Moving to a new country to teach is vastly exciting, but it can also be a little scary, simply because it is hard to know what to expect. Here are a few tips to help make the adjustment to living and working here in Thailand as an English teacher a bit easier!
Written by Stella Saintis
1. Keep an open mind
Try and remember that you are living in a different country that may have customs and ways of doing things that are the complete opposite of what you are used to. This can make adjusting to life in Thailand hard at times but ultimately very rewarding. Instead of wishing for the life you had back home, look at everyday as a new adventure. In Thailand, you can really experience wonderful and new things that make this country amazing. Many of the small quirks of Thai people or life in Thailand that may initially really bother you could turn out to be the very things you miss the most once you leave!
2. Be Flexible
When you first start out at your school, you may be used to how things operate in your home country. I was previously a teacher in Chicago before moving to Thailand, and therefore, I had some expectations about the way a school works. I had to learn pretty quickly to throw all of my previous experiences out of the window and accept that things would just be different. If you get a job in a Thai school, let go of your expectations for learning about events in a timely manner, having your schedule be the same from day to day, or even the expectation of knowing what you may be doing later that day. I would regularly show up to school only to find out that all my classes were cancelled for the day, or I would go to one of my scheduled classes only to be asked to go and teach a whole different set of students. Now that I work at an International School in Bangkok, things operate in a way more in line with what I would expect in the States, but I still have to be super flexible since I work with a large Thai staff that is just used to doing things a certain way. And that’s ok! If you let go of those expectations, you won’t be stressed when things change suddenly.
Lay Krathong is a festival that is celebrated in a month of November and translates “to float a basket”. Kids in school made their own Krathong and floated them down the river for good luck and fortune.
3. Embrace the Thai language
Knowing a little bit of Thai goes a long way in the Land of Smiles. Even if you are living and working in a part of Thailand that has a larger expat community (and therefore, more people speak your language), the locals might not have the same level of English. Make an effort to at least learn greetings, numbers (this makes shopping and bargaining a lot easier), names of food, and phrases to help you get around (such as directions and how to get home in a taxi). While you can get by on hand gestures, miming or Google Translate for a time, your life will be much, much easier if you take the time to learn a little Thai – you are in Thailand after all! XploreAsia does provide some instruction in Thai when you first arrive, and I encourage you to really pay attention; it really is quite helpful in leading a happier life here.
5. Eat the street food
Some people are quite reluctant when they arrive in Thailand to eat the street food since they fear it will get them sick. I have been living in Thailand for about a year and a half, and I eat street food most days out of the week and have only gotten sick one time. If you do the math on that, the odds of getting sick from street food are very low. Once you get over that fear, you will learn to love the delicious local street food that is not only yummy but also so affordable! Knowing some Thai helps when ordering food as well because you can inquire about certain ingredients that make up dishes (especially good if you have any allergies!).
Even if you hear a constant giggle every time you try to speak in Thai to your students, they appreciate it more than you will ever know!
6. Know what helps you de-stress
Having worked as a teacher in the US and now as a teacher in both a Thai school and an International school in Thailand, I can confidently say that the jobs I have had here are a lot more stress free than the one I had in Chicago. That being said, adjusting to a new country and starting a new job at the same time is something that is bound to be stressful in the beginning. Before coming to Thailand, take some time to think about the things that help you de-stress. Maybe it is talking to a friend, exploring your new surroundings, reading a book, listening to music, or meditating. Whatever it is that helps you when you get stressed out, make sure to turn to that person or thing when your life in Thailand becomes overwhelming.
I hope these tips are helpful for those thinking of moving to teach in Thailand or those who have just made the leap. Thailand is an incredible country that has so much to offer if you just open your mind and your heart to the experience!
To get more advice about travelling and teaching in Thailand, check out Stella`s blog www.stellasout.com.
Are you working as an English Teacher in Thailand? How did your first week go in your new school and what kind of advice you would give? Comment below, as we would love to hear from you!
