4-Week TEFL Course in Chiang Mai, Thailand

SEE TEFL is an approved centre of Training Qualifications UK (TQUK), and offers an optional TQUK Level 5 Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language — an Ofqual-regulated qualification, indexed at the same level as a CELTA on the UK’s Regulated Qualifications Framework.

This involves completing additional assignments over a 6-week period, starting from day one of the course. The extra cost is $100, which covers the TQUK awarding fee.

Most graduates find that the standard SEE TEFL certificate is all they need to find work in Thailand and beyond. The Level 5 extension is worth considering if you plan to teach in the UK, or if a prospective employer specifically requires an Ofqual-regulated qualification.

Please note:
These prices may be lower if you see an offer listed on this page or have a discount code.

The course costs $1395 USD. You’ll pay a deposit of $495 when you enrol and the balance directly to the partner centre approximately before the start of the course.

Included in the price of the course are:

– 4-week, 120-hour course (Monday to Friday)
– 6 hours of observed teaching practice at local schools
– 8 hours of Thai language instruction
– 1-day Thai cultural awareness training
– Pre-course grammar terminology and teaching process review
– All study materials, reference books, testing and certification
– Expert tuition from certified vocational trainers
– Pre-course support, including visa guidance
– Complimentary airport pickup on request
– Accommodation assistance
– Job-finding workshop and ongoing job support
– Job support from School of TEFL
– Deposit refund guarantee
– Optional access to our Grammar Course

This is an intensive, university-level course that requires dedication and hard work! It’s not a ‘shortcut’ TEFL course. However, with your commitment, you’ll emerge from it well-prepared and highly motivated to start your teaching journey.

Yes, you’ll teach actual ESL students at local schools for 6 hours.

Yes. The course covers teaching techniques for a range of age groups, and includes a dedicated module on teaching children. Your 6 observed teaching practices are with real students at different levels and ages – typically including kindergarten, primary, secondary, and college or university classes.

You’ll receive two grades at the end of the course. One is based on your performance across the 6 observed teaching practices, including your lesson preparation. The other is based on a formal examination at the end of the language awareness component. You’ll also complete three written assignments during the course.

No – TEFL courses show you how to teach without needing to know the language of your students. If you go on to teach in an English speaking country, you’ll probably have classes of mixed nationality/first language, so using the students’ first language isn’t an option anyway.

The course is suitable for motivated individuals of all ages and backgrounds who want to teach English in Thailand, around the world or online.

Courses run every month, but SEE TEFL advises booking early as places can fill up. We’d recommend booking at least a couple of months ahead if you have a preferred start date.

Training groups are limited to 20 trainees.

You’ll need to dress smartly and professionally when teaching at local schools – lightweight formal clothing is ideal for Thailand’s climate. Visible tattoos should be covered as much as possible. Outside of teaching practice, you can dress casually.

It’s also worth bringing originals of your relevant qualifications (degrees, certificates), as you may need these when applying for teaching jobs after the course. If you don’t already have a police/criminal record check from your home country, it’s advisable to arrange one before you travel – though it’s also possible to obtain one in Thailand if needed.

SEE TEFL will send you an online grammar terminology and teaching process review around 4 weeks before your start date. This is a helpful refresher to prepare you for the course, and is included at no extra cost.

We also include access to our Grammar Course when you enrol, which some trainees choose to use as additional preparation.

If you’d like some additional background reading, Learning Teaching by Jim Scrivener and The Practice of English Language Teaching by Jeremy Harmer are both good options. These aren’t required, but some trainees find it helpful to be familiar with a few terms and ideas before the course begins.

You should bring originals of all relevant qualifications – in particular your degree certificate and transcripts. A notarised copy of your degree may be needed later when applying for a work permit.

It’s also advisable to bring a police/criminal record check from your home country. If you don’t have one, don’t worry – it’s possible to obtain one from the Thai police in Chiang Mai or Bangkok. SEE TEFL can advise on which type of check is most appropriate for your situation.

If you’re a non-native English speaker, bring evidence of your English proficiency (e.g. your IELTS certificate).

SEE TEFL provides extensive job support, including a dedicated job-finding workshop during the course that shows you how to find work independently. You’ll receive lists of school contacts and job listings, and graduates are invited to join a private Facebook group where earlier graduates regularly post job openings. SEE TEFL has been training teachers since 2006 and has built up a wide network of schools that prioritise applications from their graduates. Their sister school also manages around 50 teaching positions across Thailand, recruiting exclusively from SEE TEFL course graduates.

For those looking to teach outside of Thailand, SEE TEFL offers a one-to-one consultation with the school director.

Job support is ongoing and can be requested at any time after the course – not just in the weeks immediately after training.

In addition to the support offered by the partner centre, School of TEFL provides continued guidance and career advice. Before, during, and after your course, we’re here to help with CV preparation, job applications, interview tips, and building your TEFL career. You’re always welcome to reach out by email or phone for personalised support – we’re here to help whenever you need us.

SEE TEFL offers a complimentary airport pickup and transfer in Chiang Mai on request, and can help you get set up with a Thai SIM card and prepaid data package when you arrive. Their staff are always available for any questions about living and working in Thailand and will do their best to assist you whenever they can.

To teach English in Thailand, you’ll typically need:

– An accredited TEFL certification (with observed teaching practice, which is required for the majority of teaching positions).
– A bachelor’s degree in any subject – this is normally required to obtain a non-immigrant B (Business) visa and work permit, but see below *
– A clean police/criminal record check from your home country.

* It is possible to find teaching work without a bachelor’s degree, but you’ll need to be more flexible about location and school type, and there are other steps you’ll need to take as well. Obtaining a work permit is also more difficult. Please contact us for more information about this.

It is possible to find teaching work without a bachelor’s degree, but you’ll need to be more flexible about location and school type, and there are other steps you’ll need to take as well. Obtaining a work permit is also more difficult. Please contact us for more information about this.

To enter Thailand for the course, most trainees use either a 60-day Tourist Visa or a 60-day Visa Exemption, both of which can typically be extended for a further 30 days in Chiang Mai. This provides sufficient time to complete the course and begin looking for work. (Visa options depend on nationality.)

Once you’ve secured a teaching position, your school will provide the paperwork to support your application for a Non-Immigrant B (Business) visa and work permit, which allows you to stay and work long-term. This visa can be extended each year. Many graduates apply for this visa at a nearby Thai embassy in Southeast Asia – a well-established process that SEE TEFL can guide you through step by step.

SEE TEFL has over 17 years of experience helping trainees navigate the visa and immigration process, and provides guidance and support throughout.

Yes. The course is open to both native and non-native speakers, and SEE TEFL has trained people from more than 40 countries. Non-native speakers will need a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 (or equivalent) to enrol on the course.

After qualifying, non-native speakers with a bachelor’s degree are likely to find teaching work, though some schools do prefer to hire native speakers. Non-native speakers without a bachelor’s degree may find it significantly harder to secure a position.

Schools in Thailand hire throughout the year, but there are two key periods when demand is highest – around May and November, when new academic semesters begin. The March, April, and October courses are particularly well-timed for this, as they finish just before schools begin recruiting for the upcoming semester.

You don’t need to time your course around these dates though – teachers regularly find positions mid-year, and job support is available whenever you’re ready to start looking.

Most full-time teaching positions are at government or private schools, covering kindergarten through to secondary level. You’ll typically be expected in school from around 7:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. Contracts normally run for 10–12 months, though shorter contracts of one semester (4–5 months) are also available. If both you and the school are happy, contracts can be extended indefinitely.

Full-time school positions usually include a fixed monthly salary, paid sick and holiday leave, basic health insurance, and support with your Non-Immigrant B visa and work permit.

Language school work is also available, with classes typically in the evenings and at weekends. Most language school positions are part-time and paid by the hour, which suits teachers who want more flexibility. Some teachers combine a full-time school position with part-time language school work for additional income.

There are teaching opportunities across the country. The largest concentration of jobs is in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket, but there is also demand in smaller cities and more rural areas for teachers who are willing to be flexible about location.

The main types of paid teaching work are: full-time positions at government or private schools (kindergarten through to university level), part-time work at language schools, freelance private tutoring, and online teaching.

SEE TEFL’s sister school manages around 50 teaching positions in Chiang Mai and across Thailand, and recruits exclusively from SEE TEFL graduates.

Salaries vary depending on the type of school, location, and your experience. As a guide, starting salaries for full-time positions at formal schools typically range from around 32,000 to 42,000 THB per month (approximately $900–1,200 USD). Language school work is usually paid by the hour.

Thailand isn’t a destination where most teachers save large amounts, but the cost of living – particularly in Chiang Mai – is low enough that many teachers find their salary comfortably covers day-to-day expenses and allows them to enjoy life without financial pressure.