Alumni Interview with Alex McCullough

What inspired you to go abroad?

When I finished Uni the only thing I knew I wanted to do was travel. After doing some research, I realized that Thailand was the perfect place to stay and work for six to 12 months. The people, the food, and the endless amount of beautiful destinations make Thailand the best place to travel and teach! Learning to speak Thai and teaching my students to speak English was one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had.

Why did you choose MediaKids?

I chose MediaKids and their partner organization because they had a good TESOL training program and guaranteed job placement. I loved my experience and recommend it to friends often. 

What was your favorite part about Thailand?

Learning to speak Thai and developing relationships with not only my students and coworkers, but also many Thai people who became close friends. 

What made your experience abroad unique?

Definitely making the effort to learn the language. This is the single best thing you can do no matter where you go, but many people give up because it is very difficult in the beginning. Keep going—just try to learn one or two words per day, and don't be afraid to look silly! Once you break through, the entire country opens up, and you begin to understand everything more deeply. It also gives you the chance to learn more about yourself. 

How did local staff support you throughout your program?

My coordinators were always there when I had any questions or problems. They work constantly and always answer their phones, which is a really nice comfort blanket to have in the rare event that you need some sort of assistance. They were there for me for everything from helping bridge a language barrier, to finding the right clothes for school.

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?

I wish I would have stayed longer. I spent a year in Thailand from 2009-2010, and then I returned home for a friend's wedding and to see my family. I should have just gone right back to Thailand after that wedding and kept my travels going. I did wind up coming back to Thailand for another year from 2014-2015, but even then I could have stayed longer.

Describe a typical day in the life of your program.

I arrived at school everyday at 8:00 a.m.. I usually had 20 class periods per week, so about four per day. I taught each class one time per week, so I lesson planned at night or on the weekends, and delivered the same lesson to each class all week long.

During my second year I had several classes that I met with four times per week, so there was more lesson planning and much more detailed lessons for those classes. It should also be noted that there are quite frequently untypical days. There are frequently festivals or celebrations that you often don't find out about until arriving at school and learning that your classes are all cancelled. These can be performances by the students, mini parades, dances, etc. One time my school was cancelled for the day because some elephants—in town for the local elephant festival in January—needed to use the school grounds to sleep all day!

What did you enjoy doing in your free time?

I loved playing football with people at the field, and occasionally tennis. I was a regular at a local restaurant, and I became friends with the owner/chef, who taught me to cook Thai food. Every day I went there I would order my food, and then go into the kitchen and she would walk me through cooking my own meals. That was cooler than any cooking school could ever be!

What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?

MediaKids provided me with a studio apartment that was in great condition. I had keyless entry, a balcony, and I was close to the school. It was really nice to have a well located, nice apartment. It was fully furnished, I just had to buy bed sheets, which made my life very easy. 

What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?

Teaching is not easy, but at the same time there is not as much pressure as you might imagine. The best thing you can do for yourself is to prepare well. If you are well prepared, your classes will be much easier. If you don't prepare beforehand, it can very easily be a nightmare.

It will be tough in the beginning, but just keep trying new things until you find what works for you. Keep going and don't get discouraged. You will be amazed at how good you can become at teaching in just a year's time. Same goes for learning to speak Thai.

 Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?

There are so many ways living in Thailand has impacted my life, it's hard to even know where to begin. Specifically, learning to speak Thai opened my mind to not only a new culture, but also how to teach myself something, and how my mind works. Learning a new language, especially one so different from your own, allows to you learn a new way of thinking about the world and processing information. It helps you dive more deeply into the culture, and see that while we have differences, we are all really the same.

The differences will teach you that you don't have to live the way 'society' tells us to, whatever that may be for you. The realization that we are all the same at the core will help you realign your views on politics and the world in general. I feel that I am more confident in myself and better able to dictate my own life after having this experience. The simplest thing to say may be that I am happier, and understand how to live a happy fulfilling life on a deeper level. 

Would you recommend teaching abroad in Thailand through MediaKids to others? Why?

Definitely. Spending time abroad is a great thing to do, and teaching English in Thailand will be one of the most fulfilling and rewarding experiences you will ever have. Not only does this experience teach you about yourself and the world, but it also gives you a year or more to contemplate what it is you want to do when you return home.

I know many people who jumped into law school, business school, or another form of grad school who never traveled when they had the chance, and very few of them seem happy with their decision now. Be free when you're young. The career choices you are thinking about will still be there when you return home, but once you're saddled with debt, living in another country as a teacher, or whatever else, won't be an option anymore. There's simply no way you will look back on a year abroad and think, "Man, I really wish I had spent that year in law school instead."