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Teach English in Bangkok
Even with a huge tourism industry, English being taught from an early age and enormous interest in the language, Bangkok still struggles with English proficiency. This means there are huge opportunities for TEFL teachers in a beautiful city.
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From its incredible temples to its lively nightlife, street food, markets and gorgeous climate, Bangkok is an enormously popular destination for both temporary visitors and new permanent residents. Whether you’re more interested in music, dancing, tuk-tuk rides and stunning modern architecture, or you have a reverence for history, religion and longer-heralded culture, Thailand’s capital offers endless intrigue for English teachers looking for a new way of life.
Thailand’s rapid modernisation over the last 30-40 years has seen an incredible influx of visitors, with millions of visitors per year, and huge communities of residents from all over the world. Meanwhile, there have been government efforts to step up the level of English proficiency, especially in the cities where so many tourists first arrive. This is especially true in Bangkok, the first port of call for the vast majority of visitors to Thailand.
With Thai businesses enjoying expansion into the west, and an ever-increasing interest in English spreading across the country, it’s unlikely that there’s ever been a better time to teach English in Bangkok. As a base for teaching and travelling, it’s hard to top, and the sheer range of teaching opportunities competes with any major city in Asia.
Bangkok has so much to offer any English teacher, so let’s talk about how you get there, what you can earn teaching English, and everything else you need to know.
Bangkok: An overview
For TEFL teachers with a sense of adventure, Bangkok is an absolute gift. Teaching English in Thailand is a bucket list item for many English teachers, and it’s not hard to see why. There’s so much to see and do, the cost of living is comparatively cheap, and it’s extremely hospitable for visitors.
From a linguistic point of view, Bangkok - and Thailand more broadly - represents an interesting challenge for those teaching English abroad. The level of English proficiency, according to EF’s English Proficiency Index, is poor. That Bangkok ranks second best in Thailand for English ability isn’t to say very much at all. This is a concerning trend, given that the English language is taught widely in Thai schools from an early age, and is even taught at university level.
The Thai government is keen to see levels of proficiency rise, to the extent that the Thai Government’s English Programme (EP) is offered in both private and public schools. This is a programme which hires teachers from abroad, who teach a range of subjects in English. Whether it’s state or private education, these lessons cost, and can be taken by either Thai nationals or students from overseas. In Bangkok, the English Programme is particularly popular, since more families move to the capital of Thailand than to more rural locations.
Private language academies and international schools are also common in Bangkok. Language academies, in particular, offer great routes of employment for teachers who are new to Thailand. International schools can be extremely competitive and require experienced, highly qualified teachers who have an impressive teaching career behind them already. Being able to speak Thai also helps enormously.
Requirements for teaching English in Bangkok
So what do you need to meet the significant demand and start teaching English in Bangkok? Let’s explore.
Visas
To work full-time as a teacher in Bangkok on a permanent basis, you’ll need a Non-Immigrant B Visa. The requirements for this visa are:
- Copy of Bachelor’s degree
- Clean, certified criminal background check
- Passport valid for a minimum of 6 months after arrival, plus two blank pages
- Recent passport photos (4 x 6 cm)
- Visa application fees
- Any required documents from your employer (which they will supply), including the Office of the Private Education Commission and/or the Office of the Basic Education Commission, and a letter of acceptance from the relevant school/institution.
You will also need a Thai work permit to teach English in Bangkok. For this, you’ll need:
- Non-Immigrant B Visa
- Original copy of bachelor’s degree
- Certified medical check (to be carried out in Thailand)
- Passport photos
Finally, you’ll need a Thai teaching license to be fully equipped to teach English in Bangkok. For this, you require:
- Non-Immigrant B Visa
- Thai Work Permit
- Original copy of bachelor’s degree (plus university transcripts if applicable)
- Clean, certified criminal background check
- Passport photos
Salary and cost of living in Bangkok
So you've got your work permit, your visa, copies of your qualifications including your TEFL certification and some teaching jobs lined up - you're in the beautiful country of Thailand to teach English and ready to go. How much can you earn teaching English in Thailand's capital? Let's find out who's paying what in Bangkok.
Salary
The average salary for an ESL teacher in a full-time position in Bangkok is around 35,000 THB – 47,000 THB (£756 – £1,015 / $950 – $1,275) per month at a language school or state school. This is a typical salary at the entry level for English teachers in Bangkok. After a few years of experience, teachers can generally command salaries closer to 50,000 - 60,000 THB in the public sector.
Elite institutions like international schools can pay a teacher a significantly higher salary, with top schools offering payment of as much as 150,000 THB (£3,241 / $4,071). However, these jobs are typically taken by teachers who are long-tenured in Bangkok (or Thailand’s education system more broadly), and have at least a master’s alongside their bachelor’s degree and other relevant qualifications.
Cost of living
How does the median English teaching salary contrast with Bangkok’s cost of living? Per Numbeo, we can see that Thailand’s capital is nearly half as expensive to live in as London, and rents are two-thirds lower, which is a solid start!
Let’s get into specifics, though. If you’re looking to rent a one-bedroom apartment in central Bangkok, you’re likely to spend around £486/$610. This rent lowers to £226/$284 if you move out of the city centre.
Monthly utilities cost about £70/$87, a monthly transport pass costs 2,000 Baht (£43/$54), and monthly internet access should set you back about £12/$15 per month. Beyond day-to-day expenses like local transportation and getting online, one of the most important elements of living in Bangkok - and Thai culture - is the outstanding cuisine, but how much does it usually cost? Well, each restaurant varies, but Numbeo reliably tells us that a solo meal in an inexpensive restaurant costs under £3/$3. That’s remarkable value, and for two in a mid-priced restaurant, you’re looking at a bill of around £20/$24!
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English teaching jobs in Bangkok
Public Schools
To meet the requirements for a visa, work permit and teaching license, you’ll need a job. The most common route, especially for newer teachers coming to Bangkok, is the public school sector.
The requirements for teaching jobs are the same as those you’ll need to enter the country. A bachelor’s degree and a TEFL certificate are essential, while previous teaching experience is never a bad thing. In Bangkok, you can expect large class sizes, with 25-50 pupils the norm. You can also expect 15-20 hours of teaching time per week, but ample opportunities to explore Bangkok and Thailand more widely during weekends and school holidays. Expect to receive some training from the Ministry of Education in Thailand before you start.
Private language academies
Private language academies are widespread throughout Bangkok, and with the number of people keen to learn English in Thailand’s capital, it’s not hard to see why. These schools can vary in terms of size, reputation and standards. However, they are an established employer of newly qualified TEFL teachers. It’s well worth researching these schools beforehand, so you can pick the language school that works best for your needs.
Language schools, private language academies - whatever you call them, the fact is, they’re run for profit. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but it does mean they’re subject to the market, as are you. Therefore, it’s a good idea to look at teaching opportunities in language schools that have a long-established reputation and speak to TEFL teachers who have experience teaching in these kinds of institutions.
Classes will be smaller, you’ll usually teach adults, and you’ll also be expected to bring your own lesson plans and teaching materials. Expect to teach in the evenings, weekends and early mornings.
International Schools
While these aren’t the most traditional TEFL jobs, so to speak, the salaries at international schools in Bangkok suggest that they’re jobs worth mentioning. If you have a degree in education, or a master’s in an educational field, there are international schools in Bangkok that will be interested in what you have to offer.
TEFL certification and considerable experience are also a must on any application, and if you have experience with CLIL (content and language-integrated learning) then it’s worth mentioning that, too. Why? International schools like teachers who can work across subjects, especially if they’re bilingual schools. Teaching jobs of this kind will often require more than "just" teaching English!
These job opportunities are ultra-competitive, but if you meet the requirements, you can live extremely well as an English teacher in Bangkok.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How much do English teachers get paid in Bangkok?
In the public school system, English teachers are usually paid around 35,000 THB – 47,000 THB (£756 – £1,015 / $950 – $1,275) per month. In international schools and elite private schools, salaries of as much as 150,000 THB (£3,241 / $4,071) are being offered.
Q. Are English teachers in demand in Thailand?
Yes, English teachers are in demand in Thailand. Despite English being taught from a young age, and an enormous tourism industry, Thailand has poor levels of English proficiency. That’s something that Thai authorities are keen to improve, and as such, there are loads of amazing English teaching jobs in Thailand.
Q. Is teaching English in Thailand a good idea?
If you’re a teacher looking to sample Thai culture, meet enthusiastic students from a range of ages and backgrounds, and combine breathtaking ancient temples and stunning modern architecture and culture, then yes! Teaching English in Thailand is a good idea.