Making the leap into teaching English in Thailand: you can too!

A TEFL Internship is an ideal way to discover the world, add to your CV and get some amazing experiences. How does it feel to take the leap? Jasmine tells all.

Is it panic? Is it nerves? Is it excitement? Or do I just need a wee? The year is fast approaching its finale and for a select few of us that means a whole new adventure just on the other side of the door marked 2016. We are soon embarking on our internship to Thailand and that means there is an abundance of things to organise. With so much excitement and so many challenges lying ahead in a foreign land far far away from the United Kingdom, there is one thing that I have turned to in my preparations for my journey; the Internet.

Preparing for my new adventure to Thailand on a Teaching English as a foreign language internship there are numerous anxieties on my mind; have I packed enough vest tops, do you reckon South East Asia does Gluten Free? Every blog has advised me on all the right equipment BUT has not advised me what the best style of underwear is to take traveling? (I will let you know!) All these questions are answered by a quick glance at my phone and some super speed typing.

Every one of us embarking on the internship to Thailand has their own personal something that has inspired them. There are many areas of life that inspire us. I can answer for a large quantity of teenagers that use the social media platform “Instagram” and say it has inspired huge amounts of travellers to either make the first step or find new realms of culture to explore. Instagram is a whole world in itself with an abundance of genres to explore: fashion, food, theatre and my favourite sector; travel. Many of the pictures are utterly breathtaking and capturing a countries history or culture through the lens is an art form. Instagram has made us all feel like professional photographers. For many of our teenage minds there is the lure of creating our own new Instagram opportunities in the dreamy landscapes of “#nofilter” Thailand.

There are vast amounts of travel blogs and travel themed Instagrams to help us along the way when it comes to preparing and panicking! It is there for us with an answer to all ammeteur backpacker questions; many of them being “no, you don’t need those shoes Jasmine you already have 4 pairs with you” I couldn’t have lived without this help. Pictures on the travel Instagrams stating they are “#blessed” keep us going whilst we’re working hard in the office right up until our departure date. I adore documenting my experiences to share as well as so many others my age do but I do it for the right reasons and I want us all on the internship to focus on the challenges ahead for us. We face an amazing experience that we are lucky to have, to help young children learn a second language to help them in their future. Let’s focus on the moment, not just through the lens for the “likes”. The reason I document is to inspire others as I have been inspired. These experiences will stay with us on the programme for a lifetime. I for one am going with an open mind, a big smile and a bucket load of excitement. Let the adventure begin!