Teach English at the Umphium Mai Refugee Camp in Thailand

Posted By: English Immersion Program (EIP)
Date: Monday, 4 October 2004
Position: English Teacher (full time)
No. of positions available: 1
Length of contract: October or November 2004-April 2005 (renewable)
School: English Immersion Program (EIP)
Location: Umphium Mai Refugee Camp, Tak Province, Thailand
To Apply: a cover letter and resume to Brooke


Responsibilities:

• Teach intermediate-advanced English to 19 Burmese refugees ages 18-25 (12-18 teaching hours per week)


• Update and improve the curriculum provided


• Live in the student dorm (inside the refugee camp) 3 nights a week.


• Take an active part in managing students in and outside of class


• Help recruit a new English teacher for the following school year

We are looking for a native English speaker who:

• Has a university degree and at least 1 year teaching experience


• Is motivated, flexible and has international experience


• Is culturally sensitive and discrete

Stipend and Benefits:

• 8,000 baht per month (about $200 US)


• Free use of bicycle in Mae Sot


• Free visa & renewals


• Breakfast and dinner provided at school

Here are the answers to a few questions that might come up about this position:

1. What are the living conditions?

Living conditions in the refugee camp are very basic. Water does not run regularly and there is little access to electricity. While in camp 3 nights a week, teachers sleep in the EIP student dorms. There is a male and a female dorm, both are bamboo houses with thatch roofs which usually have electricity from 7 to 9 each night. The female teacher will have a small room to herself inside the dorm with bedding and a mosquito net. A thin mattress will be provided to sleep on. The female dorm has a bathroom with a Thai-style toilet and space to shower. There is no hot water to use for bathing.

The EIP students cook breakfast and dinner for the whole school. Meals usually include stewed vegetables and rice. The food can sometimes be quite bland. Some teachers bring some snacks with them from Mae Sot for dessert. EIP has one classroom (another bamboo hut) close by the dorms. Students have class here from 8 AM to 3PM Monday to Friday and they study in the classroom at night, often by candlelight.

There's a market street near school with shoe and clothing shops, kitchenware and tea shops. In the market you can find basic necessities like shampoo, toothpaste and toilet paper. The refugee camp is located on a mountainside, so walking to and from the market, though a short distance is not leisurely. It takes about 5-10 minutes but it is mostly steep uphill or downhill. Thanks to the mountainous location, however, there are very few mosquitoes. There are dirt roads through the camp, but not all the way to the school. You will be dropped off about a 5 minute walk from the school and must hike to the dorms and classroom area from there.

The EIP teachers this year haven't found the living conditions to be a problem. The camp is stunningly beautiful which makes up quite a lot for the inconveniences associated with living there. The weather in Umphium is quite cool compared to other parts of Thailand, which is very pleasant. However, in rainy season (July-Oct) it can be very muddy. While living with the students, teachers learn a lot about Karen culture—their traditional dress, dances, language & food. The students are a lot of fun to socialize with. EIP has evening activities like film or karaoke nights. We run our TV and VCD player on car batteries.

On the days you are not teaching in camp you will probably want to live in Mae Sot (a large town 1.5 hours from camp). EIP has an office in Mae Sot where you can plan your classes and have access to the internet. In Mae Sot, living conditions are quite good. There are Thai, Western and Burmese restaurants. The healthcare is good and you can buy almost anything you would like including some Western products like peanut butter and M and M's.



2. Is it safe in Mae Sot and in the refugee camp?

There have been no major security problems along the Thai Burma border for many years. There is an occasional bomb set off on Burmese side of the border, but they are small and I've never heard of them harming anyone. There is some malaria in Umphium and Mae Sot, but if you use a mosquito net you should have no problem. Usually people who have malaria here, got it from working for long periods of time in the deep jungle. It is not necessary to take anti-malarial drugs while working in Mae Sot or the refugee camp.


3. Can you live off your 200$/month stipend?

Previous teachers have been able to live on 200$ a month when we are careful about how we spend our money. We have access to bicycles for transport and we live in small apartments we rent for 1,800 baht per month. We go out to eat almost every meal because food is very inexpensive. You can eat delicious Thai food for a dollar or two. We spend most of our stipend on food, calling our families long distance, going out with friends, renting movies, buying clothes. When you first move to Mae Sot you will need to spend some money on furnishing your apartment. EIP will provide you with a thin mattress and a mosquito net, but you may also want to buy:

- A fan
- Bedding
- An electric wok
- A kettle
- A phone line or mobile phone

So in the first month or two you may spend more than 8,000 baht, but in later months you may spend less. If you would like other amenities like a cable TV or a fridge, your costs will probably exceed your stipend.



4. Are there any difficulties with visas?

EIP is supported by two legal education NGOs working on the Thai Burma border. One of the NGO's will take care of your visa. EIP teachers will receive a Non-Immigrant Visa which will allow them to work legally in Thailand, in Mae Sot and in the refugee camp. We have had no problems with visas this year.



5. What is the working week like?

Although you may only have 12 teaching hours a week you will be busy full time. Previous teachers have spent between 5 and 6 hours a week correcting homework and 12 hours planning classes each week. In your free time at camp students often approach the teachers for help with their homework or just to chat.

EIP has a list of skills for the students to learn in each class over the year. For example during each school year in writing class students should learn how to write:

- Persuasive essays
- Comparison and contrast essays
- Resumes
- Reports
- Action plans
- Project proposals

EIP has some books on these topics and some activity ideas from previous teachers. However, the writing teacher is expected to look through this information and create her own lesson plans. She may wish to supplement EIP’s materials with internet research. For some topics EIP has some handouts but the teacher will probably want to make additional worksheets for the students. All EIP teachers are expected to teach in a way that actively involves the students in every class.