Teaching English in Thailand is extremely popular and a wonderful experience in many ways. However, not everyone wants to take this step on their own or is ready to commit to a full year of teaching just yet. If you are looking for a short-term placement and hoping to go overseas with support, here are 10 companies that will provide you with a 4-6 month teaching placement in Thailand.
Disclaimer: I have not personally worked with any of these companies. Please do your research before applying and/or accepting a teaching job abroad.
Photo Credits: John Thomas
What to Know
Do you need use a placement company to teach English in Thailand?
No! You can find and apply to public schools, private schools, or teaching centers in Thailand on your own. You can find these opportunities via job postings on various websites such as THESE.
Are all placement companies free?
No. Some are free but others cost money. This list is organized from free to most expensive.
Why would you pay to work?
You are not paying in order to work. What you are paying for is the ease and support of getting a job in Thailand, getting the proper VISA and work permits, transitioning abroad, and having in country assistance while living abroad. It is also good to know that you will most likely end up making back what you spent on placement fees after the first month of teaching.
Why should you go with a placement company?
Aside from what is provided for you, as stated above, is can be difficult finding a short-term teaching placement on your own. Most teaching jobs that you will find on your own advertise a one year commitment minimum.
When should you apply to teach in Thailand?
Thailand semesters run from May to September and November to March/April. Some organizations offer teaching placements all year round while others have specific application deadlines and start dates. It is best to apply at least two months before the start of the program/date you want to start teaching, bearing in mind that some placements will need you in country before the first day of teaching for a mandatory orientation/training.
What do you need to teach English in Thailand?
To teach in Thailand you will need to obtain the proper Non-Immigrant B-VISA before you arrive, as well as a legal work permit once you arrive in the country. You can find more details, here.
Short-Term Placement Options
Cost: Free.
Placement Info: One of 70 schools throughout Central, North, and Northeastern Thailand for 4 months starting in May or November.
What's Included: A salary starting at $850-$900/month, VISA assistance, work permit assistance, accident/health insurance, accommodation or accommodation assistance, and orientation/training.
Eligibility: Native English speakers ages 21-50 who have a bachelor's degree and are from the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, or South Africa. *Non-native English speakers from Europe may apply.
Notes: While this company is very well known they tend to have very negative reviews from previous teachers. They also tend to place their teachers in extremely rural locations.
2. On the Mark
Cost: Free.
Placement Info: Contracts are between 4-5 months with start dates in May, June, October, or November. You are placed in one of 20 schools in North, East, South, or Central Thailand.
What's Included: Salary of $850-$1,000/month, housing allowance, VISA fee reimbursement, and work permit fees.
Eligibility: Native English speakers with a bachelor's degree and a clean criminal record. *Some non-native English speakers accepted depending on placement and fluency.
Notes: They have multiple Thailand programs, two of them are short-term options. They also offer other no cost teaching placements in Thailand, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Turkey, Russia, & Saudi Arabia.
Cost: $100 refundable registration fee.
Placement Info: Semesters run from May to September or November to March but they place teachers every month.
What's Included: A salary of $800-$1400/month, a one-week cultural orientation, work permit assistance, accommodation assistance, and 24/7 emergency support.
Eligibility: Native English speakers age 20-50, holding a passport from the USA, Canada, the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, or New Zealand. *A TEFL and bachelor's degree are helpful but not required.
Notes: Road Experience is a training, placement, and recruitment company. They also offer a week long orientation in Chiang Mai or Phuket along with a teaching placement, but prices for these are not listed.
Cost: Up to $650. They offer a consistent discount that usually cuts the price in half.
Placement Info: A 4-5 month teaching placement with an option to extend at the end of your contract. Placements start in October in one of 30 different locations in the North, Northeast, or Central Thailand.
What's Included: A monthly salary of $990, assistance with finding housing, an accommodation allowance, orientation and training, VISA assistance, a work permit, and in-country support.
Eligibility: Native English speakers ages 21-45 with a bachelor's degree who are in good physical condition and have a clean criminal record. Must have a passport from one of the following countries: the USA, Canada, Australia, the UK, Ireland, or New Zealand. *European or South African passport holders can contact their advisors for options.
Notes: This company works with MediaKids Academy. Ultimately if you choose to work with them you will be working for MediaKids with the TEFL Institute as a liaison between you and that company. You are paid but they consider this placement an internship.
5. TEFL Heaven
Cost: $1,297 for placement (if you have a TEFL), $1,747 for placement and online TEFL, or $1,997 for placement and in-person TEFL.
Placement Info: Minimum teaching requirements range from 2-3 months. Placements are offered year round except for February, March, and August.
What's Included: A salary of $900-$1,300/month, pre-departure support, in-country support, a one-week orientation, and support finding accommodation.
Eligibility: Native English speakers (or non-native speakers with a C1 level) ages 21-60 who have a bachelor's degree, a clean background, and are in good physical health.
Notes: They offer other TEFL placements in 14 destinations around the world.
6. Xplore Asia
Cost: $1,395.
Placement Info: Placements are year round but short-term summer placements start in June.
What's Included: A salary of $800-$1200/month, assistance with accommodation, VISA support, and a full immersive orientation.
Eligibility: Native English speakers (or can prove english fluency) ages 19-15, who are in good physical health and hold a passport from one of the following countries: the USA, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, the UK, or Ireland. *A TEFL is recommended but not required.
Notes: You need to inquire on their website in order to get a breakdown of costs and all that is included.
7. CIEE
Cost: $1,700.
Placement Info: Public and private schools throughout the country starting in May or October. Most placements are available in the Central, Eastern, or Northern regions of the country.
What is Included: A salary of $840-$1,000/month, VISA assistance, housing, orientation, language lessons, training, and 24/7 emergency assistance.
Eligibility: Citizens of the USA, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, or the UK who are under age 50 and have a bachelor's degree from either the USA, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, or the UK.
Notes: You can add a TEFL certification for another $1,000 but it is not a necessity.
Cost: $1,750 for a TEFL course and teaching placement.
Placement Info: A one-month TEFL course and a 5 month teaching placement starting in May, June, July, August, September, October, or November.
What is Included: A salary of £640/month, an in-country TEFL course, accommodation during TEFL training, support finding housing, orientation, VISA assistance, a work permit, and 24/7 emergency support.
Eligibility: Native English speakers (or level IELTS Band 7) ages 21-50 who have a bachelor's degree and hold a passport from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK, or the USA.
Notes: The TEFL course is built in and there is no "placement only" option.
9. TravelBud
Cost: $1,800 for placement (if you already have a TEFL), $2,700 for a placement and an in-class TEFL/TESOL, and $2,250 for placement and an online TEFL/TESOL.
Placement Info: A 4-5 month placement with start dates offered each month, not including February, March, or August.
What's Included: A salary of $800-$1300/month, VISA assistance, orientation, contract vetting, accommodation or assistance with accommodation, work permit support, cultural orientation, 24/7 support, and a lifetime placement guarantee.
Eligibility: Ages 20-45 with a bachelor's degree, a TEFL/TESOL certificate, and a passport from the UK, the USA, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, or New Zealand.
Notes: They offer a placement meeting in which you can discuss your placement preferences and what you are looking for. They do their best to place you in the location of your choice.
Cost: $1,910 for a semester placement (if you already have a TEFL), $2,660 if you need a TEFL, or $1,800 for a summer only placement.
Placement Info: Semester contracts are 4-5 months and summer placements are 7 weeks. Placements are in one of 100 schools across Thailand and start dates are in May or November.
What's Included: A salary of $900-$1,100/month, medical insurance, a one-week orientation, VISA support, 24/7 emergency support, and a lifetime of placement after completion (meaning you will never need to pay for placement again through their company).
Eligibility: Fluent English speakers ages 20-50 who are in good mental/physical health, have no criminal record, and are from the USA, the UK, the EU, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. *If you do not have a bachelor's degree there is an extra $150 charge and you will need to complete a TESOL certification with them.
Notes: Past teacher reviews state that Greenheart Travel works with XploreAsia. This means that once you land in Thailand you begin working with XploreAsia instead of directly with Greenheart Travel.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a short-term opportunity to teach English in Thailand then hopefully one of these placement companies is a good fit for you. If you don't want to test the waters and rather just take the plunge and sign on for a year, that is also an option! No matter what road you end up going down hopefully your teaching experience in Thailand is one to remember.