The Four Best Things About Teaching English in Thailand
by Douglas Berger Douglas Berger Psychiatrist Tokyo, M.D., Ph.D., isTeaching English in Thailand
The Four Best Things About Teaching English in Thailand
Click here
for more info about teaching English in Thailand
Thailand has
long been an extremely popular travel destination for a while now attracting
millions of tourists every year to check out its various popular attractions
like beautiful waterfalls in Chiang Mai, buzzing night markets in Bangkok and
bumping party Islands in the south. Thailand has also recently become a very
popular expat destination, the majority of expats being young college graduates
teaching
English in Thailand. It’s quite an easy position to acquire, the Thais have
recently realized the importance of a population fluent in English to advance
on a global scale and as a result, have opened their doors and hearts to young
English teachers eager for adventure and to make a difference in the world.
While there are many countries one can teach English in, here are some of the
best things about teaching
English in Thailand.
4. The beaches
Seeing as most
TEFL teachers hail from western countries full of rain and snow and bitter
winters, it’s no surprise that the beautiful beaches of Thailand hold an
irresistible draw to most of them. Picture pure white sand dotted with leafy
green palm trees and littered with exotic shells. A little further up from the
water, a few restaurants, and bars with simple open-air designs offer up
mouthwatering local cuisine and strong cocktails for very reasonable prices.
The more adventurous can participate in diving or snorkeling the numerous coral
reefs off the coast of most Thai beaches, while the more relaxed can stretch
out in a hammock or on the sand for some sun and sea breeze. Whatever your
preference for beach activities, it’s really hard to beat the beaches of the
tropics and teaching
English in Thailand is one way to get there.
3. The nightlife
While you’re
expected to be on your best behavior as a teacher during the school week, it
doesn’t mean you can’t get away for a wild night out every once in a while.
With both the number of tourists on vacation looking to let loose and the
local’s love of dancing, karaoke and Hong Thong (Thai whiskey), it’s no
surprise that Thailand offers some of the most unique and exciting nightlife in
the world. Thailand is a huge country that varies wildly depending on what part
you’re in and as a result, there’s something for everyone. Bangkok has scores
of fully modern dance clubs playing a mixture of both top 40’s hits and popular
Thai music, as well as tons of western-styled options like rock and Irish bars
with usually very talented live musicians. Chiang Mai up in the north has
stricter liquor laws than the rest of Thailand and when the main bars close at
midnight, the partiers who want to carry on funnel through a quiet little side
streets to hidden doors to underground “speakeasies” reminiscent of the secret
operations during the 1920’s prohibition. If you’re really looking to let loose,
however, the south is the place to be. There are numerous party islands off
either coast which boasts everything from little reggae bars equipped with
hammocks and hookahs for the truly chilled out to raging dance parties along
the entire beach that goes till dawn, including the infamous Full Moon Party on
Koh Phangan that draws crowds of up to 30,000 people each month. While it’s
probably best not to mention it on your resume, teaching
English in Thailand is a good way to escape the monotony of going to the same tired
bar with your friends every weekend.
2. The food
While every
culture has great cuisine, Thai food is absolutely legendary around the world.
Think fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and dirt cheap prices. Thai culture is
very much a “food culture,” a fact that is apparent to anyone who steps foot in
the country pretty much right off the bat. Thai families don’t cook at home
very much instead of opting to eat out almost every night. Most of the eating
out is done in night markets, normally quiet streets or courtyards during the
day that comes alive with lights, music and food stalls during the early evening.
You can get pretty much anything from the night markets, from knock-off Nike’s
to custom-tailored suits but the main attraction is always the food court right
in the middle. The food court is full of vendors cooking fresh cuisine right in
front of you to be had for unbeatable prices. You can get anything from
gigantic seafood platters to be shared by an entire family, savory grilled meat
skewers ranging from chicken to alligator, or local dishes like papaya salad,
Tom Yum soup, and Khao Soi. Some of the night markets in bigger cities will
even have western food like burgers and pizza, perfect for those teaching
English in Thailand with squeamish appetites (although we really recommend fully
embracing the delicious local food).
1. The people
Thailand is
known as “the land of smiles” for a reason. Thai people are some of the
kindest, most helpful and happiest people in the world. One of the things that
shock first-time visitors to Thailand the most is how honest the locals are.
Unlike many other countries in Southeast Asia, Thailand has a super low crime
rate and very rarely are tourists ever robbed or cheated and violent crimes are
almost nonexistent. When teaching English in
Thailand, you will very quickly learn to love the local Thais from your
landlord who might bring you medicine when you’re feeling sick, your favorite
Pad Thai lady who throws in a bit extra every time with a wink and a smile,
your co-teachers who help you control your class and the smiling young men who
will load you and your moped onto the back of their truck and drive you to the
nearest repair shop when you inevitably get a flat tire on the side of the
road. And then there’s gonna be the locals that will undoubtedly become your
absolute favorites, your students! While you will undoubtedly feel like
strangling them sometimes, you will probably form very close bonds with a lot of
them. Thai children are even smilier than their adult counterparts and
generally eager to learn about you and your culture. They will be very
interested in everything about you, you might be the only foreigner they have
seen in their entire lives! Teachers are afforded a very high degree of respect
in Thai culture and it’s not uncommon for students and their families to give
gifts to teachers. On the last day of the semester, your desk will probably be
completely covered in handmade cards, sweets and stuffed animals are given to
you by the students. It can make one very sad to leave.
So while there
are many countries one might consider teaching English in, teaching
English in Thailand is undoubtedly one of the best options out there for any aspiring
young teacher.
The Four Best Things About Teaching English in Thailand
Click here
for more info about teaching English in Thailand
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Created on Oct 25th 2019 00:18. Viewed 288 times.