5 cultural differences to remember for TEFL teachers in Thailand

Thailand is an incredibly popular destination. Known as ‘The Land of Smiles,’ it welcomed 35 million visitors in 2024. That number includes a small army of TEFL teachers eager to find work in this incredibly friendly, fascinating, and beautiful country.

With its famous, picturesque beaches and lively cities, Thailand is an incredible prospect for any adventurous TEFL teacher. What’s more, there’s a significant demand for English teachers, mainly due to the number of tourists that flock to Thailand each year, but also so the country can be more competitive in the international marketplace.

There’s plenty to learn to integrate yourself and show respect to the people around you. So, how do you do it? What cultural differences do TEFL teachers need to remember in Thailand?

This post is part of a series to help TEFL teachers feel more comfortable in new surroundings. So, if you’re looking for cultural differences to remember for Japan , South Korea , Cambodia , Vietnam and Spain , we’ve got you covered. If you’re keen to learn about more countries, let us know!

So, without any more delay, what do you need to know about Thailand?

1. Sanuk

They don’t call Thailand the ‘Land of Smiles’ for nothing. Having a laugh is ingrained into Thai culture, and we mean that in all sincerity. ‘Sanuk’ is a concept held in very high esteem, and it can take the form of “gentle teasing, clever wordplay or plain old silliness.”

It doesn’t have to be high-concept. The Songkran festival is an excellent example of Sanuk in practice, with Thai people opting to wear gaudy floral shirts for the occasion . Why? Well, just because it’s funny. Oh, and we can’t forget the gigantic water fight during Songkran - that’s hardly serious stuff, either.

The ability to make fun of yourself and engage in light-hearted banter is a cultural currency in Thailand. Don’t take yourself too seriously or outright mock anyone, and you’ll fit in fine!

2. Reverence for monks

Monks are highly respected in Thailand. Theravada Buddhism is the biggest religion in Thailand, and its clergy are revered. While there’s a time and place for Sanuk, there are rules around how you interact with monks.

Wat etiquette is important. When you visit a Thai temple, always sit lower than a monk and never touch them. “Not touching strangers” may seem like an obvious rule, but Wats have also had to warn tourists about smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol.

If you can, visit Wats around 5pm to observe the monks’ prayer time. This is a particularly solemn but beautiful spectacle. Typically, bells ring at 5 on the dot , and monks enter a Wat’s main hall to begin chanting. 

Every day before dawn, monks observe a ritual called Tak Bat . This is when a procession of monks in saffron robes collects alms (offerings of money or other gifts) from people lining the streets in Thai towns and cities. It’s another example of the high esteem monks hold around Thailand, and to fit in, it’s essential to show the same amount of respect.

3. It’s ok to sleep in public... sort of.

We’re not outright suggesting you do this, but while falling asleep in public is relatively shameful (or at least embarrassing) in much of the world, it’s pretty normal in Thailand.

Public workers often take a lunchtime nap during their breaks, and in the street, you’ll occasionally pass by someone catching a few Z’s. Unless someone is in danger, don’t wake them up.

Similarly, you’ll sometimes see people having a quick nap on the beach or in the park. This carries its own risk, so we’d suggest exercising significant caution, but as a cultural norm, we can sort of get behind this. Sleeping is terrific, after all.

As a TEFL teacher, we recommend not falling asleep on the job. Admittedly, it’s harder to do when you’ve got a class of eager students in front of you, but we’d still be remiss not to say anything. Perhaps a Thai iced coffee will help?

4. Thailand’s monarchy

Remember what we said about being light-hearted and enjoying a laugh? That doesn’t extend to Thailand’s monarchy, which is extremely highly regarded. Criticising the royal family is not only taboo—it can also lead to imprisonment . Thailand’s lèse-majesté laws (laws against insulting the monarchy) are some of the strictest in the world.

The Royal Anthem is played before movies, concerts, and sporting events, and if you can physically stand, you must. It’s also played at train stations daily, at 8am and 6pm. If you’re wondering what you need to do when the anthem plays, just look around you, stop what you’re doing, and stand still. 

5. When to Wai

Relatively similar to the practice of bowing in Eastern Asian culture , the ‘Wai’ gesture is a Thai symbol of acknowledgement and respect.

What is it, and how do you Wai properly ? There are a few variations, but generally, the Wai is a prayer-like gesture. You bow your head slightly, put your hands together with your fingers pointing upwards and place them close to the chest. In some versions, your index fingers should touch your nose.

The Wai is a Thai greeting used to acknowledge superiority in rank, status or age. Thai people use the Wai to express gratitude, as an apology, or as a goodbye. As we covered, reverence for monks and the monarchy is essential, and as you might expect, Thai people are known to Wai as they pass a temple or, for example, a picture of the King. 

Scratching the surface

There are so many interesting idiosyncrasies in Thai culture. It’s a vast country with nearly 72 million people. However, these five tips will hopefully help you settle into Thai life or encourage you to look for opportunities to teach English in Thailand.

If you’re keen to try The Land of Smiles, we have some resources you’ll love. We can help you find English teaching jobs in Thailand , or if you prefer, you can read all about our Thailand teaching programme .

From Bangkok to Hat Yai, a fantastic teaching experience awaits you in beautiful Thailand.

Read more about teaching English in Asia in our comprehensive continental guide, with information about types of jobs, visas, salaries and more!