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Everything you need to know about becoming a TEFL teacher in Thailand – even without prior teaching experience.
- Be an English native speaker
- Hold a passport from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the USA
- Be a university graduate and hold a recognized bachelor’s degree
- Be no older than 45 and no younger than 21
- Be adaptable to new and unpredictable situations
- Be of good character and possess a friendly, patient and flexible personality
- Be familiar with Microsoft Word or OpenOffice Writer
If you meet these requirements, you are eligible to join our Internship program. Please register here.
A police clearance needs to be provided as part of the paperwork requirements of a non-immigrant B (Business) visa application. This can be obtained from the Intern’s home country before departure for Thailand or in Chiang Mai from the Thai Police. Please contact us to discuss specific details.
Interns also need to bring to Thailand their original Bachelor’s degree diploma and university transcripts. These are required for non-immigrant B visa and work permit applications.
We can also accept applications from non-native speakers. Please forward by email a copy of your CV with photo and evidence of a language proficiency equivalent to at least IELTS Band 7. These documents will be forwarded to our placement schools who will decide whether they accept the applicant.
- Training from April 19th – 30th, 2021 followed by a paid teaching internship for 4-5 months
- Training from September 20th – October 1st, 2021 followed by a paid teaching internship for 4-5 months
There are three training components:
- Pre-arrival: Videos and assignments that introduce classroom management skills and review common grammar terminology.
- Post-arrival: 2 weeks of face-to-face group training that focuses on developing essential EFL classroom teaching skills and language awareness plus 4 observed teaching practices at local schools. In addition, there is 1 day of cultural awareness training.
- During placement: Ongoing support from SEETEFL trainers throughout the placement period.
Interns are paid at least 30,000 Thai Baht (THB) per month during the placement period. Thailand has low living costs, so this salary can provide a comfortable lifestyle while teaching in Thailand in local Thai communities.
This internship is actual paid employment by a school in Thailand. Interns must be employed by a school in order to obtain non-imm B visas and work permits.
- The standard fee for the complete program is $ 1,295 USD. This includes two weeks of Teaching Essentials training and comfortable resort accommodation during the 2-week onsite training period in Chiang Mai. Payment is made in two parts:
- $ 495 USD deposit payment, which reserves a place on the program
- $ 800 USD balance payment, which is due at the end of the first day of onsite training in Chiang Mai (See current exchange rates)
There are no early bird discounts for the TEFL Internship
Central and Northern Thailand Provinces
Over the past five years we have placed interns in the Northern Thai towns of Khampaeng Phet, Utthai Thani, Phayao, Phitsanulok, Chiang Mai, Fang, Mae Hong Son and Nan. Bangkok placements are also available.
Placements are in formal Thai schools. Depending on availability at the time of placement, opportunities usually exist to teach in kindergarten (anubahn), primary school (pratom), secondary school (matayom) and colleges working Monday to Friday from around 7:30am to 4:30pm each day. A working week normally involves 18 – 23 teaching periods of between 50 and 60 minutes.
Outside of Chiang Mai and Bangkok, placements are in towns that are more typical of Thailand than standard tourist destinations. There will be other foreigners in the internship placement town, but these are likely to be other teachers, adventurous travelers or expats. However, larger cities with Western-oriented amenities are never more than a few hours away by local bus.
The academic year in Thailand runs from early May to late March, with a break in early October. Our teacher placement and the two induction training sessions coincide with the start of the two academic semesters in early May (First Semester) and late October (Second Semester). The two week teaching essentials align with the start of a school semester, and the teaching Internship placements are for that length of time.
After completion of the 1 semester teaching placement period, interns receive full SEE TEFL Certification upon submission of a 2,000 word essay reflecting on their teaching experience. Intern certification (equivalent to 120 face-to-face training hours and 6 OTPs): pre-course training, on-site training, 1 semester placement and 2,000 word essay at the end of the placement period reflecting on their teaching/training experience. SEE TEFL provides detailed instruction/guidance.
Further Teacher Training and Teaching Internship Details
Since 2013, SEE TEFL has conducted twelve internship groups, and graduated 121 newly-trained teachers, who successfully completed the training course and were placed in paid internships.
The SEE TEFL Paid Internship is an ideal way for people who wish to experience living and working in Thailand as a paid English language teacher, but who are not ready to commit to a 4-week training course, or a teaching commitment longer than 5 months.
The Internship involves pre-arrival classroom familiarization training and 2 weeks of face-to-face classroom skills, language awareness and cultural awareness training with observed teaching practices at local schools in Chiang Mai. After training, Interns are offered a paid 1-semester (4-5 months) teaching job in a rural or provincial Thai formal school.
Teaching placements are normally for 1 semester of 4–5 months. However, placements that start at the beginning of the academic year (Semester 1) have the option of extending their placement to 1 academic year for no additional charge.
Teaching Essentials
Our TEFL Internship induction training in Chiang Mai is focused on teaching essentials — a two-week training course required before prospective teachers step into the classroom as a paid Intern. This course includes classroom management techniques, a straightforward teaching methodology, language awareness, observed teaching practices with real students at local schools and cultural awareness training
Each TEFL Internship participant receives a guaranteed job with a salary of not less than 30,000 Thai Baht (THB) per month. This provides a comfortable, but not extravagant lifestyle in Thailand. It is possible to save money from this salary during the internship period, and afford at the end of the teaching placement a few months traveling Thailand and Southeast Asia and/or sitting on a beach under a palm tree, or trekking in the jungles.
Thai Holidays
Our March/April Interns get to participate in the yearly water fight madness of the 5-day Songkran holiday celebrated to mark the start of the traditional Thai New Year. September/October’s induction finishes approximately a month before Loy Krathong / Yi Peng, the 3-night festival of floating lights.
SEE TEFL and TEFL Internships
Over the past 13 years SEE TEFL has trained over 1,800 teachers of English as a foreign language. SEE TEFL is one of a few TEFL courses in Thailand fully licensed by the Ministry of Education, and the first TEFL provider in Asia to acquire ISO 9001 quality management standards (first certified in 2009, and recertified again in 2012, 2015 and 2018).
Transportation to and around Thailand
- Budget flights to Thailand are available through Kayak and Orbitz, among others, and affordable domestic travel and throughout the region can be found on Air Asia, Bangkok Airways, Lion Air, and Nok Airways.
- Fixed-rate taxis cost between 150-200 Thai Baht (THB) (around $ 5 USD) from Chiang Mai airport to the resort accommodation and are available 24 hours each day.
- Traveling around Thailand by bus, train or plane is inexpensive and convenient. We will advise on transport between Chiang Mai and the placement school. Representatives of the placement school will meet Interns on arrival to transport them to their accommodation and school.
Extra Costs and Budgeting
It is recommended that Interns budget $ 25 USD per day to cover living expenses during the time between completing training and their first salary payment. This is currently approximately 900 Thai Baht (THB) per day. This period of time will range between 5 and 7 weeks, as salaries are usually paid at the end of the working month.
Thai Non-Immigrant B Visa Support for Training and Internship
Interns enter Thailand and complete onsite training with either a 60-day Tourist Visa, obtained from any Thai embassy or consulate, or arrive without a visa and receive a 30-day Visa Exemption. Please note that if arriving without a visa, Immigration may request to see evidence of an onward or return flight ticket. Both of these options can be extended for a further 30 days in Chiang Mai.
After training SEE TEFL will coordinate and process paperwork from the placement school to support a non-immigrant B (Business) visa application. The paperwork process takes at least one month to navigate all the necessary Thai government departments. This visa can be obtained from a Thai embassy or consulate in a country that borders Thailand during either the period between the end of onsite training and the start of the placement period or shortly after the start of the placement period.
A non-immigrant B visa is needed before a school can apply for a work permit. Once the intern receives their work permit, this visa will be extended to match the placement period or longer.
We will give more specific advice by email to each intern depending on their situation.
Visa costs are the responsibility of the intern. Visa costs may include a journey to a Thai embassy or consulate in a country that borders Thailand to obtain a non-immigrant B visa.
There is no additional charge for visa support paperwork. The cost of the work permit will be reimbursed by the placement school at the successful completion of the placement period.
Choosing Between a 4-Week TEFL and the TEFL Internship
The majority of TEFL teacher trainees will select the traditional 4-Week TEFL course. However, this unique TEFL Internship will appeal to some of our future English teachers.
Standard 4-week TEFL certification
- Offered nearly every month in Chiang Mai
- Work anywhere in Thailand, SE Asia or the world
- Choose the type of school, location and age group
- Comprehensive training
- Experience during training 6 observed teaching practices in real schools with a range of real students
- Fulfills a general employment requirement for TEFL teaching jobs around the world
TEFL Internship
- Offered twice per year (Apr/Oct), before the start of the Thai school semesters
- Guaranteed job
- Cannot choose the type of school, location and age group; internship locations depend upon availability when training finishes; however, we will endeavor to meet our Intern’s preferences
- Experience the real Thailand
- Get paid a minimum of 30,000 Thai Baht (THB) per month. The average internship salary is 35,000 Thai Baht per month.
- 4-5 month commitment
- Inclusive 2-week training period with resort accommodation
I now know what to do in the Thai classroom, from kindergarten to college. Thank you so much.
The staff = Awesome. Everyone was so incredibly friendly and helpful that it made the transition/experience very easy. I had no idea what to expect from Thailand or the program, and this course just made me so happy with my decision.
SEE TEFL became our second home. One month of hard work: 6 observed teaching practices with all age groups starting from kindergarten and primary school and finishing with adults, and one-to-one teaching practice. The course has gone very quickly and I feel now that I have chosen the right path for my future.
Well presented and organized institution – friendly and extremely helpful staff at all times. Positive working environment, success for all.
Loved every moment of it. The school is beautiful and the staff are amazing. Thank you for everything.
I have deeply appreciated the extra time I was given to help me be successful in this class. The heart of the instructors will provide a lifetime of learning examples to remember.
I love how willing and available the staff is to help us. The atmosphere is great and we are given the confidence that we can do it. Thank you for a great experience!
All in all a wonderful course. Give the tools needed to become a successful teacher. Change in confidence over the weeks was immense.
The SEE TEFL course superseded my expectation: professional, proficient, appropriate amount of guidance. Can only recommend SEE TEFL as all teaching staff are dedicated.
Generally a fantastic course and overall experience. All the staff are so helpful and friendly.
I was pessimistic about how this would work out at first, but I feel completely prepared to go in to teach. I’m very happy with this course and would highly recommend it.
I enjoyed the course and learned a lot of practical advice about how to structure and teach a lesson. I feel that I learned more about effective teaching from this course than I did in my first year of teaching.
SEE TEFL has been a wonderful experience! Kellie-Anne, Shouvik and John are all incredible instructors who make an extremely challenging + intensive course fun and enjoyable. The past 4 weeks have flown by quickly, but I feel fully prepared to enter into the world of EFL.
The variation of the different schools was very effective in teaching the importance of flexibility in teaching.
I think overall SEE TEFL is an excellent institution to get a TEFL certificate in Thailand. I should praise our trainers too. Excellent teaching skills. besides that, friendly, helpful and encouraging teachers.
The course was wonderful and very effective. The teachers and observers were informative, helpful and fair with gradings.
Great program/course, I think the staff and facilities are amazing. Instructors are supportive and helpful all of the time.
Nice atmosphere to work in. The course is an efficient way to teach English as a foreign language. It’s also a well structured programme to build confidence in teaching through the six observed teaching practices. One of my friends recommended this course, and I’ll definitely do the same.
I am extremely impressed with the SEE TEFL 4-week course. I have learned so much this past month and have made so many great friends. Although I volunteer taught before I came to Thailand, I now feel like a have a structured way of presenting lessons. All of the staff are incredibly knowledgable, kind, and helpful. The building is beautiful and super clean. Overall, I had the best experience here and am so sad to leave, but excited to see what the future holds.
I was so happy doing this course. I’ve had a lot of fun and met amazing people. I’ve learned a lot and gained confidence in myself. It’s been a long time since I’ve done productive things in my life, and I’m so amazed I’ve done it here.
I have learned more than I thought possible in four weeks. Thank you for helping make the transition to teaching and living in Thailand so rewarding.
Absolutely loved the program as a whole. I learned so much about not only teaching English as a language and Thai culture. An EXTREMELY positive experience. I have only good things to say – so thank you!
I have to say that after teaching for 6 years in China, I learned more about teaching in this 4 week course than anybody taught me in the past. This course is definitely the best thing I could have done to make myself a much better teacher.
Amazing Experience. I can’t imagine being more satisfied with any other TEFL course. So many thanks to each instructor and the effort that you all put in.
This course is very good. You seem to have everything covered in a professional, friendly and caring way. The structure works very well and although it has been very challenging due to the preparation required, the outcome is wonderful. I’ve completed many courses in my mature years and can honestly say this is the best course I’ve attended. All the teachers are very good and all the Thai staff have been extremely friendly, helpful, patient and a delight to be around.
I’ve had a really great experience with SEE TEFL, and I would recommend the course to others.
I’ve really enjoyed the course overall and don’t think it would be possible to find another TEFL course that is as extensive in preparing people to teach abroad. I’ve found the course to be extremely well structured and all the staff are incredibly friendly and supportive. I strongly feel that SEETEFL actually cares about you. After you complete the course they will help you in any way they can in terms of finding employment or with work-related or general problems.
WOW!!! There is so much to say, however, I’ll keep it very brief. 1st impression is so very important! it all started with an email inquiry – I got a response the next day. Every question and concern I had prior to making my deposit was answered with an immediate response. Then I arrived and from the moment I entered the classroom and met my trainers and classmates, I knew I had come to the right place. I cannot think of a single thing you need to improve. I thank you for standing by us from the beginning to the end. You made yourselves accessible to us from day one. My gratitude to the entire staff at SEE TEFL.
I am glad I did this course at SEE TEFL at my daughters’ suggestion and feel I have been well prepared for my new career.
1 – I appreciated John’s responsiveness during my application process. 2 – I appreciated Shouvik’s support, in particular, during the week of OTPs and the last weekend. 3 – I am grateful that observers made an effort to deliver feedback after OTPs with care.
Brilliant course, I would recommend it to anyone looking to do a TEFL course. Thank you for everything.
My experience with the trainers was incredible and I’m grateful that I received my certification from SEE TEFL. All the trainers are very knowledgeable, engaging and very forthcoming with personal help and assistance. I would like to highlight Kellie-Anne, who has legitimately been one of the best teachers I have had in my entire life. her encouragement and support in finding a job has been invaluable. She should probably get paid more :)
I learned so much more than I expected and feel that I now have relevant tools to use in any teaching environment. I felt scared coming in as a non-native speaker, but never felt I was treated differently.
Everyone here was very helpful in building our confidence to learn to teach. Everyone was very positive all the time. It was great to have a bit of Thai language + culture added to the course to break up the course to be more fun. Shouvik did a great job. he was very thorough and detailed which is what I needed. Kellie-Anne brought a different element as well, made it fun for the teaching practice. Thank you all.
Overall the school + staff were great, helpful, and built confidence, all while being very fun. I will miss all of you in South Korea!!!
An excellent course that provided an individual with the skills and experiences of observed teaching practices to become a TEFL teacher.
John was very helpful answering any and all initial questions before applying. SEE TEFL staff are all very helpful and accommodating.
Loved the course throughout and am looking forward to putting everything you taught me into practice.
Such a lovely course! Thanks for equipping me with all I need to fulfill my dreams. I think the way we were taught was so effective, creative and fully immersible. (teaching us how to teach students by teaching us in the same way). Thank you for one of the best experiences of my life.
Thanks! You guys gave us a foundation to teach English. I feel like I could go into a classroom and teach English! One month ago I would not have felt the same. Fun and humor! Warm and friendly! Hard-work! Passionate! caring! You lot clearly care and that shines through.
I really think it was a great program. It really felt like all the staff will help you and continue to help after finishing.
I was challenged during the course and have gained much needed confidence to teach EFL students. Great course and superb teachers/instructors.
Teaching input is very well structured and was presented in a comprehensive way. The information was very practical & turned out extremely useful during the teaching practices. The Observed Teaching Practice feedback was super helpful and given in a very encouraging way. You really have the feeling that you are supported here.
In general, The SEE TEFL course was very engaging and very well planned and thought out. The instructors are absolutely amazing and so very supportive.
I strongly recommend SEE to everyone thinking of teaching English in Thailand and all over Asia.
SEE TEFL is an amazing institution for EFL instruction. I loved it and highly recommend it to anyone! Thanks.
The program was absolutely exceptional! I feel that I gained a great amount of practical knowledge from the course. The staff was so helpful and the experience was once in a lifetime.
This has been an amazing experience, both because of the knowledge SEE TEFL provides and the talented personnel who share their wealth of knowledge with the class.
I enjoyed my time on this course. I learned skills I can use for the rest of my life, I’ve made friends, and I’ve definitely got a better understanding of the complexity of the English Language.
I am so happy I took this course. It is very well-balanced incorporating key aspects needed to be an effective teacher. I feel much more prepared to walk into a classroom. Knowing that I have a relationship with SEETEFL from now on is comforting as I enter the field of teaching for the first time.