Assignment 1: Introduction

Hi,
My name is Emma, I am from Orkney in the north of Scotland. I was recommended to do an online TEFL course by a friend and fell in love with the idea of going abroad and teaching through the course. It has always been a dream to travel but I have never had an opportunity until now. I am super interested in Thailand due to its beauty and culture. I think that the main challenges that I will have will be the language barrier to begin with as I do not speak and Thai, but I am really looking forward to learning while I am there. The culture there is drastically different to what I am used to and so there will be a lot to take in and learn about.
I would love to grow my confidence while doing this course and hopefully allow me to grow as a person.

Hi everyone,
My name is Reese, and I am coming to Thailand from Canada! I was born and raised in Southern Ontario and attended school in Toronto, completing my Bachelor of Social Work degree. I have experience working at a national non-profit organization advocating for the rights and safety of women and children which is what sparked my joy for working towards the betterment of our world. I decided to move to Thailand to shift my work internationally and continue empowering and shaping young minds while having the ability to appreciate a new culture and way of life different from what I am used to. I expect to face many challenges in moving abroad while adapting to a new language, routine, and environment, but I am extremely grateful just to have the opportunity to experience all these new aspects of life that I am prepared to be patient with myself and face any hurdles as they arise. During my time in Thailand, I just hope to be open to all experiences and embrace the learnings at every step of the way. So excited to begin this journey and looking forward to meeting others along the way!

Hi Everyone!
My name is Ntokozo Mthembu, 24 year old from South Africa. My name means ” Joy” or ” Happiness” in my mother tongue- Isizulu- which is one of the 11 official languages of my country! Fun fact- most South Africans are great with languages and can speak a minimum of 2-3 languages quite fluently-how amazing is that! I hope to add the Thai language to my growing list of languages.
Why are you deciding to travel/move to Thailand?
I’m drawn to Thailand for its rich culture, stunning landscapes, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact through teaching English. It’s a chance to immerse myself in a new environment, learn from Thai traditions, and contribute positively to the local community.

What challenges do you expect to face along the way and how do you expect to overcome them?
I anticipate language barriers and cultural differences to be significant challenges. To overcome these, I plan to learn basic Thai phrases and immerse myself in the local customs. Building relationships with colleagues and seeking their guidance will be crucial in navigating these challenges effectively. I’ve also never traveled/lived outside my home country so Homesickness is definitely something I’m going to have to overcome as time goes on.

What do you hope to get out of your experience?
Professionally, I aim to help students improve their English skills and broaden their horizons. Personally, I look forward to gaining a deeper understanding of Thai culture, forming lasting connections with locals and fellow expats, and growing both personally and professionally from this enriching experience.

Hi,
My name is Sabrina and I am a recent Psychology and Business graduate from the University of South Australia. I live in Adelaide, SA, and I am 23 years old. I have a passion for travelling and recently I have returned from my first solo trip in South Korea which has inspired me to work and live abroad. My passion for immersing myself in new cultures drives my desire to teach in Thailand. I see this opportunity not just as a job but as a chance to learn from my students and the local community, enriching my understanding and appreciation of different cultures. This passion extends to my commitment to providing children with life skills that will serve them well into their professional careers. I believe that by teaching English, I can help bridge the gap between communication and opportunities abroad, opening doors for my students to pursue their dreams and aspirations. I am very eager to commence this new adventure, however the unknown itself is a challenge. Being a foreigner in a new country can be daunting and pose many challenges, however, I believe that keeping an open mindset and being adaptable are the keys to success. More importantly, learning from others, including my students and fellow educators, will help me overcome my challenges. I hope to create a positive and engaging learning environment that fosters growth and development in my students, whilst also enjoying all that Thailand has to offer.
I can’t wait to meet everyone in Thailand!

Stephanie Minutillo

Background information about yourself
My name is Stephanie Minutillo. I am from New York and have lived here my whole life. I am 24 years old and I enjoy cooking, reading, staying active, going to the beach and traveling. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in STEM and early childhood / childhood education. I also have a Master’s Degree in educational psychology. I am currently a third grade teacher and just finished my second year at my current school district. I will be teaching third grade again in a general education classroom with ENL integration. I am excited to spend my summer teaching in Thailand.

Why are you deciding to travel/move to Thailand?
I have always loved to travel and I love being a teacher. This experience will allow me to experience a new culture, and continue teaching at the same time. I hope to learn and grow from this experience.
What challenges do you expect to face along the way and how do you expect to overcome them?
The language barrier and homesickness will most likely be the most difficult challenges. I am eager to learn common phrases and hope to learn as much language as I can so that I can better communicate. I will also remain connected to my friends and family through messages and facetime.

What do you hope to get out of your experience?
I hope to learn and grow both personally and professionally. I hope that there are some teaching practices that I can learn that I can take back to my classroom. I work with ENL students in my own classroom, and I hope to always implement best practices to support their learning needs. I hope to meet other colleagues who share the same passions for teaching, traveling and learning and connect with individuals from all around the world.

Hello! My name is Robyn, I am 20 years old and am from a small town in the Scottish Borders called Peebles. I am recently completed my third year at Glasgow university where I study Primary Education. I signed up to the Xplore Asia Programme with gotoco because I want to develop my teaching skills and learn about new cultures. Thailand has always been a place I have wanted to visit so being able to be there whilst teaching is an opportunity I could not say no to. I think the biggest challenge for me will be the language barrier as we will be in a rural area where I imagine there will not be many English speaking people. Additionally, I think communicating with students in English will be challenging as it is something I have not yet experienced. To overcome this I will try and pick up some Thai, use materials available at the school and express meanings of words with body language. When I leave this experience, I want to be more open-minded and feel more comfortable being completely independent and more confident in my teaching and myself. I cannot wait to meet everyone and get involved in this wonderful opportunity that awaits!

07 July 2024
Hello everyone is Mark Desens, and I guess it’s protocol to briefly explain who I am and what my background entails. So, let me begin: I was born in St. Louis, MO., raised in White Plains and the Bronx, NY, spent my twenties in a band who will remain nameless as they still play today, and that lasted roughly ten years and brought me to venues, and brief respites throughout the east coast for quite some time and proved both financially and emotionally fantastic. Then came my thirties where I reversed course and rededicated myself to the art and act of teaching. So over the past ten years or so, I’ve taught both everyone and everything—ranging from teaching at such varying venues as public, private, virtual, and ESL teaching; moreover have taught students ranging from adults to children with learning disabilities. BUT, I’m ready for a chnage.
Which is a perfect segue into my next response, which is why I elected to make the plunge and go to Thailand for a year; and the answer to that question is simple: my greatest fear in life is living a life of routine and knowing what’s going to happen—you’re going to set your alarm at 5:15 to either work out prior to a job that you dredge or you’re taking your dog with the same type of spiteful thoughts knowing the boredom that awaits you, because every day has been the eact sam for too many years! And I know that no day on Thailand will ever replicate its yesterday.
As for potential challenges that arise, although cliche, similar to the year that I lived in France not knowing a lck of French, I, any human, quickly learns how to adapt—because we are human and that is what we are programmed to do. So I don’t see any challenges, just voyages that await me.
And as for the matter as to what I hope to gain during my time in Thailand, is a true, non sugarcoated understanding of the Thai people!
Can’t wait to see you all!

Mark Desens