A Program Based on a Belief in Reciprocity

TEFL CHIANGMAI’S BUDDHIST EXCHANGE –

(A PROGRAM BASED ON A BELIEF IN RECIPROCITY)

 

With the number of worldwide TEFL programs out there these days, why not consider getting something more than just a piece of paper with your certification? Why not give the gift of English to those who can really benefit while you complete your coursework, namely the working poor farmers, roadside merchants and field laborers who need become more fluent in order to compete for higher service based jobs in hotels, restaurants and administrative positions.

 

In addition to receiving your accredited certification you will be rewarded with an authentic and meaningful cultural experience by studying Theravada Buddhism and developing a sense of “mindfulness” about your daily life practices, interactions and intentions. Why not study Thai Buddhism with TEFLChiangmai’s TEFL Buddhist Exchange, and give something back to those who would welcome you to your new home in the land of smiles?

 

As part of TEFLChiangmai’s goal to increase cultural and religious sensitivity among our participants, we also offer the TEFL Buddhist Exchange program where future TEFL teachers have the opportunity not only to become certified instructors but to participate as student's of the Buddhist philosophy and traditions to better understand the religious beliefs which permeates our student's lives through out many parts of South East Asia.

The Buddhist Exchange concept is based on the idea of reciprocity for would be foreign English Language teachers who aren’t only interested in being tourists while they study abroad by visiting and working with locals from the many temples of the incredible Mai Sai Valley, situated just west of Chiang Mai in the shadow of Doi Pui and Doi Suthep about 25-35 minutes from the heart of downtown. 

 

You can still enjoy all the cosmopolitan benefits of the “Rose of the North” while at the same time interacting with not only native Lanna (northern) Thai citizens, but in addition also culturally distinct Hill Tribe folks and working immigrants from Burma and Laos, for all of whom conversational English has become a crucial modern day economic lifeline.

 

The Thai Buddhist portion of the course consists of opportunities for daily meditation, chanting and “Dharma talks” with local monks about the underlying meaning and purposes of Buddhist methods of achieving internal peace, mental healing and acceptance of universal suffering.  According to one local monk Pra Da Nai and the Kiriket Wat (a temple which translates roughly to mean “Place in the Jungle”) the true purpose of Buddhism is about helping people, not about building elaborate temples and monuments to make merit.  He has demonstrated this by focusing the goal of his temple to teach English to the local people (including those from neighboring countries living in Thailand with the aspirations of better economic opportunity) while creating unity among the local village populations who see the rise of materialism in Thailand as something to compete and aspire for, even if it means being aggressive toward their neighbors.

 

Teaching and studying at the Wat can be a transformative and enlightening experience, one that a typical TEFL course or partying after class with other Westerners cannot offer, although those opportunities are certainly there for merriment on the weekends.

Teaching as a profession is perhaps one of the most conventional ways to obtain this kind of merit. But the profession also takes much mental development which also takes Effort and Concentration, two additional “right” paths for those interested in seeking self-improvement.

 Improve your chances of getting a right livelihood job with a higher level of pay by enrolling today!