Teaching English in Thailand can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it also requires a lot of dedication and hard work. Teaching English in Thailand is a full-time job and does require a good work ethic, but the experience can be incredibly fulfilling. In this blog post, we’ll explore the typical schedule of an English teacher in Thailand and what you can expect from a typical day in the classroom.
TEFL Teacher Schedule
Most English teachers in Thailand work at public or private schools, with a standard workweek of five days, Monday through Friday. The typical workday starts around 7:30 or 8:00 am and ends around 4:00 or 4:30 pm, although this can vary depending on the school.
A normal day for an English teacher in Thailand typically begins with a morning assembly, where students gather for announcements, singing the national anthem, and reciting Buddhist prayers. As a foreign teacher, you may be asked to lead the assembly or participate in other school ceremonies.
After the assembly, you’ll likely have a short break before your first class of the day. Class periods in Thailand typically last around 50-60 minutes, with a 10-15 minute break between each class. Depending on the school, you may teach anywhere from three to six classes per day.
The subjects that you teach will depend on the level of the students you’re working with. In primary schools, you’ll likely teach English as a foreign language (EFL) to students in grades 1-6. In secondary schools, you may teach EFL or other subjects like math, science, or social studies, depending on your qualifications and the needs of the school. You may also end up as a homeroom teacher, teaching a variety of subjects (English, Math, Science) to a single class of students.
Lunchtime in Thailand is usually around 12:00 or 1:00 pm, and many schools provide a free meal for teachers and students. After lunch, you may have a few more classes or other responsibilities, depending on your schedule. Some teachers may also have after-school tutoring sessions or other extracurricular activities that they’re involved in.
After the end of the school day, teachers are typically free to go home or spend time working on lesson plans and other projects. However, many teachers also choose to participate in other activities, such as volunteering at a local temple, exploring the city, or taking language classes themselves.
While the schedule of an English teacher in Thailand can sometimes be a bit demanding (relative to what you’re used to haha), it’s also a great opportunity to immerse yourself in Thai culture and gain valuable teaching experience. Thailand is known for its friendly people, delicious food, and beautiful landscapes, and teaching in Thailand can be a great way to experience all of these things firsthand. It’s also an incredible way to engage with local communities in a way tourists and other travelers will never get to experience, and leave a positive impact in their lives.
An example schedule may look something like this:
7:00 – 8:00 Gate duty and morning assembly
8:00 – 8:50 Teach class #1
9:00 – 9:50 Free period (prep for classes, resource lessons, learn Thai)
10:00 – 10:50 Teach class #2
10:50 – 12:00 Teach class #3
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch/recess
1:00 – 1:50 Teach class #4
2:00 – 2:50 Teach class #5
3:00 – 3:30 Hang out with students, finish grading, get ready to go home!
Other Responsibilities of TEFL Teachers
In addition to teaching classes, you’ll also have other responsibilities as a teacher. This might include grading papers, preparing lesson plans, attending meetings with other teachers, and participating in school activities and events. Thailand places a strong emphasis on respect for authority and hierarchy, so it’s important to be respectful and deferential to your colleagues and administrators.
One of the challenges of teaching in Thailand is the language barrier. While many students are eager to learn English and may have some basic knowledge, their proficiency levels can vary widely. As a teacher, you’ll need to be patient and adapt your teaching style to meet the needs of your students. You may need to use visual aids, gestures, or other methods to help students understand concepts and vocabulary. Bonding with students in between periods, or at lunch and recess, can be a great way to begin bridging this gap and building trust with them!
Some teachers also like to coach sports or engage with their students in other ways beyond just language sharing. We highly encourage this, so if you have any hobbies or interests be sure to share them! There will likely be students at your school interested in the same things, and you can create powerful relationships by bonding over these shared interests. In the case of things like sports or musical instruments, you can also supplement your income by coaching or teaching after school!
Getting Ready to be a TEFL Teacher
If you’re considering teaching English in Thailand, there are a few things that you should keep in mind. First, it’s important to have a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification, as this will make you a more competitive candidate for jobs and provide you with the necessary skills to be an effective teacher.
You should also be prepared to adjust to a different culture and way of life. Thailand is a very different place from most Western countries, and you’ll need to be ready for a sometimes intense period of transition. Luckily your friends at Destination TEFL have you covered on this front! Our course includes specific training on culture shock, strategies to overcome and process it, and a network of alumni with a shared experience to connect with.
Finally, you should be prepared to truly commit yourself to this experience. One of our goals at Destination TEFL is to get every single teacher at least through their first semester. The turnover rates in Southeast Asia for teachers is truly astonishing. Many people come over here thinking it’ll be an extended vacation, with little to no training, only to be completely overwhelmed by the experience. Every year thousands of teachers pack up and quit mid-semester, leaving the schools, and more importantly the students without, a teacher. You should be ready to commit for at the bare minimum one semester if you want to teach professionally in a school.
Final Thoughts
While your weeks may be busy, teaching in Thailand does leave plenty of time for work-life balance! Because you have consistent hours, you have time to explore your area, develop hobbies and interests, and take care of yourself in the evenings. You also get weekends off, and 18 public holidays per year! Finally, you’ll have long breaks in between the semesters, sometimes as long as 4-weeks at a time, to do some deeper traveling. All in all, we’ve gotten great feedback from those who have chosen to walk this path!
And whenever you’re ready to begin your journey, Destination TEFL will be here to help!
