Tourism is Thailand’s number one industry, and English language proficiency can be the key to a good job for young adults. However, schools in rural areas like Trat often have limited resources and can’t afford to employ a native English-speaking teacher.
With your help, elementary school students can develop their conversational English skills and fine-tune their spelling, grammar and pronunciation. As a teaching English volunteer, you will help equip under-resourced elementary school pupils with this sought-after skill to improve their prospects.
Both native and non-native intermediate English speakers are welcome to join the project, working with students aged four to 12 as a teacher’s assistant in schools throughout Trat. No formal teaching experience or qualifications are necessary. There will always be a Thai/English teacher available during your classes to supervise and help with language translations.
Find out more about teaching English in Thailand by downloading program information brochure.
As a teaching English volunteer, you will plan and deliver lessons for classes of 20 to 30 elementary school pupils or work with smaller groups to provide more individual assistance. Volunteers assist teachers with conversational lessons, encourage pupils to use their English and help out with workshops in the school holidays.
Teaching English volunteers work a 4-day week, from Monday to Thursday. Working hours are from 8:30 am until 3:30 pm, and you will usually help out with four classes each day. Your time will typically be split across different schools throughout Trat, rotating daily.
During the school holidays, volunteers also help out at English camps, organizing fun and educational workshops.
The schools are within a 25-minute taxi ride from the volunteer dormitory. Closed dates The Teaching English project in Thailand is closed for summer from the third week of February until the second week of May and for winter break from the second week of October to the first week of November.
The Teaching English project in Thailand is closed for summer from the third week of February until the second week of May and for winter break from the second week of October to the first week of November.
I have travelled for longer periods doing 'normal' tourist things, but the experiences, emotions and human bonds that arose from this trip far exceeded those from any of my other holidays!
Letty Tsoi, Read Letty's Testimonial
The children's English skills were very limited but over the course of my stay we found many ways to communicate without language. I was teaching computer studies, but I hope I also helped with their English and confidence speaking English. Occasionally I found things challenging or difficult to deal with.
Rahn Goodhew, Read Rahn's Testimonial
It was nothing like I had expected; as cliche as it sounds my time in Thailand was just that. I have to admit this trip was my first time traveling outside of my own country so my expectations were unlimited; I can remember having doubts and insecurities about traveling to Asia but looking back now I can hardly remember the exact feelings I had.
April Leonard, Read April's Testimonial
If you are interested in joining the program in Thailand, you should download and read our destination guide.