Testimonials
"I'm sure when I ponder my life experiences, during the twilight of my years, I will regard my six weeks in Thailand as six of the most sensational weeks of my life... I traveled to Thailand hoping for an enriching experience. What I found exceeded my wildest expectations."
Chris Cox, International Health Program, Thailand
GSC TEACHING FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES IN ASIA

GSC TEACHING FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES IN THAILAND

Thailand Buddhist Immersion In-Country Fellowship Head Teacher Position Now Available

Location: Thailand
Position Length: Volunteer Abroad for One year
Paid monthly stipend, room and board included
Start Date: Position Available Now

ESSENTIAL TEACH ENGLISH ABROAD FELLOWSHIP FUNCTIONS

The In-Country Fellowship Head Teacher’s responsibility will be to assist with the management of the GSC Thailand Buddhist Immersion volunteer abroad service-learning programs located at a large Buddhist monastery (wat) an hour and a half from Bangkok. The In-Country Fellow will work closely with the wat staff in Thailand to arrange volunteer teach English abroad participant programs, teach English classes at the wat, provide support for the Monk coordinating the teach English abroad program at the wat, and provide support for participants while they teach and stay at the wat.  The Fellow will be responsible for maintaining strong lines of communication with the San Francisco GSC headquarters staff as well as with the Coordinating Monk at the wat. Specific responsibilities will include:

• Reviewing volunteer abroad participant personal information and preparing project arrangements for all teach English abroad participants as informed by GSC headquarters

• Assisting the Coordinating Monk in arranging accommodations at the wat for all volunteers during their Thailand Buddhist Immersion program

• Assisting the Coordinating Monk in the coordination of monthly five-day orientation sessions at the wat for newly arriving volunteer participants.  This may include assisting with an initial Bangkok weekend, pick-up at airport, and organizing group outings and meals

• Assisting wat staff during training and orientation sessions at the wat, including planning, organizing, and facilitating monthly training sessions in teaching English as a foreign language, and other technical training that might be included in the future

• Performing teach English abroad volunteer placement classroom visits as needed to allow for proper supervision and support of program participants while teaching

• Assisting with the submission of monthly program and budget reports to GSC headquarters

• Further developing Teach English Abroad Programs including curriculum and training activities

• Teaching English as a Foreign Language classes to novices, monks, and local community lay people 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Required:

• Commitment to the mission of Global Service Corps

• Minimum Master’s Degree, preferably in Teaching, Volunteer Abroad, Administration, or English; or, at least one year’s experience teaching English in Asia

• A basic understanding and appreciation for Buddhism

• Strong written communication skills

• Monitoring and Evaluation familiarity

• Strong interpersonal skills; a professional and friendly communication style

• Experience working on a culturally diverse team or participated in a volunteer abroad program

• Cross-cultural understanding and sensitivity

• PC computer skills: MS Word, Excel, Outlook

• Basic business administration and office skills

Preferred

• Volunteer management experience

• Teaching English as a foreign language experience

• Bi-lingual in Thai and English

• Meditation experience

PROGRAM BENEFITS

• Private housing in a cabin on the wat grounds in Thailand for one year (Living/Bedroom Room, Bathroom, Kitchen, Porch, Carport & waterfront pavillion.)

• All meals at the wat, usually twice per day with options for further meals for one year

• Monthly personal expenses stipend of $50, for one year

• Opportunity to be immersed in the Buddhist culture at a beautiful wat and interact with the approximately 100 monks and 50 novices in residence plus hundreds of student monks from other temples.

• Opportunity to practice meditation with a senior bi-lingual monk highly experienced in meditation training

PROGRAM COSTS

• Initial placement fee of $1500.  This will also cover participation in a Bangkok, Thailand weekend orientation as well as orientation to the teaching English program at the wat and all meditation training

• The Fellow will be responsible for covering airfare to and from Thailand as well as visa and health insurance (required)

TO APPLY

Please send resume and cover letter to Thailand@globalservicecorps.org. Please include that you understand this is for a volunteer (with monthly stipend and room and board included) position in Thailand.

SOS FELLOWSHIPS IN CAMBODIA

Interest is also high for the development of a SOS Volunteer AbroadFellowship Program in Asia. GSC has held preliminary discussions with several international organizations about launching a fellowship program in Asia modeled after the successful Africa SOS Program. GSC is pursuing funding for the launch of this program.  In the meantime, Masters Degree graduates interested in participating in a six-month, fee-based Cambodia fellowship program should contact the Cambodia program coordinator.

For those interested in a three- to six-month internship program to gain international development experience or fulfill graduation requirements, the Thailand or Cambodia Integrated Service-Learning Programs may fit your needs.