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hellasnut
Joined: 09 Oct 2004
Posts: 18
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 Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 9:27 am Post subject: Doing some volunteer teaching in Thailand............ |
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I have been looking at workaway.info site as a means of volunteering and visiting Thailand and getting involved in teaching in a school. Most volunteer positions require about 3-4 hours a day tuition max. A Thai suggested it to be a good way of experiencing the real Thailand/ and Thai people.
Anybody been through this website, or got any ideas for me, or been volunteering themselves ??
Any drawbacks/snags with this sort of thing............any advice greatfully received.................. |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 11:25 am Post subject: Re: Doing some volunteer teaching in Thailand............ |
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| hellasnut wrote: |
I have been looking at workaway.info site as a means of volunteering and visiting Thailand and getting involved in teaching in a school. Most volunteer positions require about 3-4 hours a day tuition max. A Thai suggested it to be a good way of experiencing the real Thailand/ and Thai people.
Anybody been through this website, or got any ideas for me, or been volunteering themselves ??
Any drawbacks/snags with this sort of thing............any advice greatfully received.................. |
Want to volunteer, get yourself a 60-day tourist visa, fly to Thailand, pick a temple school and apply. After they take you on you can change your status from tourist to non-O. Then you get your WP and extend your visa out to 1 year. Then extend your WP and have a great year.
It costs you nothing other than basic living expenses (or you can live at the temple for free) and your travel/visa costs.
DON'T be paying anyone for the "privilege" of working as a volunteer. Those places are, by and large, a scam.
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hellasnut
Joined: 09 Oct 2004
Posts: 18
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| Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 8:26 am Post subject: Thanks for the advice |
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As far as I'm aware the workaway volunteering doesn't involve paying, apart from the fee to use the website. One place mentioned payment, but the other posts did not. A lot of the volunteering on the site was out in the provinces in large middle schools.
Problem is, with what you've suggested, is that I've never been to Thailand and would probably find it difficult finding my way around, initially.
What area would I go to ? for a start................
Do I just wander into a temple school and ask, or would I send a letter.
tttomplatz - you make it sound so easy !!
I get what you're saying though, it sounds really good. |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 12:29 pm Post subject: Re: Thanks for the advice |
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| hellasnut wrote: |
As far as I'm aware the workaway volunteering doesn't involve paying, apart from the fee to use the website. One place mentioned payment, but the other posts did not. A lot of the volunteering on the site was out in the provinces in large middle schools.
Problem is, with what you've suggested, is that I've never been to Thailand and would probably find it difficult finding my way around, initially.
What area would I go to ? for a start................
Do I just wander into a temple school and ask, or would I send a letter.
tttomplatz - you make it sound so easy !!
I get what you're saying though, it sounds really good. |
It really is that easy.
Get off the plane. Spend a day or two in the big city (you are a tourist).
Pick a direction. Grab a van or a bus.
There are temples everywhere.
Most of them are associated with a school.
Landing here and getting a job in a government or temple school is about as hard as stepping off a curb.
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hellasnut
Joined: 09 Oct 2004
Posts: 18
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| Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 8:37 am Post subject: Have done some research |
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and it looks/sounds like a really good thing to do.
But - where should I go?
I wouldn't be able to stay at a temple, being female - so I would have to factor that into it.
I have looked at Ban Phe/Rayong as it's close to the sea ( I love my swimming) but I don't want too much of the tourism thing.
I'm probably coming across as fussy now...........which I'm not..........would just like to be nearish to the coast - any ideas? Or is the coastal area out of the question completely?
Could I look at the Rayong province ? Would it be a good idea ?
And, would it be better for me to stay, initially, in a guest house or hotel?
Sorry - too many questions..............
You make it sound too easy tttompatz !!!!!
There MUST be a catch.................. |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 9:07 am Post subject: Re: Have done some research |
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| hellasnut wrote: |
and it looks/sounds like a really good thing to do.
But - where should I go?
I wouldn't be able to stay at a temple, being female - so I would have to factor that into it.
I have looked at Ban Phe/Rayong as it's close to the sea ( I love my swimming) but I don't want too much of the tourism thing.
I'm probably coming across as fussy now...........which I'm not..........would just like to be nearish to the coast - any ideas? Or is the coastal area out of the question completely?
Could I look at the Rayong province ? Would it be a good idea ?
And, would it be better for me to stay, initially, in a guest house or hotel?
Sorry - too many questions..............
You make it sound too easy tttompatz !!!!!
There MUST be a catch.................. |
Where = pick a direction, catch a bus and head that way.
You could look at any province that isn't (like the gulf the islands, Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai, etc) overrun with tourists.
Where to stay would depend on where you go to; smaller places may not have much for "hotels" but there are always options and outside of major tourist areas the accommodation is usually pretty cheap. Once you settle, a room/apartment/house will cost you about 3000 baht per month out in the provinces.
As to the catch, yup, there is a big one (actually 4 big ones).
i) You need to get a 60-day, double entry tourist visa from home before you leave.
ii) You need to have enough cash to sustain yourself for a few months.
iii) You should have a return ticket to home and
iv) You need the guts to get on the plane and start your adventure (otherwise you are no different than any other tourist).
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KingofScotland
Joined: 01 Oct 2011
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 3:33 pm Post subject: |
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Also check out:
HelpX
WWOOFing
Both websites that allow you to connect with people needing volunteers in exchange for accomodation and food. Lots of farms, some eco projects, retreats, resorts, people with patches of land who want to turn it into something etc.
You're talking about 'temple schools' here, what exactly do you mean? |
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hellasnut
Joined: 09 Oct 2004
Posts: 18
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| Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 11:26 am Post subject: Thanks for the information tttompatz................ |
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need to do some preparation................having a look at the thai language at present..............need to be able to communicate.
Biggest point is:- Having the guts to get on the plane............like it.
I don't want to be just another tourist............been there done that in Greece................want to get involved.
Thanks ttompatz..............it will be a steep learning curve.
I will probably take some time initially to get acclimatised to the new environment and then take the plunge. |
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hellasnut
Joined: 09 Oct 2004
Posts: 18
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| Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 12:35 pm Post subject: Thanks also for the web addresses |
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Had a look at helpx - interesting, seems like a good site.
I may be wrong but Temple schools are schools allied/ attaced to a temple and Temples help/ have helped in the education of Thai children. |
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KingofScotland
Joined: 01 Oct 2011
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 7:53 pm Post subject: |
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That workaway site is great too btw, didn't know about that one but saw some good projects there and will definitely be looking to get involved when I return to Thailand.  |
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hellasnut
Joined: 09 Oct 2004
Posts: 18
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| Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 1:23 pm Post subject: Workaway site |
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Did some research on that one...........it does seem to be ok, going on feedback from a few people...................
Not sure about the woofer site............not very user friendly...........and I'm looking to maybe do a few different things to help out............don't mind really, within reason, what I do; but the teaching does appeal as I have experience of that, albeit, not in Thailand. |
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hellasnut
Joined: 09 Oct 2004
Posts: 18
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| Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 4:40 pm Post subject: Area around Hua Hin. |
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| Would it be worth considering this area? |
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hellasnut
Joined: 09 Oct 2004
Posts: 18
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| Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2011 2:00 pm Post subject: Also looking at............. |
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Prachuap khiri khan, Chumphon and Ranong.
Still doing research.
Hua Hin may be too touristy and too close to Bangkok. |
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plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
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| Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2011 6:40 am Post subject: |
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| They are looking for ESL Volunteers at the Don Muang airport area. Contact a guy called Spider at 0868942008 or (66)868942008 if outside of Thailand. |
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