Assignment 1: Introduction

Hello, my name is Jess. I am 22 years old and from North Yorkshire, England. I previously lived, worked, and studied in Newcastle upon Tyne for four years, where I obtained an undergraduate degree in Psychology. Last year, I left England and spent five months travelling around Southeast Asia, eventually returning to Thailand. After my time in Asia, I plan to undertake further studies back in the UK.
I decided to move to Thailand because I want to immerse myself in a new culture while gaining practical work experience. From my previous travels, I found Thailand to have the friendliest people, a desirable work-life balance, and the best food!
A general challenge I anticipate while teaching is adapting to a new job role. As with any new position, there will be different demands and expectations compared to what I’m used to, and I know I’ll be consistently challenged. However, I am excited to learn and expand my knowledge every day. To help overcome this challenge, I will thoroughly research the etiquette and expectations of teachers in Thai schools. Regular feedback from my peers and colleagues during the programme will also be highly valued.
Overall, this unique experience will allow me to gain valuable experience working with children, which will support my application to future studies back home. Alongside practical experience, I also hope to form long-lasting friendships with those I share this journey with. I’m ready to step outside of my comfort zone and fully embrace this new experience.

Hi everyone!
My name’s Eleanor, I grew up in the UK but have lived in Berlin, Freiburg and Lyon for short periods of time. I studied Modern Languages (French and German) at UCL and since graduating have worked as a Graduate Area Manager at Aldi. I’ve always loved travelling, and having studied abroad and been on trips to Costa Rica, Colombia, Canada and lots of places in Europe, I decided that I’d love to experience Thailand in a fully immersive way. I’ve taught English in Germany and Poland for short periods of time but have always wanted to spend more time teaching abroad, so this seems like the perfect opportunity!
Having never been to Asia before, I think that the main barriers for me will be adjusting to the culture and being so far from home, but I can’t wait to embrace a new way of life and meet lots of amazing people with a similar mindset!

Hello everyone my name is Katrina. I’m 30 years old and I’m from the United States of America. I graduated university with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies with my concentration in Multiculturalism and Diversity. Since childhood, I have always in interested in learning about cultures and languages. I’m starting a new chapter in my life with my move to Thailand and switching careers. One challenge will definitely be learning the language and being able to communicate with locals. During my stay in Thailand, I plan to overcome my shyness and get involved with the community. I also plan to enroll in language lessons. I hope to receive a new pace of life and enjoy working in a new work field.

Hi, my name is Keiko. I’m from Massachusetts (US), but I currently live in Hawaii. Previously I taught as an English teacher in South Korea for a year. I am interested in learning more about Thai culture and I’m very excited to teach English in Thailand. I also love to travel and I’m interested to travel both within Thailand and to other nearby countries. As someone who has lived/worked abroad before, I know that there is an adjustment period. However, I’m confident that it will work out as long as I persevere. Personally, the cultural aspects are hardest to adjust to but it’s worth it and can teach you a lot. I hope to learn more about Thai culture and learn from the students as much as I teach them.

Hello everyone, my names Keira! I’m from California and I studied illustration in San Francisco. For the past few years I worked as a freelance illustration and website manager. In my free time I like to volunteer and travel. I volunteered a lot locally, particularly with underprivileged queer youth, which I where I realized I gain a great sense of fulfillment from teaching people. I’ve also travelled to a lot of different countries around the world, but I’ve never stayed very long. I choose Thailand because it was very friendly for the short time I visited, and I wanted to experience more. Thai will be my first time spending an extended period in a country, and Thailand made a good first impression on me. I expect challenges, I know it will be hard to assimilate and also learn the language while juggling responsibilities, but I’ve always like challenges, and I intend to use that drive to push me through difficulties. When this is all over, I want to gain the experience of knowing what it’s like to integrate into another place. I’ve always been a background character when I travel, never truly part of a place. I want a deeper sense of interaction with a country, one where I can give back and feel like I’m part of something bigger. It’s hard to put into words, but I hope to get that out of this program

Hi Everyone,

My name is Eli, and I’m from Virginia. I am currently in college studying sports management. I’ve lived in Virginia all of my life, and I’m ready to start traveling the world and gaining valuable experience from my travels, with my next journey being Thailand. I wanted to travel to Thailand because of its unique culture, with strong ties to Buddhism and a welcoming community, earning the country the title of the “Land of Smiles”. I also really enjoy the Thai architecture and the local food they serve. I’m also traveling to Thailand to gain experience when applying for the Peace Corps. I plan on working for the Peace Corps after college for a while, and I’m hoping that I’ll be even more prepared to work in other countries with the experience and knowledge I learn from my time in Thailand.

The challenge I expect during my time in Thailand is adjusting to a new environment. Growing up and spending most of my life in the United States, I haven’t traveled to many countries, and adjusting to a new environment will take some time, but I’m excited to see what Thailand offers. Another challenge would be the language barrier, although I’m sure most people in Thailand speak enough English to get by, there might be times when I interact with locals who might not speak English. I hope during my time in Thailand, I’ll learn a few Thai words to get me by and help make my adjustment much easier. What I hope to get from my experience in Thailand is a better understanding of the culture and learning more about myself. I hope my time in Thailand will give me a more well-rounded understanding of the country and some time to reflect on myself.

Hi everyone!
My name is Aromi, pronounced Autumn-me.
I currently live in Texas and have all of my life.
I’ve been teaching in elementary, public school and am finishing up my 12th year.

I’m chose Thailand for the summer course of 6 weeks. It works well for my teacher schedule and having the summer off.

I’m looking forward to experiencing life in another country. I never had the opportunity to study abroad, so I’m thrilled to finally have the means to teach abroad and gain a new perspective as an international teacher.

Hello everyone!
My name is Ivan. I’m 26 and I was born and raised in Hungary. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in English and American Studies. I love learning languages, travelling and exploring new things. After my university studies I moved to the U.S., where I worked as a hotel receptionist in Pennsylvania for a year. This experience really helped me practicing and improving my English knowledge.
Ultimately I decided to start a career as an English teacher. And because I’m a huge fan of Asian culture, I wanted to combine the two. I decided to take part in the Thai programme because I’m really interested in exploring Thai culture.
Adjusting to a life in a different country isn’t going to be new to me. However, I know it’s still not going to be an easy task. Starting working as a teacher for the first time will be my greatest challenge but I’m confident I’ll make progress and eventually overcome the hardships. Another challenge for me will be the language barrier. I will do my best to learn the Thai language so that I can open up to the community more.
What I hope to gain from this experience is to master teaching in general, to be more confident as well as making lots of great memories. I’m looking forward to teaching in Thailand, exploring the whole country and meeting new people!