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The Untold Truth of Teaching Thai to Foreigners: 1 Hour of Teaching ≠ 1 Hour of Work

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The Untold Truth of Teaching Thai to Foreigners: 1 Hour of Teaching ≠ 1 Hour of Work

When you book a one-hour Thai lesson, it might seem like a simple exchange —
you show up, your teacher teaches, and then class ends.

But here’s the untold truth: for every hour your teacher spends teaching, there are often two or three more hours of unseen work behind it.

 

What Students Don’t See Behind the Screen

Most Thai teachers — especially those who teach online — do much more than appear in class.
Before and after every lesson, there’s a whole list of “invisible tasks” that make your learning experience smooth and enjoyable:

  • Preparing or adapting lesson materials for your specific level and goals
  • Reviewing notes and homework from previous classes
  • Planning activities that make your lessons fun and effective
  • Following up after class, giving feedback, or answering quick questions
  • Creating posts or short videos to share free content and tips online
  • Responding to messages from students (and sometimes… scammers 😅)

So while you might see one hour on Zoom, your teacher may have spent three hours making that class meaningful for you.

 

Why We Still Love Doing It

Despite all the hidden work, most Thai teachers wouldn’t trade this job for anything.
We get to share our language, our culture, and our laughter with people from all around the world.

There’s a special joy when we hear you say your first Thai sentence,
or when you text us in Thai for the first time and we can see how proud you are.
Those moments make all the preparation worth it. 💛

 

How You Can Support Your Thai Teacher

Here are a few small but powerful ways you can make a big difference:

  1. Respect the preparation — Understand that your teacher’s work doesn’t start and end with the class.
  2. Give feedback kindly — It helps us improve and tailor lessons just for you.
  3. Be on time and ready — Every minute matters, and it shows you value our effort.
  4. Share appreciation — A simple “thank you” or positive review can brighten our week.
  5. Keep learning — Your progress is our biggest reward.

Teaching Thai Is More Than Teaching a Language

It’s teaching connection — between cultures, between people, and sometimes even between hearts. That’s why teachers put so much care into every slide, every sentence, and every smile you see on screen.

 

From All of Us at Thai Buddy by TSLTK

At Thai Buddy by TSLTK, we teach Thai not just with our knowledge, but with our hearts — and a lot of preparation behind the scenes.

If you’d like to experience Thai lessons that are fun, flexible, and full of culture,
we offer both private lessons and weekend group classes designed for learners of all levels.

Group classes every weekend — free to join!

Meet friendly teachers, connect with other Thai learners, and learn the language the way it’s really spoken.

 

📩 Join us today:

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