Teach English Conversation for Thai Student

Position: Teach English Conversation to a Young Thai Traditional Doctor who has been accepted for an international exchange program

Location: Ban Suan On Son, Na Issan village, located in Sanam Chaikhet District, Chachoengsao, Thailand

Duration: 4 to 8 weeks (minimum 4 weeks, up to 8 weeks)

Starting date: Any time from the beginning of 2013 until mid-April 2013. This young Thai traditional doctor will need to begin his exchange program in late April. He needs to develop adequate English conversation skills before this.

Description of history, tasks, activities, etc: Earth Net Foundation is a partner in an FK South to South Exchange programme with partners in Laos, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan. This specific programme with funding support from FK, Norway is working to develop capacity on climate change adaptation through sustainable farming and appropriate technologies. A key area identified for adaptation is applied biodiversity. This means using local resources to meet basic human needs. Medicine is a basic human need and traditional (herbal) medicine can be an effective way of using local biodiversity to maintain human (and animal) health. Thailand and Bhutan both has strong cultures of traditional (herbal) medicine coming from the diversity of natural resources (plants, etc) in their ecosystems. The FK partners agreed that an exchange of knowledge and skills in this area would be of benefit to both sides and increase self-sufficiency and promote biodiversity conservation. This in the end will work to increase resilience to climate change as farmers, villagers, traditional medicine practitioners grow and can use a greater variety of herbs, etc for a great number of uses/ treatments.

Mr. Pongaraya Butjantha (Pong) was selected to join this programme to go to Bhutan to share his knowledge and learn from knowledge there. He graduated with a degree in Thai Traditional Medicine. He is also the son of a recognized leader in Wanakaset (agro- forestry) and self-reliance, Por Liam. He currently practices traditional medicine at a local hospital. Thus he has both strong exposure from childhood growing, harvesting, using, and processing herbs and organic food and he has a degree in this subject. He is part of the Wanakaset Network and will be able to share knowledge and experience with this network after his return. (For a video about Wanakaset see the following link) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGNsq1Rk1Ho&feature=youtu.be

While Pong is a really intelligent and capable person, he like most Thais has almost no actual practice with spoken English. In Bhutan English is used by most Bhutanese as an official language as there are a number of local spoken languages. With a month or 2 of regular practice and instruction, Pong should be able to develop the conversational skill to get him well started for this experience. He like other educated Thais has studied English many years in school, and has a knowledge of the written language if very little practice and skill in spoken English.

While the key input needed from the volunteer is a concerted effort to spend about 2 + hours per days with Pong (and possible a few others) to develop his spoken English skills, this opportunity is an amazing one for someone interested in self-reliance, organic agro- forestry, natural product production, Thai traditional medicine, as the volunteer will stay atthe home (which is effectively a learning center) for these areas. Por Liam (Pongʼs father) has spoken/ taught many places even having his own TV show on self-reliance and is recognized as a leader in this area. He is one of the famous disciples of Pooyai Viboon and continues to join in Wanakaset meetings and events which practicing what he preaches.

Requirements/ Desired: Native or fluent English speaker. Interested in such things as natural medicine, self-reliance, organic farming, etc. Able to assist in the given time period. Happy to live in a nice Thai farmer family home and eat mostly homegrown organic Thai food and be around people who speak very little English. Be in at least decent health, be of friendly outgoing character and enthusiastic about this opportunity. It is preferred that the volunteer has experience either learning a second language and using it in another country or teaching language. While the focus of this position is just spoken conversation English and should not require any sort of ESL degree, one who knows what one needs to know to survive in another country may have a clearer idea of what to focus on.

Terms: The volunteer will need to cover all costs to get to the placement location (international travel, travel in Thailand, visa cost, etc) The volunteer must obtain a travel insurance policy to cover him/ herself during the period of placement. At the placement location the host family will provide free food, lodging, and sharing of knowledge in exchange for the knowledge and assistance of the volunteer. Lodging means a private bedroom with electricity and basic furnishings (no air conditioning, however fan is available) in the family home. Other facilities are shared as part of the family home. Internet service (wifi) is freely available at the Na Yao Hospital where Pong works about 5 kms away. One may also bring/ obtain a USB modem and connect via mobile service (at own cost) Meals that are covered are with the host family. If the volunteer takes time off or eats out, and for incidental expenses, this is the responsibility of the volunteer to cover. The volunteer is expected to spend about 2 hours + per day 6 days a week on focused teaching of Pong (and others if they decide to join in). Also not during the teaching period, such as when the volunteer is sharing meals, learning how to make natural products, etc, when with Pong, the volunteer should still work to practice English with him and learn from the environment and situation. The rest of the day, the volunteer will have the opportunity if interested to learn a lot and join in activities related to organic agro-forestry, herbal medicine, organic farming, and natural product production, learn and experience Thai village culture.

To apply or for more info contact Michael Commons michael@greennet.or.th

To see more about Green Net/ Earth Net Foundation visit our website http:www.greennet.or.th/en