Assignment 1: Introduction

Assignment 1: Introduction
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Introduction. Write and upload a brief introduction. Please answer the following points in your introduction:

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  • Background information about yourself
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  • Why are you deciding to travel/move to Thailand?
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  • What challenges do you expect to face along the way and how do you expect to overcome them?
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  • What do you hope to get out of your experience?
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Make sure you post in two places u2013 The Forum below (1) and, at the bottom of the page, upload the assignment (2).

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Culture Route Home › Forums › ASSIGNMENT 1: INTRODUCTION

Viewing 15 posts - 721 through 735 (of 1,348 total)
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  • September 19, 2024 at 5:19 am #28756
    Charlotte SamuelCharlotte Samuel
    Participant

    Hello, my name is Charlotte and I am from the UK, about an hour away from London. I am 25 years old and have been working in the UK education system for 7 years. That has consisted of working 1-1 with children, working in groups and also taking whole class activities and/or covering classes when teachers are out. I have a degree in primary teaching and I also received my ELSA certificate (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) which I have been undergoing for the past year. An ELSA is somewhat like an in-house counsellor for the children that come to school and I help with their emotional difficulties at the time. This role got me working on my own schedule and doing all of my own planning and preparation for the weeks/day ahead.
    I am extremely excited to work in Thailand to see the cultural differences teaching has to offer. When I was studying my degree, I did many assignments on different teaching methods and it was very interesting to learn. Even though I am excited to work, I am also excited to immerse myself into the culture Thailand has to offer. To see all the beauty that everyone talks so highly of!
    Even though this will be such an exciting journey, my challenge will be staying confident and believing in myself. I must make sure that I take risks (sensible ones of course) and I push myself. I tend to be a perfectionist in everything I do, which is a blessing and a curse, but I must remind myself to go with the flow sometimes and tell myself I am doing well. Positive self talk defiantly goes a long way!
    Overall, I believe I will gain the confidence I seek, meet amazing people, learn culture and language and to just have an amazing time! I have already met some amazing people on this course along the way, so I know it can only go up from here! 🙂

    September 19, 2024 at 5:20 am #28757
    Evelyn Warren
    Participant

    Hi everyone!
    My name is Evelyn, I am 26 years old, and I am from a small town in Vermont, USA. In May of 2023, I graduated with my Bachelors degree in Art History and Visual Culture from my university in Lugano, Switzerland. Traveling has been an enormous part of my life ever since I first traveled to Germany on an exchange program when I was 15. Learning about new cultures, people, food, and languages has been the highlight of my life ever since.
    I decided to move to Thailand with this program because it has been a goal of mine for years to visit and explore it. As someone who comes from a family that’s worked in education for generations, I have always wanted to try my hand at being a teacher. My aunt taught English in Bangkok for years, and views the experience as one of the best times in her life.
    A challenge I expect to face while on this journey is definitely the language barrier. Although I have been quick to learn with other languages I have studied, the Thai alphabet is far different than anything I’ve worked with before, and I must admit that I’m a little intimidated. Despite this, I look forward to trying my best and learning every day from interactions with the people around me.
    I hope to gain new perspectives, language experience, and friendships from this time in Thailand. I have never been to Southeast Asia, so being fully immersed into a new set of cultural norms and traditions is incredibly exciting. I also hope to provide my students with a very memorable and fun language learning experience.

    September 19, 2024 at 8:56 am #28762
    Miles Archibald-Wright
    Participant

    Hello!
    My name is Miles and I am from the UK. I’m 22 years old and have just finished my degree in Chemistry. Here I am hoping to take some time away from university to take this opportunity to better learn about different cultures and explore. I’m excited to be embarking on a new chapter through a teacher training course in Thailand, which offers a unique opportunity to both contribute to the community and explore personal growth. Coming from the UK, I’m drawn to the contrast between the cultures and eager to gain a fresh perspective on how people live their lives in a different part of the world. While I anticipate challenges like anxiety from navigating such an unfamiliar environment, I plan to overcome them with a positive attitude, treating every situation as a learning experience. I hope this journey will help me gain clarity on my career path, become more open-minded, and develop a deeper understanding of myself, while also making a meaningful impact on those around me. Plus I hope to make plenty of new friends so I can share this experience with others!

    September 19, 2024 at 1:01 pm #28767
    Fiona Wilkinson
    Participant

    Hi Everyone,
    My name is Fiona, I’m 22 and I’m from Canada. This year I finished my undergraduate studies and earned a degree in specialised political science and a minor in psychology from the University of McMaster. Although I enjoyed my field of study, during my final year I realised that my initial pursuit of becoming a lawyer no longer support my true aspirations of helping others. This shift in perspective led me to seek a more fulfilling path, which I found in the opportunity to teach English to children abroad– an eye-opening experience that perfectly matched my goal of positively impacting the world.
    Combining my desire to help others with a love for travel, I felt that Thailand would be an incredible opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and challenge myself. Having always felt drawn to Thailand, I knew that after graduating, this was the right moment to embrace this chance and explore new horizons. I shared this opportunity with a close friend who was in a similar position, and together we agreed to embark on this journey!
    While I have had the opportunity to travel to various countries growing up, I think that one of the biggest challenges will be adjusting to the culture and dealing with homesickness. Despite the anticipated learning curve, I look forward to embracing new experiences and transforming my perspective and understanding of the world. Spending over a year in a foreign country feels intimidating but I’m confident that having my bestie by my side will make the experience more comfortable and manageable in an unfamiliar setting.
    Personally, this experience offers many advantages. Not only will it positively impact the educational journey of children, but working in Asia, a place connected to my ancestral roots gives me a chance to become more in tune with myself. Moving away from Western standards and immersing myself in a different way of life, I hope to have new experiences, make genuine connections, and contribute meaningfully to the future by teaching children English.
    Good luck to everyone, I’m looking forward to meeting you! <3

    September 19, 2024 at 1:53 pm #28769
    Joyce Lin
    Participant

    My name is Joyce and I am from San Diego, California. My parents are from Taiwan and I can also speak Mandarin, Chinese. I majored in Psychology and minored in Education at the University of California, Irvine. Since then, I have taught elementary school for a decade. At the beginning of this year, I felt that I wanted to experience somewhat of a change in my life, so I decided to teach abroad. I chose Thailand because it is a place I have never been to and can learn about a new culture. I also hear that Thailand has friendly people, amazing food, and low cost of living. I do expect to experience culture shock and homesickness, as I have never lived so far away from home for a long period of time. I hope to overcome these challenges by fully immersing myself in the culture, befriending locals and expats in Thailand, and keeping consistent contact with family and friends back home. I hope to learn a lot from my Thai students, families and colleagues and build good relationships with them. I want to grow in cultural perspective of different parts of the world and learn to travel independently. I also plan to build upon my teaching career and become a better teacher to my ESL students and be a good influence in my workplace.

    September 19, 2024 at 2:13 pm #28771
    Joshua KingJoshua King
    Participant

    Hi Isabelle, Thank you so much! I’ll be sure to take your advice and embrace the culture as much as possible. Honestly, I’m super jealous you’re already out there exploring – I’m looking forward to meeting you, too!

    September 19, 2024 at 4:18 pm #28775
    Luyanda Mngadi
    Participant

    Hello everyone, I am Luyanda from Durban, South Africa. Growing up in a country with 12 official languages, my appreciation for culture, language, and diversity was intriguing. It is something I have grown up with and plays a major role in who I am today. I could say it has ignited a curiosity in other cultures all around the world. I am a qualified foundation phase teacher in my home country and have lived in the city of Denver Colorado USA and managed to visit over 10 states in that time, and that is where I fell in love more with people, at how different we are but all the same. I am currently in corporate working for a UK-based company remotely. At the office every time we have a new trainer come in from the UK for upskill training, I was the girl found bombarding them with questions about the UK as I have never been, I would ask about favorite activities, food the majority enjoyed, and what the general public got on with on their free time, This curiosity gained me a lifelong friend who has just gone back to the UK after being in SA for about 2-months When they were around, I made it my duty to show them around, introducing them to people, and giving suggestions on the food they had to try. My hope as I embark on this journey is to open myself up to learning, I am a student of life and believe that there’s always something to learn. My encounter with Thailand is going to be brief as I will not be based there, but I am excited to absorb as much of the culture as I can, and looking forward to meeting you as you will be a part of my journey.

    September 20, 2024 at 2:53 am #28778
    Amber Grinsted
    Participant

    Hi everyone! My name is Amber, I’m 22, and I have just finished my Masters degree at the University of Leeds. I have lived in England all my life so can’t wait to move to Thailand and embrace their incredible culture.
    I decided to take part in the programme when I was in my second year of my Bachelor’s degree as I realised that as much as I love England, I want to experience a new way of living. Whilst I originally intended to use the TEFL course to teach in Spain, after doing some research and finding out I could teach in Thailand I jumped at the opportunity! It feels like a dream to be given the opportunity to live and immerse myself in such a beautiful country.
    Although I am sure there will be some challenges and culture shocks, I am so excited to meet new people, try things out of my comfort zone, and helping the students learn the English language and more about England itself!
    Looking forward to meeting you all soon 🙂

    September 20, 2024 at 9:39 am #28786
    Conner Flick
    Participant

    Hi everyone!

    My name is Conner Flick and I’m from a small farm in Oklahoma in the US. I’ve lived in Tulsa, OK for the last 10 years. I studied abroad in Christchurch, NZ in 2012 and in Barcelona, Spain in 2016. I have a degree in Digital Media and minored in art history. I love traveling the world, learning new cultures, and getting out of my comfort zone to learn new things about the world.

    I chose to move to Thailand for many reasons. Mostly because I have heard amazing things about the nature, people, and culture in this country. I am excited to explore a land unknown to me, especially while doing such a rewarding job as teaching. I embrace the ability to help others travel the world as I have.

    I know some challenges that come with moving abroad, but never in a place that I knew nothing of the language. I’m sure learning the language will be a challenge, as well as assimilating to some cultural differences. I plan to do my best to learn the language and soak up the differences of being in a new place.

    I am mostly excited for the experience of teaching as it is very new to me. I have been a restaurant server for the last 5 years and I’m very ready for a change to something that brings me more challenges and joy. I’m also looking forward to my own personal growth and enjoying time in nature. I can’t wait to meet an elephant! 🙂

    September 22, 2024 at 11:22 am #28815
    Steven ReynoldsSteven Reynolds
    Participant

    Greetings,

    My name is Steve. I’m from Atlanta, Georgia.

    I grew up in Sanford, Florida, and over the years, I’ve lived in Texas, Michigan, Louisiana, Illinois, Colorado, and New York – not in that order. I was in the U.S. Air Force for four years, I have a Master’s in Public Health, and I worked for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 31 years. I’ve traveled to Ireland, the UK, Greece, Amsterdam, Kenya, Ethiopia, across the U.S. Pacific Territories, and Thailand. I’m very physically active and I love to be social, so please do not hesitate to invite me on an adventure or to dinner.

    I have a daughter, Isabella, who is 24 with a Master’s in Developmental Psychology, and a son, Niko, age 22, who just finished his bachelor’s in Biology from UGA and is preparing to attend dental school.

    I took the last year off to travel and to recoup from a long 35-year career with the U.S. Government. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to live in another country, and I fell in love with Thailand and its people on my last visit. I am a purpose and goal-driven individual, so moving to Thailand with the purpose to teach and a goal to learn and grow as a person was a perfect fit for me.

    The challenge I foresee is moving so far away from my family and social network. Missing them during the holidays. But I look forward to putting myself out there and building a new community of friends and colleagues.

    My hope or expectation from this experience is to live a less materialistic existence and to find a purpose in service and support to others. Also, enjoying the adventure of learning about a new culture, travel, and traditions.

    September 22, 2024 at 12:46 pm #28819
    Steven ReynoldsSteven Reynolds
    Participant

    Hi Cole,

    Great intro! I think you’ll be our resident Thai consultant with this group. Although new to the sport, I enjoy participating in Muay Thai as well. I look forward to meeting a fellow southerner. Although, after all your amazing travels, I’m guessing you’ve lost your accent. 🙂

    Cheers,
    Steve

    September 23, 2024 at 2:53 am #28831
    Gaia Pitt-Judd
    Participant

    Hello, my name is Gaia, I’m 26 and I’m from a town called Brighton in the UK.
    I have an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Communications, and then completed a postgraduate PGCE in Primary Education straight after. I have been working as a class teacher in a primary school for the last three years.
    I love travelling and get very restless being in the UK – I have lived abroad in Australia for a year and then France for 6 months as well as travelling to various places in between. I have several friends that live/have lived in Thailand and have said that it is one of the most amazing places to visit. This inspired me to take the plunge and I’m so excited to experience a culture that will be completely different to the UK.
    I think it will be a challenge to adjust to the new culture and understand how everything works, how things are done etc. But I think the way to overcome this is to just immerse yourself in everything, take as many opportunities as possible, learn from those around you and just take everything one day at a time.
    I’m excited to do something completely different, and I hope to make connections, have adventures, learn new things professionally and personally, experience new culture and just have an amazing, memorable time.

    September 23, 2024 at 3:47 am #28840
    Joanna BlackwoodJoanna Blackwood
    Participant

    Hi Charlotte,

    I totally understand where you are coming from when you write about needing to have more self confidence. I often question whether I have done enough or if I am clever enough. Like yourself. I can be a bit of a perfectionist and often like things to be done in a certain way but I have learned that in order to achieve what I need or want, sometimes, I have to allow others to support me, which in turn, means that things might not always be in the way that I would do them. E.g., the display boards in my classroom weren’t exactly how I wanted them and initially I changed them but after that, I let the teaching assistants in my class finish them so that I could concentrate on other, more important things. Initially, it bothered me a little that they weren’t exactly how I would have had them but eventually, I learned to let it go and accept that their support was invaluable, to be in order for me to do my job the best that I could. To cut a long story short, I have learned not to be such a perfectionist and that I do a good job with the support of others around me.

    As for the ELSA course that you completed, that sounds really interesting and something in which every school should have. There are so many people, students and staff alike, who struggle with their social and emotional needs and could probably benefit from additional support from someone like yourself who has the skills to support in the best way possible. I will definitely be looking into this more once I return to the UK.

    Good luck in Thailand and I look forward to hopefully meeting you on the training week. Stay positive. You CAN do this!

    Jo :o)

    September 23, 2024 at 5:01 am #28842
    Victoria Barrett
    Participant

    Hey! My name’s Victoria, but everyone calls me Vic. I am 32 years old. I’ve been a PE teacher for the last 10 years, and I’ve had the opportunity to work with kids of all ages, from 4 to 18 years old. It’s been such a varied and fulfilling experience! Aside from teaching, I’m a huge sports enthusiast. I play hockey for a local club in Maidenhead, UK, and it’s where I’ve met some of my best friends. Every weekend, you’ll find me on the field, playing hockey and having a great time with my friends. I come from a big family and, fun fact, I’m actually a triplet! Growing up was always lively and busy, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. As a teacher, I’m fortunate to have plenty of time off, so I love to travel during the summers. I often join group travels to meet new people from around the world. I have a love for the water and enjoy sailing to different islands.

    After teaching in the UK for a decade, I felt the urge for a change. I’ve always loved travelling, so I thought teaching abroad would be a fantastic adventure. After doing some research, I decided on Thailand. The weather and beaches were a big draw, but more importantly, I’m eager to experience a different culture and learn from others to improve my teaching skills.

    Heading to a different country to teach is nerve-wracking, but I’m ready for the challenge. I know it might be tough being in a new place with unfamiliar faces, but from what I’ve heard, the people there are friendly and supportive. I’m thrilled about the opportunity to make new friends and embrace a different way of life. I hope to build connections that could lead to exciting opportunities in the future. I’m also really looking forward to meeting the Thai children and teachers. I’m sure I’ll learn a lot from them!

    September 24, 2024 at 1:37 am #28856
    Alex Smith
    Participant

    Hi my name is Alex, I’m 25 and from Hastings in the UK. I am a musician and artist travelling with my partner, and while I am actually not teaching in Thailand I am still joining for the cultural parts of the training period. I have never visited this part of the world before and I am excited to immerse myself in a new world and meet new people.

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