Teaching English Volunteer Program in Thailand

Overview

Volunteering Solutions offers a Teaching English volunteer program in Thailand, where volunteers teach English to Thai students at one of the many different schools throughout the city of Chiang Mai. These schools range from having kindergarten, primary and/or secondary (or all three). Some of the schools are quite large, with over 1,000 students, whereas others are rather small, with only 100+ students.

In this project, your daily commute will carry you through some of central Chiang Mai’s most authentic neighbourhoods. All of the involved schools are in the city centre – most within the boundaries of the ancient moat. Some are part of larger temple complexes, complete with monastic communities and Buddhist shrines; others are stationed on dedicated school grounds. Each has its own dynamic, with anywhere from 100 to 1,000 students enrolled. Volunteers looking to teach English have the option to work at any grade level. Our local coordinators seek schools that have no foreign teachers on staff. This is a nice opportunity to gain international work experience for those on their gap year abroad. These are financially strapped public schools that are thrilled at the opportunity to welcome native English speakers.

In Thailand’s public schools, members of the English faculty are well versed in grammar and mechanics. If anything’s missing, it’s the fluency that develops through practice in a native-speaking environment. Regardless of your teaching background, your mere presence in these public schools gives students and faculty the chance to take their English skills out of the textbook and put them to work in the real world. However, there’s more to this arrangement than language arts. For many of these students, this is the only chance they have to meaningfully interact with a Westerner. The classroom is a world away from the tourist scene, and you’ll be in a unique position to influence the way these children grow up thinking about foreign cultures.

Volunteer Work Schedule

A typical volunteer schedule under this program is as follows;

Friday: Arrival in Chiang Mai
Saturday and Sunday : Volunteer Orientation, city tour and cultural activity. Volunteers also read through reports completed by past volunteers in the projects.

Monday - Volunteers begin service
On Monday, volunteer coordinators escort volunteers to their volunteer project location by local transportation and introduce them to the administration and staff of the school. More expectations, daily schedule, grade levels to be taught and other special activities and announcements with regards to volunteer’s and school’s schedule are discussed during this time.

Saturday and Sunday – Days off
Volunteers cannot go to the children’s home during the weekend. You can take part in other activities or take this time to relax or explore the city of Chiang Mai.

Note: Please note, the schedule may vary depending on the project placement and changes can be there due to local circumstances.

The Daily Schedule at the Schools is as follows ;

8:00am - Morning Assembly and Prayers
8:30 am - Classes begin
11:30 am - Lunch/Break
12:30 pm - Afternoon classes begin
4:00 pm - School ends for the day

Some of the schools require a volunteer to be there before 8.00 am to join morning assembly and prayers. It’s recommended to stay at the school during most of the day to get to know the staff and students as well as possible, but a volunteer is free to leave the school during times when they don't have classes, if they have something they would like to do off campus.

Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

Typical volunteer activities under the teaching volunteering program in Thailand include;

Assist the teachers to provide low cost teaching material and fun for the children
Teaching Conversational English to students
Assisting in other subjects such as computer teaching
Sharing new ideas with the students and exchanging their views on different topics
Creating a playful environment and enhance the creativity of the children through painting, playing games, singing

Project Requirement

Volunteers must be 18 years or older at the time of joining the project. Participants should have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. Volunteers need to be flexible and open-minded. You should also be proactive and have an ability to take initiative All volunteers must provide additional documents such as a clean criminal background check report, Resume/CV and passport copy prior to joining the program. You should be fluent in spoken and written English. Prior teaching experience is not mandatory.

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Living

Airport Transfer
Volunteers are picked up from the Chiang Mai International Airport in Chiang Mai by the coordinator or representative. Volunteers who’d be present already in Chiang Mai will be met by the staff at a designated meeting point decided beforehand. Please note that volunteers are provided pickup from the airport between 8am and 8pm only. In case you are arriving later than the scheduled pickup time, you are recommended to book your stay at a hotel near the airport and the local team will arrange your pickup from the hotel the next morning.

Orientation
All volunteers are provided with an extensive two day orientation including a city tour before starting their project work. The Orientation session covers areas like, local Thai culture, greetings, locations, transportation etc. Volunteers are also given a half day city tour of Chiang Mai and are given a cultural welcome dinner to make them feel immersed in the local culture.

Accommodation
Volunteers are provided accommodation in one of the two volunteer’s homes in Chiang Mai. Both the houses are located in close proximity to each other. Accommodation is shared with other volunteers. Nestled in the vibrant heart of the city, the two volunteer houses are just minutes apart, offering comfortable, air-conditioned bedrooms that can accommodate up to more than 30 participants. The houses offer facilities such as wireless internet, fully equipped kitchens, living room, washing machine for laundry, toilets and showers as well as air conditioned rooms. The accommodations have a large comfortable living room in which you can relax,watch movies or just surf the internet in your free time. The local coordinating team is available easily as the coordinating office is also located within one of the houses.The coordinators ensure that your project runs smoothly. Numerous restaurants, cafes, convenience stores as well as laundry facilities are located within a short distance.

Local Transportation
Airport pick up, the city tour and the transportation to and from the cultural show and welcome dinner are covered in the program fee. Volunteers in the Teaching Volunteer Project are responsible for their daily commute to and from the Volunteer House and their school. Volunteers are expected to pay anywhere between $1.50- $3.00 per day for transportation. Although all the schools where volunteers work are a decent walk from the house,many volunteers take this on foot option to take in more of Chiang Mai during their service. On your first day of your project, the volunteer coordinator will escort you to your school and introduce you to the administration at the school.Volunteers travel with the coordinator on that day by local transportation in an attempt to teach volunteers how to get to the school and back by themselves on the following days of their volunteer service.

Meals
All ingredients for breakfast are provided and volunteers can cook their own breakfast at the volunteer home. Essential supplies such as bread, butter, eggs, coffee, tea, fruits are provided at the accommodation and participants cook their own breakfast.

Lunch is usually taken at the project site on weekdays and for dinner you can choose to head out to numerous restaurants and cafes in Chiang Mai city. The city has so much to explore and volunteers love to go out and explore the numerous restaurants and cafes in the close vicinity of the volunteer accommodation. During weekends volunteers need to buy both lunch and dinner on their own.

During your Free Time
Volunteers can take part in the Thai Cookery classes or Thai Massage course which are available all around Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai also boasts of restaurants of every international cuisine. During the weekends, you can travel to the cities of Pai,Chiang Rai or fly down to the capital city of Bangkok. Some volunteers also head down south to Phuket for a short break in the islands and to explore the beaches.

Chiang Mai, Thailand- Chiang Mai, Thailand

Dates

November

December

January

May

June

July

August

October

November

December

Available

Filling Fast

Booked Out

Costs

Duration	Program Fee	Choose your currency
2 Weeks	$790
3 Weeks	$870
4 Weeks	$970
5 Weeks	$1080
6 Weeks	$1190
7 Weeks	$1300
8 Weeks	$1410
Extra Week	$175

Please Note: An application fee of is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment.

What are you Paying for?

24 hrs Assistance and support from Staff
Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
Airport Pickup
2 Day Orientation and half day city tour
Cultural Dinner and Show
Food - 2 meals a day
Accommodation in Volunteer House
Travel & Medical Insurance (Available at an extra cost)
Certificate of Participation (On Request)

What's NOT included?

Airfare
Visa Fee
Return Airport Drop
Local Transportation
Vaccinations

FAQ's

Application and Program Details

How long will it take to process my application? Will my application be accepted?: After you complete your application, your personalized ‘My Account’ will be activated.You will need to upload your CV/Resume along with your photo in the same. Our backend team and the placement site takes around 10-12 days to review your application. After we review your CV and documents,your booking is confirmed and booking confirmation is updated in your ‘My Account’. Some projects need mandatory criminal background check and the same is mentioned in the project info of your program. Approval of your application depends on your qualification and eligibility criteria for each project.
How much of ‘hands on’ work experience will I get from the Medical Internship?: As a medical intern, you will be working under a professional doctor. You will be assisting the doctor in various medical practices, observing the processes and would also be allowed to shadow them in critical surgeries or operations. Some pre-meds will be allowed to handle the procedures, depending on your skill set and knowledge level and confidence of the doctor on you.
Does VolSol provides with a reference or a certificate after program completion?: Yes, we will provide you with the Certificate after successful completion of your program. The certificate is provided on request.
When do I need to arrive in Chiang Mai for my program? What will happen once I arrive here?: Volunteers are provided with the airport pick up from the Chiang Mai International Airport by the coordinator or representative. Volunteers already in Chiang Mai will be met by the staff at a designated meeting point decided beforehand.

Please note that volunteers are provided with the airport pickup from the airport between 8 AM and 8 PM only. The volunteers are advised to book their flights accordingly.
What are the benefits of doing an internship with VolSol?: Some major benefits include:

Working in a live environment and gaining hands-on medical experience

Being able to work with minimum resources available and help out the ones in need

Being able to work with patients of different cultures and understand cultural dynamics of a new city or country

Being able to travel during weekends and in the evenings to explore your destination
For how many hours will I volunteer every day?: VolSol volunteers usually work for 5 to 6 hours a day depending on their program type. You will have weekends off so you can go for traveling on weekends. However, in some projects, you will have to work on Saturdays as well.
Will VolSol provide discount if I choose more than one program or if I am a returning volunteer?: If you are planning to come for multiple programs in your trip, you will have to pay the application fees just once. Your application fee is valid for a year's time (from the date of applying). You will not have to pay the application fees again if you come within the mentioned time frame.

For our returning volunteers, $50 discount is provided for the application fee for their next Vol Sol program.
Are there any necessary requirements to participate in the internship programs?: Minimum age requirement to participate in any of the programs in Chiang Mai is 18 years and above.

For medical and healthcare interns:

Age limit is 20 years and above

Statement of motivation is required

Interns have to submit a CV/Resume

Letter of recommendation from medical professional/doctor (you’ve worked with earlier) is also needed

Interns are required to give a list of their preferred departments, where they would like to work in the hospital

For Journalism Internship program, requirements are as follows:

You need to be 18 years and above

You need to provide a Statement of Motivation

Resume/ CV and photo is needed

Interns are required to submit 2 samples of their writings and published work
When should I apply for the volunteer programs in Chiang Mai, Thailand?: As we have limited spots available in our programs and we serve on first come first basis, it is recommended that potential volunteers book their programs well in advance to get confirmed placements. You can book your slot by filling the application form online and pay the application fee of $250 You can pay your program fee later and also, in installments. However, the complete payment should be made 45 days prior to the starting date of the program. If you are volunteering in a group, you can also fill a group application form.
What is the difference between an internship and medical volunteering project?: Medical internships are recommended for pre-meds, nursing and healthcare students. These internships are designed to gain experience and insight into global health and also help you gain a mature understanding of the healthcare field. Interns are placed in the various hospital departments and work under professional doctors and nurses.

Medical volunteering, on the other hand, is valid for all practicing doctors and healthcare professionals. 3rd and 4th-year medical students are eligible for both the projects, i.e. medical volunteering as well as internships.

This, however, is destination specific and you must consult the program advisor before booking.
Can I volunteer as part of a group?: We encourage our participants to volunteer in a group. We take special care in providing you a placement and also customize your itinerary to make sure you get exactly what you are looking for. Also, we can design special group programs for groups of 5 or more. Our programs are designed to be safe, affordable and offer a great group volunteering experience to the volunteers.

In our experience of more than 12+ years we have enabled and facilitated volunteer program placements for college groups, university groups, high school groups, group of families, group of couples as well as groups of colleagues.

Health and Safety

What immunizations/vaccinations will I need?: Carry general medicines with you, other than that consult your doctor before flying. We recommend these basic vaccinations for your safety:

Hepatitis A and B

Typhoid
Do I need to buy a health insurance?: Yes, for all volunteers it is mandatory to have a travel medical insurance. To provide the best option to our participants, we offer comprehensive insurance coverage in collaboration with a leading insurance provider.
How safe is Thailand, and Chiang Mai in particular?: Thailand is one of the most popular destinations in the World and attracts liable travelers all around the year. The locals are friendly and helpful as well; however, it is recommended to consult your in-country coordinators before you step out alone or go to any other locations in Chiang Mai. Also, it is recommended to be with your group whenever you venture out or stay out late in the night. It is strongly recommended to follow the safety rules and regulations provided by the in-country coordinator.

Accommodation and Living

Can vegetarians be accommodated?: Yes – please do ensure that you inform the local team about your food preference and they can help you to try the best food available. Also, please do mention your specific food preference in the application form as well.
Which all places can I explore during my trip?: Some of the places you can visit include Wat Chedi Luang, Chiang Mai Cabaret show, 3D art Museum, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Museum of World Insects and Natural Wonders, Catmosphere Cat Cafe Chiang Mai, Wattana Art Gallery, Wat Phra Singh and more.

If you are planning to head out of the city on the weekends, you can go to Pai or Lampang or even head out to Bangkok for a short 2-day trip.
Would I have free time during my program? Can I do sightseeing during my program?: Depending on your project, VolSol volunteers are required to put around 5-6 hours of volunteer work for 5 days a week. Evenings and Weekends are free for you to roam around and indulge in your personal work or activity.

We encourage our volunteers to travel. We have designed various weekend tours which can be booked under the Add-on Tours section in your ‘My Account’. Your in-country coordinator will also help you book and organize the tours once you are in Chiang Mai.
How do I get to the program location?: Your program coordinator will take you to your program location and introduce you to everyone after giving you a basic orientation about the program/city/culture etc. You will also be told about the local transportation and how to get to your project every day from the accommodation.
What sort of clothes are required for Chiang Mai?: Lightweight clothing and rainwear is recommended for the day and warmer items of clothing for the evening (light jacket and/or light sweaters). A pair of walking shoes is highly recommended as well.

Sandals or flip flops are comfortable options and will come in handy as well.

For those traveling between November and February, please note, that the evenings can get cool, so a sweater/light jacket will come in very handy.

Medical Interns need to carry their scrub, lab coats and professional clothing as the program requirement. More details will be provided to enrolled participants in their pre-departure booklets.
Where can I change my money in Chiang Mai?: There are ample money exchange counters at the Chiang Mai International Airport. You can change money at any bank or at the airport by showing your passport. There are ATMs located all around the city. You will not face any problems in regards to changing money while in Chiang Mai.
Can I know more about accommodation and food arrangements?: In Chiang Mai, volunteers are provided accommodation in Volunteer’s house.

Located in a convenient area in the middle of Chiang Mai city, our volunteer houses are only minutes apart from each other and can accommodate up to 35 people in air-conditioned bedrooms. Both the volunteer houses have wireless internet, fully equipped kitchens as well as washing machines for volunteers’ convenience.

Breakfast is self-made and volunteers are provided with all the resources to cook their own breakfast. Lunch is usually at the project site and for dinner, you can go out with other participants and enjoy the Thai cuisine in one of the many restaurants in the city.

Flights and Visa

Does Volunteering Solutions help with Visa?: Most volunteers participating in a short-term volunteer travel experience in Thailand can enter the country on a 30 days tourist Visa which is available to a majority of nationalities on arrival at the airport itself. It is also possible to attain a 60 days tourist Visa prior to the arrival in Thailand.

We can help you attain 90 days Non-Immigrant Visa as well. However, this takes longer time to apply for and requires a lot of paperwork. Please contact us for further information on the same.

Please Note: During your time of volunteering, if you leave Thailand (for example: to spend a weekend in Cambodia and Laos), it will be your responsibility to re-enter Thailand and get the relevant Visa at the border.

Also, note that the maximum duration of Visa at the Surin - Cambodia border is for 15 days.
What are the recommended inexpensive airline options to reach Thailand?: Although all major carriers fly to Thailand, we recommend the following:

Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Tigerair flights, Dragonair flights, Bangkok Airways, AirAsia, Korean Air, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Air China flights, Thai AirAsia, SilkAir.

Connect with Past Volunteers

How can I connect with past Volunteering Solutions Chiang Mai alumni as well as other former and current volunteers?: We encourage volunteers to get in touch with former Volunteering Solutions participants and also other program participants joining our projects. You are recommended to join the Volunteering">https://www.facebook.com/VolunteeringSolutions/">Volunteering Solutions Facebook Page or Facebook">https://www.facebook.com/groups/volunteeringsolutions/">Facebook Group to connect with other participants.

To read alumni interviews from past participants, visit ?the Meet">https://www.volunteeringsolutions.com/meet-a-volunteer">Meet a Volunteer section on our website.