Cool Heart. Covered Shoulders.
Never Point Your Feet
I've lived in Thailand for 20 years, and from our office in Ban Lum I tell new teachers the same thing: watch first, then join in. Stay calm, correct a child privately, and ask your Thai co-teacher when you're unsure. These are customs, not laws.
01: Why Culture Matters in Class
Small habits build trust.
"In 20 years here, the teachers who settle in fastest are not the ones who memorize every rule in advance. They watch first. They greet people kindly, stay calm when a class gets noisy, and ask their Thai co-teacher before they make a guess."Matthew John : Co-Founder & Operations Manager, KET
Colleague Harmony 🤝
Thai staffrooms value calm, polite relationships. A greeting, a title and a smile help you work with your homeroom co-teacher, department head and office staff.
Kids Feel Safe 🏫
Children speak more English when they are not afraid of being embarrassed. How you correct them matters as much as what you teach.
Life Outside School 🌿
Morning markets, sports days and temple visits are part of school life. Go, watch, and join in quietly. It helps you settle in Sukhothai, Phitsanulok and beyond.
03: What Happens at School
Assemblies, ceremonies, dress and shoes.
Wai Khru Ceremony
Wai Khru (พิธีไหว้ครู) is the ceremony where students present flower trays (phan wai khru) to their teachers. It is usually in June, and your school sets the date. You may be invited to sit with the Thai staff. Ask what to wear and where to sit. See our guide to Wai Kru Day in Thailand.
Date set by your schoolWan Kru: Teachers' Day
Wan Kru (วันครู) is a different day: National Teachers' Day on 16 January. Many schools give students the day off, so check with yours. Wai Khru and Wan Kru are not the same event. Full briefing in our Teachers' Day guide.
16 JanuaryMorning Assembly
Many schools hold a morning assembly with the national anthem, a prayer and notices, often around 8:00. Stand calmly with your class until it finishes. Times vary by school.
Covered Shoulders
Most schools expect neat, modest clothes with the shoulders covered. Your school sets the rules, so check the staff memo or ask your co-teacher. More in Thailand Teacher Dress Code.
Shoes Off if Staff Do
If there are shoe racks at the door and your colleagues take their shoes off, do the same. It keeps the floors clean. Not every building does this, so watch first.
04: Head, Feet and Respect
Customs linked to Buddhism and the monarchy.
The Head
In Thai custom the head is the highest part of the body. Avoid touching anyone on the head, including children, and avoid passing things directly over someone's head.
The Feet
The feet are the lowest part. Avoid pointing your feet or shoe soles at people, monks or Buddha images, and don't use your feet to point at things or stop rolling money. If you're sitting on the floor, tuck your feet to the side.
The Monarchy
The monarchy is held in very high regard. Don't joke about it or comment on it, online or in class. Treat banknotes and coins with respect because they feature the King's portrait. Follow your Thai colleagues' lead.
05: Festivals: School Versions
Usually calmer than the street parties.
Songkran at School
Songkran is in April. School events before the break are gentle and beautiful: students pour scented jasmine water over the hands of elders and teachers as a blessing. The wild street water fights happen outside school hours. See our full guide to Festivals in Thailand.
Loi Krathong at School
Loi Krathong is on the full moon of the twelfth lunar month, usually in November. Schools often spend an afternoon making natural banana-trunk and flower rafts (krathong) with the children. Read our Loi Krathong festival guide.
06: Managing the Room: Correct Privately, Sanuk
Calm, kind and fun.
Correct Privately
If a student misbehaves or struggles with an answer, speak quietly at their desk rather than calling them out in front of their peers. It avoids loss of face and keeps them speaking English with you.
Claps, Not Shouting
Raising your voice makes you look out of control. Try a call-and-response clap pattern, a countdown from five or team points on the board, and agree routines with your Thai co-teacher.
Sanuk: Keep It Fun
Sanuk (สนุก) means fun. Short warm-ups, movement games and partner challenges keep kids smiling and engaged. More low-prep ideas in Online Resources and ESL Games.
07: Food: Sharing Meals
Staffroom lunches are often shared.
Shared Plates
Staffroom lunches are communal. Colleagues order several dishes for the table and share them with rice. Joining in and accepting food is one of the quickest ways to make friends.
Fork and Spoon
Eat with the spoon in your right hand and use the fork in your left hand to push food onto it. Chopsticks are mainly used for noodle soups. Eating rice directly off a fork looks unusual in Thailand.
Serving Spoons
When taking food from a shared dish, use the central serving spoon (chon klang, ช้อนกลาง) rather than your personal spoon. Learn how to order mild dishes in our Thai Food guide.
Essential Cultural Vocabulary
Concepts every teacher in Thailand hears and lives by.
| Concept | Thai Script | Say It | Meaning in School Life |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool Heart | ใจเย็น | jai yen | Calm, patient, unhurried composure when timetables or lesson plans shift unexpectedly. |
| Fun / Joy | สนุก | sanuk | Bringing playfulness and high energy to learning activities and campus events. |
| Consideration | เกรงใจ | kreng jai | Extreme politeness; reluctance to bother, interrupt, or embarrass another person. |
| Never Mind | ไม่เป็นไร | mai pen rai | "No problem, it's fine." The mindset of letting minor frustrations go instantly. |
| Mentor Teacher | ครูพี่เลี้ยง | khru phee liang | Your primary Thai co-teacher and department liaison who assists with classroom routines. |
08: Four Steps for Teachers
Short, calm and simple.
🛠️ How to Fit Into Thai School Culture
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Learn the Wai and seniority titles
Return the wai from colleagues and elders, and use titles like Ajarn, Khru, Phee and Nong. Watch what your Thai co-teachers do first.
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Correct Privately and Keep a Cool Heart
Speak to a student quietly, not in front of the class, and keep your voice calm (jai yen). Sanuk beats shouting.
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Follow the School on Dress, Shoes and Ceremonies
Cover your shoulders, take your shoes off where staff do, and stand quietly at assemblies and at Wai Khru. Ask your co-teacher if unsure.
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Join Festivals Quietly
Take part in school Songkran and Loy Krathong activities gently. School versions are calmer than the street parties.
Thai schools are remarkably forgiving of foreign teachers who show genuine respect, good intentions, and a friendly disposition. Read our top classroom tips to see how these habits make daily teaching a joy.
Thai School Culture Questions
Why does Thai school culture matter for a foreign teacher?
Small habits build trust with colleagues and students. Watch first, follow your Thai co-teachers, and ask when you are unsure. These are customs, not laws, and every school is a little different.
How do I use the wai at school?
Students wai you first. Smile and nod, or give a light wai back. Do not wai primary children first. Service staff often wai first and a smile is enough. If your hands are full or you are riding, a nod is fine. The wai heights are a rough sketch, not a test.
What should I wear to teach in Thailand?
Most schools expect neat, modest clothes with the shoulders covered. Your school sets the rules, so ask your co-teacher and check the staff memo. Our dress code post has more.
What does “correct privately” mean?
Speak to a student quietly at their desk instead of in front of the class. It keeps them from feeling embarrassed and keeps them talking to you. Stay calm, with a cool heart (jai yen).
Do I take my shoes off in the classroom?
If there are shoe racks at the door and your colleagues take their shoes off, do the same. If nobody does, follow the school. It is a custom, not a rule for every building.
Is Wai Khru the same as Teachers’ Day?
No. Wai Khru is the flower-tray ceremony, usually in June, and your school sets the date. Wan Khru (often written Wan Kru) is Teachers’ Day on 16 January, and many schools give students the day off, so check with yours.
Is it rude to point my feet at someone?
It is considered impolite. In Thai custom the feet are the lowest part of the body, so avoid pointing your feet or shoe soles at people or at Buddha images, and do not use your feet to point at things. If you are not sure, sit so your feet are tucked in.
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 still learn something from my Thai colleagues every year.
