Finding a volunteer placement service can be tricky.  Especially for first timers.  Here's a guide to the things you need and the questions you should ask. 

Rule #1:  Give everything to your students, but don’t overpay your placement service

Thailand is one of the most popular teaching destinations in Asia.  Some firms are exploiting that popularity by charging outrageous fees.  The fact is, no school in Thailand that we know of ever charges fees to have volunteers teach at their schools.  Nor do they ask for school donations.  Most provide free housing for volunteers.  All are grateful to have them.

 So we can’t justify high prices for our services.  And we don’t see how others can either.  You are paying for an introduction to a good school and some support along the way.  Perhaps some teacher training and help with language and culture.  Period  Finding good schools and maintaining that network involves operating costs.  Training on the ground here in Thailand and providing temporary accommodation in Bangkok before you travel out to the school involve costs.

Placements of two weeks to two months should cost no more than $500 U. S.  for placement and training.  If you pay more than that, you need to find out why.   

So we can’t justify high prices for our services.  And we don’t see how others can either.  You are paying for an introduction to a good school and some support along the way.  Perhaps some teacher training and help with language and culture.  Period  Finding good schools and maintaining that network involves operating costs.  Training on the ground here in Thailand and providing temporary accommodation in Bangkok before you travel out to the school involve costs.

Placements of two weeks to two months should cost no more than $500 U. S.  for placement and training.  If you pay more than that, you need to find out why.   

Some firms charge higher prices because they have high overheads in their offices in America or Europe.  The services you need are here on the ground in Thailand.  But if you feel more comfortable with a bricks and mortar operation in your home country.  Fine.  Just know what you are paying for.    

Rule #2:  Check references.  Ask to be put in touch with school Directors and former volunteers.  If the agency is unwilling or unable.  Maybe you’ve stumbled onto one of the growing number of website agencies who don’t have anything behind their service.  You may have read on the internet stories about volunteers who pay a lot of money to be dropped off in front a school in the middle of nowhere.  Those things do happen. 

Ask them how they select their schools and where they are.  You don’t just want to teach.  You want to experience life in the community.  If your school doesn’t have a village you will feel isolated (and a little creepy at night).  If it’s not near a city or a local attraction, you won’t have anything to do on weekends. 

Rule #3:  Get at least a little bit of teacher training.  The worst thing you can do is to rush into a Thai classroom without knowing what to teach and how to teach it.  You won’t have any confidence and the children will know it.  You’ll never recover from that first day.  It’s also a good idea to get a little training about Thai etiquette and traditions.  Again, if you go into a small community you could risk offending someone without knowing what you don’t know.  All schools in Thailand are connected to a local Buddhist temple.  It is essential that you know etiquette required in a temple before you ever set foot in one.