English Teaching in
Support A Local Community
Help children & school teachers gain confidence & practice in conversational English.
Experience A Different Culture
Discover what living & working in Thailand is like while making new friends.
Affordable Long-Term Volunteering
Accommodation, work-day lunches & monthly pocket-money provided.
Project Overview
Gain experience teaching English and learn about a different culture by working as a volunteer in a school for the benefit of a local community in Thailand.
As a volunteer teaching English in a primary school in Thailand, you will be supporting conversational English language learning activities, on a part-time voluntary basis. Working alongside Thai teachers of English, you will be assisting small schools with conversational skills and confidence.
Your goal is to encourage children to speak English and help them to see the benefits of English communication skills, all while having fun! You will also have the opportunity to play games with the children, and take part in extra-curricular activities and travel experiences.
You can spend from 1 to 12 months on this project, allowing you to explore a different culture while working to support a local community. This project provides accommodation and a monthly pocket-money allowance throughout the duration of your placement.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
By taking part in this volunteering project, you are helping to support the SDGs, which provide a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. The specific SDGs this project impacts are:
Location
There are two participating schools in this project – both schools are located in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province in central Thailand. Wat Payom School is located in a town in the south of the province in the Bang Pa-in district by the border with Pathum Thani Province. Ban Khukot School is located in a rural area approximately 20km south-east of the ancient city of Ayutthaya in the centre of the province.
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province is situated in central Thailand, approximately 76km north of Bangkok. The province has a long and fascinating history, reflected through numerous magnificent palaces, temples and ruins. Ayutthaya, the largest city, is in the centre of the province. Once the capital of Thailand, Ayutthaya was one of the biggest cities in Southeast Asia and a regional power for 417 years. The Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park in the heart of Ayutthaya city is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The region is also well known for its variety of food, particularly fresh river prawns.
Both schools are accessible from Bangkok within 1.5 hours by train and bus. Don Mueang is the closest International Airport to the location of the schools and is at most a 1 hour drive away. Our project partners in Thailand will make arrangements to pick you up from the airport.
When you apply for the project, you will be given further information about the schools and you can choose which one you go to.
Dates & Duration
You can volunteer from a minimum of 4 weeks to a maximum of 52 weeks. Check below for our upcoming start and finish dates for this project.
Costs
To join the project, you will need to pay a project sending fee plus an additional amount for insurance (approximately £1 per day). Please contact us to find out how much this would be.
- What's included?
During your volunteering placement, furnished accommodation and school meals will be provided. You will also receive a pocket-money allowance of 3,000 Thai Baht (approximately £75 GBP) per month throughout the duration of the project. While volunteering you will receive support from the English teacher of the school and our project partners in Thailand.
- What's not included?
Once your placement is confirmed, we can help you to organise your flights, travel insurance, and tourist visa but you will need to cover all costs. You will also need to organise and pay for any required vaccinations and medications you need while volunteering. You will need to pay for your police or background check. We also recommend that you have a little extra money for any travelling and additional activities you may want to take part in while in Thailand.
Eligibility Requirements
To join this project, you will need to be fluent in English, both spoken and written. You’ll have an enthusiasm for teaching, including developing and testing current and new curriculum resources and activities. The school would happy for you to be creative and try out new ways of teaching the students, for example if you have a particular hobby or interest, such as music or sport, you could combine this into the English lessons. You’ll need be flexible in your approach, and willing to organise your work in accordance with the varying needs arising at the schools.
You will need to be resilient and able to cope with change and to embrace the unexpected! You’ll need to be willing to adapt to different cultural situations, including working in different ways and different living conditions. You’ll need to have a strong motivation for helping others. You will need to be outgoing in order to make friends with local people and not to feel isolated.
To be successful, you will need to clear relevant Police Record checks (such as PVG, DBS, ICPC) and understand and abide by our Safeguarding Policy. You will also need to eligible to apply for Thailand Tourist Visa.
If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you!
How To Apply
If you’d like to apply for this volunteering project, please send your CV along with a Covering Letter to info@ivsgb.org.
Teaching English at a Primary School in Thailand
Project Details & FAQ
- What kind of work will I be doing?
As a volunteer teaching English in primary schools in Thailand, you will be supporting conversational English learning activities, on a part-time voluntary basis.
During that time you will get to know another culture through working voluntarily in a school for the benefit of a local community.
You will work with the Thai Teacher of English to support their language education activities. You will start off with the teacher present, and after a while if you gain confidence the teacher may leave you alone with the class.
The teaching will always be within the school classroom and playground.
If you wish you are welcome to participate in after school sports activities with the school children.
- How many hours and what days will I work?
Volunteers will work 5 days a week for 4 hours per day.
- Will I get support throughout my volunteering placement?
Yes! You will receive support from the English teacher of the school and our project partners in Thailand.
They will help you get to know the local culture and customs of the country and community. They will also support you in your daily activities within the school.
If you wish, there is also an opportunity for you to have Thai lessons.
If you ever have any questions or need any help, they will be there for you!
- How long can I volunteer for?
The placement can last for a minimum of 4 weeks to a maximum of 52 weeks. It is entirely up to you!
Many hosts can be flexible, so if by the end of your volunteering placement you’re not ready to leave, there may be an opportunity to extend your placement too!
- How old are the students and what are they like?
The children are aged between 7-12 years old and have little knowledge or experience of speaking English. Some children will have a few words of English with a strong Thai accent. There will be 20-30 children in a class.
There are two schools participating in this project. Wat Payom (in the town) has 200 students, 11 teachers and 4 staff at the school in total. Ban Khukot (in a rural community) has 120 students and 8 teachers in the school.
- What are the benefits of joining this project?
By taking part in this volunteering project, you will develop new skills, develop or even learn a new language, make an impact on the local community, learn about different cultures, make new friends, gain confidence and much more!
You will also be contributing to these specific United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: 4. Quality Education, 16: Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions, 17: Partnerships For The Goals.
- How much will it cost?
To join the project, you will need to pay a project fee. Please contact us to find out how much this would be.
Once your placement is confirmed, you will need to organise and pay for your own flights, travel insurance, visa, vaccinations and medication. If you prefer, we can help you to make these arrangements through our dedicated partner organisations.
During your volunteering project, accommodation in or close to the school will be provided. A lunch school meal will be provided on working days.
We recommend that, should you wish to partake in any excursions, tours, travel or activities while in Thailand, you have your own additional funds to pay for these while on the volunteering project.
- How much pocket-money will I receive?
You will receive 3,000 Thai Baht per month, which is approximately £75 GBP.
- What is the accommodation like?
Your accommodation will be provided by the school. It depends on the location of your placement, but generally you will get your own private bedroom in the school house or accommodation in an apartment block near to the school. The room will be fully-furnished and you will have access to WiFi and a shared bathroom (with a shower and western toliet).
There may be no kitchen in the accommodation as it is very normal in Thai culture for people to buy their meals. You will have access to a small local shop and street food vendors where you can buy food cheaply.
- What is the local infrastructure like (e.g. shops, transport, leisure facilities)?
Ban Khukot school is in a quiet and rural setting. There is a small local shop there, and 10km away is a larger shopping area. Ayutthaya shopping park is approximately 20km / 30 minutes drive away. The teachers will probably offer you lifts. There are also vans and motorbike taxis from which you can get a lift into town.
Wat Payom school is in a town on the outskirts of Bangkok. There is a convenience shop and market in the area. It is approximately 15 minutes drive to a cinema and shopping centre. 30 minutes drive away is a shopping mall, fitness facilities and entertainment. Bangkok centre is 45 minutes away. Along the main road into central Bangkok there are food vendors and shops all along the way. You can take a motorbike taxi to the main road (5 minutes away, costs 30 baht). From there you can take a bus into town (25 baht). You will be given access to a bicycle too.
- Are meals provided?
Lunch is provided by the school during weekdays.
For other meals (breakfast and dinner), you should budget to buy your own food. You can buy meals very cheaply from street food vendors and a small local grocery shop.
Gluten free and vegetarian meals are available, but nut allergies may be difficult to cater for.
- What is the weather like?
The climate in this region of Thailand is humid and hot – up to 36 degrees during the day and 27 degrees at night. It is cooler in the rainy season (June to September).
- What do I need to bring?
It is recommended that you bring clothing for a humid and hot environment.
You need to wear long trousers or a long skirt while you are teaching – please do not wear shorts or a short skirt.
You can wear a short sleeve top or shirt while teaching but please cover your shoulders and remain in conservative dress – tank tops, singlets, spaghetti straps and similar are not recommended.
You will need to bring your own medication with you.
- Can I volunteer with my friend/partner?
Yes! There may be opportunity for you to do this volunteering project together. Please contact us for further details.
- Do I need a visa?
You will need to check your visa requirements. Generally, a Tourist Visa is sufficient. Please check at the Thai Embassy for further information.
- Do I need any vaccinations?
You will need to check your vaccination requirements. You will have to pay for your own vaccinations, although many are free through the NHS. For more information visit the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
- Do I need to know how to speak Thai?
You will need to be fluent in English language only. It is not necessary for you to know Thai. However, it may be beneficial for you to be willing to learn some Thai in order to better communicate and integrate in the community. You could learn Thai before you go or while you are in Thailand. In Thailand, you will have the opportunity to have Thai lessons with our project partners.
- What cultural differences and customs do I need to be aware of?
It is customary in Thailand to show deference to the Royal Family, monks and Buddha. It is expected that you will wear conservative clothing in temples. Buddhist monks may never touch (or be touched by) unrelated women. It is considered rude to touch a stranger’s head and disrespectful to touch the head of a statue, especially a statue of the Buddha. Have a look at the FCO Travel Advice or more information on local laws and customs in Thailand.
- Do I need to have a TEFL Qualification or experience teaching English?
It is not required to have any experience of teaching English or a TEFL Certificate. However, you will need to be a confident self-starter with enthusiasm for teaching and education.