A new and very friendly contact we have at STA Travelbuzz is TEFL and Volunteer holiday specialist Kris Smith who works closely with STA Travel. As this is something we thought you guys might be interested in we have asked him to write a couple of guest articles on trips he’s currently promoting. This one, as you can see, is for Thailand and the next focuses on China (I’ll post that next week). For now though I’ll hand over to Kris…

Fancy spending a rewarding three weeks teaching enthusiastic children how to speak English? Once class is over, go for a swim in the clear blue ocean off the coastal paradise of Rayong, and at the weekends, catch the ferry to nearby Koh Samet, known for having some of the whitest beaches in Asia!

Many schools in the area want English teachers, but simply can’t afford them. By teaching young people English you will be able to make a positive impact on their lives and make more opportunities available to them – particularly in Rayong province where tourism is a major employer.

Of course, you wouldn’t be just thrown into a classroom and expected to teach! Before you leave the UK, you’ll complete an internationally recognised 60 hour online TEFL qualification, which will give you enough knowledge to teach confidently and competently. Charles Fulton, a return volunteer suggests “Be proactive and creative, when lesson planning shake things up a bit. You are not there to plough through the textbook. Instead, use it as a content guide, and apply your knowledge of the TEFL to engage the children. Whether it’s games, activities or interesting exercises, they will develop a greater interest in learning English”. About the location, he says “Having Koh Samet only a 30 minute boat ride away from the project accommodation is brilliant – go there, it is beautiful.”

Next, it’s two weeks trekking and sightseeing. This is a real chance to ‘live as a local’, enjoying traditional food and spending the nights with local hill tribes! You will visit an Elephant camp and hitch a ride deep into the jungle for an overnight stay. Next morning is your chance to ride the river on a bamboo raft! This journey will see you stopping off at several villages along the way for some rest and stretch time.

Your Volunteer Adventure complete, you can return home proud of what you have achieved and with plenty of stories to impress your friends and family. This will also look great on any CV or UCAS application! Just follow the link for more information on the Teach and Trek in Thailand trip.

If this is something you’d be interested in follow the link or indeed, come to our next meet-up and have a chat where we’d be more than happy to answer any questions. Drop Camilla an email for more information.