Hi!

I'm Nikki - I've just signed up for the October 2012 internship...need to get on with all the forms and the course now! So exciting! Who else is going?

N x

Hey,

I haven't decided whether or not to do the Thailand internship or to just pay for the 140 hour TEFL course and find work myself... It's so tricky making a decision before the 27th of April! (that's when the discounts end)

I got till tomorrow evening to decide... so far I'm thinking I will do it but it's a lot of money for me and I don't want to risk something going wrong over there! Still I guess everyone has that fear right? :P

You been to Thailand before? I'm from the UK and the furthest I've been is Belgium!

Richard

Hi, 

I went on the Internship in May 2011 and stayed on for another term (in fact I enjoyed my time I am going back for another year). OK plus points are if you go with i to i you get a support network of each other. Down side is the initial costs. It is expensive! You can get a job in Thailand really easily - if you research it on the internet you can look at whats available. And all the cost is the cost to get to Thailand, you don't have to pay an inital fee. Most contracts are for a year with the school and the school year runs from May to March so the October Internship is the 2nd term (just for reference). I went when i to i worked with Lawoe and I enjoyed my time (in fact I still am with them) and would recommend them (but guess i to i wouldnt as the no longer work with them!) so don't know anything about the current company. Feel free to ask me any questions, as I said I enjoyed it so am going back!

I've signed up for the October internship and currently working my way through the course. I know i could have probably sorted my own placement quite easily but thought it would be good to do it through i to i because of the support you get, which is important for my first proper teaching abroad job. If it goes well then i'll definitely be applying for teaching jobs independently.

So excited now- just got to figure out when I'm going to tell my work that I'm bugerring off to Thailand!!

Hi

How are you finding the course? Im only up to check point 1 so far so still got a way to go! Have my skype interview thing tonight too which I'm slightly scared about! Have you had yours?

I picked the internship for the support thing too...thought just disappearing off half way around the world without any contacts was a bit daunting for my first attempt at teaching abroad! I have been to Thailand before...I went on a 2 week backpacking tour last summer and loved it so can't wait to go back (assuming this interview thing goes ok)!

I have to give 3 months notice at work so guess i'll have to think about telling them fairly soon...exciting!

Course has been ok, up to check point 5. there's been one or two that were a bit tricky- the last checkpoint me took a good while but have passed all but one first time (the tutor asked for some extra info on some of the questions). finding it a bit difficult at the moment to find the time, especially after havin intense day at work staring at a screen all day so thought of staring at another screen once home is not so tempting! 

I haven't heard anything about an interview!!! does everyone have to do this? thinking i should be asking i to i about this this perhaps...? 

Hey :)

Me and my friend Han have booked on to the internship for October! Can't wait we are so excited! We've done most of the forms and stuff just waiting to do the skype interviews now! 

Wish it was October now! x

Heya!

Yey exciting that you and your friend have booked! Had my interview the other day..i was worried they'd ask proper questions but was more of a chat!

So cant wait for October!! x

Hi, strongly thinking of applying for the internship. I've completed the 140hr course and not sure where to go from here. Does anyone know how much the internship costs?Is it worth doing versus applying for a job directly..

Hey

I have a 120 hour TEFL already done, and am thinking of heading off to Thailand. Anybody know if I have missed the deadline for the October internship? Also, anyone know the cost of the internship? 

Thanks TEFLers :-) x

Heya!

Its not too late...I did mine recently and apparently was one of the first to get my forms back :)

I'm not sure how much it would be for you if you already have a TEFL as im doing mine as part of the internship but if you give them a call they'll be able to help - I think quite a few people already have a TEFL before doing the internship!

:) x

I am heading to Thailand in October!!! :-)

Hi everyone!

I'm on the Thailand internship leaving in October I can't wait! Had the skype interview and things, haven't started the TEFL course yet (waiting until I finish my Uni exams) but am excited to get going. Went to Thailand last year it's so beautiful guys :) x

Hello!

I have signed up for the Thailand Internship in October too! Slowly making my way through the 140 hour TEFL course and starting to complete the application form.

Has any one stated a preference of location? I have never been to Thailand before and not sure what to put if anything! Would love to know if anyone has any advice!

Charlotte

Hi, my name's Nicole and I've also just signed on for the October Internship. Now to complete the 140 hour course.

Hello, I'm Beth and I coming to Thailand too!! Only just found this chalkboard website, how exciting!

Hey

Im seriously considering signing up for the thai internship. Ive always wanted to travel and considered teaching abroad before but i have always been too scared to bite the bullet and actually do it. Thats why the internship appeals to me as it would give me work experience and is less daunting than commiting to a year contract.

The main concern i have is money....i know that travelling and living abroad can be as cheap or expensive as you make it but does anyone have an idea how much spending money they intend to take with them??? i would like to travel around south east asia after the teaching course so would need to budget for this. i have also read other blogs on this site and mentions that interns often meet up and travel to different areas/islands at weekends which really appeals to me :)

does anyone have any info on accommodation? i have read mixed reviews with some people saying that it was very basic! Also do you get to pick preferred location (not that i would really have one as i have never been to thailand beofore)

any other info, hints and tips would be much appreciated!

kirsty x

Hey Kirsty. 

As regards to the accomodation, in Asia whever you go you will never find an apartment which is like Western European or American style living. Its always completely livable, but dont expect anything more than basic in Asia except for hotels. 

As regards location you can pick a location which you like to go to, but you are not going to know for definate until you go to the orientation in Thailand. This is because they find that many people make friends in the 5 day orientation, and then they change theit mind about where they want to go and they want to stay with the people they have clicked with. 

With spending money, well you get about €250 a month for spending, which makes up the cost of the internship in the end (without the TEFL course). But I myself am bringing a good bit of spending money, but this is just cause I want to do a few months of travelling when the internship is done. But the cost of living is very small, so you could probably live in 450 a month easily if you prioritise travelling to different areas sightseeing over general impulse spending, so i say an extra 200 a month could do u/ Obviously though you would want a good 600 or so back up for flights home etc if there is an emergency or anything. 

Hey!

I've applied to the Thailand internship. I did the 120 hour course before hand, and they took a bit off the price for the internship. I havn't got round to filling out all of the forms yet, because I'm waiting until after I have finished my uni work first.

I'm glad to know the interviews arn't too intense, I was a bit worried about that.

I havn't picked a preferred location, because I havn't travelled to Thailand before. I hope that doesn't look bad on the form or anything. I like that they don't quite pick where we are going to until the orientation, that means you can get a bit of a feel for the country and the people you will be working with first.

I'm excited to be going, as it's a country I've never been to before. I am a bit worried about the forms and interviews and stuff. I'm hoping that it does end up being something that I enjoy, as it is a bit pricey.

Thanks,

Shauna

Hey there!

I have just started my 120 hour course and I am wondering about internships and jobs abroad in the Autumn, I've just finished my degree so it'll be strange not going back to Uni! Is the internship itself expensive? Suppose it would be worth it though for the security and reassurance that everything would be sorted out for you!

Thailand seems like a nice spot to start out in, especially when it's only 5 months long, compared to others that are a year which I would find a bit daunting!

Anyway, nice to see that other people are in the same boat! How are ye all getting on with the course? 

Ev

Hey gang, I am also considering the internship! Just saving some dollar right now, but I'm waiting a little just to find out if the cost of the internship alone will be cheaper in a months time or so. I've completed the 140hr combined course, so it is all I'd be paying for before flights and things.

I know when it comes to money, I'll definitely be looking for cheapest of everything! I hear flights have been cheap on 'sta' if you search on google. It starts getting expensive when it comes to medication and things apparently! 

If anyone hears any cheap deals on anything, give me a shout!

Jade x

Jade - have a look at my recent blog post on vaccinations and their costings. They do get very expensive, but they beat dying painfully. My native Thai friend sitting next to me has told me that medication itself - painkillers/ gastro/ etc etc are ridiculously cheap over there.

Hi!

I'm pretty sure I'll be going: I'm just going to have a final word with my folks and then I'll be booking next week! It's only just hit me that it's really happening. I can't wait! Anyone else learning Thai? If so, how's it going? 

Lou x

Hey all,

Starting to consider this as an option instead of sticking with the UK. When's the cut-off point for entry?

Wondering what the cost of the internship is apart from the tefl course... sorely tempted to just take the plunge and do something a little different.

Tips or suggestions?!

Hi all!

I'm still looking at going, but not booked yet. All finished on my 140 hour course, which went well. Still asking questions about the price it's going to cost, as people said, there are jobs out there where you can make more money... but think I will do the internship for the ease of it!

Any ideas when the cut off date is for applications?