20 Pictures Showcasing the Teach in Thailand Cultural Orientation Week
The first week of the TESOL course in Hua Hin is a Cultural Orientation program designed to help the TESOL students adjust to their new surroundings, cope with the culture shock that may affect them, and learn more about Thailand.
Included in this week are interactive lessons on Thai culture, language, history and politics, taught by area experts. There are also fun and educational cultural excursions each day. This month, the TESOL students visited the Khao Tao Buddhist temple, Rescue Paws animal shelter, a Muay Thai gym and a local artist village.
Below are 30 photos showcasing the Teach English in Thailand Cultural Orientation week.
Khao Tao Temple
TESOL students posing for their quirky photo in front of the giant Khao Tao Buddha statue
TESOL instructor and students practice the art of Thai meditation
All TESOL students receive a blessing from the monk at the end of their excursion to Khao Tao temple
Rescue Paws – Animal rescue program for the homeless dogs of Hua Hin
TESOL students visited Rescue Paws following their excursion to Khao Tao temple
Rescue Paws cares for and rehabilitates the injured street dogs of Hua Hin
Rescue Paws does as much as they possibly can to care for and rehabilitate the street dogs of Hua Hin but it comes at a price.
Muay Thai training
TESOL students are taken to the Hua Hin Muay Thai gym where they are introduced to the sport and receive training from expert trainers
Jaco Van Zyl, a TESOL student from South Africa, showing off his athletic ability in the ring
Group photo in the ring after a tough training session at the Muay Thai gym
Pineapple Plantation & Elephant Sanctuary
Students get the opportunity to walk around the beautiful pineapple plantation which is surrounded by some of the most beautiful tropical scenery in Thailand
Some of the juiciest and freshest pineapples you will ever come across
[Update: April 2018: We have made the decision to remove the elephant sanctuary visit due to concerns over treatment of elephants at the facility. We cannot in good conscience continue to support the facility while elephant rides are still offered.] After visiting the pineapple plantation, the TESOL students are taken across town to an elephant sanctuary where they get the opportunity feed and play with the elephants which are cared for here.
[Update: April 2018: We have made the decision to remove the elephant sanctuary visit due to concerns over treatment of elephants at the facility. We cannot in good conscience continue to support the facility while elephant rides are still offered.] The elephants loved the TESOL students so much here that they began hugging some of the students with their trunks
Artist Village
The students visited this traditional Thai artist village where they were given a lesson on Thai art and an opportunity to get creative
Inspirational quote by Kurt Vonnegut
Group photo outside the artist village in Hua Hin
Thai Language Learning
Teacher Pear gave the students several lessons on Thai language to assist them with communicating with the local Thai community
When they weren’t learning new Thai words, the students had the opportunity to practise speaking in Thai with one another and teacher Pear
Beach Braai (Barbecue)
After a long week of cultural orientation, the students are all treated to a beach Braai (Barbecue) on one of Hua Hin’s most beautiful beaches
Some of the students getting active by joining in on a game of beach volleyball with the locals
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