Teach English on a Tropical Island in Thailand - Koh Tao

  Thailand

Koh Tao

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

Description: Not all tropical islands are the same even if the beaches are all great, but don't worry because we've got a range of options for those who like to teach and hit the beach, with the Gulf of Thailand providing something for everyone's taste. Koh Tao is a great island for diving with an active nightlife complimenting the amazing beaches, making it an amazing place to stay and teach. As long as you didn't stay out sampling the nightlife too late the night before you'll have a great time teaching too with lots of eager children keen to learn English. Our TEFL certification is included to make sure you make the most of your time in the classroom as well as your time on the beach.

*Project details:
You will be teaching in the main school on the island of Koh Tao-a nursery and primary state school that currently has around 100 pupils and approximately 6 staff during school terms and at the Secret Garden conservation center during school holidays. The school and the Secret Garden are very keen to incorporate a keen awareness of the islands ecology into their curriculum as tourism becomes an increasingly major factor in the islands future once the kids are able to understand Basic English.

You will be working under the coordination of the Secret Garden Conservation center as part of the Koh Tao environmental and educational program provided for the community.

Meeting up daily with the project coordinator you can discuss the assigned project, whether personal or team projects, as well as write a weekly diary of your experience to pass on to future volunteers to help provide continuity for the children.
This project gives the volunteers the opportunity to interact with i-to-i volunteers from the other projects and learn about how they're helping. You can join the i-to-i conservation volunteers in the making of the weekend kid's activities, and help them to take care of the island's environment .

The project also gives you the opportunity to learn about marine conservation, coral survey and more, by participating for free at seminar and lectures, to give you wider knowledge of the island environment, and be even more helpful

*Why the project needs volunteers:
Thailand has a proud history of never having been colonized 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. In many schools children do not actually get the chance to practice day to day conversation and the school in Koh Tao is really looking forward to volunteers bringing native English lessons to the classroom.

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 particularly as tourism is a growing industry on the island.

Highlights:
* Becoming part of the community on this laid back island
* Chilling on the beach at weekends - the envy of everyone
* Helping your students develop their language skills - and the opportunities open to them

Qualifications: What kind of skills you need to go on this type of project:
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, conservation activities 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. You will also be involved in the weekends activities at the Secret Garden centre.

Cost in US$: USD 2195.00 for 4 weeks, USD 275.00 for every week thereafter

* Accommodation: Shared room in guesthouse.
* Food: Food is not included; you will need to purchase your own food (budget approximately USD 50 per week)
* 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

Age Range: 18-80

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Thailand 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