Assignment 1: Introduction

Hi, my name is Dominic. I’m a 26 year old from England. I’m moving to Thailand for a 6-month teaching fellowship because I love travelling and exploring new cultures, and because I’m gaining a valuable qualification from this fellowship which will allow me to teach all over the world. There are several challenges I expect to face. Firstly, I am slightly nervous about the prospect of teaching again. While I do have teaching experience, it’s been a while and I anticipate it will be a struggle at first, but with perseverance I think I will soon get the hang of it. Another challenge I will face is homesickness, which I will mitigate by keeping in regular contact with my family and friends back home. I hope that by the end of my experience I am a more confident person and a capable and experienced teacher.

Hey everyone!
My name is George, I’m 26 orginally from the West Midlands but residing in Liverpool. I graduated in 2021 studying Psychology and Sociology with not much idea of what to do afterwards. Since then I have worked my way up to managing a coffee shop but then realised that this isn’t where I see myself in 5 years. I saw the opportunity of teaching of Thailand for 6 months and thought it would be a great way for me to understand my life goals, learn and experience a new culture, all while gaining a qualification at the end of it!
I’m used to a very fast-paced busy lifestyle, so I think it will be interesting for me to slow down a little bit and appreciate my surroundings in a quaint Thai village. Initially I may have a bit of a culture shock, and the time difference to the UK and speaking with my loved ones may be difficult, but I’m looking forward to learning and developing as an individual.
I wish everyone good luck and hope you have an amazing time on your travels 🙂

Hi – My name’s Libby, I’m 24 and I’m from South Wales. I studied World Literature whilst at university and thought it was about time to address the deep irony of me doing so whilst not being very well travelled at all. I’m excited to immerse myself in other cultures and value the opportunity to push myself outside of my comfort zone. I love meeting new people and currently teach here at home in Wales however am definitely expecting to face a few challenges. As I said I’m not very well travelled therefore expecting to find it difficult adjusting to a new culture. I would state my biggest concern is picking up the language. Hopefully from this experience I gain a lot of new skills and further develop my character. I’m also hoping to meet some great people!

Hi,
My name is Eli, I am from and still live in London. I am currently working in production, organising photo and video shoots for tv ads, fashion magazines, music videos and ecom. In y spare time I love listening to music and going to exhibitions!
I have always loved the idea of working with children, and want to do something that is fulfilling in the sense of knowing you are giving back to the world. This is why I am moving to Thailand to complete a TESOL. I have travelled around Thailand before and I loved the country! Everyone is so friendly, the sun (obviously) and the culture and scenery is beautiful.
Challenges I will face in Thailand will be the language barrier, which I will overcome with a smile, active listening and google translate app on my phone. Another challenge for me will be the bugs, I will use lots of mosquito spray and anti itch cream.
I hope to get an adventure out of this experience, as well as a qualification that will allow me to pursue my passion of teaching children, whilst being able to in any country, so being able to travel and gain more experiences. I want to learn more about myself during this time, and also about Thailand. I hope to meet lots of like-minded people!

Hello, I’m Aaliya, a 24-year-old adventurer from the UK with a passion for exploring new cultures and making a positive impact through education. As someone who thrives on new experiences and cultural immersion, I’ve always been drawn to the idea of teaching abroad, and Thailand has captured my heart as the perfect destination to pursue this dream.

Background Information:
Having grown up in the UK, I’ve always been fascinated by different cultures and ways of life. From a young age, I found joy in learning about diverse traditions and languages, sparking a desire to travel and experience the world firsthand. After completing my studies and gaining valuable experience in education, I knew that I wanted to take the leap and embark on a new adventure abroad.

Why Thailand?
Thailand’s rich cultural heritage, warm hospitality, and vibrant atmosphere have long captivated my imagination. However, it was the country’s dedication to education and its welcoming attitude towards foreign teachers that ultimately drew me to this beautiful land. The opportunity to immerse myself in Thai culture while making a meaningful impact through teaching is a dream come true for me.

Challenges and Solutions:
While I anticipate that moving to Thailand will come with its challenges, such as adapting to a new language and cultural norms, I’m confident in my ability to overcome them. By approaching each challenge with an open mind, patience, and a willingness to learn, I believe I can navigate any obstacles that come my way. Additionally, leaning on the support of fellow expatriates and seeking guidance from local communities will be invaluable in overcoming any hurdles.

Hopes and Expectations:
Through my experience teaching in Thailand, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of Thai culture, language, and educational practices. I aspire to make a positive impact on the lives of my students, fostering a love for learning and cross-cultural exchange. Additionally, I look forward to forging meaningful connections with fellow educators and members of the community, building lifelong friendships and memories along the way.

In summary, my decision to move to Thailand to teach is fueled by a desire for adventure, cultural immersion, and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. I’m excited to embark on this new chapter and embrace all that Thailand has to offer.

Hi I’m Toby,
I’m a 22 year old from England and I’ve recently finished studying Music and Philosophy. I play guitar and bass, and I sing, and I create my own music. I’ve chosen to go to Thailand because I want to spend my life doing interesting things, and I believe there’s no better way to do that than exploring the world. I’ve also always been very inspired by teachers and I hope that (depending on this experience) teaching might someday become my future career. I think that my biggest challenge will be trying to navigate a country that uses a different language. I’m hoping to really invest a lot of effort into learning the language, as I think it would be incredible to be able to converse fairly proficiently in Thai. I also think that nearing my first lesson will be very tough as I know I’ll be very anxious, however I know that, having performed many times in the past, I can push through those fears and when I look back on it I’ll have positive memories and the anxiety that came before won’t matter. I am hoping that this experience will leave me more knowledgeable and I’m hoping that my understanding of the world will have greatly improved. I hope it will set me on a path to becoming an excellent teacher. On a more personal note I hope that it will leave me with happy memories and that it can give me self growth in a variety of ways.
I’m very excited to begin and to meet so many excellent people.
-Toby

My name is Abigail Bedson, but I like to be known as Abi and I am 26, living in the UK. I currently work as a children’s nurse in A&E all over the country and I have been doing this for around 3.5 years.
For many years I have wanted to travel however I was never sure what was the best way to go about doing this alone so when I came across the GoToCo course I was thrilled. I have always wanted to go to South East Asia due to its beautiful scenery, fascinating culture and delicious food to name a few.
I expect the biggest challenge of moving to Thailand to be the cultural difference, however I am very open minded and have worked with young people and their families from all different backgrounds so I feel that will help contribute to overcoming some obstacles.
I hope to seek adventure and overcome challenges as I believe you grow the most when you are out of your comfort zone. I hope to meet lots of people from all walks of life and learn about their culture and experiences.

Hello My name is Jordan Sharp I’m 31 years old from the United Kingdom born in Bristol I moved to Scotland with my mum and brothers at a young age. I worked multiple jobs one being a retail supervisor running the store for the management and training up new members of staff. My lastest jobs working as a security mobile supervisor and a delivery driver for tesco also when I was 19 I also join up for the Army Reserved and served for 5 years.

The reason I want to move and teach English abroad was because I saw the advertisement on indeed and I thought you know what I’m just going to apply for this and see what happens also I knew my little brother would want to do this to and I thought why not do it together so o made him apply as well. At first I was a little nervous and wasn’t to sure off myself and also I did struggle to find the money for it all but in the end talking to staff members and all the emails and the interviews helped alot to overcome my nerves and just worked alot of hour to save up.

The experience I’m hoping too get out of this is the new adventure of moving to a new country, learning the culture, languages and a brand new skills with a brand new job. I look forward to meeting new people and trying all the new foods and teaching English in the schools. Getting to know what limits I have I then pushing though them and having a great time in the process that’s the experience I want.