ASSIGNMENT 1: INTRODUCTION

[Mark Parkinson]

My name is Mark Parkinson, I’m am 49 years old. For the last 20 years I’ve have worked looking after children and young people in care, with me recently been in the role of a senior crisis intervention worker. I have a degree in Health and Social care practice (Children) and I’m currently living in Blackpool where I have resided for most of my live.
I have been wanting to travel for a long time and have now got the chance with me taking redundancy from my job. I have always thought that being able to teach English to young people in a foreign country would be a great way of been able to help them expand their learning as well as my own. With me doing this it also is a fantastic way of me being able to travel and see parts of the world that I have always wanted to
I’m am now looking forward to starting my journey and excited at what lies ahead

[LiamToole]

Hello all,
My name is Liam and I am 22 years old. I was born in England but moved to Wrexham in North Wales and have lived there since, apart from spending 3 years in Cardiff studying Mechanical Engineering. After I finished my degree I wanted to take a break for a year to see a bit more of the world and push myself out of my comfort zone. I lived in Colombia for 3 months working as a TEFL teacher and loved it, so I’ve decided to try this for a longer period in Thailand! Thailand stood out to me with its stunning scenery and amazing food which I cannot wait to try more of.
I anticipate a little bit of difficulty with language barriers, but I will make an effort to learn some Thai to communicate better with the people I meet and work with.
At the end of this experience, I hope to have developed as a TEFL teacher, met some new people, and have a better idea of where I would like to go with my career.

[Austin Cowan]

Hello! I am Austin. I have a bachelors in Anthropology with a minor in ASEA studies and another in history. I chose Thailand for teaching, because I’ve been drawn to go ever since I got my minor and took a Thai language class.
I expect to miss my family and friends a bunch. Being there will allow me to break out of my comfort zone and learn more about myself.

[Asiyah Mohamed]

Hi everyone!
My name is Asiyah. I was born and raised in London, England and still live there now. I just turned 24 and I have a degree in English literature and creative writing. Books and travelling are my two great loves in the world. I love meeting new people, exploring new countries and discovering natures hidden gems. I spent two months in Bali, Indonesia last summer with Gotoco volunteering in a local school and absolutely loved it, it was what cemented my decision to become an ESL teacher. I decided to take this opportunity to travel to Thailand and gain my trinity cert TESOL qualification. Thailand is a country rich in culture and landscapes, and I honestly can’t wait to experience all it has to offer. I also believe this journey will help me grow as an individual and I hope at the end of this journey, I will feel much more confident as a teacher and secure in my skills, as well as the value I bring to my students. I hope to become the best language teacher I can be and create memories that will last a lifetime!

[Casey Bradley]

Hello everyone, my name is Casey, and I was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland. I studied Psychology at University and an element we explored throughout my course was cultural differences in relation to certain topics, such differences in beliefs, social norms and reasoning. processes. I found this particularly interesting and developed a desire to explore and learn about these differences first hand. I have decided to travel to Thailand to improve my cultural awareness, improve my confidence in building relationships and engaging with new people, and to develop my professional skills in teaching. I think a challenge I will face is being home sick. I have a very close relationship with my family, and I believe I will miss them. To overcome this, I will make sure to keep in contact daily and remind myself this is an amazing opportunity that I get to share with them via phone calls, photos and video calls! Another barrier I will face is the language barrier. I am really interested in learning the Thai language and I plan to learn some phrases each week to hopefully build up my knowledge. From this experience I hope to gain an enhanced cultural perspective, meet new friends and build my personal and professional confidence.

[Isaac Hayes]

Hi everyone, I’m Isaac and I’m 21 years old from south Wales. I graduated last summer having mainly studied biology, but currently I think I’d like a career in teaching. TEFL fits well with this, and I think it’s a great way to see the world whilst earning at the same time. During my time in Thailand I expect to experience some culture shock and frustration with the language barrier, as well as difficulty getting used to the heat! To overcome these I’ll try to always keep an open mind and be willing to learn how to appreciate everything in Thailand, even being drenched in a factor 50/sweat mix. I look forward to gaining my CertTESOL at the end of the programme, but I also hope to have an amazing first experience of living and working abroad to look back on and to have made some good friends along the way.

[Megan Lazarevic]

Hi,
My name is Megan. I have finished studying Law with American studies at Swansea University and have now been drawn to a new adventure. I have always enjoyed working with children, favouring working as a teaching assistant throughout university and time spent working as a coach and camp counsellor.
In my third year of university I got the opportunity to live in America for a year. That experience of living outside of your own country and being able to meet different people and experience different cultures was invaluable to me. This stemmed a desire to visit other countries and immerse myself in life there. Which really encouraged a desire to live/move to Thailand, a country I have always wanted to visit. I appreciate i will face challenges, but being able to build roots with others and having those from home as a support network makes the fear of problems that could potentially happen manageable. I hope I will be able to meet lots of great new people and that I am able to immerse myself in the Thai culture and try lots of new and exciting things.
Megan

[Ellie Wilson]

Hi guys,

My name is Ellie, I’m 26 from South Yorkshire in the UK. I decided to enroll with Go to Co as I’d always dreamed of travelling, specifically to Thailand. I do already have a back ground in teaching over in the UK but I really wanted to expand on that more and learn a new culture! I’ve never travelled as far before so I am fairly nervous but also really excited to meet new people and immerse myself in the journey!! See you all when we get there

[Daniel Culbard]

My name is Daniel I’m from Scotland. I studied at Strathclyde University in Glasgow where I live and got my master’s degree in International Business with Spanish and studied for a year in Spain so I have experience living abroad in a foreign country. I decided to come and teach English in Thailand as I felt I wasn’t ready yet to settle down back home and wanted to see East Asia. Some challenges I foresee include adapting to a different work culture as this is oftentimes a culture within a culture and for me it will be missing my friends and family back home. I hope to make more friends from all over the world and travel and explore as much of Asia as possible while I’m here!

[Beatrice Barbulescu]

Hi, My name is Beatrice, I’m 22 and I’ve lived in London my whole life but my parents are originally from Romania. I recently graduated from UCL, I did a BA in Politics and Sociology with a focus on Eastern European studies, which I absolutely hated! I used to really love art, philosophy and anything that allowed me to think outside the box and be creative- but I fell out of touch with that – hopefully I will fall back into it with the help of this whole experience… I’ve decided to move to Thailand and do this course with Gotoco as a restart to my journey, I just want to meet new people and gain new experiences and learn more about myself! I’ve never really travelled anywhere by myself let alone move abroad- so this is me going into the deep end, headfirst – or so to say. But I definitely think this is the. best opportunity and the right choice for me! I really look forward to meeting everyone and trying my best to a good teacher!

[Genevieve Mercure]

Hello!
my name is Genevieve. I am 45 from Canada. I have a master degree in anthropology from Laval university in Quebec city and another master in Korean culture and history from The Academy of Korean Studies in Seongnam South Korea.
I am a language teacher and want to experience new challenges by teaching in Thailand.
I lived in South Korea for 3 years and really enjoyed this experience. I went to visit Thailand and really like the country so I decided I could try to live there and see what this experience can give me to improve my growth as a person and a teacher.
Since I still don’t know how to speak Thai, I guess I will need to adapt and learn it fast so I can manage daily life without expecting people to adapt to me. I think I can motivate myself and get fantastic new skills. I think it is always interresting to go beyond our limits and not let them stop ourselves.

[Lindsay Stowman]

Hi everyone,
My name is Lindsay, a 33-year-old living in South Africa. With qualifications in Sport Management, Sport Science, and a Post Graduate Certificate of Education, I’ve spent the last 6 years as a Sports Coordinator.
Back in 2018, I had the opportunity to visit Thailand with my partner, and it was truly unforgettable. We both fell in love with the country’s vibrant culture and beautiful landscapes, and from that moment on, we knew we wanted to make Thailand our home someday.
My desire to move to Thailand stems from my love for adventure and my fascination with diverse cultures. I see this journey as an opportunity for personal growth, where I can immerse myself in new experiences and connect with people from different walks of life. However, I’m aware that the language barrier will pose a challenge. Despite this, I’m determined to overcome it through dedication and persistence.
As a teacher, my goal is to make a meaningful impact on my students’ lives. I aspire to empower them to reach their full potential both academically and personally. By fostering a nurturing and inclusive learning environment, I aim to instill confidence and a passion for learning in my students. Ultimately, I hope to see them evolve into independent, compassionate individuals who are eager to explore the world around them.

[Mthethomusha Mbatha]

Hi. My name is Mthetho Mbatha (I know Mthethomusha sounds like a bit of a tongue twister) and I live in Johannesburg, South Africa. I studied Public Affairs and Administration (B. Social Sciences) and Digital Marketing Certificate at the University of Cape Town, COMPTIA A+, N+, National Certificate in IT. I have experience working in the IT field in both public and private sector in South Africa. I have also had the privilege of running my own company in the past few years. However, the prospects of traveling the word have always been something I would like to do, and this job presents that opportunity for me. The biggest challenge for me will be leaving my family behind but I know I can always video call them whenever I get a chance to do so. To be quite honest I am so looking forward to traveling to these parts of the of the world, which something I have never done before.
I think I will get to learn about Thailand, the people, their language, food, culture, etc., which I think will be quite fascinating. But also, this presents an opportunity for me to meet new people and colleagues from other parts of the world. And also, the possibility of learning a new language seem to be quite fascinating for me.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by Mthethomusha Mbatha.

[Kristina Acevedo]

Hello! My name is Kristina. I am from New Jersey, USA and am a graduate from Rutgers University. I love Thailand! I went there 15 years ago and have been hoping to go back ever since. I recently was an accountant for TV and film and there was a writers strike. I was unsure how long that would last and decided to explore other options based on my previous work. I decided I wanted to go back to school for my masters and become a school counselor. When I saw this program I knew it was the perfect way to jump back into working with schools. I think my biggest challenge when traveling is, I want to do everything. I want to see every museum, every temple, and go go go. I am hoping with the structuring of the classroom setting and going back to school I will be able to slow down and take everything at a solid pace. I can’t wait to teach and learn from this experience.

[David Flacks]

Hi there! My name is David. I am a 50-year-old tech enthusiast hailing from the vibrant city of New York. With a career predominantly entrenched in technology, my passion for teaching has always been an undercurrent in my life. However, at this juncture, I have decided to embark on a new journey, one that leads me far beyond the confines of America.

Driven by a profound desire for cultural immersion and a thirst for adventure, I had my sights set on Thailand. Having visited the Land of Smiles thrice since 2022, I found himself captivated by its enchanting landscapes, rich history, and warm hospitality. It was amidst the bustling streets of Thailand that I discovered this newfound love for the country.

My decision to relocate to Thailand stems from my yearning to break free from the monotony of corporate life and embrace the world with open arms. To me, Thailand represents not only a change in scenery but a gateway to a life enriched with diverse experiences and meaningful connections. Being able to teach English will be not only a benefit to the students I tutor but to me as well as I truly enjoy providing knowledge that will enrich a life.

Yet, I am not blind to the challenges that lie ahead. The language barrier and the relentless heat pose formidable obstacles, but I remain undeterred. Armed with determination, I am poised to conquer these challenges head-on. Through perseverance and a willingness to learn, I believe I can bridge the gap and adapt to this new environment seamlessly.

In this journey of self-discovery and exploration, I hope to glean invaluable insights into the intricacies of Thai culture, forging bonds that transcend geographical boundaries. I yearn to immerse myself in the treasure of experiences that Thailand has to offer, from sampling exotic cuisines to unraveling the mysteries of ancient temples.

Ultimately, Thailand symbolizes more than just a change of scenery; it embodies a profound pursuit of fulfillment and a testament to the boundless spirit of human curiosity. As I embark on this odyssey, I eagerly anticipates the countless adventures that await me, confident that each twist and turn will lead me closer to the essence of what it truly means to live life to the fullest.

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