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Thailand

Gap Year Teaching and Project Work Experience Among the Hill Tribes of Northern Thailand - Teaching English and building work in small rural schools close to the Burma border.

Where?

Ban Thaton is about one and a half hours' drive west from Chiang Rai, or three hours north of Chiang Mai. It nestles in the Fang Valley, very close to the border with Myanmar (Burma). The valley forms a bowl full of orange groves and paddy fields whilst the river, once the ‘road’ when boats were the main transport, still frequently provides the quickest way between villages. Our villages and schools are in the foothills at the edge of the bowl. (Map >>) –

Outline Experience

What?

The Thai schools’ English syllabus is entirely an exercise in writing, so neither teachers nor children get a chance to speak it. That’s where you come in! You teach each class in your school twice or three times per week, helping the Thai English teacher with pronunciation and giving the children a massive boost in confidence. You may be asked by teachers and villagers to run separate classes for them. You can also play sports with the children (each school has a pitch at its centre) or perhaps help with art.

In exchange, teachers will explain the Thai way of life and traditions and, perhaps, teach you some Thai dancing or Takraw (a sort of cross between volleyball and football). After two months in the villages, you join the end of term celebrations and change jobs!

Gap Year Living

You and your partner will share a house. Types available vary – some are traditional wooden Thai houses and some more modern and brick built. Houses have a living room, a bedroom, kitchen area and bathroom. Thais are very hygiene-conscious, so bathrooms are usually very clean. The school will give you lunch, but you will have to buy and cook your own breakfast and supper – or eat from the small food stalls and restaurants in the village; they are incredibly cheap and great value for money.

Gap Year Safari

After your project work has finished, you can travel south, via Bangkok, to the island of Koh Tao. Here the team at Big Blue Diving will take you through the PADI Open Water Basic qualification. Conversion to the Advanced qualification is optional, but with it you can dive almost worldwide. Those already qualified or who don’t want to dive should discuss options with us.

Gap Year Travel

After diving you can either move on to more of Thailand’s incomparable beaches or visit some of the neighbouring countries: Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia or, further afield, Vietnam, Singapore or China.

And Afterwards...

If you're like 99% of those who have been before you, you'll agree that it will have been the best four months of your life so far. You'll find leaving difficult...and returning easy!  We say that "Once an AV, always an AV!" What this means is that you will be joining an exclusive club that will be there for you to help out if you ever get into difficulties and will always be pleased to see you again in Thailand.

Take a look at our Thailand video! Click here

See our Useful Stuff page for lots more information.

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