grand Palace, and the old city which is home to Chinatown.

Of course, we can’t complete a conversation about Bangkok without mentioning the city’s nightlife and entertainment scene. This city has no shortage of sky bars, night clubs, pubs, and beer gardens. The famous areas of Sukhumvit, Silom, Thong Lor, and Ratchada each have their own share of entertainment venues, so you’ll never ever get bored in a city like Bangkok.

Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world today, in large part due to the city’s popularity as a tourist attraction, but also as a hub for domestic and international travel.

Teach English in Chiangmai

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Chiangmai was once a charming little city in Northern Thailand, and the darling for expats who craved a quieter lifestyle away from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, and the lower cost of living. In recent years, Chiangmai has become a busy city flowing with commercial trade and and development. This had led to an explosion in the city’s residential population, as businesses, shopping malls, big name hotel chains and resorts have come in along with major housing and condo developments. Thus, Chiangmai has been almost completely transformed, with new highways built, and plans for mass transit, high speed trains, and interregional highways to further link the city and grow it into a regional hub between Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and China. There has also been a small but noticeable emergence of a technology in the city, attracting digital nomads and small IT companies to make Chiangmai their base.

Many ESL teachers continue to choose Chiangmai over Bangkok as it has managed to retain much of its charm. This is not a city with skyscrapers – yet. Chiangmai reflects the northern cultures of the country through its architecture and temples, as well as its cuisine and dialects. Here you’ll find the magnificent Doi Inthanon and Doi Suthep, two of Thailand’s most famous mountains. You’ll also find the equally magnificent and sacred Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple atop the Doi Suthep mountain.

Chiangmai is a beautiful city and province in Thailand, and an incredible place to live and work as an ESL teacher.

Teach English in Krabi

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Krabi is in Thailand southern region, enjoying a breathtaking coastline along the Gulf of Thailand. It’s a quaint provincial city that has a diverse population due to its proximity to Malaysia and Myanmar. Like much of Thailand’s deep south, Krabi’s provincial city is not largely populated, and is thus a relatively tranquil space. But let’s be honest – the real draw of Krabi is its shoreline, beaches, and islands, all of which are postcard worthy. The magically blue waters and tides brushing up against white sandy beaches are the stuff dreams are made of. Once you arrive in Krabi, you’ve arrived in paradise. Imagine teaching English during the week, and enjoying weekends soaking in the sun and sea. Is there really a better way to live?

Make no mistake though – Krabi was once a place known only to backpackers holding travel guide books. Today, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand, and thus it can get pretty crowded during the high season. Its most famous beaches are Ao Nang and Railay, and hands down the most popular island in the province is Phi Phi Island. Don’t forget to visit Lanta Island, too.

Teach English in Chonburi

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Chonburi is but a two-hour drive east from Bangkok. With new developments planned, expect to see Bangkok and Chonburi linked by high speed trains and modern highways. These improvements will only make life for Chonburi residents and businesses better, and that’s not to say it isn’t already good. Many people skip Bangkok altogether when landing at the iconic Suvarnabhumi International Airport, and make their way to the province of Chonburi. Why? Chonburi is the doorway to the country’s eastern seaboard, where cities like Sri Racha, the provincial city of Chonburi, and Pattaya have become famous not only for tourism, but also for industry. Living along the coastline is something many people dream about, and Chonburi is an excellent stomping ground for ESL teachers who want to live along the coastline in modern, urban cities while being within driving distance to Bangkok, the country’s capital. While the beaches in Chonburi do not boast the same pristine blue waters one can find in the south, the seaside air and abundance of seafood are enough for most. But there’s more. Chonburi is home to many of Thailand’s best golf courses, resorts, five star hotels, and shopping malls. And while more expensive than other countryside provinces, the cost of living in Chonburi is still considerably cheaper than Bangkok.

Chonburi is an excellent choice for ESL teachers, especially those with teaching qualifications in their home countries, due to the large and diverse community of locals and expats whose children attend private or international schools. It’s also a good option for ESL teachers who want to teach business English, as Chonburi and its neighboring provinces have large industrial complexes ranging from automobile manufacturing to oil refineries, and the region’s economic prowess is only expected to strengthen as the government invests in its Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) initiative launched in 2017.

Teach English in Ayuthaya

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Just north of Bangkok, Ayuthaya is famous for its ancient history and former glory as the Thailand’s previous kingdom capital when the country was called Siam. The ruins of the old capital are popular tourist attractions today, and Ayuthaya is easily accessible to and from Bangkok by road, as well as by boat along the Chao Phraya River. Named after one of the holiest Hindu cities of the same name (Ayodhya), Ayuthaya has both political and religious significance to Thailand’s history and culture.

While Ayuthaya doesn’t have the same allure as other countryside locations like Chiangmai or Krabi, there are a number of reasons to choose Ayuthaya as a place to teach English. For one, the cost of living is relatively low in Ayuthaya, and the school you work for may in fact subsidize or provide housing, enabling you to enjoy a comfortable life and save some money. What’s more, Ayuthaya is a significantly industrialized province, with massive industrial complexes. This makes it an ideal choice for ESL teachers who want to secure a steady school job while also enjoying a low cost of living. Ayuthaya is a short drive from Bangkok, so if you ever miss life in the big city, you’re not too far away from one. Because of Ayuthaya’s central location, it’s also easy to travel north to experience Thailand’s northern region.

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Discover the Best Places to Teach English and Make Money

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We’ll show you which locations offer the best opportunities to gain experience and make decent money as an ESL teacher.

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