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TEACHING PROJECTS

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!

On this page:

      .

About Thailand and voluntary projects you can do there
Some of the children that you'll teach whilst volunteering with Travellers in Thailand

Return to the Thailand Home Page and
the list of all our projects in Thailand

ABOUT TEACHING IN THAILAND:

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. Download and print additional information on this project
 
in .pdf format
 in Word format
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.

Help your excited students with their conversational English on a teaching placement in Thailand with Travellers


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.

Accommodation in Thailand is in a village next to your school.

"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 about Support & 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.

Return to the Thailand Home Page and
the list of all our projects in Thailand

TO APPLY FOR A PROJECT, PLEASE CLICK HERE

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Last modified: April 24, 2008