Your first English teaching job in Thailand can offer valuable classroom experience and the opportunity to explore a new country. Before accepting an offer, however, you need to understand what the school expects—and what it provides in return.
A monthly salary tells only part of the story. Paid holidays, classroom hours, office duties, paperwork costs, and academic support all influence whether a position suits your budget and professional goals. Use these 15 questions to guide your interview, then ask for the important details in writing.
1. Who will employ me: the school or an agency?
If an agency arranges your placement, clarify who signs your contract, pays your salary, and handles employment paperwork. Ask who resolves problems at the school and whether you can be reassigned to another location. Understand both your employer’s responsibilities and your day-to-day reporting relationship before accepting.
See how agencies and direct hire differ.
2. What is my guaranteed salary, and what deductions apply?
Ask whether the advertised amount is before or after deductions and whether it is a fixed monthly salary or depends on lessons taught. Request an explanation of taxes, insurance contributions, accommodation charges, and other deductions. Confirm the first payday and how partial months are calculated so you can budget for arrival expenses.
Typical pay by school type in Thailand
3. How many months of the year will I be paid?
Check the contract’s exact start and end dates. A position paying 40,000 baht for 10 months provides 400,000 baht in base salary, while 37,000 baht over 12 months provides 444,000 baht.
| Offer | Monthly salary | Paid months | Base salary for the year |
|---|---|---|---|
| School A | 40,000 baht | 10 | 400,000 baht |
| School B | 37,000 baht | 12 | 444,000 baht |
Compare guaranteed income across the same period, including any gap before renewal. Treat a conditional completion bonus separately from regular salary.
4. Which holidays are paid, and when can I take leave?
Ask separately about school breaks, public holidays, personal annual leave, and sick leave. A student holiday does not necessarily mean teachers are free from work. Request a calendar showing when you must attend preparation days, training, or holiday programmes. Confirm whether travel requires approval and whether salary continues during each break.
5. How many teaching hours will I have each week?
Ask for the maximum classroom workload and the length of each period. Twenty-five 40-minute periods represent a different commitment from twenty-five 60-minute lessons. Clarify whether substitution lessons count toward the maximum and how additional teaching is assigned and paid. A sample weekly timetable makes the workload easier to assess.
6. What are the required office hours?
Find out your daily arrival and departure times, including days with few scheduled classes. Ask whether non-teaching periods are available for planning, marking, and meetings or filled with other duties. Consider the full working day and commute when deciding whether the salary and schedule suit you.
7. What duties are expected outside my regular timetable?
Ask about assemblies, playground supervision, clubs, parent meetings, camps, competitions, and weekend events. Establish how frequently these occur, whether attendance is compulsory, and whether extra pay or time off is provided. Clarify whether summer courses or promotional activities form part of your existing salary or require a separate agreement.
8. Which students and subjects will I teach?
Confirm students’ ages, approximate English proficiency, class sizes, and the number of different groups you will teach. Ask whether the role involves conversation classes, a broader English curriculum, or subjects taught through English. Teaching several subjects or levels can require substantially more preparation than repeating a lesson with parallel classes.
9. What curriculum and teaching resources are available?
Will the school provide textbooks, a syllabus, assessment criteria, and examples of previous lessons? Ask how much freedom you have to adapt materials and whether printing, internet access, speakers, and classroom equipment are available. Establish whether you must purchase resources yourself and how lesson plans are submitted or reviewed.
10. What support will I receive as a new teacher?
Ask about orientation, a named mentor, classroom observations, and constructive feedback. Find out who helps with classroom management and how teachers communicate with parents when language support is needed. Practical TESOL training helps you prepare, but an accessible academic coordinator and clear school procedures also matter during your first term.
11. Who will organize my visa, work permit, and teaching authorization?
Ask the employer to explain the process, identify the staff member responsible, and confirm that your qualifications fit the proposed position. Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that a Non-Immigrant B visa holder must be granted a work permit before starting work; receiving a visa alone does not authorize employment. Check current requirements with the Thai embassy or consulate handling your application. Do not accept “start teaching and we will sort it out later” as a sufficient plan.
For how the Non-Immigrant B visa, work permit and teaching licence fit together, see the visa and work permit requirements to teach in Thailand.
12. Who pays the paperwork costs?
Request an itemized explanation covering visa applications, work permits, extensions of stay, any applicable teaching-authorization process, medical checks, police certificates, document authentication, translations, and necessary travel. Confirm which costs you pay upfront, which are reimbursed, and when. Ask whether reimbursement becomes repayable if you leave early. Requirements vary by consulate — the Royal Thai Embassy in London’s Non-Immigrant visa page shows one consulate’s checklist for teachers — so obtain the list for the consulate you will apply through.
13. What insurance and relocation support are included?
Ask when medical coverage begins, what it covers, and whether you need separate insurance before it starts. If accommodation is included, request photographs, the location, and details of rent, deposits, utilities, and transport. “Housing assistance” may mean help finding an apartment rather than free accommodation. Clarify airport pickup and arrival support as well.
14. What are the probation, renewal, and early-departure terms?
Read the probation conditions, notice requirements, final-pay arrangements, and any repayment clauses carefully. Ask how performance is assessed and when renewal decisions are made. Clarify who coordinates employment-related paperwork when a contract ends. If a clause is unclear or has significant financial consequences, obtain an explanation before agreeing to it.
15. Can I speak privately with a current teacher?
A current teacher can explain the timetable, preparation workload, management communication, and practical support available. Ask whether pay arrives as agreed and whether the job matches the original description. Where possible, also speak with a recently departed teacher. Use these conversations alongside the written contract to assess whether the position suits you.
Before You Accept Your First Teaching Job in Thailand
Request the complete contract and keep a signed copy. Make sure important promises about pay, holidays, workload, benefits, and paperwork appear in the contract or an agreed written attachment. Resolve discrepancies between the advertisement, interview, and written offer before signing.
The right first position should provide clear responsibilities, realistic working conditions, and support that helps you develop as a teacher. Preparing through practical TESOL training and asking detailed questions will help you enter your first classroom with greater confidence.
Start Your First Job Prepared
Walk into your first classroom ready to teach
The 120-hour Advanced TESOL Certificate covers lesson planning, classroom management and practical assignments with tutor feedback, so the skills are in place before your first contract begins. Explore the 120-hour TESOL course →
