Hi,

I just signed up for this internship. Its my first time doing tefl so im very excited!! would love to chat to others who are going on it too!!

Hi!  I signed up for the lop Buri internship last week, just waiting to see if my application is successful!  I'm Hannah and its my first tefl to.  Very excited and nervous!  Have you been accepted?  Han

Hiya Hannah

Nope I've not been accepted yet! fingers crossed though! :) Are you going with friends? Im trying to persuade one of my friends to go but if not il be flying solo, kinda scary but its gunna be unreal!

Karyn

Hi

I got accepted on saturday, yay!  No i'm going on my own, I hope lots of other people have signed up to!  It would be good to get your friend to come to but if not we're all gonna be in the same area so hopefully no one will be lonely!  Where will you be travelling from?  I live in bristol but will probably go from london. Han

Well done!I still havent heard back from them but  soon hopefully!I shouldn't have let myself get so excited- too late now though!!!

Did it take long for you?  Im from Ireland so I willl prob go from Dublin. I was chattin to one of the i-to-i girls last week and I think she said that there were at least 8 more people who had already signed up.  She said they must just not be on this yet!I'm sure theres lots more by now too?

Karyn

So this is the Lopburi thread then? When I spoke to the i-to-i girl at the begining of the week she said there were 8 places left.

I only sent my application off yesterday so I haven't been confirmed yet. I'm going on my own which is exciting, I think you make better friends with new people if you travel solo so I'm looking forward to it.

Have you guys sent off for your criminal background checks yet? Also do you know if we need any injections or malaria courses? 

Emily x

Hi

It took a week for me to get accepted so hopefully you will both hear back soon.  I've taken the day off work to do some of the online course and theres sooo much!  I phoned up today about CRB and they said you can't apply for yourself so we need to get a basic disclosure certificate from disclosure scotland, it just shows you don't have any convictions.  You can do ot online and its £23.  i think this must be what they want because only companies can apply for CRB's.  I hope more people sign up!  I havn't looked into injections but i'm gonna have a look at some point.  Theres so much to do but its very exciting!

Han x

Hi Emily!

Good to see someone else who has signed up! I didn't realise there was only 8 paces left! I wonder how many people there will be in total? I only got all my documents sent off properly early this week so I'm still waiting to get confirmed too!My friend was meant to be coming but I can't see it happening at this stage! It'l be great meeting new people and making new friends! Im from ireland so I think its different for getting the criminal background checks, I sent that off this week too. I'm not sure about the injections but I'm sure ther'l be a few anyway!

How are you getting on with the online course? I've alot done but loads more to do!

Fingers crossed we'l be accepted!

Karyn :)

Hi there

I just spoke to Bobby at i to i and will be finding out if there is room for me to sign up for the internship but i am scared as heck ol even though I have spent time in thailand before, I guess I am worried about things such as getting  do I get a cell phone when I am over there? open a bank account etc you know all the little things to make life a little easier and also what are the accomodations like? I am currently living in NYC

anyone out there have any insight? know anyone that has done this? etc. I just need reassurance lol

thanks

Marshan

I'm glad its not a full on CRB then because they are like £60. The money is adding up though :s.

I only started my course yesterday, so I've only got through the first module on grammer, going to have to get a move on before the practical weekend. Are you nearly towards the end now Karyn? Does it get any clearer about how we should be teaching it to the children?

Marshan, I heard that they help us set up cell phones and things but I'm not sure about bank accounts. I would gues that they would because we need to be paid through them so they should help us out. We will probably sort things like that out whilst we are on our orientation in Bangkok. I wouldn't worry too much about it though, the nature of this internship is that they give us lots of support so someone should be at hand to help us out. :)

Emily

Marshan I was scared too but the fact that we will have ongoing support in Thailand will make life alot easier!A girl I know did the internship last year and she said it was amazing , the best thing she had ever done!

I thought I had way more done than I actually do Emily! I've  kinda been doing a bit here and there in the different modules! Theres so  much in it!!!!I hadn't anything done before I did the practical weekend, I booked it very spur of the moment!The weekend course is brilliant thought!Yeah, it does get clearer as you go on. :)

Once the course is done the next challange is going to be trying to pack!!!That will be interesting!

I'm dying to hear back from them- I've no patience!!!

Karyn

thanks guys. I am going to sign up today, I guess my BIGGEST issue/fear is trying to sublet my apt in nyc while I am gone, because I am not willing to give it up completely, maybe I will after the internship and I see where this journey takes me.

I agree with you on packing, I was in thailand for the month of Oct in 09 and I just lived in bathing suits, shorts and sundresses, I am not sure how we have to dress for internship daily, I know I will have to pack a bit more becasue being a 5'10, curvy girl with a shoe size 11 from the states I KNOW finding clothing to buy once I get there won't be much of an option. I figure I can always find some flip flops and a t shirt while I am there but other things in my size may be harder to locate LOL

Is anyone bringing their laptop or do you know if they suggest not bringing anything much of value not sure of accomodations and how secure it is.

Thanks for the reassurance Karyn. Going to try get the grammer bit done at least before my weekend. There's just so much different terminology. I definitely didn't learn any of this at school. But it is interesting the lengths they have gone to give everything a name.

Yer totally agree on the packing front. I'm not sure what clothes to wear. Ive never been to any country like Thailand so I'm not too sure what is acceptable wear. From what I gather from google I thought they were quite conservative in dress, like don't show above the knee or shoulders, which might be a problem if its going to be hot and humid. As for working clothes, from the pics on the site the guys are wearing shirt and trousers, and the girls just look casual with t-shirts and linen trousers. I think pretty much anything non-offensive goes, but i-to-i should be able to give more advice I think.

I was thinking about bringing my laptop for lesson planning purposes and internet, but I doubt our rooms will have wireless. I don't know much about the accommodation either. The accommodation worries me a bit. I think I would prefer to share an apartment with another teacher than have one to myself, I'd feel safer.

Marshan, where in Thailand did you visit? Were you working there or just a vacation?

Emily x

HI Emily

I was there on vaca in Bang for 3 days (which was enough lol), Phuket, Ko Samui, Ko Tao and Ko phangnan. the only time you have to worry about having knees and shoulders covered are when you go to places like grand palace. I am planning on taking a bunch of tanks and tees to wear I dont own many pants mainy skirts and dresses guess i better hit the sales for end of season clearance stuff lol. I saw on Matt's blog that his laptop was invaluable so I am def bringing mine. I am most scared about accomodations and would MUCH rather share w another person than live alone.

Honor just wrote me back saying that we would be living in the same block as different teachers so i guess that is good and she said linen pants and tshirt or leggins and tunic are the things to wear to work. I am ALL about leggins I am gonna stock up like no tomorrow plus they are easy to pack LOL

Hi guys,

My name is Melissa. I am signed up for the Thailand Internship and have started the TEFL courses. I'm just waiting to hear back if I have gotten accepted. Has anyone here ever taught abroad before? I can't wait to actually meet all of you in person!

Hi,

Just got back from holiday and suddenly realised how soon it all is and how much there is to do!  I have been furiously writing lists!  Something i'm a little bit concerned about is when I got my confirmation on the internship I asked about signing a contract and they said we didn't need to sign one until we got to thailand.  I'm not massively concerned but am just thinking what if it says something about our working hours/duties we're not happy with, we're already out there and not in a very good position to dispute anything!  What do you all think?

So excited!

Han x

Hey Han,

Hope you enjoyed your holiday. I emailed Masako to ask her about contracts and she said they were unable to send us a mock contract but due to the nature of the internship there will be support on hand to negotiate the contract if there was anything in it which we might dispute.

Emily x

Hey Guys!!

Hows it going? I just wanted to introduce myself. I signed up today for the Thai TEFL internship and I'm pretty excited about getting stuck in.

Any advice from anyone for a new starter?? I havent taught before but I thought this would be a great way to get started.

Anyway, Hello, and I look forward to getting to know you guys.

Pete.

Hi everyone!

I would also like to introduce myself.....I'm also signed on to the Lawoe Internship, this is my first TEFL experience, so although I'm very very excited I am also a bit nervous!

Just trying to get all the documents together now, and get the TEFL course finished, so much to do!

Look forward to meeting everyone! :) x

Hey there Lop Buri folk, I have now bitten the bullet and signed up on the Internship! (Now realising this is the main topic to add to as the other Thailand one is also AYC people, who happen to be out there at the same time as us).

Anyway, awaiting confirmation from Masako before I book my flights (all bit last minute so it's gonna be pricey!) but such is life. Ideally flying from London Heathrow Sun 17 Oct to arrive Mon 18th for the welcome dinner in Bangkok. If anyone can recommend a good (cheap) Flight Co that will let you change your return flight for approx £35 (I heard some places charge up to £150!) then please share all...planning to do some travelling after term ends in April, perhaps you're game for it too?!

Only just started TEFL course, wading through Grammar (I'm new to TEFL). Hopefully will have most of it done by my final wkend course in London (9/10 Oct). Anyone else doing that date?

I'll def be taking my laptop but I know it's unlikely there will be internet access in our apartments. Anyone planning to take a dongle?! Also, any advice on mobile use whilst out there? - I'm thinking get a local Thai sim card in Bangkok....

Looking forward to meeting you all and hearing any tips.

Becca.x

Hi guys!

I just signed up for Lop Buri too. Unbelievably excited!! Can't wait to get out of rainy Ireland for a bit! Really like to chat to others who are doing it too and get any tips anyone has to offer on packing essentials and whether we need to bring any props for teaching out there with us!

Can't wait!! :)

Dervla

More people!

Hey Becca and Derlva!

Becca try using STA. I booked a flight with jet airways for the 21:25 flight on the 17th  and return on 30th April, and that is £35 to change the date. It was about £595.

Also the i-to-i internship provides a sim card when we get to thailand, so don't worry about that. I dont think I will get a dongle, there are suppose to be alot of internet cafes around that we can use.

Dervla, I'm packing pretty lights, going to try get some things when I am in Thailand. As for teaching props I think it might be useful to get something, even if its a text book to help us plan our lessons etc.

Emily x

Hy guys

Has anyoe heard anything about our accomodations? What all is provided? Sheets/towels etc? Does anyone reccommmend any teaching supplies? The costs are adding up!I thought about buying the $140usd tefl kits which says it has over 6 months of lesson plans so you don't spend time preparing a lesson, anyone know about that?

I have been looking for a job for 2 and half years in NYC and just may have gotten offered one, so I am so torn between what to do! YIKES! When it rains it pours!!! SO much stress, if I can make it trhough checkpoint 3 I hope it is smooth sailing afterwards ha ha!

Someone said they had a friend that did this internship last year and said it was best thing ever!!!! Whoever that was can you elaborate and did she give any info

Marshan

Yes!!! Got my acceptance through today, so I am now officially excited about the whole thing!!! Just need to learn grammar now and I should be alright...

Is anyone going to the weekend course in Birmingham on the 25th/26th? Not really sure what to expect, so any advice would be quality. Anyway, hope everyone's getting on alright.