Teach English at a village in Thailand
| country: | Thailand |
| location: | Thai hill tribes, Northern Thailand |
| departures: | Group departures of this itinerary run throughout the year and it can also be run as a tailor-made trip to suit your requirements. Please contact us for more details. |
| price: | From £320 (7 days) to £640 (14 days) excluding flights, on twin sharing basis. Subsequent weeks are £250 per week. We can offer advice on flights from the UK |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Karen Hilltribe village at Ban Pa Do Tha
This home-stay program has been developed to give you the opportunity to experience Thai culture in an authentic and inexpensive way. As well as teaching English, you will have the opportunity to learn more about the traditional life of the Karen people; try your hand at learning how to cook in the local style; assist with various household and farming activities; and enjoy the natural beauty of this unspoilt area.
About the Area
The village where you will be staying is a large and ancient Karen settlement in the district of Umphang in north-western Thailand. Getting here can be quite an adventure in itself and usually involves an overnight bus from Bangkok followed by a jeep which will take you deeper into the hills to reach the village. (Note: As this project is located such a distance from Bangkok and it can also take a little time to settle in/get to know the villagers, we do recommend a minimum stay of 2 weeks, however, you are welcome to stay for less if you are happy to accept these limitations.)
The village is situated on the edge one of the richest forests in the country, home to many wild animals including wild elephants, leopards, langurs, bison, bears, tigers, apes and many others. It is also the habitat for many species of butterflies and birds including the rare hornbill. There are many lovely waterfalls in the area including Tee Low Soo, which is claimed by many to be the most beautiful waterfall in Thailand.
The local people here make their living, by caring for their elephants, which are used for transport; they also do hand weaving as well as growing rice and chilli both for local use and to sell in the markets whenever there is a surplus available. Most Karen villages are built entirely from natural materials and the villagers here happily co-exist in harmony with the natural riches which surround them. The mountainous area is rich with streams, irrigation canals, rivers, rice fields, fruit orchards and vegetable gardens.
On a day-to-day basis, you will be expected to help teach the local children English and to help out with farming and home activities. As most children do not speak any English yet, you’ll have to be a little creative with your teaching methods and we’ll be happy to assist with some suggestions for this if necessary.
Teaching here is generally done on a fairly informal basis so as long as you are fairly confident, you don't need any advance training. What is most important to the villagers is the opportunity to hear English spoken by those whose mother tongue is English... Many local teachers are Thai themselves and tend to have quite strong Thai accents so the chance to spend a few days hearing English spoken is invaluable to them.
Evenings and weekends are free. You may choose to stay in the village, enjoying the warmth and hospitality of the local people, as you quickly become part of the extended family with whom you live. You may also like to explore the local area where you will find a number of caves, temples and the stunning Tee-Law-Soo waterfall. (If required, we can also arrange local guides to join you on these nature trips.)
accommodation Accommodation is very basic. You will stay in the bamboo house of a local family. You will receive a handmade mat to sleep on, clean bedding and a mosquito net. Toilets are “Asian” style and there may be no shower, but clean, cold water is always available to wash yourself with – although many people choose to bathe in the river nearby.
Meals
Your homestay family will take good care of you. You will be served a variety of Thai local dishes 3 times a day. Cold water, tea and coffee are freely available; soft drinks and alcohol can be purchased in the village.
Important note
Please note that this project is in quite a remote location and, although you don't need to speak Thai since English speaking assistance is always available, there are times when you may be the only volunteer at the project... This, combined with the almost inevitable culture shock, does mean that this is a fairly adventurous volunteering option which is more likely to appeal to those with at least some previous travelling experience or couples/families/groups of friends looking for a unique, sometimes challenging but ultimately highly rewarding adventure. (Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you’d like more information in order to assess whether this is likely to be the right opportunity for you.)
This home-stay program has been developed to give you the opportunity to experience Thai culture in an authentic and inexpensive way. As well as teaching English, you will have the opportunity to learn more about the traditional life of the Karen people; try your hand at learning how to cook in the local style; assist with various household and farming activities; and enjoy the natural beauty of this unspoilt area.
About the Area
The village where you will be staying is a large and ancient Karen settlement in the district of Umphang in north-western Thailand. Getting here can be quite an adventure in itself and usually involves an overnight bus from Bangkok followed by a jeep which will take you deeper into the hills to reach the village. (Note: As this project is located such a distance from Bangkok and it can also take a little time to settle in/get to know the villagers, we do recommend a minimum stay of 2 weeks, however, you are welcome to stay for less if you are happy to accept these limitations.)
The village is situated on the edge one of the richest forests in the country, home to many wild animals including wild elephants, leopards, langurs, bison, bears, tigers, apes and many others. It is also the habitat for many species of butterflies and birds including the rare hornbill. There are many lovely waterfalls in the area including Tee Low Soo, which is claimed by many to be the most beautiful waterfall in Thailand.
The local people here make their living, by caring for their elephants, which are used for transport; they also do hand weaving as well as growing rice and chilli both for local use and to sell in the markets whenever there is a surplus available. Most Karen villages are built entirely from natural materials and the villagers here happily co-exist in harmony with the natural riches which surround them. The mountainous area is rich with streams, irrigation canals, rivers, rice fields, fruit orchards and vegetable gardens.
itinerary
Our guide will meet you in Bangkok and escort you on the overnight journey to the village. He will also explain about the ethnic minority groups that inhabit the area as well as the social and political situation in Burma. You'll learn about the history of the Karen people, about their customs and religion and about the role that tourism plays in their current lives. On a day-to-day basis, you will be expected to help teach the local children English and to help out with farming and home activities. As most children do not speak any English yet, you’ll have to be a little creative with your teaching methods and we’ll be happy to assist with some suggestions for this if necessary.
Teaching here is generally done on a fairly informal basis so as long as you are fairly confident, you don't need any advance training. What is most important to the villagers is the opportunity to hear English spoken by those whose mother tongue is English... Many local teachers are Thai themselves and tend to have quite strong Thai accents so the chance to spend a few days hearing English spoken is invaluable to them.
Evenings and weekends are free. You may choose to stay in the village, enjoying the warmth and hospitality of the local people, as you quickly become part of the extended family with whom you live. You may also like to explore the local area where you will find a number of caves, temples and the stunning Tee-Law-Soo waterfall. (If required, we can also arrange local guides to join you on these nature trips.)
accommodation Meals
Your homestay family will take good care of you. You will be served a variety of Thai local dishes 3 times a day. Cold water, tea and coffee are freely available; soft drinks and alcohol can be purchased in the village.
Important note
Please note that this project is in quite a remote location and, although you don't need to speak Thai since English speaking assistance is always available, there are times when you may be the only volunteer at the project... This, combined with the almost inevitable culture shock, does mean that this is a fairly adventurous volunteering option which is more likely to appeal to those with at least some previous travelling experience or couples/families/groups of friends looking for a unique, sometimes challenging but ultimately highly rewarding adventure. (Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you’d like more information in order to assess whether this is likely to be the right opportunity for you.)
how this holiday makes a difference
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The village school here currently has about 14 pupils in two separate classes but only one regular teacher who somehow manages to divide her time between the two! From this, you’ll quickly realise that an extra pair of hands/eyes are always welcome even if it’s just to help supervise one of the classes and if you can also teach them some English along the way, you can be assured of a very warm welcome indeed.
In Thailand, a knowledge of the English language is considered invaluable, not only for those interested in working in tourism but almost any good job and therefore, learning this skill is considered to be one of THE best ways of improving future career prospects for the local children. That said, unfortunately, teaching standards in small village schools are often quite poor – frequently local teachers themselves have never heard English spoken by a native speaker which means that your contribution – even for just a couple of weeks - really can help to make a real difference. As well as teaching, the villagers can always use your help with farming and general household activities, not to mention the fact that the price you pay for your accommodation/meals also provides a valuable additional income to the family you visit. By volunteering in this way, you will experience the real Thailand in a way few visitors can. Meeting, working, and living with local people will be a great reward in itself, both for you and the villagers! |
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