Teach in Thailand Handbook

50 • In the mountains… Mountain
roads can be dangerous, especially 1 Practice situational awareness –

on a motorcycle. know your surroundings! Travel in

• During the rainy season… Avoid groups, have access to a phone, and

travelling to waterfalls and caves be aware of potential trouble areas.

GXULQJ WKLV WLPH RI \HDU DV çDVK

çRRGLQJ LV D VHDVRQDO RFFXUUHQFH 2 Keep your passport in a safe place.

in Thailand.

• Be respectful of safety warnings 3 Make yourself aware of common
and signs. scams in Thailand such as:

• Rare gems and tailor shops

Motorcycles & Road • Rented motorcycles and jet skis
Accidents • Tuk-tuks
• Counterfeit goods

• Closed tourist sites

Thailand has the second highest 4 “Snatch and grabs” involving
URDG WUDèF IDWDOLW\ UDWH LQ WKH motorcycles are known to happen in
world,according to statistics from busy, touristy areas.
the World Health Organization.

Vulnerable road users including 5 Be safe in taxis.
motorcyclists, pedestrians, and • Don’t focus on your phone
bicyclists comprise 83% of fatalities. • Ask the driver to use the meter

It is important to use extreme • Avoid riding alone at night
caution on Thai roads. OEG advises • Prepare small bills as most drivers
against driving a motorcycle. If you
will not make change

choose to do so, wear a helmet every

time, educate yourself about Thai

driving, and be sure that your vehicle

is insured.

Personal Safety

Thailand is a safe country with
VLJQLæFDQWO\ ORZHU UDWHV RI YLROHQW
crimes than most Western nations.
However, it’s important to use
caution and common sense. A few
tips to keep safe in Thailand include:

Political Situation in 51
Thailand

In 2014, the Royal Thai Army seized
control of Thailand’s administration
under the National Council for
Peace and Order (NCPO). Thailand
is no longer under martial law,
but the NCPO has the authority
to implement various security
measures, including preventing
public gatherings, restricting the
media, and setting up checkpoints.

The Thai monarchy plays a very
important role in Thai society, and
has for centuries. Thailand was ruled
by the late King Bumibol Adulyadej’s
for 70 years, and the country
mourned his loss in October 2016.
He was succeeded by his son, King
Vajiralongkorn whos coronation as
the new King was held in May 2019.

Thailand operates under lèse-
majesté laws. Under this law, the
government has the authority to
detain individuals for speaking out
against the NCPO and the Thai
monarchy. This includes face-to-
face conversations and posts on
social media. OEG discourages
teachers from engaging in public
FRQYHUVDWLRQV Õ RéLQH RU RQOLQH Õ
about Thai government, monarchy,
and politics.

Wat Pha Sorn Kaew, Phetchabun

50

Wat Pha Sorn Kaew, Phetchabun

AFTER YOUR PROGRAM 53

You did it! It’s the end of the Wrapping Up at
semester, and you’ve made it through School
probably one of the toughest, yet
most rewarding periods of your First, make sure you check in with
life. Now what? For most of you the your school coordinator and know
answer is travel. Before you hit the when your responsibilities at school,
road there’s a couple of loose ends VXFK DV JUDGHV DQG æQDO H[DPV DUH
that you’ll need to tie up. expected to be completed, and when
your last day of work will be. It’s
Extending at Your important that if your school needs
School you for English camps, summer
courses, or other duties, that you
If you’ve enjoyed your time at your make yourself available (within
current school and you’re interested UHDVRQ 7KDL VFKRROV GRQØW DOO æQLVK
in staying longer, good news! You their semesters on the same date, so
can! This process involves speaking your school may allow you to leave
to your school coordinator directly. sooner or later than friends at other
In most cases where you’ve been schools. As a teacher your duty to
a satisfactory teacher your school your school and students should be
would be happy to have you. \RXU æUVW SULRULW\

There is no need to change to a new Before you leave Thailand to head
work visa if you are staying at the home, or set out on your next
same school. adventure, you will also need
to take care of some domestic
You have the option of negotiating responsibilities. Check with
a new contract with the school your coordinator about your
directly. In this case, you will be accommodations. When are your last
working with them on your own rent and utilities due? How long can
independently of OEG’s program. you stay in your accommodations?
If you are interested in extending Keep in mind that in some situations,
with your school but under OEG’s you may be able to extend your stay
program, then contact OEG staff in your accommodations. However,
and we can share with you updated in some cases it won’t be possible.
information and pricing.

54 If you have a Thai bank account, D QHZ YLVD 7KH æQH IRU RYHUVWD\LQJ
you will need to go to your bank in your visa is 500 THB per day, so

person to close your account. make sure that you make plans

Moving to a New before your visa expires.
School In some cases, depending on how

strict your province is, you will

If you are thinking about longer in need to go to the Labor Department

Thailand as a teacher, but you’re and Thai Immigration to cancel

interested in getting to know a new your work permit and visa in

area of the country, then you might person. There are several provinces,

consider moving to a new school. where once you cancel your visa at

immigration, you will need to leave

Moving to a new school requires Thailand that same day. Please speak

research and planning. A new ZLWK \RXU FRRUGLQDWRU DQG æQG RXW

schools means that you will need to what the regulations are in your

obtain a new work visa outside of province, and make travel plans

7KDLODQG ,I \RX æQG D QHZ VFKRRO RQ accordingly.

your own, you can work with them

directly to arrange paperwork for a Travelling In Thailand

new work visa.

If you plan to stay in Thailand for

Would you like OEG’s help in travel, you will need to change to

KHOSLQJ WR æQG \RX D QHZ VFKRRO RQ a new visa. A new Thai visa or visa

our program? If you have completed exemption cannot be obtained in

your original work contract then we Thailand. You will have to leave

PLJKW EH DEOH WR DVVLVW \RX LQ æQGLQJ Thailand in order to get a new visa.

a new school. Contact OEG staff for The two most common options

updated information and pricing. include:

Travelling After • 30-day visa exemption, can be
Teaching obtained by exiting and re-
entering Thailand at either a land
Now that you’ve nearly reached or air crossing and is free.
the end of your work contract,
you are quickly approaching your • 60-day tourist visa, must be
visa expiration date. Since your applied for at a Thai Embassy or
Non-B is a work visa, once you have Consulate outside of Thailand.
completed your obligations at your This visa costs about 2,000 THB
school, you will need to change to depending on where you apply for
it, so make sure you consult that

Embassy or Consulates website 55
for updated information and
requirements. 3 Does your school have any
• Note: Both of these visas can be camps or summer classes?
extended for an additional 30
days at immigration in Thailand 4 What are your province’s
for an additional fee (1,900 regulations for canceling your
THB). Work Permit and Non-B visa?

Think about your travel plans and 5 How long can you stay in
decide which option is best for you. your accommodations?
If you have questions about your
visa, and need any advice from OEG, 6 +DYH \RX æQDOL]HG \RXU WUDYHO
feel free to reach out and ask us! plans? Do you need any visas?

Travelling Outside Luggage Storage
Thailand
Traveling, but don’t know what to do
If you are planning to travel to other with your luggage? It is possible to
countries, be sure to research visa have luggage shipped home, but this
requirements. Some countries offer can be a bit pricey. Another option is
visas on arrival, while others you storing your luggage in Thailand and
must apply for visas in advance. coming back for it at the end of your
For the most up-to-date and travels. In addition storage facilities
accurate information, visit your at Thailand’s international airports,
home county’s department of state here are two storage facilities OEG
website for visa information and recommends. Visit their websites for
requirements for other countries. more information:
Also, many countries have limits on
the number of pages you must have Bangkok Self Storage
available in your passport. www.bangkokselfstorage.com/
home
End-of-Semester Questions Checklist:

1 When are your grades, exams, Chiang Mai Buddy
and any other classwork due? www.chiangmaibuddy.com/
services-and-products
2 When is your last day of
work?

56 INFORMATION UPDATE 2022

Living and working in Travelling to other countries.
Thailand post Covid-19.
Leaving Thailand for travel and tourism
Thailand had taken many measures to purposes was until only now not possible.
prevent the spread of Covid-19 early in the While travel is opening up here in Thailand
pandemic. These measures included the and nearby countries, please remember
complete closing of all borders, strict that most countries in Asia had very strict
quarantine, social distancing and requiring regulations regarding entry requirements
people to wear protective masks while in and mandatory quarantines. These
public. Due to these measures, Thailand had procedures were time consuming,
experienced relatively few cases early on expensive and could be very intrusive.
and experienced a low death rate from the Some nations remain closed, or have
disease. changed policies too frequently with little
Currently, life in Thailand is finally notice to safely travel to. If you decide to
returning to normal. The country has travel to neighboring countries after your
opened back up and is phasing out the last visa extension or for school breaks, please
border safety measures moving towards pre make sure to research your travel
pandemic travel. While life here is returning destination for all entry and visa
to normal, please understand that safety requirements necessary to get there and
measures are still expected to be followed. back safely.
While in public spaces such as 7/11’s, malls,
parks, public transportation, etc. wearing a Political Situation in Thailand.
mask is still required. At your school,
washing your hands regularly, wearing a In the fall of 2020 non-violent protests took
mask while teaching, and social distancing place in Bangkok as well as throughout the
may be required. (Specific rules vary by rest of the country. These continued
school). sporadically through 2021. They had been
Additionally, be aware that as a foreigner centered around the current political
entering Thailand post Covid-19 you may situation in Thailand, the Monarchy and an
experience some level of additional scrutiny overall generational divide between the
as other nations infection rates and young and the old. As a foreign guest in
responses to the pandemic did not go Thailand, it is advised that you DO NOT take
unnoticed by Thai people. Therefore, your part in any protest or demonstration in any
cooperation with these rules will be form. You will learn more about current
particularly important. You will be expected events during orientation.
to follow any school or Thai government
policies related to Covid-19 safety.

www.oeg.co.th

LINE Official Account
OEG Teach