4 Week TEFL

SEE’s accredited onsite TEFL certification training program in Chiang Mai, Thailand enables its graduates to successfully step into any classroom anywhere in the world, and effectively and confidently teach English as a Foreign Language. However, effective high-quality training is only one part of this program. We also provide extensive ongoing working and living support. We are your TEFL partner throughout this journey.

Program Summary


    Effective TEFL Training

  • 4-week (Monday to Friday) Ministry of Education Licensed on-site 120-hour TEFL Certification with 6 observed teaching practices at a range of local schools.
  • 4-week courses run every month at our school in Chiang Mai. However, classes are popular and can fill quickly, so it's advisable to book early in order to avoid disappointment.
  • SEE teacher training provides the fundamentals needed to begin teaching English as a Foreign Language, including lesson planning, classroom management, and the Presentation-Practice-Production (PPP) TEFL teaching method.
  • SEE participants gain a strong foundation in teaching fundamentals, course preparation, authentic practice, grammar and Thai cultural appreciation.
  • Teaching Inputs. These are the individual classroom skills an EFL teacher needs in order to be an effective EFL teacher. Each skill is looked at individually in separate practical-skills development workshops. Detailed descriptions of all Teaching Inputs are listed further down this page.
  • Grammar Inputs. These inputs develop awareness of language and structure. They also show how to teach structure, language ideas and context to non-native speaking students. Detailed descriptions of all Grammar Inputs are listed further down this page.
  • Authentic six 1-hour observed teaching practices with real students at a range of levels and ages in local real schools (see caveat below, for courses that take place during the school semester breaks).
  • An online grammar terminology and teaching process review is now included with all 4-week TEFL courses. An introductory refresh of grammar terminology, as well as an overview of the teaching process, will help with preparation for the course. The grammar terminology and teaching process review will be emailed to trainees approximately 4 weeks before the start of their training date.
  • Cultural awareness training (1 day). Effective insights into how Thais process the world and their societal values. This is essential for successfully living and working in Thailand.
  • Survival Thai language instruction (8 hours). This also allows trainees to experience the language teaching classroom from the perspective of their future students.
  • TEFL certification with observed teaching practices is required for the majority of teaching positions in Thailand and other countries.
  • SEE achieved ISO 9001 Quality Management certification in 2009 (the first TEFL training organization in Asia to do so).
  • SEE is licensed by the Thai Ministry of Education to teach TEFL teacher training. This allows the SEE certificate to be notarized at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Chiang Mai. This is a requisite for legal employment in several countries including China and Vietnam.
  • SEE is an Approved Center of Training Qualifications UK (TQUK), which in turn is recognized by the UK Government Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual).
  • SEE offers through TQUK an Ofqual regulated Level 5 certificate extension to our standard 120-hour course. SEE is the only onsite trainer in Thailand to offer this certificate.
  • Registration and a deposit payment is required to confirm a seat; the balance payment isn't payable until the end of the first day of training. A full financial commitment isn't required until you've experienced our school, staff, trainers and training.

    Effective Working

  • There is a range of employment options in Thailand. Foreign TEFL teachers can work full-time at government or private formal schools at kindergarten, primary and secondary levels so will participate in their students' formal education. Teachers can also work part-time or full-time at vocational colleges and universities. Teachers are expected to be in school from around 7:30am to 4:30pm from Monday to Friday. Employment contracts normally last 10 - 12 months but they can be just 1 semester (4 - 5 months) long as well. Whenever a teacher joins the school during the academic year, their contract normally finishes at the end of that academic year or semester but can resume again at the start of the next academic year or semester. If a teacher is satisfied with their school and their school is satisfied with them, they can extend their employment contract indefinitely. The school provides paid sick and holiday leave, a fixed monthly salary, basic health insurance cover, non-immigrant B visa and work permit support and, perhaps most importantly, an unforgettable life experience for the teacher.
  • Teaching at language schools is also available. These schools offer classes for students outside of their normal school or working day. Hence classes tend to be evenings and weekends. Some language schools offer fixed monthly salaries but most employ teachers on a part-time basis and teachers are paid for the hours they teach only. Schools normally provide non-immigrant B visa and work permit support and sometimes basic health insurance cover. This suits some teachers as it allows part-time work, flexibility and frees up times of the week when they may wish to pursue other activities. It's also possible to have a full-time position at a formal school and teach additional language school classes evenings and weekends for extra income.
  • Teaching online is also an option. This offers the opportunity to live as a 'digital nomad' traveling around the world while earning an income. Although not as personally rewarding as face-to-face teaching, it does support a lifestyle choice.
  • SEE provides extensive employment support and most trainees are offered jobs during or shortly after training ends. In fact, we offer a job guarantee! Our support includes a finding work workshop during training which shows teachers how to find work independently of an agency as many teachers wish to decide themselves where they will work, the age group or level of the students, the start and end dates of employment and the minimum salary. We also provide lists of school contacts and forward job descriptions sent to us by schools looking for teachers. Our graduates are invited to join our SEE Grads Facebook page where earlier graduates post job openings at their schools and recent graduates can ask questions about schools, locations or countries. As a TEFL training school since 2006, SEE has developed extensive connections with schools which prioritize job applications from SEE graduates and schools that rely on SEE to manage jobs at their schools. SEE manages around 50 teaching positions at schools within this network; we only recruit teachers for these positions from our TEFL course.
  • For finding work outside of Thailand we offer a one-to-one consultation with our school director.
  • Job support is ongoing and can be requested at any time in the future, not just after training ends.
  • See also the Volunteer option for those SEE graduates who wish to Volunteer Teach in Thailand.

    Effective Living

  • Accommodation arrangements can be made on behalf of the student for the training period and we also offer advice on finding alternative accommodation for this period and for long term living while employed as a teacher.
  • A 60-day Tourist Visa or 30-day Visa Exemption allows participants to enter Thailand, complete training and look for employment. Both options can also be extended for a further 30 days in Chiang Mai. Once trainees find employment, their school will provide paperwork to support their Non-Immigrant B (Business) visa and work permit applications; this visa allows an indefinite permission to stay as it can be extended each year.
  • SEE provides a free Chiang Mai Airport collection and transfer (if requested) to your accommodation within the city. Please forward no less than 72 hours before your arrival, your flight number, airline, arrival date/time, whether you are arriving at the Domestic or International terminal and your destination.
  • SEE provides assistance to purchase a Thai SIM card and pre-paid data package.
  • Our staff are always available for any questions relating to living and working in Thailand.

95% of trainees who start training successfully pass and complete the program. People who leave training due to illness or personal issues are invited to return for no extra charge to complete the program on any future training course from the point during the 4 weeks when they withdrew. One of our responsibilities is to support trainees so that they reach the required standards to pass.

Onsite training effectively prepares trainees for teaching EFL classrooms anywhere in the world, not just Thailand, with accredited TEFL certification, practical skills training, language awareness training, cultural awareness training, teaching experience and confidence. Training takes place in a working language school in Chiang Mai: EFL Learning Centre.

Our 4-week onsite Chiang Mai TEFL training program is separate to our Chiang Mai paid internship program.


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Everything you need to know about becoming a TEFL teacher in Thailand – even without prior teaching experience.

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