FAQs about Thailand & High School Abroad
Everything you need to know before your cultural adventure
Why are Teen Life Experience programs unique?
Our programs focus on learning about Thai life and culture from the perspectives of local teens and high school friends who also want to learn about other cultures and share friendship with teens their age from other countries. Learning about Thailand through the ideas and beliefs of others you can connect with on a social level facilitates a greater appreciation for global diversity and our ability as humans to accept different ways of life.
What do teens like the most about Teen Life Experience Programs?
Students choose our programs for a variety of reasons, however most decide to come with us because we offer something that enables them to get a truly raw and authentic Thai teen experience out of studying abroad in Thailand. We only work with cultural study programs in Thailand and we do extremely it well! Placements provide students with a safe and well structured environment to explore Thailand and the activities they become interested in as they learn more about Thai culture.
What will I need money for during a program?
Living as a student on a teen life experience program is no different to living as a teen back home, other than you’re doing it as part of one amazing cultural adventure in the Kingdom of Thailand. You should expect to pay for essentials, social activities and items needed in everyday life just as you would if you were continuing high school in your home country. Please go to the programs page or speak with your country representative to find out more about what’s included in a Teen Life Experience Program package.
Preparing for your program
What travel documents do I need for Thailand?
You will need a valid passport that is in good physical condition. Thai Immigration will refuse entry into Thailand if your passport is damaged or has pages missing. Your passport should also be valid for one 1 month after the return date of your Thailand placement and have at least two blank pages available for your visa and for your Thailand entry and exit stamp. Remember if you are participating on our year program you should check that your passport is valid for the whole duration plus this additional month.
Do I need a visa to study in Thailand?
All program students require an Education Visa to study in Thailand. Your country representative will organize this for you when you confirm your placement with them.
How do I get a student visa?
We provide country representatives with all documents and proof of enrollment so they can apply for your Education Visa in your home country. You will receive your returned passport with your visa inside well before flying to Thailand.
What insurance do I need?
All program students need the correct insurance cover to participate on a program. Cover should be valid from departure and arrival back in your home country. It should cover you for the following; emergency health coverage, emergency evacuation coverage, travel insurance, trip cancellation and curtailment. If unsure on what type of insurance cover you should get or whether a policy you are considering to buy is suitable for a student program, please contact your country representative for additional advice.
Do I need any immunizations for living in Thailand?
You will need to make sure you’re up to date on all immunizations administered for common illnesses in your home country. You will also need addition vaccinations as specified on the applicant’s Health History Form. You should always consult your family doctor or local clinic for advice on vaccinations when first explaining your plans to study in Thailand.
About living in Thailand
What's the weather like in Thailand?
Thailand’s weather is controlled by tropical monsoons in the region and is generally hot and humid across most of the country throughout the year with temperatures as high as 40oC. Although seasonal variations are divided into the hot, cool and rainy season, most people not accustomed to tropical climates consider Thailand to always be very hot. In both the north, northeast and central provinces of Thailand these three seasons are more pronounced compared to the south which really only ever sees a dry and rainy season.
What's the food like in Thailand?
Food is a very important part of Thai culture and is heavily influenced by region and the neighboring countries around Thailand. Regardless of the region however you can expect to experience foods that are very spicy and often sweet or sour. Rice in various forms is also the most widely consumed grain all over Thailand. In the South where Thailand boarders Malaysia and has large Indian origin populations, curried dishes made with coconut milk and spices are very popular. With more Muslim communities living in the South, beef is mostly used instead of pork and local seafood sourced from Thailand peninsular is readily available. Moving up country to central Thailand you can typically expect to see more authentic Thai food with Chinese influences. Dishes such as Thai green curry and sweet and sour soup, known as Tom Yum are extremely popular in the region. Towards the West where central Thailand borders Myanmar tasty rice noodle dishes with spicy soup are extremely common. Moving to the Northeast part of Thailand known as Isan, this more rural area of countryside and farmlands is heavily influenced by Lao cuisine. Spicy papaya salads made from fermented fish are famous for the region and offer an acquired taste for many. Barbequed pork and chicken are the staple meats for most people and is eaten more popularly with sticky rice as apposed to Jasmine rice. Towards the North where Thailand borders Lao and Myanmar close to China, the terrain is more mountainous and is famous for Thailand’s beautiful teak forests. The food in this region is more influenced by herbs and spices sourced locally and are often used to make tasty soups unique to this part of Thailand. The North is also famous for fermented noodles dishes and tasty pork sausage.
Can I drink the water in Thailand?
It is not considered common practice to drink water from domestic water supplies in Southeast Asia as you would do in western countries. In Thailand both the local people and foreigners drink bottled purified drinking water readily available.
What can I expect from Thai culture?
Culture is what it’s all about when deciding to study abroad and Thailand doesn’t disappoint. Thai culture is truly amazing with its unique routes from near and far. Everyday life, even today is heavily influenced by Thai peoples enormous sense of pride and respect for Thailand, the country’s Royal Monarchy and Thai Buddhism. Experiencing this first hand with new friends who really want to share in your experience as a teen living away from home, will help you get so much more out of Thailand as a world experienced teen traveler.
About going to high school in Thailand
What time do high school starts in the morning?
Most high schools in Thailand start the school day with assembly at 08.00am when Thailand’s national anthem is broadcast across the country. Students normally arrive around 7:30am to ensure they have time beforehand to grab a snack and chat with friends. Students start first period at 8:30am straight after morning assembly.
How many hours a day do students go to school?
Daily class schedules can vary between public and private high schools, but in general students attend school for 7 hours a day from 8:00am to 4:00pm. After school in most cases students are also required to participate in an after school enrichment activity for 1 hour. Such activities may be sports or additional tutoring clubs.
How long is lunch?
Lunch break is typically 1 hour and students will either eat in the school canteen or collect their lunch grade by grade and return to their home room classroom to eat. This is particularly the case for large public schools.
How many students are in an average class?
Public high schools tend to have larger classes compared to private high schools. The typical class size for public schools is 40-50 students and private schools 20-35 students.
How many periods a day are there in a Thai high school day?
Daily class schedules can vary between public and private high schools, but generally there are 5-7 class periods in each day.
What do I do if I’m sick and need to go home?
School absence due to sickness is treated a little differently to how western schools do. Students’ are trusted to the school during the day and it’s uncommon for students to leave school for lunch or due to sickness. All schools have a medical rest room where students can be monitored by staff until either their parents come to collect them or they agree the student needs to see a doctor. It is very uncommon for schools to give permission for students to leave school during the day on their own due to sickness.
Can I get a locker at High school?
Thai high schools do not have lockers and students are required to keep their belonging with them in their backpack. Textbooks and other learning materials are kept in the classroom so students don’t have to carry these around with them like in western high schools.
Can I play high school football team whilst studying?
It’s likely you’ll be able to join high school teams as easily as Thai students, because physical activity and sports are encourage by all schools. Also there aren’t rules on foreign students participating in colligate competitions, like you might find in some U.S. State schools for example.
Do boys and Girls share classes?
95% of high schools in Thailand are mixed gender.