04/12/2023

Chiyedza and Peter applied for the Turing Scheme earlier this year, excited to explore a new culture and build on their experience teaching English. Six months later, they’re still living in Bangkok, now as full-time English teachers. This month, we caught up with them to hear their stories. 

For Peter, teaching long-term in Thailand was never a question of if, but how. After completing his CELTA qualification, he found it difficult to land his first teaching job despite being fully qualified: “I’m French, but I went to school in England and speak English fluently. When you don’t come from a country with English as its native language, though, it can be difficult to find a job. Every interviewer told me that they liked my experience and qualifications, but they needed a British visa to hire me.” After some research, Peter saw the Turing Scheme as the perfect opportunity to get his foot in the door.

Chiyedza undertook several internships before applying for the Turing Scheme in May. Completing placements in different sectors gave her the advantage of trying out a variety of different careers, from hospitality to marketing: “Before Thailand, I also had the opportunity to teach English in Valencia, which I really enjoyed”. With this in mind, paired with a desire to travel to Southeast Asia, she took the plunge and decided to apply for the Turing Scheme.

A few months later, Chiyedza and Peter found themselves in Bangkok, Thailand’s busiest and most exciting city. With a week to settle in, they had ample opportunity to explore Bangkok’s famous street food (including a very memorable Pad Thai for just £1), shopping, and museums. They also made the most of their location, going on day trips to other towns and cities, such as Pattaya, well known for its pristine beaches and vibrant nightlife.

After a week of exploration, they began teaching Business English to a wide range of students at Kasetsart University. In contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city, the pair describe the work culture as laidback and deeply fulfilling: “You could tell many of the students really wanted to improve their English, which was such a joy to be around.”

Living up to its reputation as the Land of Smiles, Chiyedza and Peter’s initial concerns quickly faded as they were won over by Thailand’s welcoming atmosphere and low cost of living: “Thai people are very kind and everyone is very conscious of the way they treat others - you won’t get your stuff stolen if you leave it on the subway, for example”. Chiyedza shares how, despite the language barrier, strangers helped her to find the right products in a local grocery store: “It really surpassed my expectations”.

Both cite Twin’s support as one of the reasons they found the transition so smooth: “Before we left we had a meeting on cultural differences as well as logistics, and Twin was amazing at making sure we knew everything.” In particular, they found their travel correspondent a huge source of comfort and information: “Our travel correspondent, Emily, was lovely. If Emily weren’t there I think we would have found it much more difficult to find full-time jobs”. While navigating such a big move can become overwhelming, they both found Twin’s consistent support to alleviate the stress. Chiyedza explains that she “never felt clueless” despite having some difficulties with the visa process.

After three months of interning at Kasetsart University, Chiyedza and Peter fell in love with Thailand. With the help of their travel correspondent, Emily, they arranged interviews at other schools in Bangkok before finally securing roles at a private school. After his previous experience, Peter describes his current position as a breath of fresh air: “We always feel really appreciated here; they value us and pay us our worth rather than treat us like temporary backpackers”. Unlike some of the teaching roles he held in Europe, he expresses how he never feels drained after a class: “The students are so bright and full of energy”.

As for future plans, Chiyedza and Peter are focusing on enjoying their new lives after all the hard work: “We haven’t seen much outside of Bangkok, so we’re looking forward to visiting other nearby islands and countries”. Travel has sparked a new hobby for the pair, who now share their adventures on their Instagram pages - The Peter Times and It's Chiyedza. Reflecting on the past six months, he recognises it as a full circle moment: “I remember looking at the Twin Success Stories before I joined, and I was thinking, wow, imagine if one day I was on here”. 

Whether you’re newly qualified or still exploring your interests, an internship isn’t always a one-off experience; it could be a stepping stone to your future career. Chiyedza and Peter’s stories show that, with the right flexibility and determination, an internship can also lead to a full-time role - and maybe even a life-changing move.

Take your first step and apply now.