Teach English to Thai children

Spend 14 days helping disadvantaged Thai children learn English to raise their future prospects. Followed by 7 days holiday at a Thai beachfront resort.

• See the benefits of volunteer English teaching over a short time.
• Experience real Thailand up close by teaching and living in the small town of Ao Luk or other surrounding communities.

You will experience a culture and a way of life that is unavailable to normal tourists. Visit local natural highlights such as limestone rock formations, caves, and white sand beaches. Learn how to cook Thai food, speak basic Thai, and immerse yourself in this vibrant and welcoming culture.

Your work

For the first three days volunteers will take part in an orientation to assist them with the basics of teaching English and Thai language and culture. Trained staff will provide you with the skills, resources and support you will need to undertake the project work and will be available at anytime throughout your stay. During your volunteering experience you will work in a nearby school teaching schoolchildren and/or assisting Thai teachers of English.

Volunteers will work alongside trained Thai teachers within the local schools providing English-language lessons for the children. Volunteers working in rural home-stay communities will have the opportunity to practise English with their home-stay families as well as with community members interested in gaining skills to use for community-based tourism as well as further job development.

Why this is so important?

Thailand is a developing country, but most Thai people have limited English speaking skills. By volunteering with local schools you can offer children the opportunity to get first-hand native English language assistance to help them learn English, providing them with a valuable opportunity to improve their language skills. Your presence in the classroom helps to fulfil the demand of the community to help school children gain skills that can assist their success in education and personal development. Seldom will you have the chance to teach such motivated students with an overwhelming desire to learn whilst absorbing an entirely different culture at the same time.

Volunteering at the local schools and in the community gives Thai teachers and students the opportunity to practice their English skills with fluent English speakers. Students will gain confidence and interest in the English language providing them with skills that will greaten their opportunities for education and employment in the future. Teachers who have limited resources will benefit from volunteer teachers assisting with their classes. For those volunteers staying in home stays in addition to working with local schools you will help your host family and community gain valuable skills that will help them continue to support and develop their local community based tourism projects. This is an incredible opportunity to exchange culture and language.

The priority projects requested by the communities of the region are English-language teaching. There is a big demand for native-speaking English teaching among schools around the country. Programme volunteers play a key part in meeting this demand by providing direct support in schools with limited or non-existing English-language programmes. All of this takes place in and around the region's natural beauty, temples, and ancient ruins.

Though there are no specific qualifications or experience necessary to register for this course, applicants do need to be over 18, have an educational or experience background equivalent to that required to gain entrance into a higher education institution, have an interest in language, and strong verbal and writing skills. Non-native English speakers must have a high proficiency of English language ability in order to meet the project demands effectively. Prior background knowledge in teaching techniques is an advantage, although not essential as there is opportunity to learn, whatever your level. Everyone must be able to work as part of a team and should be very enthusiastic, adventurous, have a good sense of humour and be respectful of the host country's environment and culture.

Daily itinerary

The day always starts early, with a breakfast that normally consists of pancakes or rice porridge and helping with chores around base (if staying at the base camp). From Monday to Friday, you will travel to local and rural schools to provide English lessons and activities for school children. In the evenings you will be responsible for making sure you are prepared for the next day of teaching. If staying at a home stay you will provide the same volunteer assistance as above based on the demands of the community.

Accommodation

You have a choice of staying at the base camp in the town of Ao Luk or at a rural home-stay with a Thai family.

The base camp is a centre for teaching and training and you will share dormitory style accommodation with 10-20 other volunteers who are teaching or obtaining a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) qualification.

Volunteers can also choose to live with a Thai family. Both options are basic but both have electricity and running water. Home stays are located in more rural areas and provide complete immersion within Thai communities if volunteers choose this option.

In the base camp, cooking and cleaning are done on a rotational basis with other volunteers. At the home stays, food will be simple Thai meals.

Location

This region is most famous for the surrounding islands, white sandy beaches and mountain formations which jut dramatically out of the land and sea.

Being close to town, the base camp gives volunteers the opportunity to be immersed in the local culture. Weekends provide the opportunity to enjoy the natural highlights and cultural destinations within the region.

Relaxation

After your 2 weeks of volunteer work, a coach will take you to the Holiday Inn Resort on Patong Beach in Patong on the island of Phuket (south Thailand).

Relax on the beach, enjoy fresh coconuts, cool off in the swimming pool, travel to local cultural spots. The choice is yours.

The Holiday Inn is on the main beachfront road, close to shops and nightlife. The beach is just across the road. Patong’s town area, extending away from the beach, has many shops, restaurants, and a lively nightlife.

Dates

Trips are availalble all year round. You can choose your dates after you have booked and you can change them at any time up to 3 months before departure.

Start date:

• 14 January 2012
• 28 January 2012
• 11 February 2012
• 25 February 2012
• 10 March 2012
• 19 May 2012
• 02 June 2012
• 16 June 2012
• 30 June 2012
• 14 July 2012
• 28 July 2012
• 11 August 2012
• 25 August 2012
• 08 September 2012
• 03 November 2012
• 17 November 2012
• 01 December 2012
• 15 December 2012
• 29 December 2012

Included

Included in the Holiday Volunteers program:

• Air fares Bangkok-Chiangmai, Chiangmai-Phuket, and Phuket-Bangkok. (The cost of any changes made by the traveller separate from the Holiday Volunteers program may not be included.)
• 14 nights' accommodation in the working location chosen, and three meals daily (except on days of arrival and departure).
• Meet-and-Greet, transfers from Chiangmai airport to working location, or (for locations not based on Chiangmai) from Bangkok city to working location, and returns.
• Meet-and-Greet, transfers to-and-from Phuket airport to resort.
• 6 nights' accommodation in the Holiday Inn resort in Phuket, and daily morning buffet breakfast.

Not included

• Air fares to-and-from Bangkok. But we'll help you find the best flight.
• Travel insurance. (You are strongly advised to take out personal, accident, and illness insurance for your journey.)

What to pack

Travel as lightly as possible. We recommend:

• Sandals or flip flops
• T-shirts
• Lightweight clothing
• Socks
• Alarm clock/watch
• Camera and extra memory
• Lots of reading material, cards, travel games, etc.
• Small daypack
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• SPF 30+ sunscreen
• Hat for sun protection
• Other personal essentials

Volunteers may wish to bring such items as mosquito repellent, bite cream, etc – not all of these are available in Ao Luk’s shops.

Meals

In the base camp, cooking and cleaning are done on a rotational basis with other volunteers. At the home stays, food will be simple Thai meals.

Shops

Ao Luk is located in Krabi province in the Andaman region of Thailand.

Ao Luk is a small town and limited facilities are available. More facilities, such as internet etc, are available in the town of Krabi, 45km away.

Volunteers can buy mobile-phone sim-cards on arrival in Thailand.