Teach English to children in Ao Luk and become immersed in the local culture

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Program Overview
Life on the Program
Program Details
Volunteer Testimonials

Program Overview

Travel to the southwest coast of Thailand to volunteer with children in the rural town of Ao Luk. This exquisite location in the idyllic Andaman region, near white sand beaches and tropical jungles, is an exciting place to become immersed in local culture and help the community improve their future, while experiencing a side of Thailand that so many tourists miss out on.

Teach English in local schools so that children can develop their English skills and have better education and work opportunities. Our goal is to help these communities improve their quality of life through education and maintain their unique culture.

Life on the Program

Most of your time will be spent teaching English lessons and assisting teachers in local schools, playing games and leading educational activities that improve the eager children’s conversational English. Days can be long, but the children and their families are extremely appreciative of all your hard work and you’ll see the difference your support brings them.

Choose to live with a Thai host family or at a GVI lodge with other GVI volunteers. Living with the host family will give you the amazing opportunity to truly experience life as local and receive simple but delicious Thai meals. The GVI lodge has shared rooms and bathroom facilities with access to cold running water.

Program Details

You’ll teach English to children in a rural community where there’s very little exposure to native English speakers. Classrooms are often crowded and the teachers need enthusiastic volunteers to help ease their workload and give these hardworking and friendly kids extra attention

If staying with a host family, you’ll be required to practice English with your family and the wider community, which will provide them with the English skills that will help them develop community-based tourism and increase their job opportunities.

Our goal is to help local communities develop by providing the children with the tools and skills for getting good jobs and more education. We aim to encourage growth while highlighting the importance in preserving and appreciating culture.

Volunteer Testimonials

Mike Keller, USA

It is tremendous to see how excited the kids are to see us every time that we are at the school. I have learned a lot about teaching English for the past week and how to manage a Thai classroom. This has been my first teaching experience, other than tutoring, in which I have a lot to learn about techniques and skills to use. I have learned and improved on nonverbal commands and cues, since most of the students know very little English.

Karemie Williams, Australia

The trip changed my life for many reasons. I have actually returned to Ao Luk 3 times this year because I felt so connected to the area, the people and what GVI were doing. I learned to step out of my comfort zone and stand up in front of 30+ children and make chicken noises. While I have given presentations at work nothing compared to this. I was suprised at myself and realised that there was nothing to restrain me in this environment.