What inspired you to work for Essential TEFL?
I was put at ease by the clear amount of support available to me as a new arrival in Bangkok. The transition to teaching in Thailand is a tough one but from the very first contact with Essential Education Staffing I felt like I was in very capable hands. They took into consideration everything I was looking for in regard to my desired position, and were also very on top of things when it came to the visa and work permit process.
Describe a typical day at work.
I'm not sure a typical day at work exists when you work in a school. There is always going to be varied amounts of planning, marking and in-class teaching in a day, but then you could also be helping students learn a performance, hosting spelling competitions, taking part in school celebrations, or any number of other things. A typical day in a bilingual school in Thailand consists of managing your workload so that you can savour those moments when you get to do something out of the ordinary.
Myself and two friends in traditional Thai clothes for a school celebration.
Why do you do what you do?
My favourite teachers when I was younger were my year 10-13 graphic design teacher, my year 6 and 8 English teacher and my year 8 music teacher. It's no coincidence that these are the three areas of schooling that I have continued with passion. I remember what made them such good teachers, and I want to be exactly that kind of inspiration to a new generation of learners.
What is your favorite part of your job?
After just a few weeks of teaching a class you begin to notice students becoming comfortable with your presence and teaching style, and that's when you really begin to connect with them. There is nothing quite like the feeling when you have a class of students try their very best at an assignment not because they feel they have to, or that they will get in trouble if they don't, but they actually want to because you as their teacher have made that connection in the classroom.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
Do what you can to make the most out of whatever situation you find yourself in. Say yes to every new experience. Every new dish, every cultural celebration, every invitation to meet families. At some point your time teaching in Thailand will come to an end, make sure it is full of colourful memories not gloomy regrets.
What makes Essential TEFL special?
They have a genuine connection with the schools and students that they work with, and from day one you feel like you are a valued part of a team. They have a wealth of experience in all aspects of teaching in Thailand, from the basics of classroom management, to curriculum development, to all of the intimidating administration that foreign teachers need to undertake.
Eating at the WORLD FAMOUS Jai Fai, the world's first Michelin starred street food stand!
Why should someone choose your organization over competitors?
During my time in Thailand I have worked with two placement agencies, and I can quite honestly say that the difference between the two is huge. My first agency was based five hours from where I was living, had very limited communication with me and essentially left me to fend for myself in a much less fluent province than Bangkok. Conversely, Essential Education Staffing are local to my home and school, are always easy to communicate with and always keep me in the loop regarding my employment with them.
What hopes do you have for the future for Essential TEFL?
Of course for any business I hope that Essential Education Staffing and Essential TEFL continue to grow exponentially. I hope that they keep gaining meaningful candidates for teaching jobs from all around the world, and be one of the very first names when it comes to job placements for teaching in Thailand.
TAll masked up and ready for the first staff meeting of the 2022-2023 school year.
What is your organization's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
Essential Education Staffing and Essential TEFL is highly respected among schools in Thailand because of their commitment to producing excellent teachers. Since opening 15 years ago they have become the most trusted recruitment agency for teachers in Thailand in addition to providing the highest quality TEFL training and certification in Bangkok. The best way that I can continue to work towards their goal is to ensure that I am the best teacher I can be every day, and don't stop learning how to be better.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
Living and teaching in Thailand is an incredible experience, and one that has changed every facet of my life. However the first few days and weeks can feel very intimidating, and have made countless people second guess their decisions and leave prematurely. I can only hope that participants come into the programs with an open mind and the knowledge that when they leave they will not only be ready to undertake a meaningful position as a teacher, but also be ready to live the next chapter of their life in one of the most interesting, inspiring and exciting countries in the world.
Obligatory first-day selfie at SJC! I was so excited for what was to come!
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
I believe that travel broadens the mind in a way that can't really be done otherwise. I understand that for some people travelling to other countries is a scary and unappealing thought, but when I look back on the unique experiences that I have had in Thailand, as well as other countries that I have visited, I can pinpoint lessons that I have learned, outlooks that have changed and interests discovered that would have been impossible if I had just stayed in my home country my whole life. Even the less than positive experiences, which are inevitable, will still be looked back on fondly as I grow older.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel to me is experiencing a place on a level more than simply what you see on the surface. It's finding out how local people live and diving in. It's not sticking to what you see on TripAdvisor, or the well trodden path that every blog writes about.
It's finding things that make wherever you are completely unique to everywhere else in the world. Some of the most meaningful travel experiences are things that if I simply stuck to the guidebooks I would never have done. Things like skateboarding with locals in India or participating in a street art festival in a small rural town in Thailand.