Teaching English in Phuket, Thailand

The island of Phuket is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and for good reason. It’s beaches, landscapes, views, weather and cuisine are what make it so. If you need to work to live here, one of the easiest ways is to get a job teaching English in Phuket. There is currently a high demand for teachers in a few different types of jobs.

Opportunities Teaching English in Phuket

Most teachers work in Thai schools. This could be in an English program, where the school offers a full range of classes all in English, so you could find yourself teaching English, math, science, physical education and/or art. Or you could be employed only as an English teacher in a Thai school.

These kinds of jobs range from 28,000 to 35,000 Thai Baht (TB) a month at entry level. Schools rarely give housing allowances or provide for accommodation here in Phuket, though it’s quite common in other parts of Thailand. It’s quite possible to get by on this kind of salary, but it won’t afford you much left for luxuries. Many teachers supplement their income by privately teaching English to students at their school in the evenings and on weekends at a rate of between 250 - 500 TB an hour. Keep in mind that Thai schools have a three month summer holiday around the beginning of March. You won’t get paid during that time.

Requirements to Teach English in Phuket

Most of the English teaching jobs will require that you have a Bachelor’s degree, though that requirement has been known to be waived. They would also like to see that you have a TEFL or similar certificate. School’s ask for experience in teaching English as a foreign language as well, but the demand for jobs is high enough that it’s not necessary.

Contact hours (time spent in class) at these schools ranges from between 15 and 20, typically. Depending on the school’s expectations for lesson planning, extracurricular activities such as monitoring students at breaks, etc, and your level of experience, you can expect to be working 40 to 50 hours a week.

You will be required to get a work permit, though the school will usually help prepare the paperwork for you. This process necessitates at least one visa run out of the country to apply at an embassy. Most people go to Penang or Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia for this. Don’t expect the school to pay your expenses. Make sure that you bring originals of all necessary certificates and degrees with you to Thailand.

Additional Opportunities Teaching English in Phuket

Many teachers also find jobs at the international schools in Phuket. These jobs can pay as much as 60- 70,000 TB if you have experience, though the work load is often higher as well. Another avenue is to get work at a language school, rather than a Thai government school. Your hours will be more flexible but less reliable, and you will often need to travel to get to your appointments. These jobs can pay quite well, if you can get enough hours, and often don’t require a Bachelor’s degree. Working at a hotel or resort teaching the staff can also pay better, but it’s often seasonal and they rarely help you get a work permit.