Teaching Jobs in Chiang Mai, Thailand

The type of school where you choose to teach in Chiang Mai will determine your type of placement and schedule of work:

Public Schools - these are the poorer schools that receive little government funding. Teachers will have larger class sizes and pupils will have lower levels of education, but this is often where you will find students who are the most excited to learn. Students at public schools in Chiang Mai don’t receive as much exposure to English, or to foreign teachers, so international teachers are especially beneficial to them.

Government Schools - These are the next level up in terms of government funding, but individuals who teach in Chiang Mai at government schools will still find there is a lack of resources.

Semi Private/Government - These schools receive some funding from the government but are also privately funded. 

Private - These schools in Chiang Mai that are completely privately funded, which means tuition will be pricey. However, private schools tend to have a structured English curriculum in place.

International Schools - Worldwide, this type of school is designed to be formatted and structured similar to “Western” standards of education. That being said, all classes at international schools will be taught in English and be based on a Western-style curriculum. Teachers will find that the majority of students they teach in international schools are native speakers or have years of English instruction under their belt. Teaching in Chiang Mai at an International School tends to pay well, because the schools are extremely expensive to attend. International schools in Chiang Mai typically hire fully licensed teachers with degrees in education, but experience and connections can get you a teaching job in Chiang Mai too. 

Be sure to ask lots of questions when considering a contract to teach in Chiang Mai. Things you may assume are included, may not be, so identify exactly what the job DOES entail before accepting a teaching job in Chiang Mai. Ask how many contact hours are expected and which specific subjects you will be teaching first and foremost. Public, Government, and Semi-Private schools will assign classes on the basis of what is most needed at that time, even if you have no experience or background in the subject. You could be expected to not only teach English in Chiang Mai, but also Art or Biology class, for example. Although subjects outside of English would most likely be only basic courses, teachers will still have to put quite a bit of effort in to properly instructing the subject for the first time.

Other things to consider before signing a contract to teach in Chiang Mai:

• School Management Style
• Discipline Level Required of Teachers (i.e. using the “rod” is still acceptable in Thailand)
• Number of other Foreign Teachers 
• School Schedule - Thai schools start at 8:30 a.m. by singing the national anthem and end at 3:30 p.m., private or international schools may vary. Traditional Thai schools have semesters that run from May to September and November to February. It is unlikely that you will go one month teaching in Thailand without having a holiday of some kind provide a day off of school, or more.
• Dress Code. Most teaching jobs in Chiang Mai will require a very professional dress code of teachers, and the kids will wear uniforms.
• Language. You don’t need to know Thai to teach in Thailand, but a few sentences are essential to getting around.