A celebratory function for students, parents and teachers marked the end of the three week summer school, and welcomed the beginning of the official new school year at Anuban Wat Angthong School in Angthong province.
It also served as a great reminder of our first three weeks as English teachers at this fantastic establishment. We have taught, and we have learned.
With three hours teaching per day, we slowly eased into a new routine of getting up early, conducting preparation for classes and getting to know our pupils enrolled in the English Programme for the next two semesters.
It has been so much fun, and we have counted our blessings every day since starting off on this next part of our big adventure. We have decided to make Angthong home for now, and signed up for one year contracts at the Anuban School. This will be our base for the next few months, and from here we will travel throughout the summer holidays to surrounding destinations, before deciding whether or not to continue teaching here in the future. It is something that seems immensely appealing at this stage, as we have quickly settled into a new way of living, and enjoying the territory with which it came!
Ferdi and I have been appointed as Prathom 3 and Anuban 1 teachers respectively. Both our positions are within the English Programme incorporated within the school curriculum to teach students how to communicate and conduct other subject objectives within the English Language. Thus far it has been very rewarding and we have found the school to be extremely accommodating with regards to props, books, learning materials and interactive devices to ensure enjoyment whilst learning for both students and teachers!
After six months on the road, it also feels very good to have an apartment to come home to every day, and we thoroughly enjoy the little luxuries like having cold drinks in our own fridge and a TV to lounge in front of.
The community is very small and eventually their residents recognised and accepted us as part of it, rather than referring to us as “farang” or foreign visitors.
We have established ourselves as teachers and soon enough landed extra tutoring jobs and the respect and appreciation of parents shown through their bearing of gifts or fruit etc. The children are an absolute pleasure to teach over here, and we do not mind to go the extra mile or provide more effort where deemed necessary.
It is only the beginning, but already, we are both looking forward to making this the start to a semi-permanent arrangement.
Chokdee Kaa!
Tip of the Day:
Are you looking for a teaching job in Thailand? I have recent experience with regards to completing the course, finding a job, and paying too much money for a service which wasn’t provided.
If I can give you advice: Do not do the TEFL course through TEFL Thailand or Teach Abroad Thailand, a UK based company. They advertise their courses from locations such as Ko Samui. There are numerous other TEFL courses available; some can be completed in Chiang Mai or Bangkok, and others even from your home country.
TEFL Thailand/Teach Abroad Thailand prompts you to pay for services such as guaranteed job placement within 10 days, and paid for accommodation. These “services” pushes up your course costs and on completion they merely deliver the certificate.
Even though the course is excellent, one can pay less, and find a job on your own!
TEFL Thailand/Teach Abroad Thailand failed to mention that the two month summer holidays followed our course commencement date and some of us were stranded with very tight budgets because we were told we could start work within 10 days of completing the course.
Also, they provided no assistance in eventually finding a job. Fortunately that is not difficult to do. I found my placement on Ajarn.com, which is Thailand’s main website for job ads.
Summer holidays are from end of February to mid May, and again from September to end of November, which means no school and no teaching jobs available!
You do need a qualification to teach in Thailand. If it is not a Degree or Diploma in teaching, a TEFL Certificate is required. But one has to have some sort of tertiary qualification. This is for the work permit application purpose. If you don’t hold a qualification, the embassy is more reluctant to provide the work permit which is essential for teaching in Thailand.
Accommodation:
Pherm Poonsap Apartments: 3000 Baht per month for an air conditioned room excluding bills.
Bills range between 600 and 700 Baht per month for water and electricity depending on monthly usage.
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