Assignment 1: Introduction

Hello everyone!
My name is Camilla, and I am 26 years old. I am from Turin, a city in the north of Italy.
I had to temporarily suspend my studies in Marketing due to COVID-19 and family obligations. However, I intend to resume my studies online once I commence my teaching job.
I chose to go to Thailand because I was fascinated by its culture and manner of life. Not only that, but I want to experience something completely different from what I am used to, and I can’t wait to begin this new adventure.
I enjoy learning new languages, and I will definitely try learning Thai. Even though it’s a difficult language, I hope I can learn enough to use it in my daily life.

Hi Kendra,

Seems like we have a similar story with embarking on a mid-life career change. Glad to hear I am not the only one!

Hi there, I’m Bertan from Turkey. I’ve studied English Language Teaching (ELT), which has fueled my passion for language education and cross-cultural communication. On top of that, traveling and exploring new places have always been a fascination for a crazy soul like me, and and I’m thrilled to add Thailand to my list of countries I’ve explored. I can’t wait to experience Thailand’s vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, and delicious cuisine. Plus, delving into the Thai language will be an exciting challenge, especially with its unique alphabet. I’m anticipating to see where tomorrow takes me and to embrace every experience it brings. After all, what’s life without a little bit of madness, right?

Hi everyone , I’m Menent, a 45-year-old from Turkey, is embarking on a journey to teach English to speakers of other languages, particularly focusing on Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam, or Indonesia. With a diverse background in mathematics, Turkish grammar, and English teaching during university, as well as a career in sales and marketing, now see teaching as a valuable skill, especially for exposing my young daughter to different languages and cultures.

Having traveled to 20 countries and lived in some for extended periods, I believe my rich experiences and insights will greatly enhance his teaching. I plan to incorporate elements of cultural immersion into my teaching methodology, drawing from my firsthand experiences in various countries to offer unique perspectives and insights to my students.

Thailand stands out as my preferred destination due to previous visits, familiarity with the culture, significant demand for English language education, lower cost of living, and its central location in Southeast Asia for further travel opportunities.

I aim to enhance my teaching skills, gain valuable experience in a different cultural and linguistic context, and deepen my understanding of Thai culture, language, and heritage. Teaching abroad also offers me and my family the chance to embark on new adventures together, creating lasting memories and strengthening our bond in a foreign land.

Challenges expected along the way may include adapting to a new cultural and linguistic environment, navigating job opportunities, and ensuring the well-being and education of my daughter. However, I am confident in my ability to overcome these challenges through immersion, continuous learning, and flexibility.

Overall, I hope to derive professional, cultural, personal, and familial benefits from my foreign teaching experience, enriching my life and that of my family in numerous ways.

Hi! My name is Charlie, I am 23 years old, I live in London, England. I have visited thailand in the past and was really amazed by the culture, the scenery and the amazing food and people. I have just finished university and been doing some travelling over the last few months and I think this will be an amazing opportunity to travel and learn while giving back to the community with the skills I have learned. I think the language will be a challenge to overcome as it is very different to english. I think by staying open minded and ready to learn and absorb from the locals and guides as well as immersing myself in the culture this challenge can be overcome.
I hope to see some incredible things, meet some new and interesting people and develop skills that will last me a lifetime.

Hi everyone,
My name is Rita, I’m 33 and I’m from Italy where I was born and raised until 2014. I moved to the UK in search of new adventures and new challenges. Languages have always been a big interest of mine, I find myself more and more interested in different cultures and customs. I have been based in London for the last ten years and when I moved here I pushed myself to learn as soon as I could so I could feel comfortable within my own shoes. Before moving to UK I knew very little about the country and the language and I never visited it before. It was completely different compared to my home country. I pushed myself to adjust very quickly to the pace of the big city and its diversity. I have always worked in customer service and in the last few years I got promoted couple of times which led me to teach others how to practice their jobs in a better way. I found lots of new people coming straight from their countries, starting fresh, so they had very little knowledge of the English language. Some of them would come to me asking for advice on how to express themselves better in a language which is not their own. I love the idea of helping people finding their own pace and path with language and help them integrate in a new society.
In 2020 I graduated from London University and I hold a BA in Film/Media and Japanese language. Being able to study in the filmmaking industry has given me the opportunity to observe different behaviors and displays of characters which I found very interesting. As I’m a big fan of languages I gave myself a big challenge when I started learning Japanese in 2016, self-taught. I decided later to prove myself by taking the university course. Learning a third language in a second language which is not your native one is not an easy job. Once you’re able to express yourself in the way you feel more confident and comfortable with, you hit the jackpot. But I believe there is always space to learn new things in life.
By moving to Thailand, I would love to be able to make others feel the same way, with a sense of accomplishment and by making them realised that big challenges can be overcome with time an effort.
I’m expecting to challenge and prove myself by doing so, firstly overcoming the culture shock which is going to be a big thing for someone coming from Europe. Although I have travelled a lot, I know it is something not to take that lightly.
I hope I will become a better person as there’s always time to improve yourself in ways that you have never considered before. I hope Thailand will give me the opportunity to grow under every aspect I haven’t been able to face and to give me new motivation to move forward and find new paths for myself.
I’m excited to be taking this course and meet you all.
Rita

Hi! My name is Wendy from South Africa and I live in a small town called Kimberley. I completed by Bachelors Degree in 2017. I have travelled extensively and was fortunate to go on vacation to Thailand with my son 2013 which I enjoyed tremendously. I was a government employee for 33 years and began to realise that I was making a life which only revolved around my career but not actually living where I had fulfilment and purpose in what I did therefore I decided to do to this program.
The challenge I might foresee is that I am not a teacher by profession accept providing training p to various government officials in ethics. However I am a hard worker , willing to learn and not afraid to ask if I don’t know something . The culture and language barrier might also be a challenge but I will exercise patience , be open minded and take it one day at a time.
To meet new people , enjoy the Thia culture and experience everything Thailand has to over.
I cannot wait to start this new journey!!
Wendy

Hello! My name is Rebecca Pachonick (I like to be called Becky) and I am from South Africa. I recently completed my English Honours Degree at Stellenbosch University in the Western Cape. I am travelling to Thailand because I am interested in learning more about the Thai culture and immersing myself in a beautiful country such as Thailand. I hope to take advantage of as many opportunities that the country offers me. As excited as I am for this new adventure, I am very nervous about moving abroad to somewhere I have never been. I aim to overcome these nerves by making new friends, being as prepared as possible (by learning some of the Thai language), and staying open-minded and taking it day by day. Teaching English is going to be an exciting challenge; I am thrilled to be in a classroom with young children and I cannot wait to get to know the students. I am excited for this amazing opportunity and I hope to make the most of it! I look forward to meeting everyone. Wishing you all the best with your travels!