My personal favourite place to live and work would have to be Koh Samui. Finding English-teaching work here isn’t impossible, but it can be done and Samui offers a great balance of Thailand and the West.
Where is the best place to teach English in Thailand?
There is no ‘best’ place to work as an English teacher in Thailand. Each area has its own advantages and disadvantages. You have to make a decision based on what is most important to you.
I want to teach English in a big city and make good money
Bangkok is the obvious choice for an English teacher looking to make money. While Thailand isn’t the best destination in the World for making money as an English teacher (you can earn more in Hong Kong, South Korea or Vietnam) if you want to earn as much as possible, you need to live in Bangkok.
I want to experience the real Thailand as an English teacher
Everyone associates Chiang Mai with the real Thailand and it is often referred to as the cultural heart of the country. Personally, I think this is bullshit. Everyone has heard of Chiang Mai and consequently, everyone goes to Chiang Mai. Its a biggish city in the mountains but it isn’t as amazing as everyone makes out. There are loads of tourists there and prices are consequently much higher than cities where the foreignors (farang) don’t visit.
If you want to see real Thailand and in particular, real Thai cities then go to the North East. I wasn’t a huge fan of the Isaan region in North Eastern Thailand but some people really like it there. Its more rural (still a few big cities) and the people are more simple (read backward) but its as authentic a Thai experience as you can get.
I want to be near Bangkok but not in Bangkok!
If you want to be near Bangkok there are a few options. Kanchanaburi to the West is one of the nicest Thai towns I visited. There are a few big schools here and definitely teaching work to be had. However, there are no beaches in this direction. The the East of Bangkok you have Pattaya which I never visited but is quite sleazy and developed by all accounts. Further East still, you’ve got Rayong province which has an OK coastal area but gives you access to the beautiful (but busy) Koh Samed.
My personal recommendation as an English teacher? Live in the South!
Michelle and I fell in love with South Thailand. Phuket/Krabi and Phang Nga all have beautiful beaches and waters. There are plenty of schools and airports in the area. You can get your fix of the real Thailand, big Thai towns and touristy areas pretty easily. Phuket is a bit sleazy but good fun for young folks. Krabi is pretty laid back but still good fun. Phang Nga is very quiet.
On the other side of the country, Surat Thani would be an OK place to work but there are no tourists there so nightlife is very Thai. Koh Samui offers a really good blend of Thailand and the West. Its sleazy in parts and classy/expensive in others. Its also got a few smaller Thai areas that you can check out. The private schools here are good and pay well, the Thai government schools do not.
Filed under: Region Guide
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Chiang Mai isn’t amazing? And it’s more expensive than cites where foreignors (sic) don’t go? Uh, excuse me? Tourists are everywhere, there’s 14 million a year. If your thing is to get away from tourists, try Burma or Laos. Also, I’m not sure what you mean about it not being cultural. It is the seat of the Lanna Kingdom, a separate identity than the Thai Kingdom with a distinct language, cuisine, and architectural style. No culture? Please, son. Finally, I don’t believe that you get to decide what’s “real” Thailand. I’m pretty sure the people here in Chiang Mai would call themselves “real” Thais, just as much as anyone else in LOS. Finally, would you like to point out a city that’s cheaper than Chiang Mai? I can rattle off 20 guesthouses under 250 baht, no sweat. 20-30 baht meals can be had in the old city at any time of day or night. I see that you love the south, as you should, but degrading Chiang Mai because you’ve had a good time down south is ill-advised and your “advice” is flawed and comes off condescending. I’d take Chiang Mai over anywhere else in Thailand every time.
Obviously you’ve seen a side to Chiang Mai that I didn’t. Quite frankly, I was really unimpressed after spending a week there. I’d been told be people like yourself about guest houses for less than 250 THB, meals for 20-30 THB but (despite having lived in Thailand for over 6 months by that point in time and being able to manage basic Thai) and an amazing, peaceful side to Thailand that could not be found anywhere else. Perhaps it was due to people talking it up so much but to be honest I was very underwhelmed. Accommodation was no cheaper than anywhere else in Thailand, neither was food. I’m glad you like Chiang Mai and I wasn’t trying to degrade it but my point is that the 14 million tourists who flock there, do so largely because they believe they’ll get away from go-go bars, buckets and ladyboys to see a side of Thailand that, personally, I don’t think exists in Chiang Mai. There are lots of pluses to living there but quite frankly, I think the aspects that attract so many people there can be enjoyed more, elsewhere in the country.