I hear there is a lot of corporate work in Bangkok. What is it exactly?

A language school will send you to teach company staff at their workplace. You might be teaching report writing to a group of five managers or basic business English to ten giggly secretaries and receptionists. Most companies will study a couple of nights a week, say Tuesday and Thursday - and sessions usually last about two hours. 

It's worth noting that there doesn't seem to be anywhere near as much corporate work around as there used to be. 


The teaching profession in Thailand doesn't seem to have a great image?

That's probably a true statement. Have things got better in recent years? I'm not sure. Schools have to start paying more for starters. The salaries for teachers in Thailand have generally always been far too low and it's becoming an increasingly expensive country to live in.

 I'm not going to go into the economics of it all but if we are to have schools that are staffed by professionals - they have to pay more! Schools aren't entirely to blame though. There are huge numbers of teachers out there who are just not up to it and do it simply for their money. Yes, we all need money to pay the rent but you have to have a modicum of affinity with your job.


Should I fix up a job before I arrive in Thailand?

If I had just one piece of advice to offer people - do NOT arrange jobs before you get here. Come over to Thailand, get yourself settled in and then take the time to weigh up your options.

Many schools aren't interested in hiring or even corresponding with teachers who aren't already living in the country. Teachers plans quickly change. The guy sitting in Canada who shoots off a few speculative e-mails and accepts a job at a school in February won't necessarily be around for the start of term in May.

Schools have wised up to this so they much prefer local hires. When it comes to finding a teaching job in Thailand, nothing beats actually being here and pounding the pavements, arranging interviews and knocking on a few doors. 

When I wrote an article on the most common mistakes that new teachers make when they come to teach in Thailand, I put this right at the top of the list. Have a read of the article to get some more advice.


What are Thais like to teach?

Be under no illusion - Thais can be a lot of fun to teach, and other times they can be painful.
Many of them (particularly male teenagers) have zero motivation. You will have to take the rough with the smooth. The Thais expect a teacher to be a mixture of an educator and an entertainer. An old teaching colleague, who had taught in several Asian countries, once remarked "a teacher in Thailand needs to be a combination of a dancer and a game show host. If you don't have the kind of personality that lights up a room the moment you walk in, you might find yourself struggling here"

I've spent much of my teaching career here in the corporate training room. Even managers and high-flying executives can start switching off if they're not having enough 'fun'. Thailand is very much a 'let's all have fun' society.  


Showing 4 questions out of 24 total

Page 3 of 3



Featured Jobs

Home School Teacher

฿90,000+ / month

Bangkok


Filipino Teachers for Kindergarten 3 and Grades1-12

฿20,000+ / month

Bangkok


Summer Camp Teachers

฿450+ / month

Bangkok


Kindergarten, Grade 3-4 Math and Grade 11 English Teachers for May Start (47-55K)

฿47,000+ / month

Bangkok


Nursery  Teacher (ages 3+) for August Start

฿65,000+ / month

Chiang Mai


Summer Camp Teachers

฿450+ / month

Bangkok


Featured Teachers

  • Jorome


    Filipino, 26 years old. Currently living in Philippines

  • Thania


    American, 32 years old. Currently living in USA

  • Sara


    Filipino, 29 years old. Currently living in Philippines

  • Ragunath


    Indian, 34 years old. Currently living in India

  • Robert


    British, 69 years old. Currently living in Thailand

  • Arnold


    Filipino, 35 years old. Currently living in Philippines

The Hot Spot


Need Thailand insurance?

Need Thailand insurance?

Have a question about health or travel insurance in Thailand? Ricky Batten from Pacific Prime is Ajarn's resident expert.


The dreaded demo

The dreaded demo

Many schools ask for demo lessons before they hire. What should you the teacher be aware of?


Will I find work in Thailand?

Will I find work in Thailand?

It's one of the most common questions we get e-mailed to us. So find out exactly where you stand.


Renting an apartment?

Renting an apartment?

Before you go pounding the streets, check out our guide and know what to look out for.


Teacher mistakes

Teacher mistakes

What are the most common mistakes that teachers make when they are about to embark on a teaching career in Thailand? We've got them all covered.


Contributions welcome

Contributions welcome

If you like visiting ajarn.com and reading the content, why not get involved yourself and keep us up to date?


Can you hear me OK?

Can you hear me OK?

In today's modern world, the on-line interview is becoming more and more popular. How do you prepare for it?