Global English TESOL graduate, Lea Hook was over the moon to be offered his dream job in Thailand. However, things didn't quite go according to plan on arrival. We asked him more about his Thai journey... and how disaster shortly after arrival turned around into a fantastic experience.
Key facts
- Who: Lea Hook, Global English TESOL graduate from the UK
- Where: a secondary school in Nan Province, northern Thailand, near the Laos border
- Course: the 250-hour Professional TESOL course
- Outcome: 20 classes a week with 12–17 year olds; free accommodation, food, visa and health insurance; 35,000 baht a month plus around 28,000 baht from online teaching
What happens if your teaching job in Thailand falls through?
I secured a Thai teaching job in the UK months in advance. On arriving in Thailand in the city, Krabi, with three days to go the agency called me and said he had ordered too many teachers for the school. Nine teachers went home frustrated and very upset.
How did things improve?
I decided to stay and find work, so I contacted another agency with an urgent position in a secondary school in Nan Province, North Thailand, near the border of Laos. It is certainly easier to find work here when you are actually in the country.
“I am glad I didn't go home like the others teachers. I love it.”
- Lea Hook, teaching English in Nan Province, Thailand
What is teaching in a Thai secondary school like?
The school picked me up from the airport in a luxury mini bus and drove me to Nan. It's a very quiet village, but it is surrounded in beauty and is such a friendly place. It's a little cooler here, too. I have 20 different classes per week, teaching 12-17 year olds.
The first week I did an introduction class all week, getting to know me, photos of my family, talking about the UK and Thailand with some games and fun.
I’ve been told to concentrate on speaking and listening and I have to plan the lesson with a new subject each week. No text books, no lecturing allowed. 50 minutes class time.
How do Thai students treat foreign teachers?
The students here are so polite and friendly it’s like I make their day by just saying hello to them. It's like being a movie star, they all shout your name in between classes and want photos. I opened up a new Facebook account and added about 400 friends over the past week. I post the best class of the day, photos or updates about the school. They can ask me any questions and I’m approachable if they want to know something. They love that. The head of the school thought it was a really clever idea.
I am glad I didn't go home like the others teachers. I love it.
How much can you earn teaching English in Thailand?
I have a good deal here: free accommodation with WIFI and air con, I have a scooter here too, free food at the school, my visa is paid for and health insurance too. I spend about 100 baht a day (£2) and that's usually on chocolate or coffee.
My pay is 35,000 baht a month which is about £700, plus I get around 28,000 baht (£500) from some online teaching I do. This means I actually earn more here than I did in the UK with no outgoings at all. I get a lot of free periods.
Sometimes I have to rub my eyes and think this is so surreal I am teaching in a school of 2000 students, doing online work when I want and it's what I’ve wanted to do for such a long time.
Thanks, Lea! Good luck with the rest of your teaching career.
What can you learn from Lea’s experience?
- Have a back-up plan. Agencies can over-recruit; if a job falls through, being in-country and contactable puts you first in line for urgent vacancies.
- Rural posts can be the best deals. Lea’s package in Nan Province included accommodation, food, visa and insurance – benefits city jobs do not always match.
- A higher-level TESOL helps. Lea took our 250-hour Professional TESOL, which covers young learners and business English – useful for the mixed classes and online work he now does.
- Check the official guidance. The gov.uk foreign travel advice for Thailand covers entry rules, and Thailand’s official e-visa portal is where work visa applications begin.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to teach English in Thailand?
Most Thai schools and agencies ask for a degree and an accredited TEFL/TESOL certificate of at least 120 hours, with a Non-Immigrant B visa arranged through your employer via Thailand’s official e-visa system. Our teaching English in Thailand guide covers requirements, typical packages and where the jobs are.
How much can you earn teaching English in Thailand?
Lea earns 35,000 baht a month (about £700) at a secondary school in Nan Province, plus around 28,000 baht (£500) from online teaching – with free accommodation, food, visa and health insurance on top. With daily costs of around 100 baht, he saves more than he did working in the UK.
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You might also like:
* more comments from Global English graduates teaching English in Thailand
* our full guide to teaching English in Thailand
* the 250-hour Professional TESOL course that Lea took with Global English TESOL
* tips on how to get noticed by TESOL employers