Most travellers visiting Thailand will tell you that the hardest part about the visit is communicating with the locals. There are varied landscapes, inviting culture and friendly locals. With so much on offer, many visitors have decided to stay and make a living teaching English.
With the advancement in technology, teaching English online has been highly embraced since this form of teaching takes away the geological restrictions. This has also given teachers more leverage to charge what they feel they deserve. This post will provide you with an insight into what teaching English online in Thailand is all about.
Why Teaching English Online in Thailand?
Some teachers move to Thailand to work face to face with students because they dislike sitting behind a computer all day. However, teaching online has its benefits. You will enjoy a flexible working schedule. So instead of showing up on campus, you can sign up with any teaching agency in Thailand and set your teaching hours. There is broad internet access in Thailand, and enough educational resources available around the clock, which means having a flexible working schedule is achievable.
Being able to work from home is also the key reason why most people prefer teaching the English language online in Thailand. This is ideal for parents with young children as they can plan their lessons and evaluate their students when their children are at school or napping. This mode of teaching also creates an opportunity for a second job. Hence, you will be able to generate extra income.
How Much Does Teaching English Online Pay in Thailand?
Different factors will determine your pay as an online English teacher in Thailand. For instance, teachers who are non-native speakers will be paid differently from native speakers. Also, delivering individual classes to students of either pre-Intermediate or higher levels or both will earn you a different salary.
Generally, online teachers will earn around 15 USD to 20 USD per hour or 1500 USD as a monthly salary. You can also earn more depending on your experience and qualifications. Payments are normally made through the online payment methods, the major one being PayPal.
There are different agencies you can sign up with to teach. Each one of them has a different rate they pay their teachers. The rates can be negotiated depending on the job description you find suitable for you.
How to Find Online English Teaching Jobs in Thailand
Online English teaching jobs in Thailand can only be applied and done online. This means that applicants living in Thailand will also have to check out different online avenues to submit their applications. The following are various places you can check out for job opportunities.
Job Posting Sites
There are numerous free job sites in Thailand where teachers can post their resumes. These sites also offer a CV database for employers to find the ideal candidates. These sites are effective as they accept teachers from across the world as long as they have access to the internet. Employers, on the other hand, can post jobs on the sites and reach out to several potential candidates.
Interested candidates usually send their applications to employers via email or go directly to the company’s career page after clicking on the job. When looking for jobs on job posting sites, it is always advisable to apply as soon as they are posted since most sites have packages that last within a short period of time.
Agencies
Online English teaching in Thailand is also available on some teaching agencies. You only need to sign up. This is the most sought-after option as it finds you all your jobs and provides the teaching materials you will need to get started. However, this comes at a cost.
Start a Teaching Service
You can also find online teaching jobs in Thailand by starting your online teaching service. It is quite easy and all you need is a website and a connection to Skype. Starting your own teaching service requires enough teaching experience as teaching Thai students can be a demanding task. As a result, it is advisable to start with an agency to get a feel of the Thai students and understand their expectations before launching your services.
Tips to Help You Succeed at Teaching English Online
Teaching online English in Thailand is an attainable, fun, and exciting profession that anyone can take part in. Whether you are a classroom teacher equipped with years of experience or belong to the TEFL community, your approach will help you handle online students with ease. All you need are tips to help you succeed. This is what you need to consider:
Stay Up to Date with Technology
If you are already a technologically savvy person, then teaching online English will be easy for you. This is because your career hinges on technology. Lagging only leaves you with fewer opportunities.
The first thing you need is high-speed internet. Slow internet generally pushes students away from your lessons. High-speed internet improves the quality of your videos and the overall Skype experience.
Additionally, investing in proper recording equipment is a good move. Therefore, consider buying an HD camera and a high-quality headset. Lighting is also vital if you want to create that classroom-like feel. Students want to see you and capture every word without straining.
Find Your Niche
The ability to retain students (and your overall success) depends on many factors. One of which may lie in your ability to find your niche. Niche finding makes the work of online teachers easier. Although finding your place in teaching English online may not be easy, in most cases, your niche presents itself over time.
A niche is a combination of your strength within the area of ESL and your personality. At first, you will need to spend some time teaching and familiarize yourself with the online format. Once you get used to online teaching, you can start teaching in areas like Business English, Business Writing, Conversational English or Pronunciation. If these areas are still too wide, you can still work on narrowing down as your teaching journey goes on.
Find a Comfortable Spot
As you consider investing in the best technology has to offer, it is also crucial that you get comfortable during the lessons. Since you will be sitting for long hours, you need to consider investing in a comfortable chair. The last thing you want is to stop mid-class to switch between chairs. You should also have the ideal background that’s not distracting to you or your students. You must find a room in the house only you have access to. This is to ensure that no unwanted person walks into your video.
Know Your Students
Online teaching also entails knowing all your students just as you would in an actual class. You may start with a few students and grow the number as you continue teaching. You need to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each student.
Hence, you need to keep notes of them in a notebook or spreadsheet and keep track of their performance throughout the lessons. You can also get personal and ask about their hobbies and what they dislike. Use this information to evaluate each student.
Online English teaching in Thailand may not be the easiest task considering that this is not their first language. However, having a friendly relationship with them gives them the motivation to understand the language.
Have Fun
Consider teaching as a way of meeting new people and teaching them what you already know. It’s the only way you will enjoy doing what you do. Online teaching is not purely about teaching and nothing else. It is also the best platform to learn a new culture from the comfort of your home. Therefore, it should generally transform into a fun experience.
To be successful at it, you need to approach every class with joy. Since the online students are usually more eager to learn the language than the students from Thai schools who only attend English classes because it is a compulsory subject, the same eagerness and spirit should be extended to your online lessons.
It is important to note that some online schools record lessons for the teacher and the students to review. Consequently, any frustration, yawning, outburst, and distraction will be recorded; that’s the last taint you want on your reputation.
Should You Also Consider Teaching Face to Face?
Since online English teaching jobs in Thailand are available for locals who qualify, some teachers start off teaching online and end up meeting their students face to face. This is usually the case when the lesson requires more interaction. So, should you also consider teaching face to face? Yes, you should. Face-to-face learning helps your students organize their studies better since they must be somewhere at a specific time or day. Face-to-face has also been the standard way of learning and therefore is readily acceptable and effective.
Online English Teaching Jobs for Non-native Speakers
If you are a non-native speaker who wants to consider teaching English online in Thailand, then you can. With the industry growing at a rapid pace, dozens of online teaching platforms accept non-native speakers.
Most of the companies that look for online teachers will only ask to see a teaching certificate (TESL/TEFL/TESOL or CELTA) and a bachelor’s degree. Some will also need proof of your teaching experience.
Teaching English Online without a Degree
There are chances to teach English without a degree. Although most online English teaching companies are particular on the minimum education requirement, some will still accept you if you are still studying for your degree.
If you also have previous teaching experience but without a degree, you will stand a chance. If you are a native English speaker, but with no degree, you can still present your TEFL certificate to increase your chance of getting accepted. Check out our TEFL courses HERE.
Conclusion
With that in mind, you now understand what it takes to qualify for an online teaching job in Thailand. There are hundreds of online schools that will accept your application. You can also start your online school if you meet the qualifications. You should consider taking short teaching courses online to better your skills.
