Assignment 1: Introduction

Hello, my name is Luke Adelman. I am 22 years and raised on the eastern shore of Maryland, United States. I went to college in Cleveland and graduated last spring with a bachelor’s degree in Engineering Physics. After my graduation, I was unsure what to do next and desired to explore more of the world and live in a foreign country. I choose to become a English teacher because I love working with kids and figuring out the best way to communicate ideas. I’m so excited for the opportunity to become a part of a school community and learn and grow with it over time. I have never been to Thailand, but I heard so many amazing things about the country and people that it seemed like a great choice to start as a teacher. The in-country TESOL course with XploreAsia will be great for access to guidance and connecting with fellow novice teachers.
A main goal of mine for this journey is to get lost and face new challenges. I anticipate feeling overwhelmed and uncertain in navigating a foreign country and culture. I will stay patient and compassionate, and not be afraid to ask questions or look dumb at times. As a teacher, I expect challenges with leading a classroom and making engaging lesson plans. I’m excited to be a student again for the TESOL course and learn as much as I can to prepare, while also remaining adaptable for when I implement those lessons in the real-life classroom.
I hope to build new skills in teaching, language, and working collaboratively. I also hope to gain a ton of new perspectives on the world and connections with people across it. I am opening myself to growth and change, letting this experience influence my future life and career path.

Hi everyone! My name is Télia. I’m 25 years old and from Canada. I have a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Education, and I just finished my first year teaching high school. I enjoy staying active through sports, hiking, and other outdoor activities. I also love to travel, but I’ve never been to Asia before, so I’m especially excited for this adventure!
I decided to move to Thailand because I want to experience something new and different, discover new cultures, and learn about education from another perspective. I know there will be challenges, like the language barrier and being away from home for a long time, but I plan to face them by being open-minded, patient, and adaptable, fully immersing myself in the experience.
What I hope to gain from this journey is the chance to step outside of my comfort zone, grow both personally and professionally, and gain a true appreciation for Thai culture. Most of all, I hope to contribute positively to my students’ learning while also building meaningful connections and experiences along the way.

Hi everyone, I am Ramsay Cochrane. I am 35 years old and grew up in the sleepy countryside of Oxfordshire in England. Climbing trees and getting up to general mischief before I moved to London and became a chef and after many years in the heat of the kitchen I left to become an early years educator to which I now wish to progress these skills and teach in Thailand. I am a huge geek, lover of music and all things creative.
There are many reasons i can not wait to start my adventure one of which is to gain new skills in the classroom, connect and help new students and grow as an educator furthermore the desire to move to Bangkok comes from a wish to gain more out of my life, to experience new and exciting cultures, people, food and so much more and in doing so grow as an individual. There will be a few hurdles to overcome as my life moves to the other side of the world but honestly I am up for the challenge, be it the drastic change in weather and heat, the much spicier food or completely new language and culture and customs I will have to learn. By engaging in the people around me, seeing and observing and learning by doing plus remembering i am not in this alone and there are people that i can reach out to if indeed. And through this adventure I know I will grow as an individual, I will learn so much and see and do so much and because of this I can not wait for this adventure to start and one day look back after becoming so much, I recognise this is where it began.

My name is Eleah, I come from the UK. I have a background in student experience and event management at a university, as well as voluntary work teaching English to asylum seekers. Outside of work, I love music, yoga, travel, adventures and new experiences.

I have always been drawn to exploring new cultures, and teaching English abroad gives me the opportunity to combine travel with meaningful work. Thailand appeals to me not only for its rich culture and welcoming communities but also for the chance to immerse myself in a new way of life. I see this as an opportunity to grow personally and professionally, while contributing positively by helping students develop their English skills.

Moving to a new country always comes with challenges such as language barriers, cultural differences, and adjusting to new teaching environments. I expect there may be moments of homesickness and uncertainty. However, I plan to overcome these by keeping an open mind, learning Thai to aid daily communication, and building strong relationships with colleagues, students, and other teachers. I also know that patience, flexibility, and a sense of humour will go a long way in helping me adapt.

Through this experience, I hope to gain confidence as a teacher, develop valuable cross-cultural communication skills, and make a positive impact on the lives of my students. I also hope to build lasting memories and friendships, deepen my understanding of Thai culture, and challenge myself to grow in ways that would not be possible if I stayed in my comfort zone. Ultimately, I want this journey to shape me both personally and professionally and to be a stepping stone to future opportunities abroad.

Hello, my name is Jess. I have experience working in an afterschool club with children aged 2-11 years old. I am excited to travel to Thailand to teach English and immerse myself in the local culture. I decided to move to Thailand because I want to gain hands-on teaching experience, explore a new country, and learn more about Thai society and education first hand.

I expect to face challenges such as adapting to a new language, navigating cultural differences, and adjusting to the teaching environment in Thai schools. I plan to overcome these challenges by being open-minded, learning basic Thai phrases, seeking guidance from local educators, and remaining flexible in my teaching approach.

Through this experience, I hope to enhance my teaching skills, develop cross-cultural communication abilities, and gain a deeper understanding of Thailand’s culture, education system, and community. Most importantly, I aim to make a positive impact on my students while growing personally and professionally.

Hi everyone! My name is Sara. I am from the United States; I’m originally from Minnesota and I have been living in Chicago for about 9 years while working as a software consultant for IBM. I am moving to Thailand for about 7 months with my boyfriend to teach English. We are taking this as an opportunity to see more of the world and have an adventure together before settling down. I expect that this will be an exciting opportunity for me, as well as a bit overwhelming! I have never traveled to Asia before, and I am a bit intimidated by the language. In Spanish-speaking and European countries, I feel I am able to navigate the culture and the language barrier fairly easily, but in Thailand, I will be well outside of my comfort zone. I plan to overcome it by preparing as much as possible in advance, and accepting that there will be some hurdles along the way. I hope that out of this experience I will gain an understanding of new cultures, a new language, and new friends. I am looking forward to (hopefully) helping my students grow and inspire them to speak English confidently!

My name is Tea Oliveric, I am 23 years old, and I come from Croatia. Over the past five years, I’ve had the opportunity to live in several countries, each shaping who I am today. My journey abroad began when I moved to Birmingham, UK, to study Culinary Arts Management at UCB. Although I didn’t complete all the semesters due to personal circumstances that required me to return to Croatia, I continued to work in hospitality — particularly in kitchen environments, which remain my favorite part of the industry.

Since then, I’ve also lived in Tilburg, Netherlands, and on Tenerife in the Canary Islands. I love traveling, being in nature, and engaging in outdoor activities. Before my move to Birmingham, my initial plan was to stay in Croatia and become a teacher — most likely an English teacher, as English was always my favorite subject. In high school, I even competed in English language competitions.

Asia has always been on my mind as a destination I wanted to explore, and recently, I felt the time was right. A close friend introduced me to this program, and together we worked toward making it happen — saving money and preparing ourselves for this new chapter. I already have several friends who have lived in Thailand and spoke very positively about their experiences. I’m deeply interested in Thai culture, especially learning more about Buddhism, and I’m excited to explore the country’s incredible natural beauty.

Of course, I know there will be moments of fear or doubt — the realization of how far I am from home, and the emotional challenge of leaving behind my friends, family, and my dance community. But I also believe that personal growth comes from facing discomfort. Each time I’ve lived abroad, a new door in my perspective has opened. That’s what I hope to gain from this experience as well.

Most of all, I’m excited to gain experience working with children and teaching — something I’ve always been drawn to. I look forward to connecting with the people I’ll meet along the way and embracing everything this opportunity has to offer

Hi Everyone, my name is Scott, and I am from Boston, Massachusetts. It has been on my mind for a while to teach abroad, and I decided to teach in Thailand to deepen my spiritual practice and learn more about Buddhist Culture. The biggest struggle I am worried about facing is learning the language – I let myself down a little with the lack of practice before this course… But I know I will find a way to make it work, considering I have plenty of experience building human connections outside of verbal communication.

Embarking on this journey, I am really excited to immerse myself in Thai culture, build meaningful connections with my students, and sharpen my teaching skills. As a bonus, I know I will grow a lot on a personal level as well.

Excited to meet you all soon!

Scott