• Teaching English
• Summer English Camps
• Teaching Assistant Bangkok
  

Teaching English

Zeba - Feb 10

"My time spent on the island of Koh Phangan has been an unforgettable experience. The beautiful weather, culture shock, warm and friendly locals and mouth watering food have definitely been the highlights of my trip.

The whole experience from start to finish has been an incredible one. For me, the best part of the trip was the teaching itself. The children in Haad Rin school are literally the cutest I've ever come accross in my life and the staff were great too! It really was a pleasure to teach there.

Erng, our main point of contact became a great friend and was always there to help if ever in doubt.

I would 100% recommend this programme to others as a great way to combine travel and teaching together.

I found PoD to be the most economical organisation doing this type of placement and I thoroughly enjoyed myself out there."

Harriet - Feb 10

"Really enjoyed my time in Koh Phangan, was easier than I expected to adjust to life and teaching on the island, especially with the help of Erng. Loved all the kids in the school and made some good friendships with the other volunteeers and didnt want to leave at the end of our 4 weeks."

Paris - Dec 09

"My time in Koh Phangan was life changing to say the least. Everything about my time there far surpassed my expectations. Erng was an incredible host and person to have providing support throughout my stay. She was friendly, accessible, compassionate, intelligent, and so loving. I felt comfortable seeking her out for anything/everything that I might need. I enjoyed both learning from her and spending time with her recreationally.

The others in the program were friendly and I had a lot of time to get to know them. I am from America and found the diversity to be so refreshing. I only met 2 other Americans my whole 2 months in Thailand!

The actual teaching was challenging at first but once I got comfortable it was so much fun. The children are so beautiful, playful, and willing to learn. Because of my small class sizes, I was able to get to know individual students and build relationships with them. I was nervous to teach on my own at first, but I did not feel pressured or stressed; just free to create my own lesson plans and enjoy my time with my classes. The only challenging part about the teaching was not being able to speak Thai to the children. I think at times it would be helpful to have someone like Erng around who could translate and help communicate between me and the class.

I don't think I even need to elaborate on how incredibly beautiful Koh Phangan is. What a blessing to wake up to the sun over the ocean every morning and be able to do yoga on the beach. The hours of teaching were limited which allowed me to explore the island and other parts of Thailand as well. One weekend a teacher and I went to Krabi, Rai Lay Beach, and Koh Phi Phi and then returned in time for our Monday classes.

In going out into the community, I found people to be so friendly and welcoming. I made friends with many local business owners who respected me simply because I was a volunteer with PoD.

I would not trade my experience for anything and I cannot wait to return to Koh Phangan to visit all my friends there."

Mike - Sep 09 (volunteered in 07)

"I was on your teaching programme in the Summer '07.  Not sure if you remember me (Irish Lad - taught in SriThanu school). I'm currently in placement with VSO in Kenya (Mombasa) and I'm presuing a career in International development work. I have been meaning to drop you an email for a while to thank you for the experience in Thailand.  It gave me the confidence to choose fulltime volunteering. Hope life is being good to you. Take care"

Antony - May 09

"The 10 weeks that I spent on the Koh Phangan placement where definitely a life changing and amazing experience. From the moment of meeting everyone, to waving everybody off at Thongsala pier. The teaching in the schools is not exactly what I expected at first, but still very enjoyable and extremely educational. I think at first you have to remember that the schooling system in Thailand is very different from the U.K's. Some of there ideas of classes may come as a surprise, but after a while you know what is expected of you and what to expect! I've made some great friends, from other PoD volunteers to the Thai locals and feel like I came part of the community. I would like to thank everyone at PoD for making everything possible. I just can wait to get back to Thailand now!"

Emma - May 09

"PoD are an excellent company, very reliable, knowledgable and the staff in-country couldn't have been better. Probably the best experience i've ever had..."

Mustansar - Jan 09

"After the teaching placement on Koh Phangan had finished, I travelled on to Krabi and also went to Chiang Mai. I returned safely to London on the Friday that just passed.

I wanted to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to you, Alex and everybody else that played a part in me receiving the best experience that I have had in my life thus far. It was an amazing opportunity for me to help other people as well as being able to develop my personal skills, resulting in an invaluable experience.

If it wasn't for Subai being as welcoming as she was when I first met her in Bangkok, or if I didn't have the knowledge that both Erng and Subia were there to help on the Island, I wouldn't have settled in as quickly as I did and the experience would not have been what it was. It was also very nice to put a face to the emails when I met both you and Alex, and if you could extend my gratitude to Subai and Erng it would be most appreciated."

Emma - May 08

"The placement was well organised and all expectations were met, we felt very welcomed and the amount of teaching per week was appropriate.

The island accommodation was amazing, beautiful, safe, in a perfect location.

Quality of support in-country - absolutely outstanding and very reassuring to know we had 'friends' on the island. Erng & Subai were considerate, friendly, supoprtive and included us in so much. They were always contactable but also let us do our own thing.

I think it was good value for money and comforting to know that so much is taken care of within the cost. 

I would definitely recommend PoD to others for a number of reasons - professionalism and client focus of organisation (and friendliness too!), the varied and colourful content of the trip itself - a brilliant experience."

Samantha - Oct 07

"I also wanted to just give you and your team a big thank you for being so great with us over the past few months. Subai and Erng have been the best reps and have made us feel welcome and helped us whenever we needed it. I know it has been a great comfort to us all here and my family at home knowing that we have such a great support network. I am grateful also for your speedy responses to any of my questions it has made things a lot easier.

We all enjoyed school so much. The children are such eye openers. I feel that schools like Maduawan do need extra help as their confidence in English is very low so it was a pleasure to have fun with them and try and get them out of their shells.

The island is a beautiful setting and the accommodation was perfect we are very grateful for such a lovely place to stay. The whole PoD package was well organised and included so much that all of us will definitely be thinking of doing a placement with you again."

Cal - May 08

"I really enjoyed my time in Thailand. The island is beautiful, the people are friendly and the weather is (usually) great.

Subai and Erng are two of the nicest people you will ever meet, they were our local POD Staff, but also our friends.

The accommodation was really comfortable and there were shops, cafes and restaurants nearby.

The school was very welcoming and the students were energetic to say the least, but they were fun and they were all excited to have us volunteers there. We had the support of the local teachers, there was always somebody close at hand if we needed anything.

For anyone going on this placement, I’d recommend they visit Franck’s Restaurant in Thongsala and Milky Bay Resort in Baan Tai. Thong Nai Pan is a nice beach to chill out, and The Bow and Arrow Club in Chaloklam is fun and cheap if you want to try archery (talk about cheap plugs).

I would recommend the experience to anybody, and I will never forget my time there."

Alex - Oct 07

"I wanted to say how much I've enjoyed the past two months on Koh Phangan. I will really miss Wat Rat as I thoroughly enjoyed my placement there. The teachers and the students were so welcoming, and Belinda and I were treated to a meal by the teachers when we left, which was very lovely of them.

I also wanted to say how well looked after we've been by Erng, Subai and yourselves, and how organised the whole placement was. Your speedy replies via e-mail and the knowledge that Erng or Subai were only a few minutes away made our time on Koh Phangan a lot easier, and more enjoyable.

I will really miss Subai and Erng! And I hope the new volunteers have as good a time as we did. I know they are arriving on Koh Phangan today, and I am very envious! Thanks again."

Megan - Jan 08

"After trailing through countless websites and brochures of Gap Year organisations, I came across PoD, and after that I stopped looking! PoD appealed to me because it was a small organisation and offered exactly the kind of project I was looking for. PoD was great from the start, they were always ready to answer any questions, and were extremely helpful in getting me prepared for my trip.

This was my first time alone, and going away for four months seemed pretty daunting. However the only obstacle I had to tackle alone was getting from the airport to the hotel, which was easy. Subai and Erng (Thai PoD representatives) met me there and soon we became one big happy family. There were seven other girls, and even though we were a complete mix of ages we got on brilliantly. We spent a week in Bangkok, on a short TEFL course, this was quite intensive and not always enjoyable but it was useful for when we began teaching.

Koh Phangan is a beautiful island, and it really did become ‘home’. It has secluded bits and a brilliant nightlife, and is big enough so that you can always explore somewhere new. We stayed in the nicest beach huts on the island; they were luxurious compared to anything else I stayed in on my travels! I was lucky as I could walk to the school I was teaching at, but the others had a nice air-conditioned taxi so perhaps I wasn’t all that lucky! I was working with Mel, a primary school teacher, which was great as I learnt so much from her. The teaching was challenging, we definitely had the most naughty children by far. After setting out some ground rules though things improved and we really began to see the differences in our lessons. Mel and I decided to split some of the bigger classes, as they were unmanageable. This worked really well, and allowed us to have some time teaching alone. I took five boys out of one class who couldn’t read English and so were really naughty in class because they couldn’t understand. After the two months, they could read a simple book and could say the whole alphabet. This was definitely the highlight of the teaching, and I was so sad to say bye to them. The teachers were welcoming in particular Kru Saow who was really great. I did find it frustrating at times because the education system is so different there, and you feel that the children could be learning so much more, however once you accept the differences it is easier to do what you can in the classroom and have fun at the some time.

The whole experience was unforgettable; I made some fantastic friends, we even went on to travel together for a while after the project. I also really got to know a particular place, which is difficult to achieve if you are travelling. My time in Koh Phangan allowed me to build up my confidence and settle in to life in Thailand so that I felt more relaxed about travelling further in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. Just before we left Koh Phangan Alex and Jirapan invited us to a BBQ on the beach. It was a lovely evening and made me wonder, how often do people get to meet the founders of the Gap Year organisation they have travelled with? I doubt it is many, and it was this personal touch, evident throughout the trip that made me really glad I chose PoD."

Frances - Jan 08

"I really enjoyed the time I spent on PoD's project teaching English in a Thai primary school. I felt we had excellent back up from Subai and Erng who were nearby to help us if there were any problems and that PoD as an organisation exceeded all my expectations.

The teaching was fun and gave an insight into Thailand which you wouldn't otherwise get. Sometimes the children were challenging as they could be noisy and boisterous but they were also enthusiastic and had a great sense of humour and I was very sad to say goodbye when the placement came to an end. Overall it was a fantastic experience and I would love to go back and do it again.

When I wasn't teaching there were lots of things going on to keep you busy. We did some Thai boxing, aerobics, a lot of lying on the beach and at weekends went off scuba diving and to see other places nearby. The different trips which PoD organised were great and I will certainly never forget riding an elephant!"

Kate - May 06

"I would, without doubt, recommend PoD as a fantastic way to teach abroad. I really can't explain how amazing the time we spent on Koh Phangan was - there was the perfect level of training and support throughout and the people and place were absolutely fantastic. I doubt that there are many other schemes which allow you to so fully immerse yourself into the life of a school and community, whilst having enough time to have loads of fun and make the most of the amazing island and its surroundings. My focus at the moment is saving enough money to go back!

I was always given a same-day response to the (numerous!) queries I had during and after the application process and felt like one of the PoD representatives was never further than a phone call away. The training was great fun and left me feeling confident and fully prepared to go into the classroom. Both cultural and teaching-related issues were covered in great detail. It has also helped to prepare me for my PGCE course this year."

Mike - May 07

"It is a great way to try something different in a supportive environment but still have the sense that you are on holiday. I can't really put a price on the great experience i had, and feel that PoD are very trustworthy in their dealings. Thanks again to PoD for providing a great opportunity."

Martina - May 07

"I found everything to be excellent, particularly the support on the island from Erng and Subai. Also the fact the PoD were very concerned that teachers carried out their role as expected."

"Thoroughly enjoyed the placement; friendly staff and lovely children, although they weren't as well behaved as expected - but we worked around that!! I feel so much happier since this experience - it taught me a great deal more about myself and who I am and I feel a lot stronger for it. It is such a valuable and worthwhile experience - thank you!!"

Kate - Jan 07

"I would recommend this placement to everyone as its a really fun thing to do in an amazing part of the world. It gave me the confidence to travel and now I've got the bug! The placement was one of the best things i have done in my life and even better then i expected when i first came out."

Helen - May 06

"Brilliant. I wish I could work there forever. Considering I was such a latecomer I was so impressed that I was still allowed to come. You were very helpful and instilled confidence in me that I could get everything done in time."

Alice - Jan 06

"I would recommend PoD as the teaching programme is rewarding and fun and set in the location where you can enjoy your surroundings. The whole placement is well run and value for money."

Lisa - Oct 05

"A challenge at times but excellent fun. I really enjoyed the teaching and am very proud of the work myself and Sally did in school. PoD training and support was great, just enough to mould your own experience whilst having guidance and support. First week or so for introduction was excellent, PoD are involved but also value you as adults and leave you to form friendships and have your own experience. Gade's on going help was great."

Erol - Jan 05

"The place was better than I ever imagined. Children were brilliant. I definitely recommend PoD it was brilliant, saw a beautiful place and met lovely people both local and the other teachers. I also felt a high level of job satisfaction when teaching and was sad to teach the last lesson. Thanks to you and everyone involved."

Samantha - May 05

"I thought Koh Phangan was a wonderful place to teach and live for 3 months, rural but not too much and you were really able to feel apart of Thai life. Found it extremely rewarding and enjoyable and I feel we actually helped the kids. Fantastic place to go with great support and a good setup from PoD. Very good value for money. Brilliant. Thanks PoD."

Polly - Oct 04

"I loved the teaching, had a huge amount of support from the school and staff. PoD training was efficient and informative offering a good insight into TEFL. Support from PoD was always close by, offering encouragement and friendship. I would definitely recommend PoD to others with a teaching interest because it was an amazing opportunity and fantastic environment."

Alistair - Jul 04

"The teaching was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It has confirmed my desire to teach permanently. The children did not behave as well as I expected but I found them to be eager to learn once they knew that I was their teacher - not a friend. The TEFL course was great. My time teaching in Thailand has greatly enhanced my PGCE application. I hope you continue to do such a good job in providing people with the opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of others."

Michael - Jan 04

"I think the island of Koh Phangan is beautiful and also think that it is ideal for a gap year placement because there is a good infrastructure for non–Thai people. The teaching has been very enjoyable. At first I really wasn’t sure but after the training I felt slightly better. Sometimes it was difficult to think of lesson plans although as the weeks went by it got easier. The children in most cases were bright and willing to learn. Our classes at first were shy – like their teachers - but towards the end they were volunteering answers and coming to write on the board. I think that PoD’s vision for the gap year placement is faultless. I would definitely recommend this placement to others. The PoD set up is challenging yet supportive. I can not find fault in the PoD programme. Thank you PoD!!!"

Charly - Jan 04

"Teaching – the most rewarding experience of my life. The greatest opportunity, that I am so glad I made most of, a true honour."

Summer English Camps

Nicola - Jul 09

"I had a fantastic time in Thailand and really enjoyed the placement. It was nice to have the opportunity to work with a variety of different schools and within a group of people. I felt that the support provided both at home and once out there was excellent."

Charlotte - Jul 09

"Although I had not gone through this placement for teaching purposes but more to experience a different culture I certainly enjoyed every minute of the camps, the children, and everyone who was involved in the trip. Thailand life was a real eye opener and I would definitely consider coming back to the island and doing a similar teaching placement. It was definitely an experience that I would never forget! The schools were so kind and helpful, and the children were lovely."

Helen - Jul 08

"Just wanted to say a huge thank you to you and Alex for providing us all with such an amazing opportunity in Thailand. I know I speak for everyone when I say how much fun we had and how humbling it was. The children were adorable and I have some beautiful shots for my portfolio too. It's special people like you that take the time to help others and make this world a better place to live in."

Kirsty - Jul 08

"Well I am back hard at work in the UK (surprising how fast reality sets in after being away for 3 weeks!!). I just wanted to drop you a message to thank you very much for all your support during the Thailand trip.  It was lovely to meet you both and I really enjoyed the whole experience. I took so much away from my time in Thailand and loved the camps - they were a great experience for me. Thanks again for all you support and an unforgettable time in Thailand. The support I received from POD was excellent, the whole project was so worthwhile and enjoyable.  It has definatly given me a thirst for a similar project in the future."  

Rachael - Jul 08

"I would like to thank you for providing me with one of the best experiences of my life.  I worked with i-to-i last year and they didnt have a scratch on you.  I think what you and Alex do for people and communities is absolutely amazing."   

Gopal - Jul 07

"Working with the Personal Overseas Development (PoD) team was an absolutely fantastic experience. The accommodation was great and the English Summer Camps held at the schools were full of fun. Teaching English alongside other volunteers gave me a unique opportunity to develop both as an individual and as a team player; learning valuable skills that will unquestionably benefit me in the future. Most importantly for me, the project allowed me to do my part in making a small difference in the lives of many grateful children. I have made great friends and have come back with priceless memories and an immense sense of satisfaction. I would wholeheartedly recommend volunteering with PoD to everyone. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. GO PoD!!"

Kate - Jul 07

"PoD summer camps offer a wonderful opportunity to become properly involved in the culture of Thailand. Through working with the children you become more than a mere tourist, and become aware of the complexities of this fascinating country. Its also a great change to meet new people who become good friends."

Emily - Jul 07

"My time in Thailand with PoD has certainly been the best experience I have ever had. I met the most amazing people through PoD and I know that we will keep in touch. The two weeks I spent teaching were so fulfilling. Seeing the children at the schools excited about us being there made it so worthwhile. The teaching was brilliant as we got to bring loads of fun into helping the children with their English. I would definitely do something like this again because it really is an amazing experience to go to another country, learn about different cultures, and meet new people. Go PoD"

Neha - Jul 07

"I just wanted to take this opportunity to say that my time with the PoD team gave me an unforgettable experience. I was given the chance to make so many friends with my fellow PoD colleagues (included short-term friendships with the school children) I was also able to develop so many skills which I will be able to take with me throughout my career in medicine including leadership, organisational, interpersonal and teamwork skills. The two week programme also allowed for us to have a break and get to know the island a lot better with the island tour and the Thai cooking classes which was endless amounts of fun. You'll be glad to know I cooked a Thai meal for my family and they were so shocked by how amazing the food was...which was very surprising to them as I don't tend to cook!lol I miss being a part of the PoD team and I want to thank you all for the guidance and amazing time that we had on Koh Phangan which would not have been possible without yourselves. Give my love to everyone and I do hope to travel with PoD again next year and have not stopped telling stories about Thailand!"

Felicity - Jul 07

"Thank you so much for such a fantastic experience. The camps were hard work but also a lot of fun! Made some great friends in a beautiful and interesting place doing something truly worthwhile! I went straight from school to university so the 2 week summer camp programme was a wonderful way to get a taste of the gap year experience...although it seemed to pass far too quickly!"

Sarika - Jul 07

"I would recommend the the Summer English Camps in Thailand without a doubt! It was so much fun and such a rewarding experience. The island is beautiful and the support from PoD was brilliant! I am so glad I went!!"

Teaching Assistant Bangkok

Ami - Jul 09

"This is a great placement and I thouroughly enjoyed myself and felt that both the students and I benefitted wholly from the trip. I made some great friends and was introduced to the Thai lifestyle, language and cuisine (the best bit!).

The work is not easy and the days are long but the way of life in Thailand will surely captivate you and leave you wanting more. It was so interesting to see how another education system works and to not have to work within such tight constraints as we do in the UK. Students and teachers can openly be friends and the students at Bangna will look after you with whatever you need.

This is a great way to see Bangkok in detail as excursions are planned for you every day of the week and you also have evenings free to either relax or explore. The language barrier is severe but with perseverance and some comical acting communication is possible.

This placement is good for confident solo travellers but for those a little less sure it would definately suit a couple or best friends wanting to work together. As an English teacher I found this experience incredibly valuable and would recommend it to anyone wishing to expand their horizons. It really does put life into perspective for you. Pack light, try as much food as you can and embrace the heat. Enjoy!"

Charanpal - Jan 09

"Overall the placement is very good, and in my opinion was a worthwhile experience. The students are friendly, polite and respectful, and eager to learn about English, and my life in the UK! The staff are helpful in general, and on a few occasions took me to various festivals and events within Bangkok. Angkana was kind enough to provide me with travel and other advice whenever I required it. I would have liked it if there were other volunteers at the school, as there are very few English speakers in the local area.
 
Teaching itself ranged from quite simple listening exercises for 1st year students up to more conversational lessons for 3rd year students.  It would have been nice to see some progression in the English standard of the students, however given the large class sizes and short duration of my placement, this was difficult to achieve. Teaching a foreign language was a novel experience for me and I learnt a lot about teaching and the difficulties in studying English as a second language. I also enjoyed learning about Thai culture and picking up some of the language!"

Samantha - Aug 08

"I had a fantastic time volunteering over the summer. The college is very close to the accomodation and the people at the accomodation are really friendly. It also feels really safe and secure, so no worries about property being stolen. Thailand is a wonderful place and the reputation of "land of smiles" is absolutely true.

Teaching at the college was a fantastic experience, it was good to get an idea of how Thai schools work and they are all very keen to learn. The students are all polite and friendly and make the experience. They are keen to take you out at the weekend if you want to and on my first weekend they took me to the ancient city in Bangkok. It's definately worth going out with the students at some point over your stay, firstly it helps with their English to spend the day with you, but it also means that you get a real experience of Thailand rather than just the tourist one!

Angkana is an excellent mentor and is keen for you to get the most out of your time in Thailand. She is one of those people who will go out of her way to her you, even taking me round to her house so that her sister could give me a Thai cookery lesson! She is very proud of her country and helped advise me on places to go. I did cram things in at the weekend but with the Friday off, you can really get to see alot.

It was a completely worthwhile experience and is definately something that i'll repeat in the future. I'd love to go back to Thailand and visit the college but with so many other options for volunteer projects, maybe i'll try somewhere else."

Peter - Aug 08

"I really do recommend the programme as it is a most worthwhile experience. You don't need to have a degree in English or be a trainee teacher to do it – you just need a good standard of English, some patience, and a willingness to help .... and a sense of humour helps too!

The placement is in a large government business and commercial school and most of the students who come to English classes are either studying foreign languages or logistics (import/export, transportation etc). The students are generally between the ages of 16 and 24 and are mainly female. Class sizes are quite large by UK standards, averaging around 45. All the students are well behaved, polite and respectful and are generally speaking eager to learn.

The teacher, Angkana has an excellent knowledge of English and the focus of her lessons is mainly grammar tuition. There is a great need for conversational practice with native speakers and that is where volunteers come in! The class usually divides into groups of around 10 students and you spend most of your time moving between the groups and communicating with the students using stencils and worksheets prepared by the teacher beforehand, or you simply sit and listen to students reading their 'self introduction 'to you in which they tell you about their family, hobbies and interests, music they like (one sweet looking girl adored Johnnie Rotten and the Sex Pistols!) and dreams for the future – many want to be tour guides and flight attendants (one young guy simply wanted to be a super star!).

The accommodation provided is in an apartment block just a few minutes walk from the college. It is clean and secure and the manager Miss Tan is always willing to help and advise you. There is a lovely roof garden and restaurant there where you can relax when not at school. It is also just a few minutes walk to the local high street where there are lots of small shops and eating places; small supermarkets; convenience stores such as 7 Eleven, Tesco Lotus Express and Watsons (the Thailand equivalent to Superdrug); The Pizza Company and a bank where you can easily change currency and traveller's cheques with no fuss (the staff there are far more efficient and helpful than UK banks!).There is also a cheap internet cafe behind the Big C supermarket – just 20 bahts for 1 hour (that's around 30p!).

You have long weekends free to go sightseeing and travel around Thailand as you only go into school from Monday to Thursday. The students and staff are happy to advise you and help you make plans for your free time and if you wish to sightsee around Bangkok they can even take you! Central Bangkok is not too far away from the college – it is just a short taxi ride to the skytrain system which takes you into the heart of Bangkok – shopping, restaurants, cinemas and sightseeing galore!

I will be sad when the time comes to leave the college and return to England as I have really enjoyed my time here. The placement has been a valuable insight into the Thai educational system and I have helped many students with their English. I have made many new friends too and discovered lots about Thai culture and lifestyle."

John - Oct 08

"Everything is going pretty well. I am a lot less scared by the classroom than I was last week :)
Some students took us to the Ancient City yesterday, which was great fun."

Steven - Oct 08

"The staff are very nice and things are going well.  The students are very pleasant here."

Emily - Jul 08

Anastasia - Jun 08

"We came back to the UK from Thailand last Sunday and I would like to thank you for all the help and for organising such a great placement for us. We had a really wonderful time and Angkana, the teachers and all the children made us feel very welcomed there. We would definately recommend this project to others!"