Description

Thailand has a long and well-deserved reputation as a country popular with tourists and travelers from all corners of the globe. However, the majority of normal Thai people benefit very little from the tourist dollars entering the country. Speaking English is now a route to better jobs and prospects and volunteering as an English teacher in Thailand can help to redress this imbalance. More Thai people will be able to benefit from the country's increasing presence in the global market and growing foreign investment.

You can gain practical work experience as an English teacher in Thailand without the need for a TEFL qualification and with no previous experience of teaching. Whether you want to volunteer during your gap year, career break or as a part of an extended vacation, you will have a role to play on one of our teaching projects and your efforts will be greatly appreciated.

* Volunteer Opportunities Teaching English in Schools with Projects Abroad

Most of our voluntary teaching projects in Thailand are situated in the town of Krabi and its surrounding region, though we also have a few teaching projects three hours drive further north in Chumphon. Krabi is situated about an hours flight south of the capital of Bangkok on the west coast of Thailand. Volunteers work in government schools in Thailand alongside local teachers. The schools vary in size, from small temple-based schools up to much larger schools with more facilities.

The volunteer teaching projects in Thailand help a range of schools. In the nurseries, volunteers teach children as young as 3 years old, and in the secondary schools the students can be up to 22 years old. Most volunteers work in primary schools with children from the ages of about 4 to 11. Inevitably class sizes are big, some with more than 50 students, although often these can be divided between two volunteers. Volunteers are expected to teach for about four hours per day depending on the placement.

However, whichever school you work in you will be very much needed. The teachers may be good at teaching the grammar and structure of the English language but when it comes to speaking, many lack the knowledge and confidence, having been taught by non English-speakers themselves. As a volunteer teacher, you will help fill this gap by focusing on developing the confidence of students who are nervous about making mistakes when talking in public.

* Volunteering on a Teaching Project in Thailand

Thai students are generally dedicated and hard working, and respond well to the arrival of a new face. Thai culture ensures that they are especially respectful to teachers in general - although children are still children! The young age group enjoy the fun elements that our volunteer teachers inject into lessons; activities like songs, games and coloring will all be well received.

If you prefer, you can choose to work with the older children aged between 11 and 16 years old. The older students are very eager to find out about Western culture and you should take advantage of this to encourage them to develop their English skills with you. If you have an interest in soccer they will want to know which team you support and what you think of David Beckham's new hairstyle! A popular lesson may be teaching a class how to sing one of the latest pop songs from the west and helping them to understand the lyrics. However, this age group will be working towards set exams and you will have a syllabus to follow and you are likely to get asked some grammar questions from time to time.

Teaching volunteers in Thailand are expected to be at the school from about 8.30am to 3.30pm. You should have approximately 18 hours of actual classes a week, but being at the school in the morning to take part in singing the national anthem and respecting the flag is important, as is staying until home time. When you are not teaching a class you can be planning lessons and completing marking and take time to get to know the other Thai teachers in the staff room.

If you want to get involved outside the classroom, previous volunteers have set up an English club or helped with sports. It is sometimes also possible for you to teach other subjects, such as IT or French. Please tell us your main interests when you apply and we will try to accommodate you.

Highlights

Thai culture is one of the strongest in the world. As their country was never colonized Thai people are eager to keep hold of their uniqueness. The generosity of Thai's is sometimes unimaginable and can take some getting used to. People are always willing to help and can go to extraordinary lengths, such as accompanying you on a two hour bus journey to make sure you get there safely!

All accommodation is organized, paid for, and monitored by Projects Abroad. All project placements are regularly visited and checked. We require high standards of supervision and accommodation, which are verified before you arrive in Thailand.

This project offers the opportunity to become fully immersed in the culture in a manner which even the most hardened of backpackers could never hope to do.

Qualifications

No qualifications and experience required.

Intern Types

• Education
• English as a Second Language

Languages

• English
• Thai

Cost in US$:

please go to our website for prices.

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Medical insurance
• Medical services
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Registration fees
• Travel while in host country
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

The price you pay covers you for the duration of your stay and includes all you food, accommodation, insurance and all of your overseas support while you are there.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Academic Reinforcement
• Education
• English Teaching
• Teaching
• Volunteering

Age Range

16-70

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays
• Group living

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

10 days

Post Services Include

• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Projects Abroad's Mission Statement

As part of the global economy, Projects Abroad helps create local employment wherever we send volunteers. Employing local staff overseas and using their talents and knowledge is important to us. This local knowledge and support enables the organization to channel the skills of the volunteers from more affluent countries to regions around the world where they are needed. Volunteers also learn from their placements and the people they meet, and they gain experience in a chosen field. In the 21st century, we believe this mutual respect is what cultural exchange is all about.

Year Founded

1992