Each Thai term is followed by its RTGS romanization. Where a recording is available, select its speaker button to listen.
Thinking of moving to Thailand? Read Thailand is not an amusement park for a look at the working week and the small tasks that can take more effort when you first arrive.
School customs and your role
You may be addressed as ครู (Khru) , greeted formally by students, or invited to sit at the front during a school ceremony. These customs express respect for the teaching role. Your relationships with students and families will also depend on your daily teaching and conduct.
The details vary by school, region, and age group. Watch how colleagues take part, and ask about anything you have not seen before.
Before your first assembly or ceremony, ask where you should be and whether you have a particular duty. Check what to wear, too; the dress-code guide covers questions about uniforms and special clothing days.
Names, nicknames, and “siblings”
Most Thai people have an official given name and family name. Official given names are often several syllables long, and many draw on Pali and Sanskrit, although Thai names also come from other languages and traditions. These formal names are used on school records, legal documents, certificates, and formal occasions.
In everyday life, people normally use a ชื่อเล่น (Chue len) , literally a “play name.” This is usually a short nickname given in childhood and may have no obvious connection to the official name. A colleague or student may therefore appear under one name on a class list but introduce themselves by another. Ask what name the person prefers and how to pronounce it. Use the official name wherever school records require it. If the Latin spelling gives you little help, the romanization guide explains why.
Older and younger “siblings”
Thai kinship terms are also used between people who are not related. พี่ (Phi) means an older sibling and น้อง (Nong) means a younger sibling. Neither word specifies gender. พี่ (Phi) followed by a nickname can express familiar respect for an older colleague, but a professional title may be more appropriate in a formal exchange.
Follow the introduction: Age, seniority, familiarity, and workplace custom affect forms of address. Use the form a colleague gives you during introductions. For professional titles, see the guide to อาจารย์ (Achan) and ครู (Khru) .
Body language: the head and feet
Be careful about touching someone’s head or pointing your feet toward them. These gestures can feel disrespectful even if that is not what you intended.
Keep these general guidelines in mind:
1. Avoid touching a student's head
A pat on the head may be intended as encouragement, but it can feel inappropriate in Thailand. Use verbal praise or a thumbs-up, and follow your school's safeguarding rules for any physical contact.
2. Foot etiquette
Avoid pointing the soles of your feet toward people, monks, royal portraits, or sacred objects. When sitting on the floor with students during circle time or morning reading:
- A side-sitting position (พับเพียบ (Phap phiap) ) may be used in a formal setting; sitting cross-legged may suit an informal activity. If either is uncomfortable, ask about using a chair.
- Avoid stretching your legs out with the soles pointing toward another person, a Buddha image, or a royal portrait.
- Use your hands rather than your feet to move books, chairs, or other objects.
3. Passing seated elders and colleagues
When passing close in front of someone older or senior, you may see people lower their head or upper body slightly. A small, natural dip is enough; there is no need to exaggerate the movement.
Books and learning materials: Keep shared books and papers clean and handle them respectfully. Use a desk or shelf rather than leaving materials where they can be stepped on.
Shoes on or off?
Shoes are normally removed before entering a Thai home and before entering the interior of a temple building. In schools, the practice varies: shoes may stay on in corridors and offices but come off outside a classroom, library corner, computer room, nursery room, or raised indoor area.
Look for a row of shoes near the entrance and follow the people around you. If the signal is unclear, ask, “Should I take my shoes off?” Keep socks clean and in good condition, and place your shoes neatly without blocking the doorway. Indoor slippers may be provided in some homes, offices, and toilets.
At school: Do not create a new footwear rule based only on what you have seen elsewhere. Follow your school's practice, including any health, laboratory, workshop, or safeguarding requirements.
Morning assembly
Some schools gather in a courtyard, covered area, or hall before lessons. You may hear เข้าแถว (Khao thaeo) , meaning “line up,” used for this routine. Check the assembly time and your duty schedule; routines differ by school.
The program often includes:
- The national anthem: Flag raising may be accompanied by the anthem (เพลงชาติไทย (Phleng chat Thai) ), often around 8:00. Stand respectfully if you can, and check your school’s routine.
- Chanting or reflection: Some schools include Buddhist chanting (สวดมนต์ (Suat mon) ); others adapt this part of assembly to their community.
- The school motto and announcements: Student leaders, the school director, or teachers on duty may share notices and recognize achievements.
Ask which parts you are expected to attend and where to stand. If a religious activity is unfamiliar or you do not participate in it, agree on an appropriate arrangement with the school beforehand.
วันไหว้ครู (Wan wai khru)
Early in the academic year, often on a Thursday in June, many schools hold วันไหว้ครู (Wan wai khru) , a ceremony in which students pay respect to their teachers.
Students may prepare offerings on a พาน (Phan) , a pedestal tray. The arrangements can include flowers, grass, and popped rice. Common explanations of their symbolism include:
- ดอกเข็ม (Dok khem) (ixora flowers): Associated with sharp intellect.
- ดอกมะเขือ (Dok makhuea) (eggplant flowers): Associated with humility because the flower bends downward.
- หญ้าแพรก (Ya phraek) (Bermuda grass): Associated with perseverance because it grows readily.
- ข้าวตอก (Khao tok) (popped rice): Often explained as a symbol of discipline or of knowledge developing and expanding.
Schools explain and arrange the ceremony differently. For example, Montfort College’s account gives both discipline and expanding knowledge as meanings of the popped rice. Ask where to sit and how your school receives the offerings. If you are still learning the gesture itself, start with the ไหว้ (Wai) guide.
Receiving flowers: Accept the arrangement with both hands and thank the students. Your school may invite teachers to offer a short blessing or words of encouragement.
Holidays and the school calendar
Thailand observes Buddhist, royal, national, and international holidays. Exact dates and school closures can change from year to year, and a holiday that falls on a weekend may be followed by a substitute day. Do not rely on an old online calendar; use the calendar issued by your school and confirm travel plans with the administration.
Holidays and festivals you are likely to encounter include:
- สงกรานต์ (Songkran) : Thai New Year in April. Expect family travel, ceremonies, busy roads, and public water celebrations in many places.
- ลอยกระทง (Loi krathong) : An evening festival usually held in November. It is widely celebrated but is not automatically a nationwide school holiday.
- มาฆบูชา (Makha bucha) , วิสาขบูชา (Wisakha bucha) , and อาสาฬหบูชา (Asanha bucha) : Important Buddhist observances whose Gregorian dates change because they follow the lunar calendar.
- Royal and national days: Schools may hold assemblies, displays, service activities, or ceremonies in addition to observing official closures.
Ask before scheduling exams, trips, or parent events around a major observance. There may be rehearsals, altered timetables, or special dress requirements as well as the closure itself.
Tipping in everyday life
For an ordinary canteen, market, or street-food purchase, paying the stated price and saying thank you is enough. In restaurants and hotels, check whether the bill includes a service charge before deciding whether to leave anything extra.
For table service, hotel assistance, or a personal service, you may choose to leave a tip if you are pleased with the service. Expectations differ by venue; there is no single percentage to apply across all these settings.
School business: Keep personal gifts separate from decisions about grades, recruitment, permits, or purchasing. Follow the school’s gift policy, and pay legitimate fees through the official process with a receipt.
Sacred and nationally important subjects
Schools may display national and royal symbols and hold religious or civic ceremonies. Ask what each display or event is for. Thailand includes people of different religions and political views, so do not assume that every colleague or student has the same beliefs.
The monarchy
Royal ceremonies and portraits are part of many schools' formal life. Ask about the expected protocol, and handle school displays respectfully.
Speech about the monarchy can also have serious legal consequences. The UK Foreign Office’s Thailand advice warns that the law is interpreted broadly and that online comments or shared articles can lead to charges. If you need to teach the subject, agree on materials and scope with your department head.
Buddhism, monks, and sacred objects
Buddha images have religious significance for Buddhists. Do not climb on them, imitate them for comic photographs, point your feet toward them, or place them on the floor. Dress modestly in temple areas, speak quietly, and follow posted photography rules.
Monks are treated with particular respect. Give them space and observe how others pass or present objects. Traditionally, women avoid direct physical contact with monks; if you are unsure how to hand something over, ask a guide or place it on a cloth or surface as directed.
National symbols
Treat the Thai flag and national anthem respectfully. If people stop and stand when the anthem is played, stand respectfully if you can. Check with the school before using national, royal, or religious imagery in activities, especially costumes or comedy.
Political discussion and professional boundaries
Keep classroom discussion factual, age-appropriate, and within the curriculum. Do not use your authority over students to recruit support for a party or cause. Check your employment policy on public campaigning and social media. For a legal question, get advice specific to your circumstances.
Outside school, consult current advice from your embassy before attending political gatherings. The UK Foreign Office advises avoiding protests and demonstrations because the situation can be unpredictable. This is safety advice, not a blanket explanation of what foreign residents may legally do.
Small gifts from students
Students may occasionally bring a drawing, snack, keychain, or fruit from home.
Thank the student and follow the school's policy on gifts. If appropriate, displaying a drawing in the classroom or staffroom shows that you appreciated the effort.
If a gift is valuable, comes with a request for special treatment, or falls outside the school’s policy, ask your manager how to handle it before accepting.