Teach English in Thailand

Living abroad in Thailand will give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in everything this country has to offer. As a teacher in Thailand, you will be directly affecting your students and their futures, helping to break the cycle of poverty that many Thai children are born into. From gorgeous beaches to stunning temples, and all the pad thai and curry in between – read more about why you want to make this country your new home!

Greenheart Travel’s program is ideal if you:

• Love the idea of making an impact in a local community
• Want to experience a culture completely different than what you are used to
• Love trying different and new foods
• Can’t wait to embrace the Thai culture. Bring it on!

Program at a Glance:

• Guaranteed paid English teaching positions throughout Thailand
• Average salary of 32,000 Thai baht per month (~$910 USD) for degree-holders
  • Guaranteed minimum of at least 30,000 Thai baht per month (for degree holders)
  • Guaranteed minimum of at least 25,000 Thai baht per month (for nondegree holders)
• 1-week orientation
• Couples and friends can be placed together!
• Placements in kindergartens, elementary, middle, & high schools.
• Monthly start dates, year round

Teaching Placement Only: $1,910 USD
Ideal if you’re already TESOL certified or have teaching credentials

Teaching Placement +  Online TESOL certification course: $2,160 USD
Ideal if you don’t have a TESOL yet, or don’t have classroom experience. 

Teaching Placement +  TESOL certification course: $2,660 USD* (Offering a $100 discount on this option for all 2024 start dates)
Ideal if you don’t have a TESOL yet, or don’t have classroom experience

Summer 7 Week Program: $1,800 USD
Ideal for qualified teachers looking to spend their summer break abroad

*If you do not have a Bachelor’s degree there is an additional $200 fee, due to the increased difficulty to place non-degree holders. All non-degree holders must do the program with the TESOL in Thailand.

Packaged into the Price:

• Guaranteed teaching placement in Thailand with an average salary of 34,000 Thai baht (~$1100 USD) per month
  • Guaranteed minimum salary of 30,000 Thai baht per month for degree holders (25,000 Thai baht for non-degree holders)
• Arranged accommodation prior to your arrival at your placement
• 6 Months of Medical Insurance
• TESOL Certification Course – in-person or online (if chosen): classroom, instructors, learning materials
• 1-month of accommodation during orientation week and TESOL course in Thailand
• Airport pickup and transfer to hotel
• Transportation from Bangkok to Hua Hin (Chiang Mai teachers fly to Chiang Mai)
• One-week group orientation upon arrival including all excursions
• Group Dinner during orientation
• Access to Greenheart Travel Facebook groups to connect with alumni and others on your start date ahead of your program.
• Greenheart Atlas Program 

Our Support and Services: 

• Visa Assistance in applying for the visa ahead of arrival, including visa paperwork and extensive directions and support.
• Extensive pre-departure advice and support from your program managers! They will be able to answer all your questions and tell you what teaching and living in Thailand is really like! They will be with you from your first inquiry, all the way through preparing to leave and your arrival in Thailand.
• Online webinar logistical orientation before you leave
• Highly experienced team of 20+ in-country support staff members
• 24 hour in-country and emergency support for duration of the program, including 24 hour emergency phone numbers to reach a program manager at any time.
• Free Program Extension – You never have to pay a program fee again if you extend your contract past your first semester – it’s a one-time fee!
• Lifetime job placement assistance in Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Costa Rica, Japan, or Myanmar upon successful completion of first contract.
• Opportunity to apply for a Greenheart Grant to give back to your community at home or abroad

Additional Expenses You’ll Need to Cover (Estimates):

• Airfare to Bangkok or Chiang Mai ($800)
• Visa fee or any costs associated with obtaining documents required for the visa ($100)
• Background check ($30-$50)
• Degree legalization ($50-$150)
• Meals and daily transportation in Thailand ($5-$7/day)
• Rent during your teaching contract ($200/month)
• A deposit for your orientation or course accommodation electricity and water usage ($70). Just don’t use your air conditioning like crazy and you should get most of this back 🙂
• A laptop:  Teachers are responsible for bringing a laptop computer to Thailand with them for lesson planning
• Startup cash to hold you over until your first paycheck ($2000-$2500)

Payment Details:

• $300 Application Fee due to move onto the interview  
  • Refunded if you are not accepted 
• $300 Commitment Payment due after acceptance 
  • Confirms your spot on a start date 
• Remaining Balance Due 60 Days Prior to Start Date:
  • Placement Only: $1,310
  • With TESOL course: $2,060
  • Summer Program: $1,200

Wondering where exactly your program fee goes? Here’s a breakdown:

Basic Eligibility:

• Fluent English Speaker*
• Ages 20-58
• Citizen of the US, Canada, UK, EU*, Aus, or NZ
• Be in great mental and physical health
• No criminal record (with the exception of traffic or other minor violations)
• A passport with at least six months of validity AFTER you plan to leave Thailand
• An adventurous attitude and strong flexibility are a must

If you have a 4-year Bachelor’s Degree:

• A completed degree equivalent to a U.S. 4 year Bachelor’s degree (if you are not American, you will have to have completed a degree that is equivalent to a Bachelor’s in your home country)
• A TEFL/TESOL certification is required unless you majored in Education (but you can add this on as part of your program if you don’t have one yet!)

If you do not have a 4-year Bachelor’s Degree**: 

• TESOL Certification (must be completed through this program in Thailand)
• Be very open, as not all schools will hire non-degree holders
• Only applicable for citizens of US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, and Ireland

*For those from the EU (and not Ireland) you will need to provide proof of your English fluency at a C1 Level. We also may require that EU citizens come to Thailand on certain high peak hiring start dates, like April and May.

Still need your TEFL/TESOL certificate?

Add on a 3-week 120 hour TESOL certification course in Hua Hin or Chiang Mai, Thailand on ANY start date. The TESOL course is required for those participants who did not major in Education or have a formal teaching license. Those who take the course will continue their training for three additional weeks after the one week cultural orientation upon arrival. More than 90% of our teachers that do this program also take this TESOL course in Thailand, upon arrival.

Why should you take the course in Thailand?

Taking an in-person course instead of an online course is highly preferred by hiring schools not just in Thailand, but all over the world. By taking the course in Thailand you will get hands-on experience with Thai students and the Thai curriculum, as well as personal and helpful guidance from your TESOL teachers. You’ll also get to spend an additional 3 weeks in Hua Hin or Chiang Mai with all of your new friends taking the course before you spread out into your placements – and it’s a lot of fun!

If I need to take the TESOL course, do I arrive 4 weeks before my chosen start date?

No, we have TESOL courses on EVERY start date listed on the website so the date you choose on your application will be your first day in Thailand. We run courses every month, all year long. Everyone (regardless of if they need to do the course) will start to do the 1 week orientation together, and those taking the course will stay an additional 3 weeks after orientation.

Does the location of your TESOL course affect where you end up being placed?

No. Your placement could end up being anywhere in Thailand, regardless of where you take your course (Hua Hin or Chiang Mai).

Accreditation Information

This TESOL course is internationally accredited by the Online TESOL and TEFL Standards Agency (OTTSA). The course is audited quarterly by OTTSA staff, and will qualify you to teach anywhere in the world that requires or prefers a TEFL or TESOL certification. The certification lasts for the rest of your life!

Our Teach in Thailand program has a 1-week orientation, followed by the option to add on an additional 3-week TESOL certification course for those who are not yet certified (or did not major in Education). Everyone will still start the 1-week orientation on one of the start dates below, and those that add on the certification will have their orientation followed by 3 extra weeks of coursework. We run an orientation and TESOL course every month, on every date listed below.

Thailand School Calendar (exact dates vary by school):

First Semester: May – end of September
break for October
Second Semester: November – February/March
break for March and April

Peak Season Start Dates

These peak season start dates are ideal for both degree and non-degree holders. Teachers will start working at the beginning of a semester and have a 4-5 month contract with a school.

Non-Degree Holders: If you do not have a 4-year Bachelor’s degree you can only arrive on these start dates listed here. Non-degree holders are also ineligible for pre-placement and will be placed upon arrival in Thailand during their TESOL course.

Off-Peak Start Dates 

The above-listed start dates are the best times to arrive (peak hiring seasons). If you cannot arrive on one of these dates, however, we do offer off-season start dates on these dates listed. If you arrive on one of these dates you will NOT be placed before you arrive in Thailand, and you will obtain your placement during orientation or the TESOL course. Non-degree holders cannot arrive on off-peak start dates. The benefit of an off-peak start date is a shorter contract, as you are arriving in the middle of the semester after school has begun – or during a school break. 

How long is my contract?

Your initial commitment is only for a semester, but it’s free to extend if you want to stay longer! More than 50% of our teachers end up staying longer than their first semester. 

*Please note each school has a different schedule and exact start and end dates, especially in March (end of the school year). Flights home or vacation travels should not be booked or planned until you sign your contract with your school and know your exact end date. We recommend arriving in Thailand on a one-way flight.*  

Your initial contract will be until the end of the current semester that is in session when you arrive (until either September or March). We have start dates once per month, so if you arrive during the semester, you will jump right into the school year whenever you arrive and be expected to stay until the end of that current term.  

Training Period

Greenheart Travel packages in accommodation for all participants during the training period in Hua Hin or Chiang Mai, as part of your program fee. For those taking the TESOL course, this means you have hotel accommodation provided for around a month when you first arrive in Thailand. For those who don’t need the certification and are doing “Teaching Placement Only” – your first week during orientation is packaged in.

We also provide accommodation in Bangkok for one night for those doing training in Hua Hin, on arrival day, so that everyone can go down to Hua Hin together the following morning.

In Your Placement City

Accommodation, once you arrive at your placement, is provided, but it’s your financial responsibility to pay for it out of your paycheck. Your school will often have an apartment waiting for you when you arrive to your placement. Sometimes if an apartment is not ready at the point of your arrival to your placement town, you will be housed by your school for a few days at temporary accommodation and during this time you will be able to look for your permanent accommodation. Most often, teachers live in basic, studio, furnished apartments near the school. You can reach out to our team at any time for assistance in finding accommodation.

Teachers will pay rent to their accommodation directly, from their monthly paycheck. Rent is very cheap in Thailand and usually ranges between USD $150 and $300 per month.

Paying rent instead of having an apartment provided “rent free” as a part of your contract or program gives you flexibility. If you want to leave that apartment and move somewhere else after a month or two, you’re free to do so. Leases are not the same as you might be used to, and many accommodations are month-to-month so some teachers make friends (new roommates!) or find an area of the city they like better after a few months and decide to move. That’s totally fine! It’s your paycheck!

Utility bills range between 1,000-2,000 baht ($30-65) per month, but can definitely be less if you choose to use fans, rather than air-conditioning.

Curious about what your apartment might look like? What Are Apartments and Houses Like in Thailand!?

In addition to our traditional semester contracts, we also offer short-term summer positions with all of the same basic program details, just short term (7 weeks!).  If you only have the summer off, this is a perfect way to get abroad for that time! This is geared towards teachers who have summer vacation and cannot commit to a full semester in Thailand but want to travel during their summer vacation.

Learn more about the Teach in Thailand Summer Program here.

All participants will participate in a week long orientation upon arrival, whether you are taking the TESOL course or not. All participants who are already certified or majored in Education will have their orientation in Hua Hin, while those taking the TESOL course will have their orientation in their chosen TESOL course location, either Hua Hin or Chiang Mai.

You’ll have the opportunity to meet many other new like-minded and adventurous teachers who have also just arrived! By the end, you’ll have new friends scattered around the entire country. Orientation includes important activities and classes on what to expect on your program, Thai language, and local culture. Accommodation is included for the duration of orientation, as well as for the duration of the course for those staying an additional 3 weeks for certification.

Orientation week is full of fun activities and excursions, which are included in the program:

• Thai Culture and History lessons
• Muay Thai lessons
• Thai cooking class
• Visit to our Stray Dog Rescue Project for those in Hua Hin
• Basic Thai language classes
• Market tour with the Thai staff, to help learn basic phrases and how to buy items at a market
• Beach BBQ at Khao Takiab beach (Hua Hin) or Welcome Dinner at a local Thai restaurant (Chiang Mai) on the last night of orientation
• “Chat” with a monk to learn more about meditation, Buddhism, and Thai culture
• Visit to Buddhist temples or shrines in the area (Khao Tao temple in Hua Hin and Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai)

“The game changer for me was the opportunity to take the orientation and TESOL course with other teachers after arriving in Thailand. I knew people in the country immediately and had people to rely on afterward for friendship and teaching resources. This is so valuable when you are alone in a foreign country.” — Maria Civantos, Greenheart Travel alumni

Orientation group in Chiang Mai

Orientation group in Hua Hin

See More: Some Things You Might See During Orientation in Thailand

Placements will be made all over the country of Thailand in over 100 towns and cities throughout the country. Your students’ ages, class sizes, and their English proficiency will also vary from school to school. As you can see below, over 50% of our teachers are placed in central or southern Thailand, and over 60% are placed in medium-sized to large urban areas.

As a Greenheart Travel teacher, we can also guarantee that you will have another foreign teacher living in your placement city. This might not be someone from your orientation, but instead might be someone who has been living there for a while. Most cities have anywhere from 10-15 teachers, while cities like Bangkok obviously have a lot more than that.

Check out our list of past Thailand placements to see where our Greenheart Travel teachers have been placed!

Below, you can see our top 5 placement locations and a bit more information

Placement Process

A few weeks before you leave for Thailand, you will be able to submit a form explaining your placement preferences. We cannot guarantee your placement preferences can be met 100%, but we will try our hardest to place you somewhere where you will be happy. The more open with your preferences you can be, the easier it will be for them to be met. For example, “I’d like to be placed in a mid-sized city where I can learn about Thai culture” is an easier preference to meet than “I want to be placed in {particular city}”. The placement team is a team of both Thai and Western staff, and they are experts at matching participants with placement cities they think are a great match. Placements are final and we do not change placements or give program refunds based on preference.

If you are arriving on a peak hiring season start date you will obtain your placement before you leave for Thailand, usually around 1 month before departure. We highly recommend that you remain open and flexible about where you are placed. This program is first and foremost about the students and schools that need teachers, and we have schools all over the country that are excited to have you!

If you arrive on an off-peak start date or are a non-degree holder you will receive your placement information once you arrive in Thailand, during the orientation or TESOL course. During your first week in Thailand, you will have a one on one meeting with a member of the placement team to review the placement preferences you submitted.

Let Greenheart Travel staff members Kara and Savannah give you all the deets on what you need to know before going to Thailand! 

Greenheart Travel has been working in Thailand for many years, and there are advantages of applying for this program through us:

• 33 years of experience with cultural exchange programs
• Friendly, responsive, and professional support from your program managers.
• Connect with alumni and others on the program via our Greenheart Travel only Facebook forums, before you even leave!
• We try and make our program fees as inclusive as we can. We include things like extensive medical insurance for 4 months (medical maximum of $150,000 and prescription coverage with $0 copay) and accommodation for the entire TESOL course in Hua Hin or Chiang Mai, so you don’t run into any hidden fees down the line.
• Greenheart Atlas Program. The Greenheart Travel Atlas is a cultural training interactive guidebook alongside five videos where you will find three main topics covered: Personal/Professional Development, Cultural Understanding, & Environmental Awareness.
• Guaranteed job placement. Take the stress out of finding a job, we 100% guarantee we’ll find one for you!
• Our alumni recommend us! GoOverseas.com Reviews // GoAbroad.com Reviews
• Hands on support and personal attention every step of the way
• 24/7 emergency phone number to reach a staff member at any time
• Pre-departure “Culture Shock and Adjustment” Webinar before you leave
• Discounts for future Greenheart Travel programs
• We are a non-profit, mission based organization
• Continued support throughout your contract

We also have some unique offerings to our Greenheart Travel teachers and alumni!

Greenheart Grants

Greenheart Grants are funds awarded to Greenheart Travel participants to use for community development projects in their host or home country. A Greenheart Grant is the opportunity to create, improve, or maintain an impactful, community-focused project abroad or at home. Grant funds could be applied to supporting women’s cooperatives, schools, community centers, or health clinics, for example. Grant winners will be featured on our website, social media, and blog. You can see our past winners on our blog here.

Greenheart Alumni Program

We created the Greenheart Travel Alumni Program to provide resources and a community to support alumni in their advancement as global leaders, and a way to celebrate and reward our participants for being ambitious, inspiring catalysts of cultural exchange!

Greenheart Global Leaders Conference

Each August Greenheart offers full ride scholarships to over 40 alumni to attend our annual conference in Washington, DC. Participants even get a chance to advocate for cultural exchange in a presentation to the US Department of State. You can see more about what GGLC is and what you could do at the conference here.

1. Start Your Application Here. You will be sent more information as well as the link to our application portal to begin your formal application.

2. Submit Basic Program Information: The first step in our application portal will be basic things like your chosen start date, etc.

3. Submit your Application Fee: A $300 fee is required in order to apply for the program. This is subtracted from your total program fee. If we are unable to accept you following your interview (very unlikely!) we will refund your Application Fee in full.

4. Complete Application & Documents: Provide more detailed information about yourself in Part 2 of the application. In this section, you’ll tell us more information like your work history, motivations for joining the program, travel history, and emergency contacts. You will also submit your documents (below) within your portal account.

5. Skype Interview: Once you have submitted your online application and paid your application fee, you will be asked to schedule a video interview with a Greenheart Travel representative.

6. You’re Accepted! Woohoo! We are usually able to accept people within 1-2 weeks of their interviews.

7. Commitment Payment: Once you are accepted to the program, you will need to submit a $300 commitment payment within 14 days to confirm your spot on the program. Once you submit your commitment payment you will unlock the acceptance portion of your portal, which includes things like pre-departure videos, travel and arrival information, the Greenheart Travel Atlas, and more.

9. Book your flights, and get ready for your adventure to Thailand!

Required Documents To Apply:

• Terms and Conditions (signed virtually in portal)
• Copy of Passport
• Resume
• Criminal Record Check
  • Greenheart Travel runs this for Americans as part of the application for acceptance onto the program. After acceptance, however, Americans will have to obtain a government-issued check to bring to Thailand with them to submit to their school.
  • Those from the UK are required to submit an International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC) and bring a copy with them to Thailand
• Copy of your University Degree or Transcript
  • If you are a current university student graduating in the future, you can upload current unofficial transcripts

Physical Documents

You will need to bring the following physical documents with you to Thailand in order for the school to process your work permit. We will provide extensive directions on how to obtain these after your acceptance to the program:

• Authenticated Bachelors Degree
  • Those from the UK are required to have their degree notarized, apostilled, and legalized by the Thai Embassy in London.
• Government Issued Background Check (local, state, or national level)
  • Those from the UK are required to bring an International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC) with them to Thailand
• Transcripts from your Bachelor’s degree, sealed in the envelope