Teach in Thailand Intro Video: 40–60 Seconds Schools Will Watch
Face the Window. Forty Seconds. Unlisted YouTube
From our office in Ban Lum, I send a lot of intro videos to schools, and they are strict about them. Schools judge the video like a first interview: seated, phone on a stand, well framed, facing a window, forty to sixty seconds of clear English.
Schools judge your video like a first interview. Film 40 to 60 seconds seated, with your phone on a stand at eye level (never handheld), in landscape, head and shoulders or chest up, facing a window, against a plain background in a quiet room. Wear smart casual and look at the lens. Say sawatdee, your name, your degree, your TEFL and why you want to teach kids. Upload to YouTube as Unlisted (or Google Drive with "Anyone with the link"), apply online, and email the link to placement@kids-english.org. Some schools still ask for a video call too; the school decides.
01: Why Schools Want a Video
Schools judge it like a first interview.
"In 20 years of placing teachers, I've learned that Thai schools take the intro video seriously. A handheld selfie from your bedroom tells a director you're not serious. Sit down, set the phone up properly, dress for the classroom and speak clearly. Treat it like your first interview, because to the school it is."Matthew John : Co-Founder & Operations Manager, KET
Your First Interview 🤝
The school sees and hears you before anyone meets you, and judges the video the way it would judge an interview. It helps them decide who to contact first.
Clear, Unhurried English 🗣️
Staff listen for whether young learners could follow you. Slow down a little, finish your words and don't rush the end.
Non-Native Teachers 🌏
A good video helps everyone, native speaker or not. See our guide for non-native teachers for what schools ask for.
🛠️ How to Record Your Intro Video for Thai Schools
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Sit Down, Phone on a Stand
Sit facing a window for soft light, never with the window behind you. Put your phone on a stand or tripod, or prop it steady, at eye level. Never hold it, walk, stand or film a selfie.
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Frame It and Dress Smart Casual
Film in landscape, head and shoulders or chest up, centred, against a tidy, plain background in a quiet room. Wear a collared shirt or a modest blouse, with neat hair.
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Say Five Things in 40–60 Seconds
Look at the lens and say sawatdee, then your name, your degree, your TEFL and why you want to teach children. Speak clearly and a little slower than normal.
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Upload Unlisted and Email the Link
Upload the video to YouTube as Unlisted, or to Google Drive with sharing set to "Anyone with the link". Apply online, then email the link to placement@kids-english.org.
02: Setting Up: Light, Sound and Framing
Schools commonly expect a clean, well-framed video. Set it up properly.
Sit Down, Face the Window
Sit down for the whole video: never walking, standing or filming a selfie. Face a window so soft daylight falls on your face. Never sit with the window behind you, or you'll be a dark shape against a bright square.
Phone on a Stand, Eye Level
Don't hold the phone. Put it on a stand or tripod, or prop it steady, at eye level. Film in landscape unless the school asks otherwise, and look at the lens, not at yourself on the screen.
Well Framed, Plain Background
Frame yourself head and shoulders or chest up, centred. Use a tidy, plain wall: no bed, clutter or other people in shot. Film in a quiet room; switch off a noisy fan or air-con and close the window if there's traffic.
Smart Casual
A collared shirt or a modest blouse, and neat hair. It's the same standard you'd teach in; see our teacher dress code guide.
03: What to Say in 40 to 60 Seconds
Five things: sawatdee, your name, your degree, your TEFL, and why kids.
🎬 A Simple Four-Part Script
Men end with khrap, women with kha. Practise out loud until it's smooth, then film seated and speak to the lens. Don't read from the screen. If you stumble, record it again. More in our Thai phrases guide.
04: Watch Our Sample Video
Our own guideline video on the KET YouTube channel.
05: Before You Send It
Tick what you have ready. Requirements vary by school and visa; see our teacher’s licence guide.
What You'll Need
Check off all 4 items above to verify your materials are ready for submission.
06: How to Send Your Video
Send a link, not a file.
YouTube, Unlisted
Upload to YouTube and set visibility to Unlisted. Only people with the link can watch; it won't show in search.
Or Google Drive
Google Drive works too (Dropbox as well). Set sharing to "Anyone with the link", then open the link in a private window to check it plays.
Email Us the Link
placement@kids-english.org: your video link, CV and a copy of your degree, so we can send your profile to schools.
Intro Video Questions
Why do Thai schools want an intro video?
Schools judge the video like a first interview. It shows them how clearly you speak, how you present yourself and how seriously you take the job. Some schools still ask for a video call as well; the school decides.
How long should my intro video be?
40 to 60 seconds. Keep to the five points and stop.
What should I wear in my intro video?
Smart casual: a collared shirt or a modest blouse, and neat hair. It's the same standard you'd wear to teach, so our dress code guide is worth a read. Schools commonly expect you to look ready for the classroom.
How do I send my video to KET?
Upload it to YouTube as Unlisted, or to Google Drive with sharing set to "Anyone with the link". Apply online, then email the link to placement@kids-english.org.
Can I film it on my phone?
Yes, a phone is fine, but not handheld. Sit down, put the phone on a stand or tripod, or prop it steady, at eye level, and film in landscape unless the school asks otherwise. Frame yourself head and shoulders or chest up, centred, with a tidy, plain background: no bed, clutter or other people. No editing or music needed.
Should I read from a script?
Know what you want to say, practise it out loud until it's smooth, then speak to the lens. Reading from a screen shows in your eyes. If you stumble or lose your place, record it again.
Matthew John
Co-Founder & Operations ManagerI'm Matthew, co-founder of Kids English Thailand. I've lived in Thailand for 20 years and work from our office in Ban Lum, Sukhothai. Since 2009 we have placed over 1,500 teachers in Thai schools, and I've watched more intro videos than I can count.
