FAQs
Teach Thailand Corps has a new website! Please visit us at www.teach-thailand-corps.org to explore and apply.
In which school will I teach?
Our program will match successful applicants with primary schools and high schools in less-developed provinces of Thailand.
Are these specifically language schools?
The schools are co-educational, either public or private, and enroll students from primary school to high school. The schools administer the Ministry of Education’s curriculum, and are not exclusively language schools.
How old are the students?
The students’ age range is 6-18 years old.
What subjects will I teach?
You will teach English, which will include skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. There may also be opportunities to teach other subjects, such as math and science, using English as the language of instruction.
What is the typical class size?
A typical class size in Thailand is 20-50 students per class.
How many hours will I teach each week?
Approximately 15 to 22 hours a week.
What are the working hours?
Monday to Friday, 8.00 am to 4.30 pm.
When is the academic year?
The academic year runs from June to March, with a two-week school break in October.
Who will supervise my work and to whom will I report?
You will report to the school; however, Yonok Foundation will conduct our own evaluation and supervision of the teachers jointly with the schools.
What are the visa and work permit requirements?
Yonok Foundation will provide documentation and contact information for you to contact the appropriate Thai consulate location in the United States to process your entry visa. Once you have arrived in Thailand, the foundation will make all necessary arrangements and pay for your work permit/visa.
What is the nature of the housing accommodations?
We will provide safe, comfortable, and convenient accommodations.
What are the options for local transportation?
There is ample public transportation, often in the form of inexpensive shared-ride taxis. Mopeds/scooters are also a popular means of transportation that much of the population employs.
How much money do I need per month for living expenses?
We estimate daily expenses of approximately 200-300 baht for transportation, meals, groceries, communications, and amenities; monthly expenses would total about 6,000-9,000 baht. As an example of a basic expense, a typical meal would usually cost 20 to 30 baht, and a sit-down dinner at a restaurant may cost 100 baht. (The current exchange rate is approximately 30 baht per U.S. dollar.)
What costs are provided and paid for?
Yonok Foundation will provide accommodation (not including utility costs), transportation to your school, domestic work-related travel, monthly stipend, and work permit and visa in Thailand. We also provide training, including language, culture, and teaching workshop during the intensive orientation after arrival in Thailand. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters in Portland, Oregon, graduates of Oregon, Washington, and California universities may be eligible for scholarship to support their airfare to Thailand.
What is the education and skill requirement on my part?
A bachelor’s degree in any field
Strong communication/interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish positive relationships and be constructive team player
Proven ability to be creative, energetic, and enthusiastic in a variety of settings and to be adaptable to new environments
Teaching experience and ESL or TEFL or equivalent helpful but not required
Experience living/working in a foreign country desirable
Arts, music, and athletics/sports ability helpful but not required
Do I need to know the Thai Language?
Knowledge of Thai is not necessary; the language of instruction in your classes will be English. However, you will of course have the opportunity to learn the language during your time in Thailand, both from lessons and through immersion and conversations with students, friends, and colleagues.
How else might I benefit from the experience?
We present an invaluable the opportunity to help improve the lives of Thai students and local communities in ways that will have an impact on the country's continuing development, while gaining an enriching experience working and living in Thailand. Our volunteers/teachers will have firsthand exposure to international development in the midst of the dynamic and rising ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region. Teach Thailand Corps provides an excellent foundation to support your goals of personal and professional development, in preparation for your future career.
What is the application process?
We ask that you complete an application form and submit it along with your resume, cover letter, and transcript--the application deadlines are December 31 for the fall cycle, and April 15 for the spring cycle (with priority given to applications submitted earlier). After reviewing the application, we will schedule interviews, and will subsequently notify you of our decision. All successful candidates will arrive in Thailand late May for orientation and will begin teaching in June.
Is there an application fee?
There is no application/acceptance/enrollment fee. We are a nonprofit organization, not a for-profit recruitment service.
* Successful candidates are encouraged to spend some time observing or volunteering in classroom teaching in the US.
For more information, please e-mail: contact@americanthaifoundation.org