Thailand

The gastronomy of a country says a lot about its culture and traditions, and in Thailand you won’t be disappointed with their culinary offering. In this post, we will go through the traditional food in Thailand you have to try while obtaining your TEFL certificate in this beautiful country. We can assure you that you’ll get all the energy you need to pass your course with flying colours and then start working abroad. Keep on reading! Pad Thai  It is probably one of the most popular Thai dishes and you’ll find it everywhere! It is a very common type of street food and it is a mixture of rice noodles with chicken, prawns or tofu seasoned with fish sauce, soy sauce, eggs, limes, chili, and sugar. It usually comes with peanuts on top. Kuay Teow Lui Suan You’ve probably tried spring rolls before, but there’s nothing like the Thai version of them! Made of rice paper and filled in with bean sprouts, lettuce, and many other vegetables, it is a more healthy option that you cannot miss! Tom Yum Goong This is one of the most famous Thai soups. It is made of prawns, chili, tomatoes, lime, and mushrooms and it is served warm. It is quite spicy, so if you don’t like this type of food, maybe you should let the chef know or ask for something else… Tom Kha Kai This is definitely one of our favourites! Tom Kha Kai is a soup made of chicken and coconut milk that’s not spicy (a good alternative if you fancy soup but Tom Yum Goong is too spicy for you!) It usually comes with lime, mushrooms, coriander and fish sauce. Kai Med Ma Muang Made of chicken, fried cashews and vegetables, this dish is made in a wok and it comes with a sauce made of soy, oysters and sugar. Some of the most common veggies served with this plate are onions, chilis, garlic and spring onions.   Khao Niao Mamuang Do you want to finish your meal with something sweet? We definitely recommend you the Khao Niao Mamuang, a dessert made of sticky rice, mango and coconut milk. It is served cold, reason why it is quite popular during warm days. Are you ready to start exploring Thailand through its food? If you have any questions about this country or about the TEFL course, we encourage you to give us a call and find out everything you need to know before moving abroad! Follow us on Facebook or visit our blog to learn more about the programme and other experiences.

A common fear when people look into teaching English abroad, is “will I be able to survive on my teaching salary?”. It’s a scary thought to move anywhere in the world for the first time, and making sure you have enough money to live on is super important, that’s why knowing teachers’ salaries in Thailand before moving might come in handy. Here at TEFL Connect we will make sure you know all there is to know about where you’re moving so you won’t be caught out by any unexpected surprises. Here is our guide to TEFL teachers’ salaries in Thailand. 99% of jobs are in government schools: from kindergarten through to high school. The school year is only two terms long, November through to end of Feb/beginning March, and May through to September. In the breaks between terms, there are lots of opportunities to earn money in summer camps, online tutoring or in a language centre, which is great as your school won’t pay you a salary outside of term time. A typical wage for a native English speaker with a Bachelor’s degree begins at 30,000 Thai Baht (THB) per month (approximately 915 USD (as of August 2018)). This is the absolute minimum salary you should accept and remember that you can always try to negotiate your salary to an extent. You may not think this is a lot of money but once you get some experience under your belt in Thailand, there are plenty of opportunities to earn triple that amount. To live in Thailand comfortably each month, you’ll be spending around 15,000 Thai Baht per month on the necessities. As a rough guide: A standard small apartment rent per month – 5,000 THB Bills (electric, gas, air con etc) – 1000 THB Phone – 600 THB for a sim with 16GB data per month Transport – an air conditioned bus ride a few KM is 21 THB – less than $1! Food – a local supermarket shop each week is around 150 THB. Western food is expensive –  eating at pizza in a restaurant will cost up to 500 THB per meal, yet street food comes in at around 50 THB per meal, including fresh and delicious Pad Thai! Socialising – cinema tickets are around 250 THB, alcohol is anywhere from 70 THB for a beer, to 250 THB for a sharing bucket (you’ll see these everywhere! Sounds strange for now I know). If you paid rent, bills and all necessities as above, plus ate out once a week and had drinks every weekend with your pals, took the bus to and from school each day, your total spend each month comes in at well under 15,000 Thai Baht ($410 USD) per month. This leaves over half your monthly salary every month to explore the islands, save for the end of term, travel Asia, or just have a nice pot of money to come home with! If you want to discover more about Thailand, take a look at our TEFL Course there or check out our blog about five places to visit in Thailand! Give us any more suggestions on the things you want to know about before coming to Thailand on Facebook!

Many people move to the Thailand (the Land of Smiles) because of the low cost, friendly people, and constant sunshine, but you need to be prepared before you go. From choosing the best location, to important information about visas, here are some things to know before moving to Thailand. Location Thailand has the place for you whether you want to live on the coast, in a beach town, or in the bustling city. The most famous city is Bangkok.  It offers amazing restaurants, tourists destinations, and malls. Bangkok is pricey, but you can find better paying jobs. If you are looking to be nearer the beach, Phuket is the place for you. Phuket attracts many tourists and expats, so get ready for some intercultural interactions. Another area to consider is Isan; a farming community that is growing in popularity! Thailand has something to offer everyone, so travel around to find your new home!   Visa There are many different visa options for Thailand, so doing research beforehand is necessary. A tourist visa will cover thirty to sixty days, but if you want to stay any longer, you will need another visa. Other long-term visas include marriage, retirement, and business. Obtaining the correct visa is not hard with a little organization, research, and planning! In addition, Thailand has cracked down on visa in the recent years with overstay fee rising to 500 per day, therefore be cautious of your departure date. At TEFL Connect, we will advise you how to get a visa to work and live in Thailand.         Learn the Language Moving to a new place can be stressful and isolating. Learning a few phrases before moving to Thailand can be helpful integrating into the country! Do not be nervous with the pronunciation because the locals are ready and willing to help.  Here are a list of common phrases: Hello: Sa Wat Dee (sa-wat–dee)  Goodbye: Lah Gorn (la-gon) Thank You: Kawp Koon (kop-koon) Yes: Chai (chai) No: Mai Chai (my–chai) I Don’t Understand: Mai Khao Jai (my–cow-jai) Excuse Me: Kor Tot (kor-tot) Water: Nam (nam) How Much Is This?: A Nee Tao Rai? (a-nee–tow–rye) No Problem: Mai Bpen Rai (my-pen-rye)   If you want to discover more about Thailand, check out our blog about five places to visit in Thailand! If you have any more suggestions about what to know before coming to Thailand, let us know on Facebook!    

After deciding to apply for a TEFL course, you need to pick a location! Thailand is a great option if you’re adventurous and looking to experience something different.  Thailand is home to big cities, serene countryside, and beautiful beaches. There are great opportunities to travel within Thailand and to other countries, as well. Students in Thailand are also very respectful of teachers and eager to learn.  It has everything you could want! So here are some of the benefits of TEFL in Thailand.   Opportunities To teach English in Thailand, you usually need a degree and a TEFL certification. Teachers have a wide variety of options to choose from based on the types of teaching that suits them most- In big cities like Bangkok, you can teach in public or private school, private language schools, young students or business professional. The pay is also enough to sustain living in Thailand with extra money to travel on the weekends.   Locations After getting the TEFL certification, your living possibilities are endless. You can teach any place in Thailand because the need for English teachers is large. You can choose to teach near the beach of Phuket and soak up all the sun. There are also opportunities to teach in the more rural, calm areas such as Isan. Big cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai are also great options.  You have access to cheap food, amazing architecture, and low cost living. Traveling also comes at a low price in Thailand, so visiting your dream destinations are possible. The work hours of English teachers are 20 to 25 hours, so you will have free time to explore this fantastic country.  If you have any suggestions about traveling while in Thailand, comment on our Facebook!   Thai culture and traditions Thailand has so much to offer as a TEFL destination. There are tons of public holidays and religious celebrations, like the Visakha Bucha Festival where locals let off lanterns into the sky and send off little boats down the Ping River. Thai students Another reason to teach English in Thailand is the people. The people are really friendly and students love learning. In Thailand speaking English is a key skill so locals are keen to improve.   Discover more about TEFL in Thailand.

Thailand is home to breathtaking temples, regal palaces, floating markets, and sunny beaches.  There is something for every person looking for adventure! Here are the top five places to visit in Thailand.   Ayutthaya Historical Park The Ayutthaya Kingdom lasted from 1351 until 1767 and was one of the largest and wealthiest kingdoms during its reign. In 1767, the city was burned and looted by the Burmese, but today you can see the ruins of this amazing city. The city was also named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. While visiting, you can tour many temples and three royal palaces.  The park is located on a private island so to get there you can reserve a private taxi, riverboat, train, or bus.   Bangkok’s Grand Palace The Grand Palace is the number one must see destination in Bangkok.  It was built in 1782 and housed the Thai king, royal court, and government officials for 150 years. The Palace is now used for ceremonies and to welcome guests of the king or state. The estate is divided into two areas, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Royal residence. You can see the amazing architecture and learn about the history of the temple.  Pro tip: The palace has a strict dress code, so dress modestly.   Floating market There are several floating markets to choose from in Thailand, but here are some of the best. In all cases, the markets can become very crowed so make sure to arrive early. Talin Chan, Khlong Lat Mayom, and the Bang Nam Pheung Floating Market are smaller and aimed at locals. The Damnoen Saduak and the Amphawa floating market are bigger and filled with tourists. Whether you want to visit the smaller markets or tackle the big ones there is something for everyone.   Phuket Phuket is the ultimate beach getaway. The white sand and swaying palm trees is the recipe for complete relaxation. There are many activities depending on what you like. For the beach bum there are several beaches to choose from such as Phang Nga Bay, Phi Phi Island, or Similan Islands. For the night owl there is a huge array of nightclubs along Paton’s Bangla Road. There are also night markets where you can find local foods and buy souvenirs. For all the animal lovers there are elephant sanctuaries! Whatever you choose to do will be fun on Phuket.   Chiang Mai Canyon Now known as the “Grand Canyon”, the Chiang Mai Canyon was not always open to the public. A company has now taken over the canyon and charges for entry. Due to the increase in visitors, the company has made the canyon much safer.  You can enjoy a thrilling jump off the canyon, sunbathe on bamboo rafts, rent an inner tube to float, or try out their zip line.  Pro tip: You have to take a songthaew (shared taxi or bus) to get to the canyon, but make sure you have a way home or you may be stranded. Yikes   If you’re dreaming of trying out Thailand yourself, click here to learn all about living and working in this amazing country, check out our TEFL in Thailand page!   If you have any recommendations on destinations to visit in Thailand, comment on our Facebook.