Teaching English in Thailand: My 7-Year Journey & Lessons

Introduction to a New Path

I never anticipated that I would find myself teaching English in Thailand. My journey began unexpectedly when the unit I was attached to at Bluescope Steel was suddenly made redundant. This abrupt change left me feeling uncertain about my future career path.

Navigating Uncertainty

In the wake of my redundancy, I attended several sessions with job providers and Centrelink, but I found myself at a loss regarding what direction to take next. The uncertainty was daunting, and it prompted me to explore various options for my future.

Discovering TESOL

While browsing course brochures at home, I stumbled upon one for TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). The idea of teaching English as a second language resonated with me, especially given my passion for travel and my background. It seemed like an opportunity that aligned perfectly with my interests.

Seizing the Opportunity

Fortunately, due to the redundancy notice, funding was available for training courses. Seizing this chance, I enrolled in the TESOL course, eager to embark on a new educational journey.

Seizing this chance, I enrolled in the TESOL course, eager to embark on this new educational journey.

Immersive Learning Experience

To kick off my training, I took a week off work and traveled to Melbourne for an intensive four-day introductory course. This program was designed to help participants grasp the fundamentals of teaching English to students with little to no prior knowledge of the language.

Practical Application

During the course, we were tasked with creating and delivering short lesson plans in a foreign language. To challenge our skills further, each participant was assigned a different language—I was given Hindi. This exercise not only tested our creativity, but also provided valuable insight into the challenges non-English speakers face when learning a new language.

Continued Commitment

Motivated by the experience, I dedicated my free time to developing my teaching skills and learning new methodologies. A few weeks later, I received my first major assignment.

Around this time, Bluescope informed me that my position might not be made redundant after all. I communicated this to Centrelink and the job center, as they had funded my course. Since I had already started, they encouraged me to complete the program. I persisted with my coursework during my free time, balancing both my job and my studies.

Online training began

Online Training & A Second Chance at Redundancy

Eventually, I finished the course—even managing to complete my final assignment while on an overseas assignment in India with Bluescope. The moment I received my Advanced TESOL Diploma was incredibly rewarding.

Shortly after this accomplishment, Bluescope announced another round of redundancies. Once again, I was on the list. This time, however, I felt ready for a change. In a fortunate turn of events, I was able to negotiate a position swap with a colleague who was facing redundancy but desperately wanted to stay. After some discussion, my manager agreed to let me take the redundancy package instead.
Ididnt really expect that soon I would be teaching English in Thailand.

My Journey to Teaching in Thailand

In 2013, I set off for Thailand with the intention of spending at least three months unwinding and enjoying the vibrant culture. However, my plans took an unexpected turn.

While enjoying a drink at a bar in Bangkok, I struck up a conversation with another expat about my background and plans. That chance encounter proved pivotal: he shared the contact details of an agency actively hiring English teachers.

A few days later, after a quick meeting with the agency, I was hired and scheduled to start teaching the following Monday at Ratchawinit School in Bangkok.

Located in the government district, Ratchawinit catered to children of police officers, military personnel, and government officials. Because of this, the students already had a solid foundation in English. The two classes I was assigned to were fantastic. My subjects included:

• English for Mathematics
• English for Science
• English for Grammar
• English for Thai Studies

Challenges & Lessons Learned

Teaching English in Thailand can be challenging and rewarding.
My lesson was finding a good school. Dont stay at a school that doesnt feel right.
I was assigned a Thai assistant for my classes who unfortunately made the experience quite challenging. On several occasions, she attempted to undermine my lesson plans. One day, she even interrupted my class to claim that the word I was teaching—”riding”—wasn’t a real English word! Despite the friction behind the scenes, teaching the kids was wonderful, and they thoroughly enjoyed the lessons.

Unfortunately, management issues with the agency meant I only taught there for one term.
I found out my contract wasn’t being renewed when an agency-wide email went out regarding next term’s schedules, and my name wasn’t on it.
On top of that, commuting from On Nut via the BTS, buses, and long walks through Bangkok traffic had been a daily slog.

It was time to move on.
Soon after, I was offered a position at a local high school—a job that would turn into a 7-year chapter that I absolutely loved.

I was assigned a Thai assistant for my classes who unfortunately made the experience quite challenging.
On several occasions, she attempted to undermine my lesson plans. One day, she even interrupted my class to claim that the word I was teaching—”riding”—wasn’t a real English word!
Despite the friction behind the scenes, teaching the kids was wonderful, and they thoroughly enjoyed the lessons.

I had a few issues with the school management and I only ended up teaching here for 1 term.
I only found out they didn’t want me back when i saw an agency email saying everyone should have there schedules for next term.
When i contacted them they just said the school didn’t want me back.
I was living at ON-Nut at the time and the commute was a slog.
I would have to be at the BTS sky train early each day and then wait for a bus, followed by a long walk.

Getting home sometimes took ages due to the traffic congestion.
Anyway i had moved on and got offered a job at a local High school.
This was to be a job that lasted 7 years and I absolutely loved it.

My Experience Teaching English at Rattanaburi High School

Rattanaburi High School was a fantastic place to teach.
Every week, I taught roughly 1,000 students across two different grade levels (typically Grade 1 and Grade 4, depending on the school’s schedule for the year).

My focus was on practical communication—teaching students how to converse comfortably with me and their peers in English.
Heavy Oxford English workbooks weren’t practical for students who simply needed to master everyday conversational basics.

Over the seven years I spent there, I built incredible memories with both the students and my fellow teachers: from daily classroom interactions and community trips, to teaching extra classes from home for 10 baht, and dressing up for our annual Christmas celebrations.

Looking back, while it was technically my lowest-paid job, my time teaching English in Thailand was easily the happiest period of my career.

I taught them how to communicate with me and their classmates in English.
There was no point using those Oxford English workbooks on students that needed to be able to say basic things like Hello, how are you.

Here I am testing out my costume prior to Xmas day activities at Rattanaburi High school