ASSIGNMENT 1: INTRODUCTION

[Hannah Duckworth]

Hi, I’m Hannah and I currently live in England. I am moving to Thailand as I have joined a company to go and teach English abroad. I expect that there will be many challenges, mainly culture shock and getting used to a completely different way of life, not to mention the climate. I shall also have to over come the fear of embarrassing myself by not knowing things. I hope to gain an expanded world view, meet new people and discover a new way of looking at the world. I also hope to make lots of new friends and gain a TESOL qualification while I am at it!

[Tamar Atkinson]

Hi everyone! My name is Tamar and I’m from the United Kingdom. I recently completed a Master’s degree in Egyptology from the University of Liverpool and I am now looking to train to be an English teacher in Thailand. Having not had much travel experience in the past, I thought this would be a great opportunity to develop my perspective on the world, as well as to gain valuable life skills in teaching and working with children. It’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit and I am grateful for the experience I am about to embark on!
I’m sure I will experience challenges including culture shock and in navigating my way around living in a new place, but I hope to learn how to handle all of this in time by keeping an open mind and immersing myself into all experiences offered to me. I’m sure I’ll have difficulties with my confidence at first with getting used to the language and area, but I’m sure I can overcome this with time!

Overall, I hope that I get rewarding professional experience, but most importantly, that I meet lots of new friends and have a great time just exploring a new country and things which are out of my comfort zone!

[Tamar Atkinson]

Hi Hannah! It sounds like we’re in the same boat. I’m sure we’ll both overcome these challenges and have a great time training to be teachers in Thailand! I’m also sure that this course will help us in adapting to Thai culture.

[Hannah Duckworth]

Wow Tamar, that sounds cool. I also studied at the University of Liverpool! It seems like we are probably going to have similar experiences. Maybe I’ll see you out there!

[Aleksandra Lakus]

Hi, my name is Aleks! I am originally from Poland but moved to the UK in 2018 to study. I studied English Language and German at Cardiff University and graduated in 2022. I worked as a Kids Pastor in a church for the past year and I’m currently also working at a publishing company. I’ve always loved working with kids and teenagers and I also love learning and teaching languages, so I decided to look for an opportunity somewhere further than Europe. I have completed one TEFL certificate before and long-term, I’m thinking of doing masters in either psychology or language and communication research, or maybe doing pgce and teaching German 🙂 But for now, I absolutely love travelling and can’t stay in one place for too long!! Just recently, I came back from Tanzania where I climbed Kilimanjaro, and before that, I was in Germany teaching English at a summer camp . I love hiking, sport, photography and drinking coffee and bubble tea, and I’m hoping the next couple of months in Thailand will just be an amazing adventure for me!

I’m very excited to come to Thailand and even though I’m pretty aware it’s going to be quite a culture shock, I think I’ll have a lot of fun and be able to explore a completely different culture. I’d love to be far away from home, find myself in a completely new environment and take up some challenges, and I can’t wait to teach English in Thailand ☀️

[May Tracy Pearman]

Hello everyone, my name is May!
I am from London but have spent the most recent part of my life studying and working in Manchester. I studied History of Art as my undergrad and have been working in the arts and heritage sector since. This has been something I really enjoy and am very passionate about but I was eager to travel. So for the past 5 months, I have been traveling around Asia and spent a lot of time in Thailand. As a result, I have been keen to find interesting ways that I can spend some more time there, and with a curiosity for teaching and education, the Gotoco program appeared to be the perfect match!
I think the barrier that I have experienced so far is possibly a disconnect with the culture, as much as I love it and appreciate it, I don’t know much about the history, cultural background or politics of Thailand. This is something that I would like to educate myself about so I can really immerse myself and understand Thailand.
Throughout this experience, I really hope to expand my own horizons, experience something a life that is different from my previous 9-5 and grow my own confidence! And of course, have a great time!

[Jodie Davies]

Hello 🙂 my name is Jodie and I’m from Wales. I recently graduated with a degree in English Literature from Cardiff University and I’m soon embarking to Thailand to teach English, with Gotoco. My mum is from Thailand, but growing up in the UK has meant that I’ve only had a bit of exposure to Thai culture and its way of life. I am excited, therefore, to be immersed in a country that is known for being ‘The Land of Smiles’! I think I will face a lot of challenges once I’m out there, especially since this will be my first time teaching and there is a possibility that the language barrier will make it hard to communicate with students. There are many things I will do to overcome this, by consistently learning the language to improve my own Thai and making sure that lessons are accessible and flexible. Overall, I believe that the exchange of cultures will be an uplifting and enriching experience and I’m excited to meet people from all walks of life.
Moving to Thailand will be a great start in exposing myself to travelling abroad, as well as this cultural course being a great introduction before I set foot. I hope to continue onwards and further discover more countries and cultures, and I’m excited to see what the future holds.

[Katie Shorey]

Hello! My name’s Kate, I’m 27 and I’m from England. I’m an artists and arts educator and I’ve been teaching for about 6 years. I’ve just finished my MA in Fine Art at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, and I’m about to do a 6 month teaching fellowship in Thailand. I love travelling and have been luckily enough to travel around Europe teaching in Sweden, Italy, Spain, Romania, Malta and Portugal. I’ve also travelled to Morocco, Tanzania, Istanbul and Egypt. I’m super excited to begin my next chapter in Thailand! I’ve never been to Asia or lived abroad so this will be a learning curve! I expect it will be a bit of a shock to the system at first but I’ll adapt eventually!
Out of the experience I would like to grow as a teacher so that I can be better for my students and continue to work and travel!

[Emma Holmes]

Hi, my name’s Emma and I’m from Ireland! I have always had an interest in travelling and living all over the world. I did an undergrad in international business and French language, and I have lived in France and Belgium, working on my language skills. This year, I travelled to South East Asia (including Thailand) for the first time with a friend, and all I could think about was how can I get back here and stay here longer?? Thats when I thought about TEFL, after meeting so many people who highly recommended it. I’m so excited by the idea of living in Thailand, and really seeing what the country is like away from the backpacking trails. But i’m also delighted to be part of a programme where I can develop my teaching skills and confidence, as this is something that i’m anxious about starting with zero knowledge or experience. I hope that this programme enables me to become a good EFL teacher, which will allow me to see the world 🙂

[Olivia Glover]

Hello everyone!
My name is Olivia and I am from the North East of England (Middlesbrough). I have recently graduated from Durham University after studying a degree in Primary Education and gaining Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). I love socialising with other people and I am excited for this opportunity to hopefully meet individuals from a wide range of backgrounds that are different from my own. My hobbies include pretty much anything creative, I love makeup and I am also developing a passion for reading and reviewing books. I have decided to work for gotoco and move to Thailand as I have always wanted to travel more and combine that with my love for teaching. I am keen to immerse myself in a new culture and learn about others and hopefully more about myself along the way 🙂 I definitely think there will be various challenges along the way e.g., culture shock, language barriers and I don’t know if this sounds silly but adjusting to 30+ degrees seems like one of the biggest ones. I know everyone else will be in the same boat and we can get through this together! But seriously any suggestions to cope with the heat? I am positive that I will gain lots from this experience and I am hoping that I will be able to have a positive impact for others too by training to be and EFL teacher and hopefully getting to travel around the world in the process 🙂

[Olivia Glover]

Hi Emma!
I just wanted to say that even though I have experience teaching, I am super nervous about starting this adventure as it will be completely different to teaching in England. I am sure you will be fab and we will all smash this together 🙂

[Yasmin Butt]

Hi everyone,

My name is Yasmin and I’ve recently graduated from Durham University. I have always wanted to travel, and am so excited to be moving to Thailand next week! It is a part of the world I have never visited before so I am really looking froward to exposing myself to a completely new culture.
I am sure moving to the other side of the world will come with its challenges, and I am apprehensive about making new friends and meeting new people but am ready to fully submerse myself in the experience and get involved with as much as I can whilst I am there!
This course is the best first step to be taking and I am looking forward to what I may learn!
Yasmin

[Rose Cartland]

Hi,
My name is Rose and I have recently completed a 4 year degree in Primary Education with Mathematics. Next week, I will begin an exciting opportunity with GotoCo and become an English language teacher in Thailand. I have a keen interest in travelling to and learning about Thailand and GotoCi has provided the perfect opportunity for me to combine this interest with my passion for teaching. Having lived at home throughout my university experience, and completing the majority of my degree through the pandemic, I can’t wait to have the opportunity to meet new people and develop both professional and personal relationships with people who have the same interests and passions as I do, as well as having people to learn and grow with. I am apprehensive about learning Thai language as it is so different from English, but I am excited for the challenge and happy I am supported by a brilliant programme. While I am aware that this is only one of the many challenges I may face, I am looking forward to immersing myself into a new experience and developing holistically through this opportunity,

[Joe Porter]

Hello everyone! I’m Joe and I am from Stafford. I recently graduated from Lancaster University with a degree in Human Geography. I’ve always enjoyed learning about new cultures and engaging with people from a wide range of backgrounds. Having been lucky enough to have travelled extensively, such as last summer when I spent 4 weeks in Malawi, I’ve always loved the idea of working and living abroad. Not only am I excited about learning about Thai culture but I’m also looking forward to developing my professional skills. The idea of learning new skills and developing existing ones is a positive one, and maybe I’ll learn something new about myself! Of course they’ll be challenges along the way, such as having classes that don’t go to plan or home sickness but these are just minor bumps which will make me more rounded personally and professionally. Not only do I hope to become an incredible teacher! But I also look forward to meeting many new people.

[Anna Jevons]

Hi everyone!

I’m Anna and I’m from a town in North London called Crouch End. I’ve recently graduated from the University of Manchester with a degree in psychology and now I’m going to start a TEFL teaching course in Thailand. I have worked and volunteered with children and have discovered I have a real passion for teaching and mentoring children. I had my first experience of teaching when I was a seminar leader in my third year of university for a course called, the psychology of happiness. I really enjoyed connecting with students, hearing about their experiences and teaching them methods to be more present and content in life.

The reason why I decided to move to Thailand was to experience living in a different culture and broaden my life opportunities. I am keen to learn about Thailand’s religion, Buddhism, meet locals to enrich my cultural experience and possibly volunteer in communities to help to make a difference.

The main challenges I expect to face while teaching English in Thailand are the language barriers and cultural differences that I will overcome by learning the basics of Thai language and culture before arriving to Thailand. I want to become confident in communicating with locals and colleagues and be aware of the cultural regulations that I should follow.

I hope to gain extensive knowledge of Thai culture, grow to be a confident and efficient teacher and an independent individual. I really value making connections with people, so would like to make some great friendships with colleagues and locals and possibly provide a helping hand to the community that I live in. When I’ve told people that I’m going to teach English in Thailand I’ve heard how friendly and welcoming Thai people are and how beautiful the scenery is, so I am thoroughly excited to embark on this career path and am grateful to have a culture course delivered to me before arrival.

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