/ E D I T I O N KOH SAMUI TEFL. Do You Know What to Pack? YOUR COMPLETE ITINERARY FROM START TO FIINISH. The all in one info pack

Transcription

1 / E D I T I O N KOH SAMUI TEFL YOUR COMPLETE ITINERARY FROM START TO FIINISH Do You Know What to Pack? The all in one info pack

2 K O H S A M U I T E F L T H E U L T I M A T E T R A V E L G U I D E hey there! On behalf of everybody at Bamboo, I would like to offer you our sincerest thanks for choosing this incredible experience with us. We guarantee you an amazing time and we re all very much looking forward to having you with us. I imagine that right now you re very excited about your upcoming volunteering experience so this little guide has been put together to explain a little more about your time with us on the Koh Samui TEFL Experience *Please note this is not a group project, we can not guarantee that other people will be on this project, however, you will have a Bamboo volunteer coordinator alongside you. Peace, Love & Bamboo Mark (& the other pandas, Steve & Colin)

3 highlights of your tour BANGKOK A night on the world famous Khaosan Road, in the heart of Bangkok's backpacker hub. SIGHTSEEING Guided experience of some of the most incredible sights of Bangkok MAKE NEW FRIENDS Get to know the children, the teachers and everyone who's working hard to make sure there's a brighter future available for them. FIRST CLASS SUPPORT The TEFL team and our Bamboo coordinators to give you some amazing support and guidance. EXPLORE THE ISLAND Weekends to explore the Island of Koh Samui, with its white sands, nightlife and seafood restaurants.

4 Earn an international teaching qualification while sunning it on tropical Samui. With a higher standard of teaching ability our volunteers bring a better learning environment to the schools we support on Samui and elsewhere. With a full TEFL qualification you can expect better prospects at becoming a fully qualified teacher internationally. This unique experience includes a 4 week TEFL course followed by 2 weeks of volunteering at our teaching project. Please note that the cost for accommodation during the 4 week TEFL course isn't included. You can achieve this qualification anywhere in the world, so why not on beautiful Koh Samui, truly an island tropical paradise waiting for you to explore. After your course you will experience two or four weeks on one of our most popular projects, giving quality education to the children attending school in the poor parts of this beautiful island. Starting with a weekend in the country's buzzing capital, Bangkok, we'll then take you down to the tropical island to meet the friendly and eager children that call this place home.

5 Koh Samui is definitely an island of two halves. There are the one side that tourists see as it's one of Thailand's leading tourist resort destinations, attracting over a million visitors each year. However, once you step away from the tourist areas you'll see a very different side to Samui, a side that struggles each day and lives hand to mouth, a side that desperately needs help. Our focus on the island is with the next generation. Not only will you be changing lives through education and leaving with new found friends, but you'll also get to experience a stunning island which has plenty to offer the intrepid adventurer. The course is 120hrs, 4 weeks, Mon to Fri, and additional hours will need to be done in your own time for resourcing, studying and planning. Your certificate is for the standard 120h course, including observed practical lessons. This is the preferred requirement for schools worldwide, and they are now reluctant to accept online courses or the shorter 60hr courses. You get your certificate on the last day of the course, along with a letter of recommendation and a detailed report to show prospective employers. All of the learning is done hands-on through games and interactive activities. You will never just be lectured to, but will always be involved in every lesson. The theory in the TEFL course is presented by the trainer using games, activities and strategies that you will then be able to use in your own teaching, allowing you to build your portfolio of activities and teaching tools from day one.

6 What's included KOH SAMUI TEF L 1. Accommodation in our volunteer house AFTER completion of your course. You will have to arrange your own accommodation with the suggestions Samui TEFL provides for the first 4 weeks 2. Transfer to and from Bamboo's volunteer house to your project location for the extra weeks after TEFL hour emergency contacts. 4. Transfers from Bangkok to Koh Samui (Bus/Boat)

7 T H E I N F O R M A T I O N Y O U N E E D T O K N O W B E F O R E W E B E G I N THE NITTY GRITTY ENTRY REQUIREMENTS THAILAND Depending on your country of citizenship you may be entitled to a 30-day visa-free entry into the Kingdom of Thailand. This means that you can simply turn up at the airport, present your passport and receive free entry for a maximum of 30 days. These countries include the U.S.A., the U.K., Australia, Canada and most European nations. To check if you re entitled to this, find your country in the following list: Please note that entry into Thailand is at the discretion of the Immigration officer at the Passport Counter and Bamboo will not be held responsible for any individual prohibited from entering. Please be aware that you cannot obtain a visa for Thailand from within Thailand. FAST FACTS The country s main international airport, Suvarnabhumi (pronounced Su-varna-boom with a silent i ), reportedly sees 45 million people per year, with expansion plans underway that will increase its capacity to 60 million by 2019.

8 TRAVEL VACCINATIONS For up to date information about the best travel vaccinations to have before arriving in Thailand we urge you to contact your own GP, a travel health clinic or to check the World Health Organisations website. Bamboo are not medical professionals and therefore can t offer you medical advice. FLIGHTS Thanks to the world wide web we all now have access to great flight deals through websites such as Skyscanner, Google Flights and more. If you d rather use the services of a booking agent, the likes of STA Travel, Trailfinders and Flight Centre are all available online. ARRIVAL To be eligible for the airport pick-up, please arrange your flight to arrive into Bangkok s International Airport, also known as Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), on the Friday that your tour starts between 6 am and 8 pm. DEPARTURE Due to the wide of array of destinations accessible from Samui, and that not everybody wants to travel back to Bangkok, it's far easier for our team to just let you choose where you're heading once your placement has ended. Of course our team will help you to organize tickets and a schedule but you will need to pay for your onward travel yourself. IMPORTANT NOTICE Once you have booked and confirmed your flight to Thailand, please make sure that you have shared your flight arrival time and flight number with our team. Without those details, we will be unable to guarantee your collection on arrival. FAST FACTS: TRAVEL Did you know that? Thailand is the world s 20th most populous country, with close to 67 million people. Did you know that? On any given flight the bathroom door isn t really locked when you re inside. Lavatory doors can be locked and unlocked from the outside for a multitude of reason. It allows flight attendants quick access to locked lavatories in case of emergencies. In other instances, it allows the cabin crew to restrict access to bathrooms during takeoff and landing.

9 ARRIVAL INFO Please print Bangkok International Airport (Suvarnabhumi Airport - airport code: BKK) is one of the busiest airports in the world and can be a confusing place. To ensure that your arrival runs without a hitch please make sure that you read through and understand the following instructions. If you have any questions about your arrival into Bangkok International Airport please do not hesitate to let our team know. Please be aware that there are two international airports in Bangkok; Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Don Mueang (DMK). We are only able to meet travellers arriving into BKK. If your flight is planned to arrive into DMK then you will need to make your own way to our hotel. The details of that hotel will be sent to you in a separate roughly three weeks before your tour is due to begin. To be eligible for the Bamboo airport pick-up at Bangkok s International Airport, please arrange your flight to arrive on the Friday that your tour starts. If you can manage to arrive between 6 am and 8 pm one of our team will be at the airport to meet you. If your flight arrives after 8 pm, we can arrange a night's accommodation at a hotel close by to the airport. A representative of the hotel will collect you on arrival at the airport. Should you take the airport hotel option then we will have a driver collect you from the hotel the following morning and transfer you to our starting point the following morning. To locate a member of the Bamboo team, once you have passed through Immigration (Passport Control) you ll need to collect your luggage from one of the carousels. You will then make your way to the main arrivals area, passing through the green Nothing to Declare channel. Once through you will enter the busy main arrivals area. As you enter the arrivals area Directly ahead of you is a large wall of glass windows. At points along this wall, there are numbered Exit doors. These are numbered 1 to 10. You will most likely be looking at doors numbered between 6 and 10. At this point please turn to your right and walk towards Door number 3. As you approach Door 4, directly ahead of you will be a mass of people holding name signs (please ignore the people to your right). As you walk past Door 4, please keep a look out for our team. They should be easily recognizable with their Bamboo t-shirts and be holding a sign showing the Bamboo logo. Once you ve spotted our team, head over and introduce yourself. You ll then receive further instructions. Please bear in mind that we may be waiting for others to arrive, so your transfer to the hotel may be slightly delayed but we will do everything in our power to get you on your way as quickly as possible. In the unlikely event that you can t find our team, don t panic! As long as we have your correct flight details one of the team will be there. Please check again at the area between Door 4 and Door 3. If you still cannot locate one of our team, please call the following number: +66(0) If you have supplied us with a mobile phone number, make sure your phone is turned on as we may be trying to contact you. Once we have everyone we ll transfer you all straight to the starting point for your tour. On arrival, we ll help you to check in and give you more details of what s happening for the remainder of the day and tomorrow morning.

10 MONEY When it comes to advice on how much money to bring, it s impossible to say. All our intrepid explorers are very different. Where some go all out, others are on a budget. You can find both high end and budget restaurants, bars and shopping across Thailand. A rough guide for meals and drinks can be found below: Typical exchange rates are: $1-33 Thai Baht 1-44 Thai Baht ATMs, or cash machines, are prevalent throughout Thailand and will only issue Thai Baht, If you do plan to bring your ATM card with you, we recommend that you inform your bank. This should prevent your card being suspended due to irregular withdrawals. We don t recommend bringing travelers cheques with you. The reason is that banks across Thailand have odd hours of operating, and it may cause unnecessary hassle finding a bank open when you wish to make a transaction. Major credit cards are accepted across Thailand but less so outside of the major cities. Larger hotels and restaurants may accept credit cards, but in most places, cash is king. Negotiating a purchase, known as bartering, still happens in the tourist areas of Thailand. Outside of tourist areas, If you re unsure as to whether or not you can barter for a discount please speak to your coordinator to avoid any unnecessary faux-pas.. FAST FACTS: MONEY Basic costs of things: Water 5-40 Baht Beer Baht Street Meal Baht Restaurant Meal Baht Taxi to airport Baht T-shirt Baht Memories - Free of charge The currency in Thailand is known as the Baht or THB Remember to tell your bank that you are leaving the country to avoid

11 CLOTHING Packing for a trip to the unknown is always tricky. It s definitely worth doing a little bit of homework on this one and to consider the local culture when deciding what clothes to bring. For example, Thailand is predominantly a Buddhist country so dress modestly and respectfully. We live by the rule one in, one out - in other words, you need to have either your shoulders or your knees covered at all times. In addition, in Asia, it s often customary to remove your shoes before entering a building so a pair of flip flops is very much advised. Being such religious countries, temples and Buddhist monasteries are everywhere. During your Bangkok tour, you will be visiting different temples where you will need to cover both shoulders and knees. You should also consider the weather. Thailand has two prominent weather seasons: hot and dry and hot and wet. Hot and dry usually runs from November to April, hot and wet from May to October. The daytime temperature is quite consistent throughout the year with highs around degrees. The nighttime does vary with lows ranging from 15 degrees to degrees. We recommend you bring a sweater/jumper for the chilly evenings.

12 GUIDELINES Dress code for class sessions at the Samui TEFL training centre is 'smartcasual' - no caps or hats, no plunging necklines for ladies, no overly revealing outfits, in the event that we have visitors to the centre. Please refrain from vests and 'short' shorts. Dress code for teaching practices is as follows: MALE Long pants. Button shirt can be short sleeved, a polo shirt is fine. All piercings must be removed and tattoos must be covered. Closed shoes.. FEMALE No cleavage visible. Skirts or pants on or below the knee. NOTE: you will need at least one skirt, as one of the schools we teach at insists on skirts. Shoulders must be covered. NO BAGGY CLOTHING. They want a smart appearance please. Colours should be subdued, no bright patterns or colours. All piercings other than earrings must be removed, and all tattoos must be covered. Make sure that underwear and midriff do not show when moving about or bending. Some schools insist on closed shoes (no toes showing) so bring a pair. Note: It's often difficult to find larger shoe sizes in Thailand.

13 GUIDES Any tour is only as good as the guide fact. The input of a tour guide cannot be understated. Their input in to your tour, their little insights and the off-the-beaten-track adventures. The knowledge and experiences that they share with you will make or break your time wherever you are in the world. At Bamboo we take the selection and training of our guides and our coordinators very seriously. Each guide undertakes a structured training program of three months and only once we re convinced that they are genuine representatives of Bamboo are they signed up to the family. Each of our tours have English-speaking guides to support you, answer your questions, educate you and to ensure that your time is unforgettable. From time to time we may have new guides-intraining on our tours. If you re lucky to have a trainee on your tour, please be patient. They are undergoing training and therefore their knowledge won t be that of the trained and experienced guide who will be accompanying them. TIPPING Although not in any way expected or encouraged, anybody who goes over and above the call of duty to ensure that you have the very best time, may deserve a special little thank you. Did you have extra special service in a restaurant? Did the bus driver make an additional pit-stop just for you? Did your guide go out of the way so that you could experience something unique? At Bamboo we re firm believers in Karma what goes around most definitely comes around! FAST FACTS: GUIDES Our guides are the face of Bamboo, and they come in all shapes and smiles. We love each and every one of them more than Elephants love bananas. Whilst most them are elite travel mavericks in their own right, you may come across newbies who are on the path the greatness. If you're lucky enough to meet a fresh-faced newbie, be sure to show them your support and patience, most guides remember their first tours forever, so let's play nice.

14 The 'must brings' H AVE YOU PACKED TH E F OL L OWIN G? 0. An open mind 1. Backpack or suitcase w/wheels 2. Travel Towel 3. Light, loose-fitting clothes 4. Long trousers & t-shirts 5. Flip flops and sandals 6. Trainers or Sneakers 7. Daypack/bag 8. Insect spray 9. Hat & Sunscreen 10. Reusable Water Bottle 11. Multi-use plug adapter 12. A laptop or tablet for planning

15 The 'can brings' WHILST EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT, WE VE COMPILED A MORE DETAILED LIST FROM FEEDBACK OF SOME OF OUR PAST TRAVELLERS WHICH YOU MAY FIND USEFUL AND ALSO WANT TO CONSIDER BRINGING: 0. Patience 1. Medical Kit 2. Toiletries 3. General - Small umbrella or water jacket - Earplugs - Bandana Electrolytes / Rehydration Packets Antihistamine cream / tablets Antibiotic cream Imodium Nail brush / Clippers Tissues / Toilet roll Travel hairdryer - Home luxuries (can't live without) - Card games or books Any books, clothes, shoes or stationary that you wish to donate.

16 KOH SAMUI TEACHING YOUR ACCOMMODATION GUIDE Please note that accommodation during your TEFL course is NOT included

17 BANGKOK Located in the heart of Bangkok s nightlife, our lovely little guesthouse includes free WiFi and air conditioning in every room. It is also equipped with a private western-style bathroom (no squatting!). Rooms are either twin (2 separate beds) or triple (3 separate beds) share. Double beds are also available on request. Breakfast is available in the restaurant across the road. * Khao San Road can get loud in the evenings, so make sure to pack some earplugs if you have trouble sleeping with a bit of noise!

18 KOH SAMUI Our volunteer house in Koh Samui will soon become your home from home. Each house has western bathrooms with hot water. Rooms will be shared (4 per room max) There is free WiFi available and local washing facilities a short distance away. Air-conditioning is also available upon request at an additional weekly cost THB per week. In addition, you will be just a 10- minute walk from a beautiful beach. The kitchens are fully fitted with everything you need to live comfortably.

19 TERMS & CONDITIONS Please read these Terms and Conditions carefully as they form the basis of your contract with WeAreBamboo. This agreement is made at the time of booking and becomes legally binding upon payment of your deposit. By booking a program with WeAreBamboo, you signify you have read and accepted these Terms and Conditions All programs advertised on our website and/or on Facebook are offered and/or operated by WeAreBamboo Ltd. (trading as Bamboo and referred to as Bamboo or we herein after) with company number whose registered office is:. WE ARE BAMBOO LEVEL 2 61 SEAVIEW ROAD LOWER HUTT, NEW ZEALAND 5010 All travel arrangements are sold subject to the following conditions. Bamboo reserves the right to update the Terms and Conditions at any time. Please view our full terms and conditions here: Please note that the information in this pack is subject to change at any time without notice.