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Frequently Asked Questions
- Basic Homestay Questions - Prior to Leaving -
When in Thailand -
BASIC HOMESTAY QUESTIONS:
What is a Homestay?
A Homestay is when you stay with a local teacher for accommodation
in exchange for your teaching services at their school.
What type of schools will I be teaching at?
Nearly all of the schools will be either an elementary (primary)
school, high (secondary) school or a combination of both.
Am I qualified for the Homestay Program?
We accept all Applications but especially look for native English
speakers, those who have completed high (secondary) school and have
the ideal personality to teach English efficiently.
We generally require volunteers to be between the ages of 18 and 25
years old. We do accept all volunteer applications and will look at it
on a case by case basis.
Do I need to speak Thai?
No. That is one of the benefits of doing the Homestay. You will most
likely pick up some of the language while you are there!
Is the project only open to British citizens?
No, not at all. We do ask that you are a native English speaker but
again, we accept all applications. We are interested in finding
volunteers from the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, etc.
What is the minimum length of stay? Maximum?
The minimum length of stay is one month. Add additional time
if you want to travel around Thailand and/or obtain a TESOL/TELF Certification.
We can accommodate longer term Homestays but need to do so on a case by case basis.
Do you offer Homestays to other countries?
Our charity does not offer volunteer opportunities to other
countries as of yet, but can provide assistance in locating other
Asian volunteer Homestay projects.
How far in advance do I need to apply?
We ask that you apply as far in advance as possible. Applications
do not guarantee you a Homestay. We do ask for at least two months in
advance in order to coordinate your Homestay and location.
Do I need a CRB check done?
All CRB checks will be done by us and is not needed for you to
provide. We must take all precautions to ensure we do not provide
schools with problematic volunteers.
Does the Homestay Fee of £200 include traveling
and tours?
No, all these costs are assumed by the volunteer. However, we can assist you
with flights, tours and other requirements.
I'm interested - what now?
Please complete our
Homestay Application (on-line) or
Download in .doc format. and
return. We will contact you upon receipt.
PRIOR TO LEAVING:
What should I pack?
It is very similar to what you would bring on any vacation.
Thailand’s weather during the summer is warm to very warm with
periodical showers. Any teaching material that you wish to include
would be ideal.
Is there a dress code to be adhered to
at the schools?
Yes, we ask that all teachers be properly dressed and act as
professional as they can. For men: button-down shirt (short or
long sleeved), trousers and shoes. Ties are optional and
King's ceremonial Yellow shirts are allowed. For women:
knee-length shirt or trousers and unrevealing blouse and shoes.
Teachers in Thailand do dress in a conservative manner, so please do
the same.
Are there any "bodily codes" to adhere
to?
Although Thailand is highly tolerate of
foreigners, we still would like to be as respectful as possible.
For men, we ask that facial hair is clean and well shaved. For
both sexes, we discourage dreadlocks, facial piercings and
noticeable tattoos.
How much money should I take with me?
Depending on how long and where you wish to stay, we will give you
a round about price of certain things. Local food in Ubon Ratchathani
can cost anywhere between 25-50 baht. Typically, items cost much
cheaper than in the UK but would recommend bringing an ATM card to be
safe.
Do I need medical or travel insurance?
It is optional but always recommended. Services can be provided if
you wish to be insured.
Is there an interview to be accepted
as a volunteer?
Yes, all potential volunteers will be interviewed either in
person or over the phone. This is to ensure us that you know
what to expect and are willing to teach!
Do I need a visa?
Yes, in order to volunteer teaching legally in Thailand, you will
need a special type of visa. We recommend that you use our services to
get the visa as you will need a recommendation from our organization.
Can I travel with friends or family?
If you do, we will do our best to keep you together. We expect
that each school will receive two teachers and stay at the same
Homestay family.
What vaccinations are required/recommended?
Please visit the Center of Diseases Control or MD
Travel Health.
How far is Thailand? Ubon Ratchathani?
From London to Bangkok is about a 12 hour flight. Ubon Ratchathani
is a 1 hour flight from Bangkok or a 14 hour bus ride.
Is northeastern Thailand (Ubon
Ratchathani and area) dangerous? And Thailand?
Your safety is our primary concern and the unequivocal answer is
that Ubon Ratchathani is extremely safe. There are problems in
the South of Thailand on the Malaysia border but this is over 1,000
miles away. All Homestays will be placed in safe places and far
from any border disputes. In recent years, little to no complications
with foreigners have occurred.
WHEN IN THAILAND
Are there hospitals nearby for emergencies?
Yes, there are hospitals in all major towns. Homestay villages will
most likely not have hospitals but transportation will be available
for emergencies.
Am I given any materials to teach
from?
No, but we can recommend some ELT
(English Language Teaching) books to use. Please visit our
book section if you are interested in purchasing a book,
ELT Books.
Are there places at school where I can
smoke?
For smokers, there are places within
schools where you can smoke. Generally, this is discouraged on
school grounds but tolerated if done a distance from the students.
As for smoking at the homestay house, it is at the discretion of the
household owner.
Do schools have photocopiers,
printers, computers?
These items vary between schools.
We understand that you may need some of these things to conduct
lessons but we suggest that you go into the school prepared as if
they did not have it. There is a printer in the Ubon base
which can be used and there are printing facilities nearby the base.
What services are available locally?
Bangkok and Ubon Ratchathani is similar to London in that there
modern hospitals, banks, stores (such as Tesco), among other things.
Homestays will most likely not have these services in the local
vicinity.
How often will I be teaching?
Teaching is generally done 5 days a week and expect to be at the
school for the full length of the day from about 7 am to 4 pm.
Will there be internet connection
available in Thailand?
While in Bangkok, there will be access to internet everywhere -
hotels, cafes, internet cafes, etc. Our base in Ubon
Ratchathani will have internet access set up to use free of charge.
During your Homestay and outside of Ubon, internet may be more
scarce and we would tell you to expect not having internet use
during this time.
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