4 Things You Will Learn from Teaching English in Thailand

For an expat living in Thailand, or one looking to relocate, teaching English in Thailand is probably one of the few, albeit popular legal jobs that you can do. Every new year sees thousands of foreigners packing up their bags in search of adventure and a new life in this exotic paradise.

And if you are like many people, your search for a job probably starts with a cursory look at how life is like for those in Thailand. The reality is that not all people get to enjoy the same experiences. Some of the stories you will come across online are encouraging while others are downright terrifying.

As the saying goes, what is good for one person, may not be good for the next one. The best thing you can do is to follow the advice given to you by your TEFL course tutors. The following is a look at things you can expect to learn when teaching English in Thailand.

1. Love for Your Students

Thailand is called a Land of Smiles for a reason. Its residents are generally nice and welcoming. The students you will interact with will always have broad smiles on their faces, well dressed, and will treat, and address you with respect whenever your paths cross each other. It’s something that you will come to appreciate during your time in Thailand.

The students will naturally and without prompting carry your books for you, encourage you to share their snacks, and want you to learn their culture. Most will also be helpful outside the school boundaries if they find you looking for directions or if facing a problem, they can help you to solve it.

2. You Learn to Relax

If looking to teach English in Thailand without a degree, you should note that Sabai in Thailand basically means to relax. For the locals, this is not just another word, it’s their way of life. On arrival, you will notice that things will dramatically begin to slow down. For instance, it’s not uncommon for teachers to take a cat nap on their desks during their free sessions.

Another thing to note is that it’s not uncommon for deadlines for submitting lesson plans and exams to get extended. Some lessons will also finish early, and in some cases start way past the normal time. As long as you are able to teach the students some basic conversational English, no one will have a bone to pick with you.

3. Sanook

It’s well-known that Thai’s love to have fun. And this is something that you’re bound to see for yourself in the many ceremonies that you will be required to attend during your time in Thailand.

If you like to have fun, you can look forward to doing so during the many long weekends and holidays that are present in the school calendar.

Apart from the normal semester break, there will be numerous other short breaks that will occur before the semester comes to an end in the month of April. Just imagine all the things you can do and places you can visit during your day off!

4. Teaching in Thailand is an Interesting Job

You will come to learn that teaching English in Thailand is one of the most interesting jobs that one can ever have. During your time here, you will get to see, learn, and experience things that you would never have been able to see or experience if you were a normal tourist. Students, parents, colleagues, and neighbours will invite you to ceremonies, dinners, weddings, and lunches where you will get to experience the true Thai culture. You also get an opportunity to learn, taste, hear and see something new each day.

Summary

Anyone looking to teach English in the country should be prepared to learn a whole new set of things. While teaching may not be the easiest job one can pursue, Thai culture does help make up for it. But be sure to first complete your TEFL course before you can start sending out job applications.