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Teach English on an Island - Thailand

Live on a stunning and fun tropical island
Stay in a beach bungalow
Island tour, night food market visit

Location

Koh Phangan

Start dates

2013: 30 May, 8 Aug, 9 Nov
2014: 11 Jan, 31 May, 2 Aug, 8 Nov

Duration

6 / 8 weeks

Availability

May fully booked and one space Aug 2013. Spaces available from Nov 2013

Cost

From £1250 / $1970 - see pricing table below

How will I make a difference?

By volunteering to teach English at primary schools in Thailand you can help the children develop their confidence by inspiring them to improve their English skills.

In Thailand, English is important as it's the number one language in tourism. Koh Phangan has rapidly developed over the past few years and many of the jobs on the island relate to tourism so English ability is particularly important in this location. A volunteer English teacher is really valuable since they can help to improve the speaking and listening skills for the students on the tropical island.

Read what past volunteers have said about this project in our Thailand Teaching English reviews.

Volunteer teaching English in Thailand: What will I be doing?

A normal week will involve around 8 hours of English lessons from Monday to Friday. The school day starts at 8.30am and finishes at 3.30pm. Volunteers are required to plan and prepare for all lessons on school days, but this can be done by one the local swimming pools or on the beach under a palm tree! You will teach the lessons with another volunteer. You will develop your communication, organisational and teaching skills, while living an amazing lifestyle on a tropical island.

Your role is to focus on improving speaking and listening skills and building the children's confidence to communicate with foreigners. Volunteers design lessons which are lots of fun and include interaction, including games, art, songs (the Thais love karaoke!) and any other creative activities. Teaching in Thailand is an unforgettable experience and the Thais love to have fun. There are generally between 4-8 volunteers.

More about the project

We work with 9 schools on the island of Koh Phangan. All the schools are Thai government primary schools and the schools range in size from 50-300 students. Volunteers teach English to primary school children aged from 4-12 years old on the stunning and exciting tropical island of Koh Phangan, off the South East Coast of Thailand. Volunteers are supported by volunteer manager Eiu who lives on the island who can support you throughout your time at the project.

Location and free time

Koh Phangan is a popular destination for backpackers and travellers and has plenty of facilities to make it a comfortable and exciting place to live. Koh Phangan is a laid back, friendly and fun island with an atmosphere that means people usually stay a lot longer than intended!

At weekends you are free to explore the island. As well as stunning beaches, there is great snorkelling and diving opportunities and jungle and temples to explore inland. There is a lively social scene with many bars and restaurants and of course the infamous full moon parties!

Volunteer accommodation

You will have your own beach bungalow (not shared) on the beach in the Ban Tai area of Koh Phangan (on the Southern coast of the island).

Each bungalow has a bedroom, en-suite bathroom with toilet, sink and shower (cold water), and a veranda / balcony area outside. They are fan rooms (not air con). The bungalows have 24 hour electricity and are all close to shops and internet cafes.

There is a great restaurant next to the accommodation that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and has wifi and there are plenty of restaurants nearby, giving you a good choice for eating. There is also an excellent night food market in Thong Sala (nearby town) offering many inexpensive dishes.

What's included and where your money goes

A comprehensive information booklet
Support from your dedicated volunteer manager within the PoD UK team
Travel advice and assistance
Being met on arrival at Koh Phangan
Accommodation - own bungalow in an amazing beach hut!
Introduction to your school, timetable and syllabus
Thai language and culture training
Budget for teaching resources
Daily transport on teaching days for 6/8 weeks if required (by private taxi to and from your school)
Activities: Koh Phangan island tour, night food market visit
PoD polo t-shirt
Thai SIM card for your mobile phone
Ongoing support, help and advice from our local team

Not included: Flights, travel insurance, visa, food

PoD is run as a non-profit volunteer organisation. Fee levels are set to match costs and any surplus monies are distributed to the projects we work with via the PoD Charity - for more details click here.

Prices

	GBP	EUR	USD	AUD
6 weeks	£1250	€1550	$1970	$1920
8 weeks	£1450	€1795	$2285	$2225
Discount if sharing a bungalow with a friend/partner:
6 weeks	£90	€110	$140	$140
8 weeks	£120	€150	$190	$185