Alumni Interview with Chris Johnson 

What inspired you to go abroad?

Teaching English is a great way to get to know a country and culture. I knew I wanted to spend an extended amount of time in a country and travel and learn the language.

Why did you choose MediaKids?

The program promised full support with training programs for EFL teachers, and short and long term accommodation during training and employment. Job placement was guaranteed and we could choose from a range of locations in Thailand. 

What was your favorite part about Chaiyaphum?

It was a small town (Chaiyaphum), with access to the surrounding rural areas and national parks but also provided more than enough amenities to get by very comfortably. I know some teachers were placed in much smaller villages, which provided fantastic cultural experiences, but it was a bit more challenging without the range of shops and restaurants that we had in Chaiyaphum. The provided housing was very close to the school, so it was easy to get to. 

What made your experience abroad unique?

The EFL training programs, provided accommodation, support from the recruiters, and semi rural location in Isaan, Thailand which allowed for an awesome experience, not only meeting a lot of Thai people and getting to know them well—for example the recruiters at MediaKids and the Thai teachers in our schools—but also other English teachers from all around the world. I shared an awesome four bedroom house with three other teachers, which was one of the best experiences of the whole trip. 

How did local staff support you throughout your program?

The MediaKids staff arranged everything to do with EFL training for Thai schools, securing accommodation in our host location, and getting the teaching visas. After we were placed in schools, we continued to have contact with MediaKids about the teaching and were visited regularly to see how we were getting along with our accommodation and life at school.

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

I began learning to read and speak Thai before the trip, and was super well prepared for the experience. If I could possibly change anything, then I would definitely try to request an even smaller town or village to teach in for an even more immersive cultural experience.

Describe a typical day in the life of your program.

We got up at 6:30 a.m. in our shared house and usually traveled together by scooter to attend the morning assembly in our middle/high school, which began at 7:30 a.m.. Thai students would play music and give presentations for about 40 mins.

After this we would head to the English department staff office to get ready for our classes. I would teach between two and five classes a day. For lunch we could go to the school cafeteria or drive out to eat at a restaurant in town. While in the office I prepared class activities and previewed the class textbooks or studied Thai or Chinese. We also had a Chinese language teacher in the office and we all got along very well.

School would finish at 4:30 p.m.. Some teachers got involved in after school sports activities with students such as soccer or badminton games. Other times I headed directly home, which was a five minute scooter ride away. English teachers from nearby schools would often come over to hang out, watch movies, or go to restaurants or the night market in the evening.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time?

I was interested in exploring the surrounding areas as much as possible, which was easy since we rented our own scooters. A number of national parks were located nearby Chaiyaphum, so on the weekends I would ride out with other teachers to go exploring. We would eat out often, cook dinner at home with other teachers, or frequent the many bars around town. I also visited other teachers I had met during the training programs provided by MediaKids. Most importantly for me, I used my free time to study Thai everyday and practiced speaking as much as possible. 

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

I was provided with a four bedroom house shared with three other teachers. The kitchen had everything we needed so we often hung out and cooked together. We also had a nice rear garden so it was perfect for hanging out and having other friends over.

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

It is a fantastic opportunity for traveling in Thailand and learning the language and culture. However, you are also responsible for teaching and grading students, which takes up significant time. And classroom teaching, though rewarding, can be challenging.

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

It has given me greater appreciation for the world and only makes me want to travel more and learn more languages! 

Would you recommend MediaKids to others? Why?

I would definitely recommend MediaKids because of their commitment to supporting teachers, their network of schools and contacts, and the friendliness of the recruiters.