Teach English and become TEFL certified and immersed in the culture of Ao Luk

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Program Overview
Life on the Program
Program Details
Volunteer Testimonials

Program Overview

Ao Luk is a small rural town in southern Thailand, near the Andaman Sea. This region is known for its picture perfect beaches, stunning waterfalls and ancient sites such as the Tiger Temple, a Buddhist monastery built on a cliff in the lush surrounding jungle.

On this internship, you will start by receiving TEFL training and teaching evening classes to local adults. Following TEFL certification and a training period, on your placement phase you’ll be placed on a teaching assignment in a Thai community that will give you the opportunity to use your new skills, support the positive development of the local community and become immersed in this friendly and fascinating culture. Over the course of your placement you will be able make a huge difference to the children you teach and to the wider community.

Life on the Program

Before you become TEFL certified you start your training with an instructor, focusing on lesson planning and teaching techniques, practicing your new found skills in the evenings where you will teach English to local adult students in a small classroom setting. Once certified, you will go on to teach an additional term before embarking on your placement in a local school where you will take and lead your own English lesson. Days can be long, but the work is very rewarding as you learn along the way and see the difference you are able to make with your students.

During your training, you will stay at the GVI base in Ao Luk in a basic but comfortable setting with running water and electricity. Rooms are dorm style and bathrooms are shared with everyone taking turns preparing flavorful local meals with staff members and your fellow volunteers.

Program Details

GVI is working directly with local communities in Thailand to; give free English lessons to the community; train local teachers in English language training; assist in the development of sustainable local business; and, develop lesson plans to highlight important issues in the community.

As tourism grows and takes over beachfront and forest areas, many local communities have lost natural resources, altering their way of life and causing many traditions to be lost. Our goal is to support local communities to develop with tourism that blends into their lifestyle.

Volunteer Testimonials

Karen Kirton, Australia

Ao Luk is a small, friendly community and one of my favorite parts of this experience has been walking around the town and meeting people. Be it shopkeepers, kids running out of their houses to say hello or locals riding on motorbikes, everyone is so friendly and welcoming. We are often given gifts of fruit by our students and other locals, and it is so satisfying to have a past student stop you in the street to practice their English skills! GVI has a great reputation in the area and I have enjoyed being a part of the the GVI group and the community.

Thomas Martin, United Kingdom

The fact that we are teachers in a town, which for the moment at least, has very few tourists, means that we are able to see the real Thailand. We go to villages not tourist visits, we explore caves that have yet to be frequented by foreigners, we swim in places that are totally deserted but for the GVI team, and we play basketball and drink beer with the locals. This place is amazing if you want to see unseen Thailand as well as actually making a difference I would definitely suggest GVI in Ao Luk.