Teach English in Coastal Thailand (Chumphon)

  Thailand

Rural Areas

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: various dates available

Description: School never used to be like this! Teach English in this tropical paradise and you'll be marking books and drawing up lesson plans on the golden sands of the Gulf of Thailand. Helping hands and warm hearts are needed to give youngsters a boost in government-run primary schools on the island, where teachers use their skills to broaden horizons of local children by helping them learn English. But we wouldn't want you to get bored so you can also get involved in arts and crafts, sports and a host of other extra-curricular activities. This is a really rewarding project and your time and effort will have a real impact on the lives of local children. Our TEFL certification is included to give you ideas for fun educational activities.

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*Project details:
You will be teaching in one of several kindergarten and state primary schools in the coastal area of Chumphon. These are government-run schools with between 150 and 300 students and 8 to 16 teachers. The average class size is approximately 20 students per class and the majority of children are from poor families.

*Why the project needs volunteers:
Thailand has a proud history of never having been colonised by the West and as a result has maintained her own distinct language, culture and tradition. The government did not focus on English language in the past but has recently acknowledged its value in terms of international development. Many schools are keen to employ native English speakers but can not afford to employ good paid staff. You will find that individuals are very keen to learn.

In many schools children do not actually get the chance to practise day to day conversation. Therefore, volunteers will need to focus on basic conversational English, which means helping students to speak simple English. By teaching young people English you will be able to make a positive impact on their lives and make more opportunities available to them.

Highlights:
* Lesson planning on the beach!
* Exploring the area in your free time - from islands to 'hidden' beaches
* Becoming part of the laid back local community in this fantastic country

Qualifications: You need to have a love of children and be prepared to fully immerse yourself in the project. You will need to use your initiative, be patient and use your imagination. You need to be confident, resourceful and thrive on a challenge. You also need to be prepared to help out with a range of activities.

Your role as a volunteer:
You will be teaching basic conversational English and helping the other English teachers. You will need to spend time planning lessons and make things as interactive and stimulating as possible. You will also be involved in arranging and running other activities such as crafts, sports and games. School resources can be limited, so volunteers may like to bring teaching materials such as simple reading books, postcards, photos and picture dictionaries.

Cost in US$: USD 1865.00 for 4 weeks, USD 275.00 for every week thereafter

* Accommodation: Dependent on location; shared room in guesthouse or homestay. Single room upgrade also available
* Airport Pickup: Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you're arriving early!
* Training: In-country orientation and Online TEFL course
* Support: Pre-departure helpdesk, Local in-country team and 24hr emergency support

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: You will be teaching basic conversational English and helping the other English teachers. You will need to spend time planning lessons and make things as interactive and stimulating as possible. You will also be involved in arranging and running other activities such as crafts, sports and games. School resources can be limited, so volunteers may like to bring teaching materials such as simple reading books, postcards, photos and picture dictionaries.

Age Range: 18 and up

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Thailand Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

i-to-i Meaningful Travel's Mission Statement: i-to-i is an award-winning organization providing unique opportunities for you to travel, work and live abroad. Thousands of travelers aged 18 to 80 have joined our volunteer vacations and over 50,000 have learned to Teach English as a Foreign Language through our tailor-made TEFL courses. With over 400 projects on 4 continents, you can join the worldwide i-to-i volunteer community on an extended adventure in areas such as teaching, community development, sports coaching, conservation, building or internships in tourism, marketing, journalism, or health.

Year Founded: 1994