FAQ:

Who can volunteer?  If you are a native English speaker over the age of 18 you can qualify.  Some college or university training is an asset but a degree is not required.  Neither is teaching experience.  The vast majority of our volunteers have no teaching experience.  Do I need any training? You’ll benefit from our 2-hour teaching orientation.  In it you’ll learn about how to speak and project your voice in class; what Thai students know about English and the biggest problems they have in using it; and how and what to teach them to unlock their potential. Do you accept couples and can they teach as a pair? Yes and yes.  What is the usual working day? School hours are typically 8 a.m. to 3:30.  You will usually teach about 4 hours a day.  You will typically teach every student at a school of 250 students and see them twice a week.  What is the average age of your volunteers? Our teachers range in age from 18 to 65.  But the median age would be about 24.  What is the average length of your projects?  The minimum placement is 2 weeks.  Can I work on more than one project? Yes.  You may have as many placements as you want.   Do I have to make a financial contribution to the school?  Absolutely not.  You may choose to leave a small gift for the teachers at the school.  But that’s entirely your call.   Who arranges my accommodation at the school? The school provides for your accommodation based on requirements that we supply.  Can you help with plane tickets and forward accommodations when we start touring?  We have a staff member who is a former travel agent and specializes in helping with these arrangements.  Can you help with visas? Yes.  Just please allow at least one  week for visa renewals.  What should I do about my job? If you’re planning an extensive trip, giving up your job may not be necessary.  Talk to your employer about a sabbatical.  Tell them that volunteer teaching abroad will give you more confidence and improve your communicative skills.  In other words, a teaching sabbatical could very well make you a more valued employee.  What should I do about money? Set up a secure online banking account.  It’s a great way to manage your finances while you are away.  It's best to have a combination of credit/debit card, travellers cheques, and some US dollars.  Make photocopies of your passport (including visa pages), insurance details and plane tickets. Leave copies with family/friends and take copies with you.  What about electricity in Thailand?  Take a good international plug adaptor (or two) for 220 volt service.  What about mobile phones?  Since you'll be staying in Thailand for several weeks, consider getting either an inexpensive local mobile phone or a local SIM card for your mobile.