Assignment 1: Introduction

Hi! My name’s Erin, I’m 20 and from Melbourne, Australia. I don’t have a degree yet but began my teaching degree in 2023 which I thoroughly enjoyed at the time! For a long time I have wanted to teach but have not quite been certain as to whether it was a career I wanted to pursue or not. By experiencing teaching in another country will give me a huge insight into whether it is something I want to pursue. I have also been to Thailand before and loved it and have done a little bit of travel last year which I thoroughly enjoyed.
I think the main barriers for me will be adjusting to the weather and culture given Melbourne is so varying in weather and so culturally diverse. However, I hope to move past these challenges by being open to all sorts of new experiences.
I hope to gain a whole new range of skills from this experience as well as meet like minded people in terms of both travel and teaching!

Hello
My name is Michaella, I was in born in Jamaica and raised in Toronto and America. I have always been interested in East and south East Asia and wanted to learn more about the cultures. I also decided to take part in the program because I wanted to have the experience of teaching English abroad, and thought it would be a great way to meet new people from around the world as well and being apart of a beautiful culture. I have lived and visited many countries before including Thailand. Though I will be teaching in Cambodia, I’m really looking forward to spending the month in Thailand again during the course.

Hey Myrtle. It’s so wonderful hearing about what led you to join this journey. I’m Miche and I’ve been wanting to meet up with any of my fellow XploreAsia classmates who are based in Gauteng. I’m currently in Pretoria and wanted to know if you’d be interested in meeting up before we get to Thailand just to get to know each other? Let me know if you’re keen please, I’d also like to contact some of the other South Africans enrolled so we can have coffee or something! 🙂

Hey Lebo. It’s so wonderful hearing your story about what led you to join this journey. I’m Miche and I’ve been wanting to meet up with any of my fellow XploreAsia classmates who are based in Gauteng. I’m currently in Pretoria and wanted to know if you’d be interested in meeting up before we get to Thailand just to get to know each other? Let me know if you’re keen please, I’d also like to contact some of the other South Africans enrolled so we can have coffee or something! 🙂

Sawadee Kah

My name is Ros and I live in Australia. I have worked in the justice system for the past 15 years with both adult and juvenile offenders. My tertiary qualifications are in Psychology.

In 2015 as a student nurse my daughter completed a month-long university placement in Phitsanulok, Central Thailand. Afterwhich she returned to Thailand multiple times. I was fascinated with the recounts of her experiences, the culture and the people. In 2020, my first trip to Thailand was planned; however, these plans were short-lived, being dashed away by the global pandemic. I did get to Thailand in 2022 soon after the international borders were re-opened, and I have returned with my daughter each year since. Through our travels I became enamoured with everything Thailand, most significantly the Asian Elephant. I believe in ‘voluntourism’, or giving back when I travel, and by virtue of this when in Thailand I also spend time volunteering at Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai.

Finding myself at a crossroad in my career toward the end of 2024, an opportunity presented for me to join this teaching program. Being a part of the program aligns with my values about education and provides an opportunity for me to contribute meaningfully through work, while also fulfilling my desire to travel and immerse myself in a culture so different to my own. I hope to one day live in Thailand on a permanent basis, and I hope my participation in this program is bringing me one step closer toward achieving this. Beyond my hopes to impart a meaningful and adequate learning experience to a classroom of children, I would like to celebrate Songkran in Bangkok, become adept in Thai language (which is also the largest foreseeable challenge) and get myself to a Muay Thai match (something I have not managed to do in all my trips because they start so late!!).

Hi,
My name is James, I am 18 years old from Cambridge. I have a diploma in sport and an extended certificate in business from long road college sixth form. After completing my college course I was unsure what was going to be my next step in life. I decided to make the decision to become a teacher in Thailand as I felt I needed a new experience to not only gain a sense of independence but to step outside my comfort zone. I am looking forward to this opportunity to make new relationships and potentially begin a new career. I am very much looking forward to starting a new chapter in my life and give it everything I have!

Hi my name is Nosihle Zama and I live in South Africa. I grew up in a small town called Port Shepstone in KwaZulu Natal. I completed my Bachelor of Education in 2022. I combined my passion for teaching and traveling and decided to go to Thailand.

I have decided to take part in the programme because it is an incredible opportunity to immerse myself in Thai culture as well as learn new skills and get acquainted with what I like to teach English.

I know that working with new people from a completely culture to mine will be a fun and rewarding experience. Iam expecting the first challenge to related to cultural and language barrier but it will be overcomed with a bit of politeness.

Iam hoping to become familiar with Thai culture and expand my knowledge by meeting new people

Hello everyone!! My name is Devon, I’m 25, and I’m from Arizona in the United States. In 2023 I graduated with my degree in Music Production and in 2024 I finished a software engineering program. I made the decision to travel to Thailand and teach English because I believe it’s a great opportunity to explore new cultures and simultaneously make a difference while also having fun! The main challenge I expect to face is most likely going to be adjusting to the new environment and finding a social group to stick with. Finally, I hope that teaching in Thailand will broaden my knowledge of the world and provide a good way to experience something new.