Thailand has at times been something of a hotspot for English language teachers abroad in recent times. Work was plentiful and pay was relatively high. However, the Ministry of Education in Thailand has recently announced plans to change things somewhat.
The changes
Evidently as some sort of effort to curb the influx of unqualified teachers, the new regulations are introducing two teaching qualifications that anyone wishing to teach in Thailand will need to possess. The qualifications are expensive, time-consuming and the reason for their existence is somewhat bewildering – especially when internationally recognized qualifications such as Trinity TESOL or CELTA are standard world wide.
The rules
The basic stipulations are as follows:
1. All teachers in Thailand must have a BA degree and a teaching license.
2. Those without a teaching license are required to take a 20-hour Thai culture course, a one year teaching training course, and the teacher must pass four exams.
More thorough details can be found here.
The why’s
If this improves the quality of teaching in Thailand then I suppose it will have fulfilled its purpose, but you can’t help but think that it’s a bit extreme. These new regulations will cause a lot of headaches and hassle for teachers who have been there for years but who don’t possess the necessary qualifications, and for any prospective teachers the stipulations might just kill off any enthusiasm they have. The full effect remains to be seen.
Are you teaching in Thailand? How will this affect you? Let us know here!
Hi,
I think it’s depend on where you want to teach.
If you want to teach in the language school, I think you need one certificate but I think the school can prepare the document for you. All you have to do is pass the test.
But if you plan to teach in University or high school, I think the certificate will be a little bit more strick.
I’m not so sure what it’s call.
hi
May ask if anyone can inform me as to weather my age of 58yrs will prevent me from gain a teaching position in Thailand as i have a Thai wife and we wish to return there to live.
westmoorlandconstruction@hotmail.co.uk
Hi David, I can’t say specifically whether or not that will count against you. I would recommend applying for jobs or viewing job vacancies to see what the specifications are generally. There’s lots of really useful information on teaching in Thailand at http://www.ajarn.com/
Hope it goes well for you.
I would like to know if having the two tefl courses under my belt would allow me to teach either privately, or primary/junior school teaching. I do not have a degree but have taught in Thailand before.
My husband and I would like to teach English in Thailand, but he does not have a bachelors degree. is ti really a must have? we plan on taking the 100 houe TESL class.
I have just read this on Ajarn.com: “Quite a number of colleges and universities don’t require a degree and it might be said that a number of private language schools will overlook the lack of a formal qualification.” Have a look at the Ajarn site for more information.
I completed my TEFL course in March of this year, and along with that I hold a Diploma qualification. Throughout my jobsearching I have found that most schools or job agents require a Degree quailification along with the TEFL certificate if the Degree is not in teaching. Reason being the application for the work permit which one needs in order to work full time. If you are willing to teach kindergarten, they normally do not require a degree, and some schools are less strict concerning that fact. I couldn’t find a job in Prathom or Mathyom Schools because I do not have a degree, and the TEFL on it’s own wasn’t enough. It is only recently that schools have become more strict, and that is all because of the work permit application.
I really hate the current situation here in Thailand. It affects my sales, my life and and and. When is it going to end …
I enjoy the efforts you have put in this, thankyou for all the great content .
good day!
i would like to ask if there’s a big chance for me to have a teaching experience and career in thailand? I am a filipino citizen,business mgt. graduate, with only less than 1 yr teaching experience in elementary, NKP, and high school.
my specific target of students are NKP or grades 1 to 3.. and how much salary can i have per month?