They say you learn more about yourself traveling thousands of miles away from home than you ever do standing still—and living and teaching in Thailand has proven that to me threefold.
When I first sat down to write about my pending teaching position with BFITS, I had barely stepped foot inside a classroom. But now, I am six months and a whole semester into my school in Buriram, and I am much less terrified of facing my students. In fact, seeing them each day is something I genuinely look forward to.
Discovering the Joy of Teaching in Thailand
Something that was completely unexpected for me was the pure joy that teaching can bring. Of course, there are good and bad days, but I can say, hand on heart, that no day ever begins badly. The moment I walk into the English Program (EP) building in Buriram Pitthayakhom (BP) School, I am greeted by grinning students who love to say good morning and stop for a quick chat before I even make it to the office; therefore, it’s simply impossible not to start the day smiling due to being surrounded by so much energy and warmth.
So many things have happened during this first term! I’ve experienced my first sports week, celebrated various festivals (including one honoring teachers) and the birthdays of royal family members, attended a retirement party for our School Director, and participated in a fun and interactive day camp for students. There was also a day out with the EP students, coworkers, and students’ birthdays to celebrate, as well as a day when free ice cream was randomly handed out to everyone.
Being part of this teaching community in Buriram has shown me that so much of the teaching experience goes beyond the classroom. It’s the everyday little moments that make being here truly special.
Learning to Slow Down and Be Present
One of the lessons I myself have learnt in my role as a teacher here is the importance of being present. I was always a person who would plan the next big moment in my life to have something to look forward to, which I found could often pull my mind away from being in the moment I was living in, but being here, and enjoying every day, has shown me how rewarding slowing down can be – even the long assemblies are enjoyable!
Especially when we get to see a showcase of various students’ talents… as another thing I’ve learnt is how much these kids love to sing and dance, and any opportunity to dress up is always embraced! It is so rewarding to watch these kids be their best and truest selves.
Overcoming Challenges and Finding Confidence as a New Teacher
Now, while there have been many highs during my time here so far, I would be remiss not to mention any days when I struggled or felt completely overwhelmed. My very first day of proper teaching, I actually felt went quite well. I was teaching vocabulary to all three of my year groups, and I find it slightly easier to make vocabulary lessons fun.
But the next day was my first grammar lesson, and this was what I had been panicking about. I talked too much, stumbled over my words, and when I looked out into the sea of gazing student faces, I realised that quite possibly not a single one of them had followed what I had said. I left the classroom feeling dejected and like I had failed, and my headteacher, Charles, noticed my attitude.
When I explained to him what the class had been like, he kindly invited me to watch one of his grammar lessons. I sat in for his next class and felt I learned a great deal. His rapport with his students was (and is) seriously impressive, but I did recognise that rapport would come over time. My present issue was teaching itself.
As Charles taught, I listened and watched. I noticed how he always engaged the students by asking questions, not just teaching from the board. I enjoyed how some of the set activities they did as a class, rather than individually, and I noticed how patient and encouraging he was, giving students the space to make mistakes without feeling embarrassed. Watching him teach taught me that teaching is not always about covering all the content or completing all the set work, but about creating an environment where students feel safe, engaged, and supported.
After that lesson, I left with a clearer sense of how to approach my lessons and a renewed confidence that maybe I, too, could one day build strong connections with my students and develop my own teaching style. The observation also helped me realise that building a rapport with my students should be a key focus of my teaching time here. After six months of actively working on this, I feel I can confidently say that I have achieved this with the majority of my students.
The Power of Supportive Colleagues and Community
This leads me nicely to my next train of thought: my coworkers. I don’t think I have ever worked in an office that is so supportive and encouraging. From sharing tips and resources to offering words of encouragement on challenging days, everyone here wants to see the other succeed.
Their positivity and willingness to help and share made my transition to Thailand and teaching in general much smoother. On a more personal level, they have also made coming to work every day something I look forward to.
I had a particularly tough time with one of my classes; they were very attached to their old teacher, and I think they struggled with the transition to a new one. There were definitely some growing pains, and not every method I tried was successful.
What I truly appreciated, however, was that the other teachers also tried these methods with me, making it much easier to implement them. Their support demonstrated, very early on, how lucky I am to be part of such a collaborative team.
A Memorable Day at Play La Ploen
I would like to now reflect on one of the most enjoyable days of the term for me: the day out with the EP students. It was nearing the final exams, and the kids were tired. Their heavy workload from all their teachers, combined with end-of-term pressure, was starting to take a toll on everyone. A day was planned to visit ‘Play la Ploen,’ a cultural and learning centre located about half an hour outside Buriram City.
Some fun and creative activities were planned, along with free time for the students to explore and enjoy the centre. When we arrived, you could immediately see a shift in their energy—they were excited for a day away from school and the stress of impending examinations. We began the day with a walk around the centre, which features several greenhouses, each with a different theme. We’re all surrounded by nature, art, colours, and concepts from various countries, such as Egypt!
There’s a wellness centre and a few small mini ‘museums.’ The students had fun, taking lots of pictures and getting some informative talks. After exploring for some time, we returned to the main hall and divided the students into two groups to focus on creative activities. One group went off to paint their own tote bags, and the other stayed in the hall to make, from scratch, their own ‘yadom’, a herbal inhaler.
We, as teachers, had the opportunity to participate in both activities with our assigned group, and it was a joy to watch the students express themselves and tap into their creative sides. We then had a very enjoyable lunch, and in the afternoon, the students talked to a doctor about mental health, which is always prudent, especially around exam time. The teachers could either stay and watch or have some free time to enjoy the centre some more.
The day got me very excited for the overnight EP camp in November – we all have some super fun games and activities planned for the students, and if it is anything like this day out was, it should be another amazing experience for teachers and students alike.
Finding Meaning in Everyday Teaching Moments
Reflecting on my time in Buriram so far, I feel a deep sense of gratitude. Living and teaching here has been challenging at times, but it has also been endlessly rewarding in ways I never anticipated.
From the small, everyday moments – students greeting me at the beginning of each day with smiles and warmth, to the laughter during lessons when something inevitably doesn’t go as planned (or my terrible teacher jokes…teaching food to my M3’s was incredibly punny) and the shared excitement over new experiences – to the bigger events like the day camps, I’ve learned that teaching is as much about connection and community as it is about lesson plans and curriculum.
‘If you fail to plan, you plan to fail,’ yes, but there are some beautiful, hilarious moments in the ‘failures’ that become such special memories that ‘failing’ begins to not even be a concept anymore, it just becomes going with the flow as much as you can, and that, I think, is what makes teaching here in Buriram incredibly special.
A Love Letter to Buriram
The experiences I’ve had so far – from celebrating achievements and fostering a safe learning environment to navigating the inevitable challenges – have given me confidence, perspective, and a deeper love for this role. I am beyond ready and excited for what the next term will bring.
This, in a way, is my love letter to Buriram 🧡
