Hey there!

(I posted in another thread on this group, but thought maybe I should start a new one for ease's sake)

I'm Bridget, 23, Australian, currently doing the Lawoe Thai internship that started in May, and am having a nice time. I'm keeping a blog up here on i-to-i, so if you've already signed up/are thinking of signing up to the October internship, go ahead and have a look if you want to see what your future life may be like! I'm here to answer any questions you have about the whole internship - whether that be from signing up/completing the online course, preparing for departure, to what happens when you arrive in Thailand, what to expect from teaching, what to do with your weekends etc etc. I'll answer questions in my blogs as well as give you some kind of insight into what I'm doing here! 

For me, this internship has been one of the best things I've ever done (and I've only been here for about 6 weeks!) and am having an absolute ball! So don't be afraid to bombard me with queries either on this post, on another post in the group, or private message me, whichever floats your boat. 

Enjoy the preparation/doing the course/GETTING EXCITED period! October will come around before you know it :)

- Bridget 

Hi, I'm Holly, 24, from London, also on the Internship. I live with Bridget and teach in the same school but I'm up for answering any questions - just email holsg@yahoo.co.uk - it was really useful when last year's interns helped me out with queries so I want to be able to do the same for the October 2011 gang.

To echo what Bridget said, we're having an amazing time and if you're not sure about doing this, just do it! Don't stress to much about the course, obviously you need to pass it but the standard you'll be teaching here doesn't require half the information learnt if I'm totally honest.

Even if you want to ask practical questions like what to pack etc, give us a shout.

Hi guys!  Thanks for answering our questions.

I was just curious about the living situation.  Several people have said its like a hotel room-would you say that's accurate?   Are bathrooms shared (and if so, with how many people)?  Anything you could share, really, would be helpful.  :)

The rooms have varied but not wildly. Bridget and myself live at Ubon Tip, where we have seperate rooms (no one shares rooms on the Internship) My boyfriend and I are on the Internship together and we still got seperate rooms as that's what we paid for!

We have a large bed, wardrobe, desk/dresser, air con, a balcony and ensuite bathroom with flushing toilets and hot showers. We have Wifi which is a bit sketchy but we're greatful. I have a fridge and Bridget has a fan, all the rooms seem to vary slightly with furniture.

Some people futher out have similar rooms but no flushing toilets (you have to pour small buckets of water down) and no hot water but its really not as bad as it sounds. Once you get out here you'll adapt so much, trust me!

Any other questions, throw them our way! (I wish the past interns helped us more, that's why I'm throwing myself out there for all your needs, as I know how helpful it is!)

Hi guys,

Your posts so far have been really helpful :) It sounds like you're all having an amazing time in Thailand! I've got a question on the teaching aspect - what's teaching like generally? I think Bridget mentioned that Thai schools are quite disorganised and it took a while for her to get a copy of the timetable/syllabus - how have the past few weeks been? Has it been quite easy to teach the students or is it still quite difficult organising lessons and getting students to turn up on time/listen to the teacher during lessons? As teachers, do you guys get any extra resources for teaching or is it literally just the half-translated course handbook/syllabus book that you have to work with?

Thanks guys!

x Jenny

P.s I've just heard from Masako that I might be located in Surin - do you guys happen to know anyone there who I could get in contact with or know what its like (in terms of accommodation) there? :) Thanks again x

Hi Jenny,

The teaching part is fine. Yeah the school's are kinda disorganised and the kids level of English is very basic. It varies day to day. Sometimes you will dispair at the loud and hyper children, other days you will adore them and feel like you've actually taught them. It's a rollercoaster but that's part of the fun. Sometimes (especially with younger ones) you can blag a lesson but it's good to have a few things planned, especially games. Students stay in their classroom and teachers moved around so they won't be turning up late. It's useful to learna few Thai commands to control the class at first but you will learn these and then won't need them. We're at a government school and we get paper and photocopying etc. Our offices have random bits and pieces that can be used in lessons if need be. I wouldn't bother bringing stuff with you, you won't need it. I work with my coursebook but not strictly, it's just good to fall back on.

Hope this helps,

Holly

Hi!

I'm Megan, just booked my place on the internship for October i'm sooo excited! Was just wondering, as stupid as this may sound, what's the dress code at school? I'm not a very 'formally dressed' person to start with, but obviously i know not to turn up at school with hot pants on and a boob tube. I don't really know what to expect, saying as its a hot country i don't know how formal i'm supposed to be, or whether the weather doesn't make a difference to how they think? Are you allowed to show any of your arms? Are they funny about you wearing dresses, or as long as they're not dead short are they okay about it? I'm not very tall to start with so everything is always long on me anyway haha. Thanks for your help :) x

Leaving it late but thinking about applying for internship, just have a few obstacles to overcome, my friend has already signed up and I am thinking of doing it at the same time because the idea of someone I know doing it there also gives me that extra confidence and the internship conveniently finishes in March when I was thinking of going New Zealand for a friends wedding.

I have worked in a primary school for years and want a new challenge, just wondered about the number of children in a class? Also how would you sum up the level they are at roughly? Have you found the internship a good experience and compare it to someone you know that done everything more independently? I am on the verge of signing up I feel.

I was just wondering what an average day teaching would consist of? Eg when do you start/finish, is there a curriculum to follow or do we plan from scratch? etc. I think a few people are curious about this too. Thanks in advance. x

Did you know ahead of time where you would be working?   It seems like there are places where I could be asigned where it wouldn't be worth bringing a laptop to.

Also, what are the fitness options like?  Are there lap pools or yoga classes available to foreigners?

Just wondered if there was an expected dress code for the teachers in the school?