Through German Assistants Program (DAS), Thai Ministry of Education and Goethe-Institut Bangkok enable German students studying Teaching German as a Foreign Language (DaF) or Education to stay in Thailand for three months, in order to teach in one of the 51 schools nation-wide. For the German students, it is a great opportunity to gain first time working experience abroad. Through the presence of young language assistants, Thai students will be motivated to learn German.
During the stay, the assistants will be guided by Goethe-Institut through trainings and will be supported by the German teachers on site. The schools will organize accommodation and provide grants.
Goals of the program
- gain teaching experiences
- expand skill sets relevant to the profession: intercultural competence, organizational and communicative ability, working independently, as well as in a team.
- gain insight into the (learning) culture of Southeast Asia
- gain insight into school systems outside of Europe
For Thai students, Germany is but a distant foreign land. Only a few have had the opportunity to come into direct contact with Germans. Encountering a young prospective teacher in German classes is incredibly motivating. They can provide perspectives into German culture that cannot be found in any textbooks. Their assignment is, therefore, to bring this joy in learning German and to arouse interest in Germany. They will encourage students to speak and will, as a result, reinforce confidence of the students.
Concretely, this means:
- shadowing in German classes
- taking over parts of the class (up to 18 hours per week, generally in the 10th - 12th grades)
- partaking in extracurricular activities relating to the German classes
- carrying out activities relating to the geography and the culture of Germany and promoting communicative skills in addition to the classes
- partaking in any other school activities, as long as these pertain to the whole school community.
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Emma Müller & Tanyaporn Kraiwongruean
Princess Chulabhorn Science School, Phitsanulok
I encourage the students to speak and improve upon their pronunciation. That, in turn, improves the overall language capabilty of the class. It is nice to witness how the class becomes livelier and how they are brought closer to Germany and its culture. -
Muhammet Ali Doganay & Phichamon Pinsri
Matthayom Watnairong School, Bangkok
Mali: I must say, of all the decisions in my life I am especially proud of, applying for this project would definitely be among one of them! In the first week of the class, the biggest challenge for me was to hold online classes. During studies, we were not prepared for such situations. My biggest joy is to see how a class that were shy at the beginning has, in a matter of weeks, learnt to openly and confidently hold a conversation about a situation or about feelings.
Accompanying teacher: Practicing with native speakers is the best way to quickly become more proficient in German. Learning is a job that never ends, and, thus, I am also improving upon my German skill thanks to the exchanges with the assistants. I find that great! -
Parinaz Fazelian & Supattra Jongchansitto
Pingkarattana School, Chiang Mai
For me, the interaction with the students is a great learning experience, since I am mostly active in the field of adult education. The bustling warm-heartedness in the classes always fills me with joy. By holding lessons together with the accompanying Thai teacher, the students can feel assured, since they can ask the Thai teacher, when they do not understand something. This is especially helpful for shy students. Furthermore, I feel that the students are able to practice their German and English more through my presence by having the opportunity to communicate with me. Generally, I see this as a great boon for me to get to know another school system, as well as Thai culture. Thai food is wonderful and I, fortunately, also have the opportunity to learn about Loy Kratong tradition at our school. -
Carmen Märkl & Natthawut Rattanapirom
Kanlayanawat School, Khon Kaen
For Thai students, listening and speaking are especially difficult in classes. Through conversations with me, a native speaker, they should be able to work upon that. I think that the German assistants bring to the class new motivation to stay on track and to further learn German in higher levels despite the partial online classes.
We are looking for university students in the fields of Teaching German as a Foreign Language (DaF) as well as Education (preferably majoring in modern foreign languages) with good command of English and German as their native or second language. Our program is just right for you, if you are:
- looking for experiences with teaching foreign languages for adolescents aging 15 – 17,
- interested in bringing Thai students closer to the German language through your personality as well as both class and extracurricular activities,
- looking to gain a non-tourist perspective into the country of Thailand and its people,
- ready to integrate yourself into Thai school life and let yourself be immersed into other living conditions.
Prasanee Sinlapanawin
German as a Foreign Language Promotion/German language education collaboration
Goethe-Institut Thailand
Prasanee.Sinlapanawin@goethe.de
German as a Foreign Language Promotion/German language education collaboration
Goethe-Institut Thailand
Prasanee.Sinlapanawin@goethe.de
The number of participants varies each year. Since 2013, around two to ten people participated in the program annually. In 2020, we could not offer any stays to the German assistants for the first time due to the pandemic.
During the three-month stay at a Thai secondary school (deployment sites throughout the country) you will receive:
From Goethe-Institut Bangkok:
From Goethe-Institut Bangkok:
- mediation and guidance: together with our partner, the Bureau of International Cooperation under Thai Ministry of Education, we will provide any assistances during the application process for the visa by provisioning the corresponding necessary documents (verbal notes).
- An orientation and an interim seminar at Goethe-Institut Bangkok, including accommodation and meals
- a traveling grant amounting to 500 Euros (subject to budget sanction)
- on site accompaniment by a German teacher at the school
- a customary accommodation on site at the school
- a grant amounting to 10,000 THB per month (currently approximately 250 Euros; this corresponds to 2/3 of starting salary of teachers) and a maximum of 1,000 THB per month for utilities in the accommodation
- a meal on each work day
- Subject to financial sanction through Thai and German authorities
- Subject to viability regarding the current Covid-19 situation (Entry regulations, on site classes, occurrence of infection in Thailand, etc.)
You will bear:
- the costs of entry visa
- the traveling costs from Germany to Thailand
- the costs of traveling or health insurance
- the costs of complete and recognized vaccination against Corona-virus.
The program takes place once a year from June to August. Applications for the stay from June to August 2023 are still possible until 23 January 2023 (see application procedure).
In the end, you will have to write a 3-page-minimum report that is to be handed in within two months after the end of the internship.
Experiences from past years show that by internationalizing this project, a special network arises. We, therefore, strive to build a long term intercultural bridge between all participants of the exchange program.
Experiences from past years show that by internationalizing this project, a special network arises. We, therefore, strive to build a long term intercultural bridge between all participants of the exchange program.
The program takes place once a year from June to August. Applications for the stay from June to August 2023 are still possible until 31 January 2023.
Applications (motivation letter, CV, record of study) can be submitted via e-mail to Mrs. Prasanee Sinlapanawin. She is also available for any inquiries.
Prasanee Sinlapanawin
German as a Foreign Language Promotion/German language education collaboration
Tel.: +66 2108 8222
Fax: +66 2108 8299
Prasanee.Sinlapanawin@goethe.de
