Graduation Night - Volunteer Teaching

Last week Stray's English class graduated and we made sure we were back from Pattaya in time for him to attend. Here's a few photos that don't need any words....

Volunteer English Teaching and Learning Thai

Stray's been volunteer English Teaching at TFH for a few weeks now.

As you can see, the ages of his students are varied...as are their personalities. It's been a real delight to listen to his experiences about teaching the class and to watch him devise games and strategies to keep the entertainment factor incorporated into his lesson plans. After all, if you have young students (or learners like myself) attention spans can be short lived, if learning isn't made interesting.

Snap's Thai Language course cancelled

I wasn't going to go on about my/our courses on this blog, but can't help this post.

My One Year Thai Language course has been cancelled. You can read the whole account at my other blog...if you really want the ins and outs. Stray's TEFL course appears to be OK...for now, even though we were to attend the same institute?

I will apply for a 60 day tourist visa and take it from there...with an outbound flight to probably Laos, so I can stay legitimate and arrange an ED Visa.

TEFL Course update

We (and millions of Thais) are hoping that there aren’t any more outbreaks of political unrest…ever!

Stray and I have had to continue on with our plans regardless, however we (I) did come up with a wishy washy backup plan B, which would have entailed possibly doing the same in Vietnam or even China. All very doable, but not what we had our hearts set on.

Stray is doing his TEFL course via TAT – http://www.teachabroadthailand.com/ After paying half of the total payment as a deposit, he can (and does) access the website to study, answer questionnaires and complete his assessments. I think there are a total of twelve in all. I presume this process is to give the language teachers in Thailand an idea of his understanding of the subject and to prepare him for what lies ahead. He’s also finding some great videos on teaching and learning on Youtube. There also seems to be a great amount of free resources on various websites for teachers and students alike.

So far all is going smoothly and he is gaining good results. Although he has not received any back for the last few tests…perhaps that’s due to the start of the university year beginning in June????

I think the idea of doing the online course BEFORE you arrive, is a good one. Some people intending on teaching English abroad have not studied themselves, for quite some time and this gets them back into the swing of it.

Me, I too have enrolled in my course as mentioned earlier, but don’t get to do any pre-learning via the Chiang Mai Uni. I hate to say it, but I have a feeling that some of the students who enroll in this course are only doing it to secure their year long visa (that might be a bit presumptuous of me). Though it certainly does do away with a lot of worry, hassle and border runs. I am genuinely looking forward to it and have started studying already.

Even though my visa is secured and will be paid for in full, I will be required to report to immigration every 90 days. I have read (somewhere) that the officials interview you informally. I am guessing that if one turns up after 90 days and cannot get through a basic conversation in Thai...one might be in a bit of trouble?

Khun sabaai dii mai :)

From scouring the internet, I have put together lessons for myself using three or four websites. They did all the work, I just had to find them. I just hope I don’t teach myself too many bad habits.

Stray's onboard!

Stray paid his deposit today for his TEFL course and I booked our flights as far as Kuala Lumpur, leaving Australia 21st October 2010. I am waiting for the price to go down for the flight to Chiang Mai...I am such a cheapskate :), but on the other hand, it doesn't hurt to save money now, for later.

I am keeping a very close eye on the political unrest via Google news. Although the reports by the big broadcasters like CNN, Bangkok Post and BBC can sometimes be on the 'sensationalisitc' side, reporting what they think is right, in too much of a hurry. I also refer to forums and websites of people (native Thais and farang) who are living there at present.

Paknam Web Forum (a bit slow to load the page) and Stickman are proving to be quite helpful. Stickman actually visits the troubled areas regularly and takes photos. Both shed light on the actual severity of the protests...sometimes disproving news reports...sometimes, making you really think about the possible violence.

Chiang Mai Mail also provides some news of where we will be studying, although, I suspect is quite 'sterile' in its reporting.

At present we are not concerned about Chiang Mai and are in contact with people living there. But, at the end of the day, we hope that Thailand will have sorted out their unrest by the end of the year. If it escalates, we will have to consider delaying our trip.

PS. The most infuriating aspect of the whole situation to date (for me) is the involvement of some idiot Australian living in Thailand and joining the protests. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFUDNW60z8U  I wish someone would check out his credentials and visa status. I am sure we would not appreciate it, if the situation was reversed!

Yay! One step closer.

I have (finally) enrolled in my course. I am starting my Thai Language course in November in Chiang Mai. Here's hoping Stray enrolls in his English Teaching course soon :) or I am on my own...just kidding!

My course consists of only 2 lots of 2 hour lessons per week, which I am really looking forward to. I know nit noi (very little) Thai, but am trying to learn as much as possible before I go.

The grounds of Chiang Mai University look quite impressive, according to Google maps...

...and I do remember passing them on a previous visit, as we were climbing the mountain to Doi Suthep (I think...it was a few years ago). So we might enjoy slightly cooler weather for the few months after we arrive. We'll be studying at 'C', if you can see it.

While Stray is completing his 4 week course in November, then looking for work in December, I will be doing my course, looking for other (than student) accommodation and learning the layout of the city (Chiang Mai) in more detail. I think I will be relying on songthaew, a cross between a taxi and a bus...natural air conditioning.
In the past we have found they charge about 20 BHT per trip, and for the locals, 10 BHT per trip. Today that's about 66 cents per trip for us...not bad! But, having said that, if Stray is supporting me on a Thai wage...I may be walking. If Stray decides to hire/buy a bike for the duration, I think I will be taking my own Australian made helmet. While in Vietnam, very silimar, one of the local helmets flew off his head and cracked like an eggshell.

When we settle down, I am looking forward to receiving visitors, working on my Chalk Art book/tutorials, Children's book and websites. Nothing like a holiday, is there?

That's it for now.

Getting ready to get ready....

Well, I never thought I would resort to blogging, but it seems like a good way of keeping everyone updated and only having to write it once...and therapy for me!

We will be spending most of 2010 gearing up to go Chiang Mai, Thailand...hopefully in October or November, for one year. First we he will attend Chiang Mai University, for one month, to complete an English teaching course. We are not quite sure what will happen after that. Stray would like to teach in a school, but I haven't made my mind up yet. The university also provides a course learning Thai, consisting of only 4 hours per week, over 48 weeks and secures your visa for one year, that sounds more like me :) or perhaps I can do some volunteering, work on my chalk art book or actually have a long rest...we'll see!

So we have lots of clearing out, packing and organising to do from now until then. We are off to Vietnam in March for three weeks for a travel bug fix and to catch up with some lovely friends we made last time we were there.

I won't be updating this blog very much until after we leave for Thailand, so until then, cheers! Who was I kidding?