Testimonial by Lee Moulden
Teaching English in Thailand is a very stimulating and rewarding job. Moving to a new country by yourself or with a friend can be a little unsettling and scary as well. From the moment that I applied to Super English to now I have always been taken care of. From the very first time I emailed Peter to this very date he has always responded promptly. I first emailed Peter my application not sure what to expect and received an email back within 24 hours. This made me feel very comfortable with Peter and the Super English organization. I then had a Skype interview within 2 days and I had accepted the job in Surat Thani. Peter was very helpful in answering all of my questions to do with teaching in Thailand and living in Thailand. Peter will send you lots of emails to make sure you have all of the proper documentation for your visas and work permits before you leave your native country. All of your paper work will be organized by the Super English staff and ready for you when you arrive in Thailand, if you are not getting the visa in your home country. The transition from your home country to Thailand is made extremely smooth by all the work and effort put in by the Super English staff. The most work you will need to do for your visa is attend the immigration office and labor board just so they can see you and your university degree. All the paper work is filled out and ready. The transition is also extremely smooth due to the fact that Super English provides a house for 2 months rent free. This helps you to get organized and settled in your new city. This is also a great way to meet all of your new co-workers as well. The training provided by Super was very helpful in getting me organized and prepared for the school year. The three day training class is not only fun but really informative on the teaching style needed to get a lesson done in a class of 57 Thai children.
The first day of class was a little nerve racking but I was prepared due to the training received the previous week. The first week of class is also pretty relaxed as you need time to get to know your class and to play introduction and name games. The second week of school is when you get serious and are able to really teach a full lesson. You will also have a Thai teacher in the class room with you to control the class. For me personally it took about two to three weeks to feel comfortable and established in my classroom routine. Once you have a routine established in your class room your lessons with run a lot better.
The first semester is longer than the second but still goes by very fast, but not as quick as the second. The October break is in the first semester which is very enjoyable and gives you plenty of opportunity to travel Thailand and the surrounding countries. I suggest you take full advantage of this break to travel as much as you can. The next break you get is over Christmas and is 2 weeks long so you are limited in your travels compared to the October break. There are also plenty of long weekends to enjoy throughout the year which are nice and give you the chance to see the islands, beaches and national parks close by. Super English provides monthly parties most months and one trip mid way through the year to a beach close by. The monthly parties are always a great meal and drinks paid for by Super. These parties are a great social event and always lots of fun. I look forward to these events every month.
I really suggest moving to Thailand to teach English in Surat Thani and most importantly with the Super English program.