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Teaching English Tropical Island - Thailand - Volunteer reviews
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Katie -2012
“PoD was recommended to me and allowed flexibility to fit in a teaching placement with the rest of my pre-booked travelling. PoD offered a TEFL certificate as part of the placement and provided a good service.
I learnt about PoD through my cousin who had volunteered with them in the past. Teaching on a Tropical Island for one month was a perfect volunteer placement for me that I could fit in easily in the middle of my travels around the world. The application and organisation by PoD was very easy and informative and before I knew it we were on our way to Thailand. The bungalows on Koh Phangan were much bigger than expected and right on the beach, although they were basic, we soon appreciated the cold showers and it provided a perfect base for our time on the island. It was the most settled I felt throughout my whole travelling experience. Eiu (PoDs representative on Koh Phangan) was brilliant. She welcomed all the volunteers into her life and made us all feel very welcome. Teaching itself was the best experience I've ever had. I absolutely loved every minute. Although it was a challenge at first and pretty daunting, seeing the kids learn something new was so rewarding, cuddles & presents from the kids made you feel really appreciated. Lesson planning was fun too, the more fun you make the lessons, the more responsive the kids are. I was very sad on our final day of teaching, saying goodbye to the kids at school and our new home on Koh Phangan was very hard, but the memories are with me forever!
Timetables for teaching are generally well mixed with some morning lessons and afternoon lessons on other days. We would get up & go to school for a morning lesson, where we taught 2 classes for an hour each with lesson plans that we'd devised the evening before. This was great because we were back to the bungalows before lunch and had the rest of the day to enjoy the sunshine or explore the island! For afternoon lessons we'd often go into school for a free lunch with the teachers before again teaching our 2 classes. The other teachers have so much respect for you and welcome you with open arms. Then it’s back to the bungalow and most nights a stroll out to the night market for a lovely cheap dinner, followed by lesson planning for the next day!
Seeing the older children respond to your teaching and your lesson plan and knowing that at the end of a lesson they can go home and say something to their parents in English that they hadn't known that morning was a great feeling. Seeing the concentration on their faces while trying to pronounce words correctly and the smiles on their faces when we gave out our stickers for good work was the most rewarding thing I've ever done.
The first few lessons with each class was a challenge. Particularly with the youngest children as their level of English if poor/non-existent so gaining their concentration can often be very testing. Working with them and creating fun and active lesson plans really pays off as they soon gain a respect for you and the stickers!
Enjoy it all. Don't worry if at first the children seem uncontrollable, noisy or unresponsive. Persevere, think of lots of activities for fun learning, make use of the internet & it will all become great fun in no time!”
Will - 2012
“My time teaching in Thailand was really good. Koh Phangan is a fun and exciting place to stay where something is always going on. There is lots to do in your free time, and it is a nice relaxing place to spend a month or two. Although challenging, the teaching was rewarding and the kids are great. Although 2 hours teaching may not sound like much, it does take a lot out of you in the boiling hot classroom full of excitable children, and is a good amount of time to teach for.
What I found most rewarding was teaching the youngest children English as they literally didn't know any English. This was at times challenging, but more than worthwhile.
Do it! it's great fun and is a thoroughly worthwhile experience. Saying this however, it's not a walk in the park, and you do have to go to school every day and plan a lesson for every day, however it is a great experience, and one that I would recommend to anyone contemplating doing the placement.
Others should volunteer abroad, as it helps people who are in need of help, as well as this it exposes you to new experiences and cultures, making you see the world differently.
I chose PoD as I was looking to do some sort of teaching, but I wanted to do it with something exciting as well as the teaching, and when I saw the teaching on a tropical island, I was sold. Having got home, I wish I was there again now. The placement was great and I'm so glad I did it, I would recommend it to anyone considering it.”
Kate - 2011
“I would recommend PoD to anyone, I had a fantastic experience with them and could not fault their service from when I first showed interest in the project to present (I finished my project in December and am still in contact with them now). As it was my first time travelling alone I had a million and one questions beforehand which Gemma always responded very promptly to. While in Thailand Eiu really took care of us and made you feel as though you could call her any time (which I took advantage of the first night and asked her to come and get rid of the cockroach and (large!) gecko in my room; which the rest of the group found very amusing!) I fell in love with Koh Phangan, it really is a beautiful island with lots to offer. It was my first trip to Asia and definitely a nice place to start! I felt very safe walking around and the locals are very friendly, it's also really nice bumping into the children out of school as their always very excited to see you.
I was unsure before I left whether I would enjoy teaching as I have never had any interest in working with children but by the end of my 6 weeks on the island I didn't want to leave. As the girl I was teaching with left after a month I taught on my own for the final two weeks and I think this is when I really gained confidence in myself as I had to take full control of the classes(very large classes, up to 50 children). After teaching I went on to travel, with a friend from home, for 6 weeks around Cambodia and Vietnam which was fantastic and I think that it worked perfectly starting off teaching as it allowed me to adjust to the Asian culture and by the end of my 6 weeks on the island I was excited to move on and explore more places. Now I am back home I have decided to do a 120 hour TEFL course which will allow me to teach anywhere in the world and get paid for it, this is something I never would have imagined doing before my travels and I would thank PoD for it due to my wonderful experience in Thailand. If you are considering taking part in any of PoD's projects I would say go for it, you definitely won't regret it!
PoD had the most professional looking website and Gemma (who was my point of contact in the company) was extremely helpful.”
Monica - 2011
“My time in Koh Phangan was one of the best in my last years. Teaching to kids in the local schools was very rewarding and is an experience I'll never forget. I think this is an experience that truly puts you in direct contact with the local culture of a country. Even if the English level of the kids wasn't high we could find ways to communicate with them..it was awesome seeing them so eager to learn from us!
I loved seeing the kids so eager to learn and having the feeling that they were indeed profiting from our stay there.
I was in contact with several agencies and chose pod because 1- the programs & locations offered were appealing 2- from the website it gave the impression of being a serious and well organized agency 3- it was one of the very few agencies giving you the possibility of having a single room during the placement. A lot of agencies either make you share the accommodation with other volunteers or make you live in local families, which is something I wouldn't have appreciated.
I believe this is an amazing experience and everybody who has the possibility to take some time off should do it!”
Francis - 2011
"The most amazing time of my life! I did the 4 week placement and would re-live the whole experience again. The entire placement was fantastic and something I would recommend to anyone who is looking for a challenging, rewarding and fun experience. PoD was great with the coordination of the placement; informative and helpful. I found the teaching absolutely fantastic; the children were so lovely and I became rather attached to them all! The most rewarding part is seeing how much the children love having you there! The accommodation was lovely; basic but very clean. Eiu, our coordinator out there was fantastic- always there to help and advise. Overall, I had the most incredible time of my life and leaving the island was a very sad moment for me!"
Laura - 2011
“My Time in Thailand was pretty fantastic from the moment I got there, with the weather, culture and atmosphere making me automatically relaxed. The Island itself is beautiful with lots to see and explore, so if you want to live on an idyllic Island for a few weeks this is definitely the project for you. The school where I had placement was very welcoming, despite the level of English being weak and you really feel like a member of the community while there. I found the children understanding and applying what I taught the most rewarding. The children can be mischievous but on the whole are lovely and appreciate your efforts, and nothing beats the feeling of your class going well and the children learning. So if you want a holiday with a twist, where you will feel like a member of the community, get a chance to try out your teaching skills and get to sunbath on some gorgeous beaches, pick this placement :-)”
Sarah - 2011
“The title of this placement, 'teaching on a tropical island', sounds perfect and yes, you are on a very beautiful tropical island, but you should not underestimate how much hard work it will be. The more you put into planning lessons and preparing resources the more you and the children get out of it. Turning up and 'winging it' defeats the point - and I would really advise that you bring as many resources as possible out with you, from stickers to colouring sheets to worksheets. Some schools are lucky enough to have a computer room, mine wasn't and so hand-drawing worksheets was time-consuming but so worth it. The kids really respond to being given things to do and really want to please. Having lunch with the children was often interesting but a valuable experience and it meant you could see the children and teachers in a more informal environment. The island is beautiful, the kids amazing and the overall experience brilliant.
PoD really cares for you - Erng and Eui who looked after us were brilliant. They didn't just advise us on placement issues, and look out for us every step of the way but they helped us organise our leisure time and had loads of general advice. They were available at any time and were so lovely and friendly. PoD also organised lots of trips for us as part of the cost, and provided us with little things that made the difference such as a Thai SimCard. Very pleased with the organisation.”
Lauren - 2011
“As a trainee teacher in England I decided a summer teaching placement abroad would be the ideal opportunity to improve my CV. After looking around, PoD seemed the cheapest, especially for the location! Before we left the UK the information and organisation of PoD was outstanding, really helping to prepare us as much as possible for the trip. Once we arrived on Koh Phangan this level of support continued, not only with frequent emails, but also from two ladies (Erng and Eui) who ensured that we were well looked after, including going out of their way to help us organise our own day trips around the island. The school was so grateful that we were there and the children were adorable. Although I am studying for a teaching degree, this is definitely not necessary for the placement, as the majority of the group were studying for unrelated degrees and found the transition into teaching easy, especially with the help of the Tefl course that was provided at the beginning. Finally, I would recommend this placement to anyone who not only has a passion to work with children, but also wants to travel Koh Phangan. The island was beautiful and we found that the teaching and planning did not get in the way of exploring the island and organising a variety of day trips.
Teaching the children was most rewarding. We were constantly being told by the teachers and parents how much they appreciated us visiting their school. They were so grateful, which is something we rarely come across at schools back home. Additionally, shop owners around the island who discovered we were teachers were thanking us for helping the children, which was interesting to see how much they valued and respected teachers. Additionally, the children were adorable and made us laugh every day. Although they tried to be cheeky, we laid down the boundaries and they quickly respected us, enabling us to plan a lot of practical activities that the children quickly engaged in.
Originally we chose PoD because of the location and price. From completing the project there are a million other reasons to choose PoD! I would definitely recommend the company and the placement as it was, without a doubt, the best month of my life and would not be possible without PoD!
Do it! You are able to make such a difference to the schools and the children and able to explore a beautiful island! I learnt so much about myself from this project, and have made life long friends from the placement!”
Emilia - 2011
"I had an absolutely amazing time doing this placement for POD. Although there was times I found the teaching challenging, it was very rewarding and so much fun! I travelled through Asia for 6 months after completing the project and my month with POD was a definite highlight of my trip. The placement was a perfect place to start my trip, it enabled me to settle into the culture, learn some Thai and meet an awesome bunch of people all with the help and support of Erng (our placement leader). I would recommend teaching or volunteering abroad with POD to anyone, it was a truly mind-blowing month and knowing I was helping the kids as well as having a great time was brilliant!!!"
Stavroula - 2011
"My time teaching in Thailand is one of my most memorable life changing experiences to date. The children were amazing and so was the friend I made as my teaching partner who made the whole experience even more incredible. We formed a bond and shared the same interest in doing our best in preparing the best lesson plans for the children to make it as fun and enjoyable as possible. The children taught us so much about them and ourselves and what we are capable of achieving. Leaving them was one of the hardest moments as we grew very attached to them but the memories of the teaching project in Thailand was nothing but positive, rewarding and i would definitely recommend this to anyone considering a volunteer project working with children and helping to make a difference.
The most rewarding moment was when the kids would cheer and smile when we walked into the classroom. They enjoyed learning and wanted to learn so much more. The feeling of the children showing us what they had learned was incredible...pride and happiness…the best feeling in the world!
PoD was very supportive and helpful in preparing for this placement. The information booklet was very informative and covered all necessary facts and information that we needed to know prior to starting the volunteer project.
If you're considering doing a teaching placement make sure you are doing it for the right reasons and teaching children is your main priority. You have a responsibility to the children and to the teachers to try and make a difference to their lives so don't take advantage of this. You may have a strong impact on them and this in turn could help them to make the best future choices for education and a better life!"
Helen - 2010
"As soon as I landed in Thailand I was blown away by the beauty of it, and the people were really friendly and polite. POD had everything organised for us, so we didn't need to worry much as all we had to do was teach, and then spend our days however we liked. I was impressed how POD had organised day trips to view the island and other islands too. They looked after us well as there was always someone there for any support or guidance. Thai children made our teaching experience all the more fun and memorable as we would come home with lots of laughs from the days events. The schools were easy to get to and we would be escorted there by car if they were far. The overall experience in Thailand was very relaxing, with the beautiful sceneries and warm beaches. The partying life was very big and we had lots of fun. I would definitely go again and do it all again too.
How would you describe an average day?
Wake up on a really hot day where we are staying right next to the beach. Get driven by our driver to attend our classes to teach by a driver. When finishing our lessons for the day, we prepare for the next day or lessons, and then relax most of the day next to the beach in the hot sun.
What advice would you give others considering doing this placement?
The children are challenging but you have to see the funny side of it and get stuck in with the madness, as no one is telling you what to do, you're teaching with your own initiative.
Why do you think others should volunteer abroad?
It's a great experience. You get to explore a new country with beautiful and interesting sceneries, and immerse yourself in a new culture. Overall you will be going home with so many memories and having met so many different people.
PoD seemed genuine in what it was advertising. The costs were reasonable as other companies I have checked they tend to overcharge. What PoD offered with the money paid was well worth the money.
A very beautiful, relaxing and amazing experience where I would go again!"
Sue - 2010
"To be honest it was 'affordable' but mostly as it was my first experience of travelling alone and of teaching abroad PoD sounded within my comfort zone - I wasn't disappointed and I would definitely recommend PoD to others.
We were picked up promptly every day by lovely taxi drivers. Conversation was limited but we managed quite well (I spent a lovely evening with 'Lungnopp" and his family during my stay). A short time was spent in the staff room in preparation. We were fortunate that the school secretary had a good command of English so we were able to ask her lots of questions about the school and some of the children who experienced learning difficulties. We taught classes 5 & 6 and had separated a small group of a higher level in that they were given different work within the class and seemed to appreciate being spared the boredom of a lower level - 3 asked for homework! Lunches - which we shared most days were challenging some days (to the amusement of the Thai teachers) but mostly delicious. Even though only 2 hours of teaching a day seems like an easy ride, the input and of course the heat did make it challenging and we often came 'home' tired.
What did you find most rewarding?
Difficult to pinpoint a 'most' but high on the list would be teaching a smaller group of more advanced students simply because of the good progress made with pronunciation in a short time. These short lessons were fitted into the lunch hour in preparation for conversational English between schools but just being with such enchanting and happy children came a close second. Visiting and staying at a Thai Temple during a long weekend with the higher classes and Aa, the school secretary and witnessing the children's reaction to the very strict disciplines - a truly amazing experience.
What did you find most challenging?
Getting over the problem of the Alphabet. The children could recite it - backwards but were unaware of the phonetics so although they were great at copying down, repeating from the board and learning 'parrot fashion', they lacked reading skills. Also discipline was a real challenge. On one occasion when Alvero and I were giving 2 students individual attention, we looked up to find the whole of the rest of the class had slipped out to practice their Thai boxing. Needless to say this was soon rectified.
Having prepared for teaching abroad by completing a TESOL course, I was initially disappointed at realising that this was unnecessary for this Project as my own schooling was sufficient to guide the lessons. However, I did find that aspects of the course did come in very useful. It helped with confidence, on a personal level, and towards the end of my term I used some of the phonology skills learnt from the course. The children are a complete delight, though challenging at times. It helps to heed all advice given - in our case by Erng who covered all corners and her basic teaching of Thai came in very useful indeed. Our Thai teachers were a little shy of communicating at first but nothing was too much trouble and help was at hand for the asking. Our accommodation was great and the location - paradise. We experienced the end of the rainy season which was great. When else would you get woken in the night by the sound of WW111 - coconuts being blown off their perches and hitting the ground with heavy thuds. We had a lovely time getting to know the island and getting used to Thai customs. I could write a book.
What advice would you give others considering doing this placement?
To put your trust in PoD completely. You will never be so 'looked after'.
Thank you for a great experience!”
Kira - 2010
“I chose PoD because I very much wanted to: (a) go to Thailand; (b) teach English; (c) live in own accommodation; and (d) not break the bank. PoD ticked all the boxes, and more! I would definitely recommend doing a placement or two!
Thailand is a beautiful country - the simplicity of life, the friendliness of the people and the ubiquitous Thai smile seem to stay with you long even after you've left. The people and especially the children are some of the friendliest I've ever encountered in my life. Teaching these children was (mostly) a pleasure, though not without its challenges. I met up with one of the teachers in Bangkok and we caught the overnight train to Surat Thani together. On the train we met a couple of other teachers and, as a cheery group of four, continued our journey on the bus and the ferry to Koh Phangan, where we were met upon our arrival by Erng - our PoD contact, Koh Phangan guide and source of all information! We quickly settled into our beautiful bungalows with the view to the sea, met a fellow teacher at the resort, had lunch on the open terrace of Coco's bar (a neighbouring resort) and had a lovely swim in the warm water before setting off to explore the immediate vicinity: the town of Thong Sala, with its multitude of shops selling everything from playing cards to clothes to hammocks, a night food market and numerous bars and massage parlours. On the weekend we were briefed by Erng on the cultural aspects of living on the island and were given our very first Thai lesson! We were then shown around the island, visiting a Chinese Temple, hiking up to beautiful waterfalls (where we couldn’t' resist a dip in the cold water after all the jungle hiking!), finishing off our trip at the Northwest part of the island, where it meets a small island of Koh Ma - a beautiful spot for snorkelling. Our induction to teaching was smooth and painless, though the first days of teaching were tough and challenging, not knowing exactly what the children have been taught before, where their strengths or weaknesses lay or what they expected from us. Very quickly though we got to know each other and our lessons became increasingly fun and thorough. Discipline was the main issue in the classroom, since the kids would often misbehave, joke around or even fight with each other. On our last week of teaching though, the teacher who teaches a class after ours thanked me, because she found that after our lessons, the kids were better behaved, more attentive and hardworking! In the month that I spent on Koh Phangan, I made a lot of new friends among the locals, learned a lot about myself and about living on a tropical island in Thailand (even learning how to cook authentic Thai dishes!). I must say, I was very sad to leave and I hope that if ever I get the chance, I will come back to Koh Phangan.
There was no typical day over the course of 4 weeks of my teaching on Koh Phangan. Every day was different, bringing with it new challenges and rewards. I taught in classrooms on average two hours a day, though on some days I spent more time in school, staying to have lunch and to use the library's facilities to prepare for lessons. Typically the work would take about half a day, leaving me plenty of time to enjoy island life: swimming or sunbathing when the sun was out (which it wasn't much, since it was the monsoon season, but when it did come out, it felt like a special day!), going into Thong Sala centre to get food at the market with the other teachers in the evenings, swinging in the hammock reading or cycling around the island the rest of the time.
What did you find most rewarding? Seeing the children’s' faces light up when they remembered something, like the words we learned the lesson before, or understood an explanation, so that when they replied it wasn't a mere repetition, but an actual thought process was the highest reward I could get. It was also rewarding to see how they tried to communicate, even with the limited English that they had, and managed to do that as well!
What did you find most challenging? Some of the kids, unfortunately, were not making any effort and didn't want to take part in classroom work or games. Instead they chose to behave badly, distracting others (which included fighting and even, on one occasion, throwing the teacher's shoes out of the window!), so the biggest challenge was to try and keep these kids under control and still progress with the lesson plan. After some time though it became apparent that these kids were actually very much behind in English, not even knowing the alphabet, so the next challenge became to get them involved at their level and try to teach them the very basics, whilst still maintaining the higher level for the rest of the class.
Do it! It's fun, engaging and challenging, and you learn a lot about yourself. Living on a tropical island with plenty of time to explore it and the surrounding islands of Koh Tao (where you can do a scuba diving course), Koh Samui and the Angthong National Marine Park is an added bonus!”
Rachel and Huw – 2010
“Great location, great accommodation...great challenge! The kids are very cute, but hard work! Some teaching experience or TEFL would prove useful but not essential... Be warned of the monsoon season in August...
As we were teaching for two hours a day, we would usually plan our lessons in the morning, then head over to the school for our teaching. We would have two classes a day, and they could be the same age group, or totally different, and even if they were two classes of the same age, the standard of English could vary quite dramatically! We had classes of about 35 pupils, so having two teachers there was pretty essential in order to keep attention and control- especially with the younger ones! We would teach for our two hours and then head back. The evening would consist of chilling out with the other teachers, grabbing some food at one of the local restaurants or down at the night market.
What did you find most rewarding? Although we were only there for a few weeks, there were some kids who really got what it was we were there for and were keen to learn. Seeing the kids really enjoy the songs/activities we were doing was great!
Be prepared for the challenge, and if you are only there for a short time, don't expect miracles- have realistic expectations for what you want the kids to learn.”
Rosanna - 2010
"Teaching in Thailand is an amazing experience! I really enjoyed working with the children and teaching them. The teaching can be quite demanding at times but is still enjoyable, the ability in the classes varies a lot so there can be a lot of different things going on at one time. Once you get used to this it becomes a lot easier.
What did you find most rewarding? When you realise that the children actually understand and aren’t just repeating what you say.
I was told that at Ban Thai school where i was placed the level of English was a lot higher than it was and that they wanted us to focus on grammar which was very difficult due to the limited English. Erng was amazing and looked after us really well and all together I had an amazing time.
Tips: Bring as many stickers as you can find because the kids love them.
I would recommend PoD to everyone I know and I chose them because of the reasonable price and the way I was treated from my first call before i had even decided to book they weren’t pushy and were very honest."
Natalie - 2010
“I found the placement absolutely brilliant and would highly recommend PoD to anybody who is thinking of volunteering. The staff were very supportive and helpful both before and during the placement. Both the accommodation and location was, quite frankly, absolutely idyllic. Very good value for money!
After breakfast on the beach at CoCos, we would usually get ready for school before getting picked up by our taxi driver and driven to the school. Lessons last for an hour, of which there are two per day, and we were welcome to have lunch with the students in the lunch break. We would then head back to our accommodation and cool off from the heat by going for a swim in one of the near by resorts, and plan the lessons for the following day. In the evenings we would usually go for a meal, either at the highly atmospheric food market or a restaurant which are generally also very cheap. After that, we generally used to go for a drink at the bar on the beach, revelling in the fact we were in paradise!
The satisfaction from teaching, particularly at the end of the placement when the tests we set the students proved that our teaching had proved to be a success!
Grab the opportunity with both hands!”
Christopher - 2010
“The placement on Koh Phangan was remarkable in so many ways and challenged me on so many levels. It was the first time I'd visited Asia and I was truly fascinated with this new environment and culture. Spending time with my fellow volunteers and visiting the local schools together was truly fascinating and provided my introduction to the colourful, vibrant although sometimes chaotic Thai education system. My time in Chumconbanthai school was enriching as well as wonderfully thought provoking as I'm considering taking a PGCE course after I complete my degree programme. I found working with the children both exhilarating and exhausting but found the more relaxed and controlled I was the more often the lesson tended to run more smoothly. The experience afforded me the chance to work as part of a team and also to teach individually which was terrifying initially but a real confidence booster when I found myself actually managing to keep control of and teach the class alone which was a completely magnificent experience! My down time on the island was relaxing and a world away from my life at home allowing me to relax and really embrace the pleasures of living on a Thai island, namely the weather and the beaches! Also, having spent so much time with the other volunteers I feel I've made lasting friendships with people who've shared this experience.
It was extremely unpredictable which was one of the most exciting aspects of the placement! The school was completely different to a typical British school which was an aspect of the placement which I came to embrace as time went by. I set clear objectives each day which I hoped I could teach effectively and in an entertaining and interesting way where possible! I normally taught a few lessons per way and I was able experience Thai school dinners which unfortunately were delicious but too spicy for a delicate taste buds!!! I frequently ate lunch with the children and did some lesson preparation in the library whilst talking with the children.
I was extremely impressed with the overall experience and felt that it was both beneficial and enjoyable for me and hopefully for the children. The overall experience was wonderful.
I loved bonding with the children and I felt pleased and satisfied when I felt I’d taught a particular topic well and the children had benefited from the lesson. I also adored the children's enthusiasm and interest in being taught by a foreign teacher and their kind interest and welcoming attitude which I experienced, particularly from the younger classes was endearing and inspired me to teach the classes to the best of my ability.
I chose PoD as I was impressed by the professional nature and content of the PoD website which was really informative and I was very impressed by the PoD team who i could contact with any particular query. I found their help prompt and helpful. Also, within the last month, having seen my photos of the trip on Facebook, two friends have asked for further information about the company that organised the work placement and I've highly recommended it!
Thank you immensely for all your work and input into the projects.”
Louise - 2010
“Teaching on Koh Phangan was an amazing experience in a completely different culture. With a very warm welcome and plenty of help from both the PoD staff and the locals, I couldn't have had a better trip. Teaching in the school was challenging, but the kids are so willing to learn, even taking the opportunity to talk to me in English over lunch. Accommodation was really good and right at the beach.
We would have breakfast and some time either at the beach or in the pool, before getting a taxi to the school and teaching for two or three lessons. Lunch at the school was really good (and free). Then we could spend the rest of the day exploring the town, shopping or swimming. We had dinner as a group and drinks at a local bar on the beach.
The progress the kids were making was absolutely amazing. The most rewarding moment for me was when one of the seven year olds walked up to the board and started drawing things after class so she could learn the names of them in English.
The behaviour of the children is completely different to a school in the UK, they often run out of the class, but they always come back so it's best to just carry on teaching without them. I even have to confiscate some knives! Minor injuries of the children (cuts/falls) go unnoticed by the Thais, so leaving the kids alone when they cried was so difficult!
I’d recommend volunteers to immerse yourself completely in the placement and give everything you have to the kids in the school, it is hard at first and it's very tiring, but it makes your two or three hours at the school much more worth it.
It is an amazing experience at living in another country and you learn skills you can transfer to every aspect of your life at home, especially the ability to communicate with others effectively whatever language they speak. Being able to adapt to a completely different culture is an essential skill in the workplace.
PoD give immediate support both at home and in the country you are travelling to. Having this support makes you feel secure and safe in another country and gives you someone to talk to if you are travelling alone.
Amazing, thank you!”
Hannah - 2010
“I really enjoyed my time teaching with PoD, from the people I met to the children we taught it truly was an amazing experience. The support received from PoD both before leaving and during the placement was always helpful, along with the activities organised for us. My placement was so enjoyable due to the other PoD volunteers I met and befriended along with settling into the Thai culture. I will definitely recommend PoD's placements and will be volunteering again in the future!
Living on a tropical island becomes the "norm" very quickly, therefore our days were always very relaxed and quickly became like the Thai culture with no rushing about. On a typical day you can expect to spend about 2/3 hours teaching, at my school the on the days we taught we would have lunch at the school and teach 2 different classes. You never know what to expect on a day at school as the lesson are always interesting to say the least. The Thai approach to teaching is very different to in the UK, if anything this made teaching even more fun! After half a day spent teaching you have plenty of free time to relax and explore the island, with weekends mainly spent visiting other islands for small breaks. Typically you can also expect to spend time lesson planning for tomorrow’s classes, but this does not have to be done by yourself - we were constantly discussing ideas with other groups to find out what had worked well for them. The evenings were then spent as a group catching up on the days activities and trips down to the night market for your dinner, evenings relaxing at Cocoa’s by the sea are also mandatory.
My most rewarding moment during teaching was when I took some time to sit down with a naughty boy in our class to make sure he understood what was being taught. It was at this point i realised although he was good at speaking English he was not as confident as some of the other children and therefore would not pay attention because of this. When the time was taken to acknowledge him and not simply tell him off he really started to pay attention and became one of the best students in the class.
I would advice others to be more prepared before starting your placement - the children love stickers and prizes and I wish I had taken more before i left. Really think about some good games and flashcards are also really useful. Expect a culture shock when you first arrive and definitely find yourself not wanting to leave!
When volunteering abroad you feel you can achieve more as the children seem to really want to learn from you as it does make a difference to their lives. I found it a much more rewarding feeling and when you combine this with the culture of other countries you yourself also find you are learning not only a new language but your changing things about yourself as well.
I decided to choose PoD as I had heard they were very good value for money, which they are. I have already recommended PoD to all my friends who want to volunteer as i found the service very good both in the UK and in Thailand and i think this really maximized how much i enjoyed my time on Koh Phangan.
I just want to say thank you to Gemma and Erng for all there help in organising the placements. I especially want to thank Erng for making feel so at home in Thailand, in terms of explaining the culture and showing us around the local area. She was always contactable if we had any questions or needed help - even if we wanted to know a good place to watch the world cup!”
Emma - 2010
“I loved teaching English on Koh Phangan - it was a great placement for me and Kirsty who was my teaching buddy - I loved our school! it was amazing! Teaching the children was really rewarding especially when they started to remember the things we had taught them!
When we had been given the time table, depending on what time we would have school we would have either planned the lesson the day before or that morning for school that day, in most of the teachers case we spent the rest of the day relaxing or going to the local coco gardens which was by far what made my experience and I think a lot of the others just from the atmosphere around there, the rest of the day I actually did a 30 hour massage course when I was there and found this really fun as well as a little extra in the day, and then we would relax, plan lessons, socialise and head normally for a walk to the cheap but amazing night market!
When we planned a long activity over a few lessons and saw the benefits over a period of a week or so with the same class-for example with our P6 class we had a go at explaining the body parts with them-with this we got the children to draw around each other in 2 groups-which was fun and then go and colour them in-to keep them under control, label the body parts and then gave all the children a sheet explaining the clothes and the colour of each of the items for them to colour in, when they had finished we had covered body, clothes, colours and even numbers e.g. john is wearing 2 blue socks.
I loved teaching abroad and I’m not sure I would say the same if I was to teach back in the UK, the good thing that I loved was that I wasn't just 'on holiday' or partying in Thailand, I felt I was giving something back to this amazing country and also that I had an amazing experience living somewhere else and meeting like minded people- made amazingly good friends for life and lived on a tropical island for 6 weeks!”
Rajiv - 2010
“As my first volunteer project I felt PoD made it extremely easy for me to organise the trip as well as offering great support while I was at the project. The staff are friendly and helpful and my experience with them has given me the volunteering bug. I just got back a week ago and I am planning my next trip already! The projects give real help to those that need it and furthermore the company is a non- profit organisation unlike many other major volunteer organisations, which means all the money you pay goes towards the projects and the administration involved in organising the project. I would recommend PoD to anyone that wants to volunteer to aid various causes, and I will be using them for my next trip. I hope this type of volunteering/holiday gets more popular as in my experience these project allow us in the "1st" world to get a REAL taste of a country's culture whilst giving us the opportunity to contribute towards a good cause.
About the placement: Wake up early for classes (if you have morning classes that is), have a cool refreshing shower! Plan lessons. taxi to school, chat to teachers who want to get better at English themselves, 30 minutes of real teaching the kids before they go mental! Then spend the rest of the lesson having fun drawing , playing games and singing with the kids, repeat depending on how many lessons per day ( typically three), have an amazing lunch in the school cafeteria (maybe play some footy with the kids during lunch if you can stand the heat!) and chat to the teachers some more. Taxi back home then spend the rest of the day doing what you want; beach, bars, cheap dinner at night market and back to the bar where you can chat about your day teaching with the other volunteers.
When you get through to a particular student/class that is struggling with an English sentence, word or grammar is most rewarding! A very rewarding moment that doesn't compare to any job I have ever worked in.
If you want to see the real culture of a country and recognise how privileged we are, and see the gratitude of the locals that you can give your time for a good cause. DO IT! Fun and fulfilling.”
Katy - 2010
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time on Koh Phangan with PoD. I made instant friends with the other 11 volunteers and everyone got on really well. The accommodation was great and so near to the amazing coco garden restaurant where we spent most of our time chilling on the beach/ in the beach bar. The location is great as we were near Thongsola and a 15 minute taxi ride from Haad Rin which was good if we wanted to go out. The teaching was really fun and very rewarding. The children were all very cute and eager to learn. The school wasn't very well organised but we learnt that island life is very laid-back. Overall the whole experience was amazing. We managed to travel to some of the other islands at the weekends such as Koh Tao and Koh Samui which was really good. I have made friends for life and had an unforgettable experience. Thank you to Gemma for organising it all.
We would usually leave our accommodation around 10 in the morning and start teaching at half 10. We would teach for an hour and then at half 11 the children would have lunch and we would spend this time preparing our lessons and talking to the children. After lunch we would then teach for another hour with a different class. Then we would go home and chill out on the beach.
At the end of the month I felt very rewarded when one child who at the start couldn't write any English managed to write a few sentences. Overall the youngest children are the most rewarding as they are the ones who seem to get the most out of it and enjoy themselves.
I chose PoD as they replied very quickly to my first enquiries. Also most gap year websites are quite flashy but this one seemed more focused on the volunteering and seemed more ethical which I liked.
Go for it! You will see a completely different way of life and the people are all so friendly. Koh Phangan is a beautiful island which is well situated to explore others as well. There is so much to see on Koh Phangan and the teaching was very rewarding. I will never forget the children at Samai Kongka school! Definitely the best thing I have done on my gap year. Well worth the money!
I made best friends for life and truthfully had the best month of my life. It really opens your eyes to another culture and way of life and it really has made me appreciate what I have. I was scared about going but now I am home I can say it was 100% worth it as I had an amazing time and will never forget the time I spent in Thailand.
Thank you!!!”
Zeba – 2010
“My time spent on the island of Koh Phangan has been an unforgettable experience. The beautiful weather, culture shock, warm and friendly locals and mouth watering food have definitely been the highlights of my trip.
The whole experience from start to finish has been an incredible one. For me, the best part of the trip was the teaching itself. The children in Haad Rin school are literally the cutest I've ever come across in my life and the staff were great too! It really was a pleasure to teach there.
Erng, our main point of contact became a great friend and was always there to help if ever in doubt.
I would 100% recommend this programme to others as a great way to combine travel and teaching together.
I found PoD to be the most economical organisation doing this type of placement and I thoroughly enjoyed myself out there.”
Paris - 2009
“My time in Koh Phangan was life changing to say the least. Everything about my time there far surpassed my expectations. Erng was an incredible host and person to have providing support throughout my stay. She was friendly, accessible, compassionate, intelligent, and so loving. I felt comfortable seeking her out for anything/everything that I might need. I enjoyed both learning from her and spending time with her recreationally.
The others in the program were friendly and I had a lot of time to get to know them. I am from America and found the diversity to be so refreshing. I only met 2 other Americans my whole 2 months in Thailand!
The actual teaching was challenging at first but once I got comfortable it was so much fun. The children are so beautiful, playful, and willing to learn. Because of my small class sizes, I was able to get to know individual students and build relationships with them. I was nervous to teach on my own at first, but I did not feel pressured or stressed; just free to create my own lesson plans and enjoy my time with my classes. The only challenging part about the teaching was not being able to speak Thai to the children. I think at times it would be helpful to have someone like Erng around who could translate and help communicate between me and the class.
I don't think I even need to elaborate on how incredibly beautiful Koh Phangan is. What a blessing to wake up to the sun over the ocean every morning and be able to do yoga on the beach. The hours of teaching were limited which allowed me to explore the island and other parts of Thailand as well. One weekend a teacher and I went to Krabi, Rai Lay Beach, and Koh Phi Phi and then returned in time for our Monday classes.
In going out into the community, I found people to be so friendly and welcoming. I made friends with many local business owners who respected me simply because I was a volunteer with PoD.
I would not trade my experience for anything and I cannot wait to return to Koh Phangan to visit all my friends there.”
Mike - 2007
“I was on your teaching programme in the Summer '07. Not sure if you remember me (Irish Lad - taught in SriThanu school). I'm currently in placement with VSO in Kenya (Mombasa) and I'm pursuing a career in International development work. I have been meaning to drop you an email for a while to thank you for the experience in Thailand. It gave me the confidence to choose fulltime volunteering. Hope life is being good to you. Take care”
Antony - 2009
“The 10 weeks that I spent on the Koh Phangan placement were definitely a life changing and amazing experience. From the moment of meeting everyone, to waving everybody off at Thongsala pier. The teaching in the schools is not exactly what I expected at first, but still very enjoyable and extremely educational.
I think at first you have to remember that the schooling system in Thailand is very different from the U.K's. Some of there ideas of classes may come as a surprise, but after a while you know what is expected of you and what to expect! I've made some great friends, from other PoD volunteers to the Thai locals and feel like I came part of the community. I would like to thank everyone at PoD for making everything possible. I just can wait to get back to Thailand now!”
Emma - 2008
“The placement was well organised and all expectations were met, we felt very welcomed and the amount of teaching per week was appropriate.
The island accommodation was amazing, beautiful, safe, in a perfect location.
Quality of support in-country - absolutely outstanding and very reassuring to know we had 'friends' on the island. Erng & Subai were considerate, friendly, supoprtive and included us in so much. They were always contactable but also let us do our own thing.
I think it was good value for money and comforting to know that so much is taken care of within the cost.
I would definitely recommend PoD to others for a number of reasons - professionalism and client focus of organisation (and friendliness too!), the varied and colourful content of the trip itself - a brilliant experience.”
Megan - 2008
"After trailing through countless websites and brochures of Gap Year organisations, I came across PoD, and after that I stopped looking! PoD appealed to me because it was a small organisation and offered exactly the kind of project I was looking for. PoD was great from the start, they were always ready to answer any questions, and were extremely helpful in getting me prepared for my trip.
This was my first time alone, and going away for four months seemed pretty daunting. However the only obstacle I had to tackle alone was getting from the airport to the hotel, which was easy. Subai and Erng (Thai PoD representatives) met me there and soon we became one big happy family.
Koh Phangan is a beautiful island, and it really did become ‘home’. It has secluded bits and a brilliant nightlife, and is big enough so that you can always explore somewhere new. We stayed in the nicest beach huts on the island; they were luxurious compared to anything else I stayed in on my travels! I was lucky as I could walk to the school I was teaching at, but the others had a nice air-conditioned taxi so perhaps I wasn’t all that lucky! I was working with Mel, a primary school teacher, which was great as I learnt so much from her. The teaching was challenging, we definitely had the most naughty children by far. After setting out some ground rules though things improved and we really began to see the differences in our lessons. Mel and I decided to split some of the bigger classes, as they were unmanageable. This worked really well, and allowed us to have some time teaching alone. I took five boys out of one class who couldn’t read English and so were really naughty in class because they couldn’t understand. After the two months, they could read a simple book and could say the whole alphabet. This was definitely the highlight of the teaching, and I was so sad to say bye to them. The teachers were welcoming in particular Kru Saow who was really great. I did find it frustrating at times because the education system is so different there, and you feel that the children could be learning so much more, however once you accept the differences it is easier to do what you can in the classroom and have fun at the some time.
The whole experience was unforgettable; I made some fantastic friends, we even went on to travel together for a while after the project. I also really got to know a particular place, which is difficult to achieve if you are travelling. My time in Koh Phangan allowed me to build up my confidence and settle in to life in Thailand so that I felt more relaxed about travelling further in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. Just before we left Koh Phangan Alex and Jirapan invited us to a BBQ on the beach. It was a lovely evening and made me wonder, how often do people get to meet the founders of the Gap Year organisation they have travelled with? I doubt it is many, and it was this personal touch, evident throughout the trip that made me really glad I chose PoD.”
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