Assignment 1: Introduction

Hi everyone! My name is Katie, and I have just graduated from my undergraduate degree in Politics and International Relations, from Royal Holloway, University of London (if you’ve seen season 4 of Netflix’s “You”, it was filmed there!). I have always been passionate about travelling the world, and experiencing new places and their cultures, as well as meeting new people, and I thought there is no better way to do so, then moving to Thailand to teach English! I have always been so fascinated by Asia, particularly the South East, as not only is it of course beautiful, but the different cultures are something I have always wanted to experience first hand.

I have always thrived off of helping people in anyway, but particularly children as their young nature and characteristics are never dull. In summer 2022 I stayed in Rome, Italy for 3 weeks and did a similar volunteering programme where I was based in a summer camp for children aged 4-13, and I absolutely loved my time there, and that experience really solidified my want to have the experience of teaching English!

A big barrier I am expecting to face is imposture syndrome, as although I have travelled before, and as I mentioned, have done similar programmes, teaching English in Thailand, is still very out of my depth and comfort zone. However, I try to see this from a positive and excitement, rather than a negative and anxious outlook, and see this experience with optimism. Life is all about stepping out of our comfort zones, and trying new things, and I know the memories and experience I make and have will 100% worth it, and I’m incredibly grateful to have this opportunity!

Hello! My name is Melanie, I am 23 years old and I live in Bedford, Massachusetts in the United States. I just recently graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and earned a degree in psychology and a minor in education. I am an aspiring elementary school teacher and currently taking a gap year to earn my master’s degree. I have always been passionate about working with children and traveling, so I thought this would be the best opportunity for me to teach English abroad! I have previous experience with being away from home as I studied abroad in Florence, Italy my junior year of college. I traveled to many different countries during my abroad semester and have been back to Europe four times since then doing some more traveling with friends during our summer/winter breaks. Traveling to Asia has always been a dream of mine and now being able to work there is going to be an unforgettable experience. I have always been interested in the cultural differences and the lifestyle and now I am looking forward to being immersed in it. I expect this experience to not only be rewarding but also very challenging for me. In my previous travels, I have been with others and now I am traveling to Thailand completely alone. I think the biggest adjustment will be being away from my family/friends at home and having an 11-hour time difference. However, I am excited to meet and connect with new people and share this experience with them. I want to make a difference in a student’s life as they will make a difference in mine.

Hello,
My name is Nicholas and I am from San Diego, California which is in the United States. I have just completed my master’s degree in Education this past year and I have my bachelor’s degree in Sociology. I have taught in a classroom setting for the past two years and I have also tutored adults and children and English for the past 5 years. Over the summer of 2022, I taught English to children ages 3-5 in Cusco, Peru. In Cusco, I realized that traveling and teaching was something that I knew I wanted to do for the next several years of my life. That was when I began to look into different countries that I could travel to and teach English. Even though, I know Spanish I decided that I wanted to go out of my comfort zone and go to a country that I have been wanting to visit. That is when I decided I wanted to go to Thailand to teach English. I expect to face many challenges while in Thailand. The first challenge that comes to mind is the language barrier. I am hopeful that I will overcome this by learning some basic Thai and practicing with people. With this new experience, I am hoping to gain a better understanding of education around the world. I am hoping to gain insights into the way other cultures not only view education but also how much they value/prioritize it. I enjoy new experiences around the world because they always teach me something regardless of whether or not the experience was positive or negative. Ultimately, I am hoping to learn a lot about people, Thailand, education, and myself through this new experience.

Hello Everyone,
My name is Motsoka Rametse, however I am known to most people as Tsuki. I am 38 years old, and I come from beautiful South Africa in a small town called Polokwane, I have a Bacchelor’s degree in Business Administration from the Institution Mancosa. Over the years I have worked in the Customer Service division which has given me a great experience with working with people, through this role I have learned to articulate myself well, to be patient and have a high tolerance for different personalities. I believe that my character has also developed over time, and this will be beneficial in my journey to teach English in Thailand.
Thailand has been one of the countries I have desired to visit for the longest time because of the culture, food and captivating landscapes. I am a very open minded individual and I believe that growth comes when you leave your comfort zone. I know that this opportunity is going to make me become the best version of myself and I know that it will also come with its own challenges but more especially opportunities.
There will be different challenges that will come with this journey, and I am willing to learn through the challenges with patience and kindness. Moving away from family and friends and adjusting to a new way of living will be one of the challenges and that can always be overcome because we live in a time where we can communicate with loved ones over technology. There will be a lot of adjustment that will take place through learning some words in Thai so that one can be able to communicate better with the students and community, the teaching style in Thai is also a challenge I am going to face with grace and a willing mind to learn and deliver lessons to the best of my ability.
I know that this experience is going to help me develop my teaching capabilities and confidence. I am going to grow and become very strong in character. I know through this experience that doors of opportunities will always arise and that will lead me to the path of self-development.

Hi! My name is Robert and I am a British-Hungarian double citizen living in the UK for the last 20 years. Originally graduated in Hungary in Philosophy, I moved to the UK where I gained a Bachelors degree in Business Management and I have got a Masters degree in Education with TESOL recently, I worked in various industries and positions in the UK but I am taking this course because I have been chasing a long-time goal to become an English teacher. I have been fascinated by Asian cultures, history, philosophy and Buddhism. Currently, I am about to start a teaching internship with XploreAsia in Thailand as the first step on my journey to becoming an ESL educator.
I really hope that teaching in Thailand will be an exceptional experience, and I expect to meet many interesting people from around the world.

Hi my name’s Alex, I’m 21 and I’m from England. I’ve just graduated from the University of Manchester, studying Drama and English Literature. I just spent the summer working as a camp counselor in the US, and have decided to take part in this program as I wish to continue working with children and travelling the world! I went to Thailand last year for a short trip, however after spending 2 weeks there I came to the conclusion that I would very much want to live and work there as I loved it so much. After working with children this summer I believe that I’ll be more than capable of working with the kids, however I do feel my biggest challenge will be organising and planning lessons, as this is something I have never done. However, I am sure after completing the course this worry will be rectified through practise. I hope that this experience expands my knowledge of the world and myself, and I hope to make amazing friends and memories!

Hi everyone! My name is Sarah, I am from the United States, am 22 years old and just graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with a Bachelor’s Degree in Global Studies and a certificate in the Social Dimensions of Health. I am currently traveling in Europe, and have been for just over two months now. I love to travel and have been fortunate enough to travel and live in many different countries throughout my time in university. I have always wanted to be an English teacher, because it is a great way to live and work abroad. I chose the course in Thailand because upon completion, I am moving to Australia where I hope to teach English to refugees and immigrants. I do not have any teaching experience, so my biggest challenge is going to be summoning the confidence that is necessary to be a leader. As with anything, I know I will get more comfortable with this with time. I hope to gain the necessary skills and tools to plan lessons, learn about Thai culture, meet likeminded people, and learn teaching techniques targeted at varying age groups.

Hello. My name is Camilla and I’m from Ft. Worth, Texas. Being 59 I’m probably one of the older students/internists.
I graduated from University in 1985 with a degree in German/ French. I quickly landed a job as a flight attendant at
Delta Air Lines Inc. where I completed 35 years of service. I loved my job, but once the pandemic hit I was offered the opportunity to retire early with great benefits. I had a lot of time on my hands so took and completed my first online 150 hr. TEFL course from ITA. However I never pursued it seriously because of a family situation (taking care of aging parents). This taught me great patience and empathy… two important qualities that if one is not born with are sometimes hard to acquire. Working as a flight attendant can wear your patience pretty thin, even if one flies great routes and has great perks. I came across this program, and was immediately interested and curious. I completed the 120 hr. I-to-I TEFL recently, and I’m so excited about the opportunities and new experiences that are in my future, and a little nervous about starting this new chapter of my life. I am also excited to meet my fellow teachers and staff and gaining experience as a TEFL instructors.