Assignment 1: Introduction

Hi Kholofelo,
I’m delighted to learn that you are exploring teaching as a profession after a career in law and a joyful experience tutoring your nephew. I, too, have recently discovered that I enjoy teaching although my profession is in impact investing strategy. I look forward to meeting you and all of our classmates as we each explore teaching abroad!

Hi, my name is Robert, I was born in Hungary, but I moved to the UK after graduation and got my second degree there in Business Management. I have been living in the UK for more than 15 years now and I have worked mostly in retail and fashion logistics and inventory management. I studied philosophy in Hungary for more than 5 years which along the way ignited my interest and passion for Buddhism, Daoism and Asian cultures in general. I have been planning for a long time to become an ESL teacher, unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic undermined my plan 5 years ago but now I feel I am back on track to fulfil my career goal.
I always loved the training and coaching part of my work, which later became the foundation of my interest in teaching English. My long-term goal is to become a business English and Academic English coach and communication trainer in the future.
I really hope that my exposure to Thai culture and my teaching internship will help me to learn about and understand Thai culture better, hopefully, learn some Thai and pave my way to a fruitful career.

Hello, everyone. Saw wad dee ka! 🙂
My name is Jahlyn King. I’m in my 40’s and have currently travelled Thailand frequently since 2006 and over the last 7 years, multiple trips per year. I have travelled to Phuket so many times that I now have friends over there that have become a solid family. We (my mother and I) spend birthdays in Phuket and come over to celebrate SonKran with them whenever we can- the water fights are insane!!! We forget our sore knees and grey hair and revert back to giggling children which is wonderful. I have a grasp of basic Thai and have helped my friends to sharpen up their spoken English language.

My background is a Nurse, Midwife (In London), an author (I’m very proud to have a book on Amazon) and I am also a property investor. I am fortunate enough to be able to have many trips to Thailand per year and this last time on arriving back home to a grey London, I decided my home, was where I had just left. Within 36 hrs of arriving back in the Uk, I was booked on a long trip back to Thailand within 2 months. I’m hoping to stay between 7-12months or longer!

For my birthday in September, I spent time with the elephants, washing them, giving them mud scrubs and feeding them. I felt completely at home. When visiting the temples, I feel at home. When I’m in front of the warm blue green sea, listening to the crashing waves- then I am truly home. This us where my heart is. You can still find me on the beach at 8pm!

I cannot wait. I will retrain as a teacher and work in a Bangkok school. I’m looking forward to working with the Thai children, helping them develop and broaden their young inquisitive minds. I look forward also making new friends and meeting like minded travelling souls on this wonderful journey with me.

I will also work with the elephants. Caring for them and joining them on their daily routine as well as working with a charity rescuing the Thai street dogs. Caring for them. Attending to their basic and any medical needs and walking them on the beach and with treat training, love and consistency they will learn to trust humans and therefore lead to a successful adoption into a new family. This whole trip will be so rewarding. I have to pinch myself as I can’t believe it.

Hi Amber
I loved the part of your introduction where you talked about how learning about different languages and cultures can make us all in a small way more connected. It’s such an important message and I feel that if people took some time out to truly understand different languages and cultures they would not only attain an appreciation for that place but also begin to realize beyond language we are all a lot more inter-connected than we thought.

Hello Everyone!
My name is Isobel, I’m 23 years old and I’m from Cheshire in the United Kingdom! I began my bachelors degree in history in 2018 and graduated in 2021. I then went on to start my masters in education and international development which i gained a graduate certificate in. Following this I began a role as a teaching assistant in various primary schools whilst acting as a one-to-one for a child with special educational needs. I moved to London in 2018 for university and I have been there ever since!
For the last year I have been working in an office in the heart of corporate London.
I’m deciding to go to Thailand as I feel it is an amazing opportunity to take myself out of my comfort zone and move yet again. This is such a unique experience that I can learn masses from. I would like to throw myself into a country and culture that is unfamiliar to me to have the best experience. It is a great opportunity to see parts of the worlds that I have never been to before whilst making a positive impact on the local community.
I think one of the biggest challenges for me will be adapting to this new culture and I aim to overcomes these challenge’s by fully immersing myself in everything the country and the culture has to offer.
I hope this experience provides me with a sense of personal growth and a fresh outlook on the world. I hope to explore a different version of myself alongside a different environment.

Hello Everyone!
My name is Rose, I am travelling from Canada. I completed my studies at the King’s University. I obtained my degree in Sociology and Kinesiology. During my time studying I have had the opportunity to meet and learn from many individuals from many different cultures and backgrounds. I love broadening my perspective by interacting with others, being in new environments, and experiencing new foods and learning ways’ to show respect to cultures and individuals cultural practices. I am beyond excited for this opportunity to not only be in Thailand, but to emerge myself completely to the experience by getting involve in schools and perhaps the community as well.
My main concern/ barriers will be my little knowledge regarding Thailand ( includes but not limited to… language, cultural expectations, navigation, food etc) My approach to overcoming these barriers will be remaining open to this experience, by being open to being a learner and being coachable. I will have to remind myself frequently that it is okay to be a beginner and not succumb to the challenges that may come.
I am looking forward to cultivating new friendships, the amazing weather, the variety of food, as well as creating memorable moments. I have heard many amazing things from my peers about Thailand, I am grateful to have this opportunity to experience this for myself and with my partner!

Hi Everyone! My name is Jason Montgomery, and I am 24 years old. I graduated with a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania in May 2022. Since then, I have been working as a Real Estate Developer in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. I have always been interested in Thailand, and when I learned about the opportunity to teach English, I jumped at the chance. I hope to make a significant impact as a teacher and expand my worldview. I expect that the first few months of living in Thailand will be challenging because it may take some time to make friends and become comfortable in my new home. However, I am confident that any difficulties I may experience while adapting to Thailand will become easier over time. While in Thailand, I hope to gain lifelong friends, greater cultural knowledge, personal growth, and the adventure of a lifetime. I am very excited for this incredible experience and I wish everyone the best of luck!