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Teach English to the Children of Koh Tao Island

Teach English volunteer abroad Thailand Gap Year TEFL

Location Thailand
Start Date The first and third Saturday of the month
Duration
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The Project

Based on the Thai island of Koh Tao, this is the only school on the island, attended by children aged between 5 and 12 years old. Our teaching project works in close collaboration with the school to teach native Thai children English from native English speaking teachers. Part of the project is to continually encourage the local children to keep attending school and to remain in education to give them better job prospects at the end of their formal education.

The school is home to a diverse range of children as it is the sole educational institution on the island. As a result, the school is full of local and underprivileged children as well as children of expatriates and more wealthy families. As such, your time on the project will be diverse and rich in activities.

Throughout your time volunteering, we try to create a comfortable environment for the locals to speak and interact with foreigners. As a result, the local impact of this project allows for students to learn proper English conversation and grammar, while helping them to pursue continuing education and aids them in attaining a job that utilize the English language.
Why the project needs you

On an island so dependent on tourism, the ability of these local children to be able to speak good English is vital to their ability to secure a good job. As tourism grows, there is a great influx of labour from the mainland, and it is vital that the local children are competent and able to contend for jobs in order to continue living on their home soil. As native English speakers, volunteers can help with conversation, intonation, accent and expression, working alongside the local English teacher who has a focus on grammar, vocabulary and written language.

Project Location

The southern bay of Chao Lok on the island of Koh Tao is a haven for divers. With over 40 dive schools on the island, this small village, away from the main tourist area, has all the benefits of internet cafes, restaurants and book shops, without the crowds.
Project Facts

• Duration: 4 - 26 weeks
• Cost: £879 ($1538) for 4 weeks, £125 ($219) for each week thereafter
• Requirements: age 18+
• Location: Koh Tao, Thailand
• Project activities: Teaching English in a classroom to children aged between 5 and 12 years old.
• Working hours: Monday-Friday
• Project Availability: Project starts 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month. Project closed for 3 weeks in October, and for the whole of March and April for School Holidays.
What is included

•Accommodation: Single or shared room in a guesthouse
•Airport pick up at Bangkok
•Transfer to Koh Tao
• Pre-departure information pack
•Training: Orientation
•Support: 24 hour support from on-site coordinator
•Excursion Planning: staff will help organise activities and excursions (some activities may cost extra)
What is not included

•Flights
•Insurance
•Visas
•Food: Meals are not provided, but there are many cheap restaurants in the village
•Return transfer from Koh Tao to Bangkok
•Airport transfer in Bangkok after the project

Role of the volunteer

Volunteers support the local teacher in classes of all ages to teach English from Monday – Friday. Your time at the school will vary between two to four hours daily in primary grades one to six (children aged 6 to 12) and you will also spend three hours a week in nursery, helping children aged 3 to 5 years old.

The project requires a lot of hard work and preparation outside of school hours, as well as the actual teaching but is an incredibly rewarding project to be a part of. Your role outside of your teaching hours will be to compile lesson plans, research teaching materials and new activities, to constantly improve your lessons and obtain the best results from the students as well as spending time getting hands on with helping the kids to participate in environmental and community activities along side the other volunteers.
Skills Required

At present, the children study grammar, writing, reading and conversational English so prior knowledge in these areas will be very beneficial. To avoid loss of focus and create interest in learning English, the teachers make part of the lessons interactive, so the kids get to do fun activities like playing educational games, singing, rhyming, drawing and painting, as well as environmental lessons to keep the kids aware and interested in conservation and be active in preserving Koh Tao. You will be an integral part of each of these activities as well as brining your own personal slant to the lessons with your own lesson plans so prior teaching and community experience is needed.

This project is for committed volunteers who are willing to spend time and energy giving back to the community while increasing the future prospects for the children of Koh Tao.

Volunteers on this project need to be fluent in English, and while they don’t necessarily need to be native speakers, they should have good conversational abilities as well as a solid background with children and/or teaching.

Project Quality

Kaya evaluates every project we offer to ensure that we only commit to programmes with genuine need for volunteer aid, not just financial assistance. We develop relationships with the projects and help shape initiatives to ensure in the long run that we do not encourage dependence on outside help, but rather establish foundations on which the people can build and develop themselves. We also ensure that the members of those communities are open and eager to learn and discover our culture, as we become a part of theirs. The quality and sustainability of our programmes are very important to us. We want you to have the most fulfilling and memorable time as possible, and be part of something that is going to last into future generations.

Accommodation & Meals

You will be staying in a guest house and either have a single or shared room with another volunteer for the duration of your stay. Meals are not included within your project fee, however these can be bought cheaply from surrounding local restaurants.

In-Country Coordinators

Each country coordinator is there to make sure your time in your programme runs smoothly. They will pick you up from the airport and take you on your orientation. All in-country coordinators are English speaking and are there to ensure you have all the information and resources for the best placement.

24/7 Emergency Support

As well as support from your in-country coordinators, you'll be given access to a 24/7 emergency phone line managed by Kaya staff, in case any problem should arise while you're overseas.

Kaya Help-desk

Each member of Kaya staff have worked, travelled, studied or volunteered abroad, and many staff have visited and volunteered in our projects knowing firsthand the country and nature of the programme placements. Their knowledge of international travel and volunteering is invaluable, and they can give you good advice and tips to make the most of your international placement.

Briefing Pack & Materials

Once you have booked a programme, an information pack will be sent out detailing everything you need to know - from specific project details and vaccinations required to the visa application process.

Airport Pickup

When you arrive at your destination a member of Kaya staff will meet you with a warm welcome at the airport and take you to your accommodation to get you set up for your stay.

Cultural Excursions

Kaya staff are at hand to help organise weekend excursions and activities, which can include visiting cultural places of significance and visiting various projects around the area. This way you can learn firsthand about each project and take part in local cultural and adventure activities.

Arrival Orientation

Shortly after you arrive you will be given your in-country orientation by our coordinator in Bangkok, who will take you on a city tour of the cultural highlights. Information regarding safety and security will be given along with some much needed lingo when moving and travelling around the area. Following this orientation you will be transferred to your project-site where you will receive a project-specific orientation to prepare you for your volunteer work.

Language Classes

At the beginning of your stay the in-country team will provide basic language classes to help you during your time on your placement .

Local Community Benefits

Not only is your participation on your project of great help to the local communities, but so is the boost to the local economy that volunteers create while they are visiting.