Placements

School is one of the few TEFL training institutes in Thailand known for successfully placing their graduates directly after completion of the course. We offer two types of placement programs. You can choose to either sign up for a Basic program and purchase a placement separately, or you can sign up for our Premium program which has an inclusive placement service. Both options offer a guaranteed placement upon completion of the course.

We follow a fair placement policy and try to find the best opportunities available for our graduates. We have successfully placed all our graduates till date even though we only guarantee positions for degree holding TEFL students. However, it must be kept in mind that your nationality, educational status, ethnicity and age can play a determining role in the teaching positions offered to you by prospective employees.

Our experience in the industry highlight that Thailand currently has no shortage of teaching jobs for well-trained Foreign Language teachers. We at School are committed to empowering you with the right skills to start your journey as a teacher.

Where would I typically be placed as a teacher?

Our graduates have found placement in all corners of Thailand. You can choose to put in a preferred placement location in your application while you are training with us. Our placement department will try to accommodate your request. However, such requests are mostly entertained on a first-come-serve basis and is dependent on the recruiters who are interested in employing our graduates.

Our network of schools and agents only bring prospective employers in contact with out graduating students. Hence, we cannot guarantee a level or location of your placement. If you have enrolled with us on the “buddy deal”, then you will be placed at the same school as your “buddy”. If placement at the same school is not possible, you will be assigned a placement in a school which is located close enough for you to live together during your teaching period.

The chart on the right is where most of our graduates were placed in 2016. (text sent doesn’t have a chart so this may require deletion)

What is the typical process followed for Placements?

Typically, the placement procedure at School is as follows:

1. You will need to enrol for our Premium Program or separately purchase the placement plan.
2. You will begin receiving job offers from potential employers in the 2nd week of your course.
3. Your prospective employers will schedule interviews with you in person or via Skype. You are encouraged to reach out to the employers you are interested in so you can schedule the meeting at a time that is suited to you.
4. In the third week of your course, your placement will be finalized. If you receive more than one offer, you may choose the offer that suits you the best and notify us.
5. You can start working with your employers the very next day of your graduation. Typically, our students graduate on a Friday and join as salaried ESL teachers the following Monday.

What does rural and beach placement mean? How are they different?

As the names suggest, a rural placement is one where you are placed with an employer in a rural area whereas a beach placement means your job location is on the coastal area or, near a “beach”.

Thailand’s coastal area is a major tourist attraction and nearly everyone who signs up for our Teacher Training Course wish to teach in areas which are closer to the beach. However, because these areas are tourism driven, they also have a high cost of living. Often the salary of a teacher earning in Thai baht is too low for the individual to actually enjoy a life in the “beach area”. If you prefer a location near the beach for your placement, you may want to remember that the competition for beach placement is very high and the job satisfaction may not be as expected due to the cost of living in such areas.

On the other hand, not many want to teach in the rural, underdeveloped areas of Thailand.  It may be worth remembering that though you may not find the idea of teaching in a rural area appealing, the cost of living here is extremely low and a teacher’s salary here is high enough for you to live comfortably as well as to make some savings. In addition, you are more likely to be valued here as a teacher and if you do your job well, the school will most likely want to keep you for a longer term.

What kind of accommodation should I expect as a Teacher?

Very few Schools provide accommodation on placement. For most placements, however. You will be provided assistance in finding a place of stay for yourself. Once you arrive at your new school, either the agent or someone from the school will take you around to look for an apartment. A furnished regular Thai apartment will have a western toilet, air conditioning, hot water facilities, a refrigerator, a TV and available Wi-Fi.

We recommend that you rent something suitable on a monthly basis on your arrival. This way you will be able to take your time and explore other options around you. Talking to colleagues at your new place of work and visiting their localities will help you decide if you want to shift to another area.

The typical rent for an apartment can range from 2,500 Thai baht ($75) – 6,500 Thai baht ($190). This depends on the number of bedrooms and bathrooms the apartment has and whether the apartment is fully furnished, partially furnished or unfurnished. Facilities like a Western kitchen, swimming pool, or other Western conveniences are considered luxury. Apartments with such features can cost you around 25,000 Thai baht ($750) per month.

What kind of a Salary should I expect as a Teacher in Thailand?

Teaching is a well-paying job in Thailand. Various factors can play a role in determining your starting salary as an ESL teacher. The type of school you will teach in, the location of the school, your educational qualifications in addition to the Teacher Training certification provided by us, your work experience, your age and your nationality are some of the possible determining factors. Typically, starting salaries for teachers in Thailand fall in the range of:

• 25,000 – 30,000 THB for Non-degree holders
• 30,000 – 35,000 THB for Degree holders

What does a standard Teaching Contract in Thailand look like?

Typically, teaching contracts in Thailand are fairly standard. Every school has its own set of rules and regulations, hence much of what your teaching contract contains will depend on the school or agency hiring you.

As a teacher you will be required to be present in the school premises during school hours, which is usually 7:30AM – 4:00PM, Monday through Friday. Your employment contract may be a yearly one or a term-based one. In case it is a term contract, you will not be entitled to a salary during school term breaks.

The first academic term in Thailand starts in May and goes on till September. The second teaching term spans from November to March. However, your employment can begin any month as we place our graduates all year around.

Do Teachers in Thailand need to follow a dress code?

Teachers usually dress formally to their place of work in Thailand. Teaching is a professional job and hence it is a good idea to dress professionally even if your place of employment does not explicitly lay down a dress code for you.

Male teachers generally wear business casual attire.  Trousers, slacks, dress shirts and ties are safe bets to wear to work if you are a male teacher. Female teachers generally wear a dress or a formal skirt and blouse combination teamed with closed shoes.

You can bring some formal wear with you for the initial days at your workplace. You can observe colleagues and adjust your daily wear accordingly.

If you do not have any formal attire, do not worry. Thailand has several malls where you can find affordable and well-fitted outfits of your choice. You can also visit local shops and stock up on your work attire.

When you first get placed, your salary can range anywhere between 25,000 THB (if you are a non-degree holder) and 35,000 THB (if you are a degree holder). Typically, an ESL teacher’s starting monthly salary and living expenses in Thailand looks like the following:

MONTHLY INCOME: 25,000-35,000 THB

FIXED COSTS

Tax: 7% of your salary

Rent: 2,500 THB – 8,000 THB

Water: 200 THB

Electricity: 1.8THB – 8THB per unit

LIVING EXPENSES (estimated)

Weekday meals: 200 THB per day

Weekend meals and drinks: 500 THB per day

In addition to the above, you will probably want to factor in miscellaneous costs dependent on your lifestyle and interests. On an average this shouldn’t cost you more than 2,000 THB a month.

In other words, you will probably be saving at least half your salary each month even as a new employee.