Teach English and other subjects to children in a
rural Thai Village. A fascinating cultural experience awaits you in this
land of smiles!
Embrace Thai culture while assisting others
to perfect their English in a small community to the north of Bangkok. You can help teach English and other subjects.
You don't need any
qualifications to participate in a teaching placement in Thailand - just an
enthusiasm for teaching and an eagerness to learn about a new culture!
Children also receive Thai lessons every
day - you can participate in these Thai lessons for free if you would like to
learn some of the native language!
Your help is needed in
the small town of Muak Lek, located in Thailand’s Saraburi province, a 3
hour drive to the north of Bangkok. Here you’ll teach conversational
English to a classroom of excited students. You’ll volunteer in the
town’s Seventh Day Adventist International School, a private
organisation supported by the church. The school is run as a not for
profit entity, so all profits are channelled back into the school for
its benefit.
In 1989 the school
consisted of just one classroom, but it has since expanded and developed
into an international educational institution, located within a new
building donated as a gift from the church.
The school accepts students from various nationalities, backgrounds and
religions (students do not have to be from Seventh Day Adventist
backgrounds - in fact around 70% of students are actually Buddhist) and
there are also many International students. All subjects are presented
in English because the curriculum is based on the American Education
System.
Many of the teachers at the school are also from international
backgrounds, where English is not their first language. As such,
exposure to native English speakers is crucial for the students
progression and confidence in English. This is why your help is
required!
You’ll help students
from the ages of 4 to 14 years to have conversations in English, as well
as assisting with other lessons in Science, Maths, Arts and Crafts and
Sports. There are around 200 students at the school, with class sizes
usually not exceeding 25 at any one time.
Facilities at the school include a Library, computer room with internet
access, cafeteria, play ground, basketball court and students hall.
There are 29 staff and teachers from various different countries such as
Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, India, United States, and Thailand
so this is a truly international environment to be based in!
The school are very keen
to receive help from native English speakers to encourage fluency.
Exposure to native English speakers is crucial for these students -
interaction with you enables them to learn correct pronunciation and
vocabulary and gives them confidence to use English. Occasionally you
may be asked to help with spelling and vocabulary as well as
conversational English.
Children also receive Thai lessons every day - for which you are you
free to participate if you would like to learn some of the native
language!
Because of the religious
background of the school that you’ll be teaching in, there are some
restrictions in terms of dress codes and general behaviour (such as
observing Saturday as the Sabbath where no work is done). You’ll be
advised on appropriate behaviour once you’ve applied for this placement.
The school canteen
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
2007/2008 term dates are as
follows;
1st QTR: 14th August - 12th October
2nd QTR: 15th October - 14th December
3rd QTR: 7th January - 14th March
4th QTR: 17th March - 1st June
Teaching is available
during term times for a maximum of two volunteers at any one time.
During the main school holidays (June - August) there is a summer school which is
ideal for volunteers to attend as it provides an opportunity for English
to be taught in more of an informal setting, through games, drama,
sports and music. Formal teaching at this time won’t take place so
you’ll need to be prepared to be flexible in your approach.
In 2007 the summer camp
runs between the 11th June and the 20th July, with the school term
starting again on the 15th of August. This means there is no teaching
between the 21st of July and the 14th August. During the summer camp
there are a lot of educational games and fun activities for the children
to join in.
We provide a Teaching Suggestions
Guide which will help you to prepare lessons and you can also do an
intensive 1-day Open Teacher Training
Course in the UK before you leave, to give you some confidence and some
very effective basic training.
ACCOMMODATION:
You’ll be accommodated in an area called Australia Village which is located
on an adjacent plot of land from the school. This private residential
village offers a secure, enclosed environment and an excellent chance to
integrate with other teachers at the school, many of whom live on the same
street! Expect a warm welcome and plenty of opportunities for social
activities.
You’ll either live with a host family (one of whom will probably be a
teacher at the school), or you’ll live in your own house, possibly sharing
with other volunteers. Australia village has a swimming pool and small
convenience shop.
There is a bus service connecting the school to Bangkok, so it’s possible to
make arrangements for sightseeing in other parts of Thailand during your
free time. The nearest town with a train station is Saraburi, around 15
minutes from Muak Lek. From here there is also a large bus station with many
connecting buses so you’ll have plenty of opportunities for exploring the
surrounding area.
ABOUT MUAK LEK: Muak Lek is a traditional
Thai village with a lovely community atmosphere, situated 108kms from
Bangkok and just a 5 minute drive from the school. Muak Lek has all of the
necessary public facilities such as a post office, several shopping centres,
internet cafes, restaurants and banks.
The village is most lively
on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when evening markets dominate the town,
food stalls stay open late and locals integrate with one another. These
markets are a great opportunity to soak up the atmosphere of a typical
village in rural Thailand and try some of Thailand’s famous, delicate
cuisine; fragrant rice, steamed vegetables and spicy coconut based curries
await you!
Saraburi province is famous for its waterfalls and there is also a national
park in the region.
"The children and staff were really
friendly and tried really hard to include me in everything so I felt very
welcome and at home."
Rob Coward on his teaching placement
TRAVEL and SUPPORT & BACKUP:
You have the option to arrange your
own flights or we can assist you with your flight arrangements. If you would
like us to do this for you, we will liaise with you regarding available flights
and dates to suit you. All arrangements for your flight bookings/payments will
be fulfilled by Murray Rogers Travel Ltd., ATOL No. 6856. (Read more about Murray Rogers Travel Ltd.)
Where possible, we arrange for two or more people to travel on the
same flight and we will let you have the names and telephone numbers of other
volunteers on your flight, so that you can chat to each other or even meet up
before leaving for your placement.
We can also arrange your flight
dates
to give you additional time at the end of your project for travelling around and
sightseeing - this is a fascinating country!
You will fly into Bangkok where
you'll be met by Golden,
our local organiser. From the airport you'll be taken to your accommodation.
Several days later, once you have settled in and recovered from the flight, you
will be introduced to your staff on your project.
To read aboutSupport
& Backup we provide,
please click here.
VISAS:
We will liaise with you about
specific requirements, if any, and make the Visa process very easy.
Where possible, all flights we arrange for you have changeable return tickets because many of our
volunteers choose to extend their stay once they are in their destination
country.
Changeable return tickets enable you to do so, within the limits of your visa
and the level of your air ticket,
of course. If you choose to book your own flights, you should endeavour to get
a changeable ticket.
PRICES:
To see the Prices of this project and all
our other projects in Thailand, please
click here
Prices
include
Food & accommodation while on your project,
2 T-shirts, if required
for your project
All support and backup
during your programme
Meeting you at the
nearest airport, where appropriate, but exclude international travel.
.
+44 01903 502595
