Program Details
Eligibility
Visa and Travel
Orientations and Activities
Program Description
Thailand, “the land of smiles,” and the gateway to Southeast Asia, draws more visitors than any other country in the region thanks to it’s breathtaking natural beauty, ornate temples, robust cuisine, and ruins of ancient kingdoms. Buddhism, which places a high value on hospitality and kindness, is the dominant religion, and you are likely to see orange-robed monks and statues of the Buddha.
Host Families
As with most AFS programs, you will be placed with a volunteer host family who will invite you into their home and provide room, board, and guidance during your time abroad.
Thai host families, like families around the world, come in all shapes and sizes. It is possible that you will have two host-parents and host siblings, but we cannot guarantee that will be the case. You may be placed with a single parent family or with a family that doesn’t have children. What we can guarantee, though, is that your host family will be excited to learn about you and your culture and that they want you to become a part of their family.
You may be placed in any region of Thailand, from the northern teak forests, to the central farming plains, or the southern tropical beaches.
Learn more about families in Thailand
Host Schools
Thai schools are the center of life for Thai youth, and their social lives revolve around school. Most schools are also the center of the community and teachers are considered important and are highly respected.
The school year runs from mid-May to mid-March. Students attend school Monday through Friday. The national anthem is sung every morning.
There are several types of schools where you may be placed, including government, private, single-sex, co-ed, demonstration (university-linked, using new methodologies), technical, vocational, teacher and Art colleges.
Most AFS participants attend the second-to-last year of public school. Students who are 18 and older may have to consider placement in a school other than a traditional academic high school.
Thai schools offer a wide variety of opportunities in addition to academic courses, including cultural subjects such as Thai language, dancing, sword fighting, music, cooking, arts, history, Buddhism and meditation. There are also academic, sports and recreational clubs that meet both after school and for one period a week during school sessions. If there is not a club that interests you, you may be able to start your own!
The school you attend and the courses you take will depend on your age and interests as well as on the area hosting you. You may have classes with different year groups, depending on your courses. This is a great opportunity to meet more classmates.
All schools require a uniform, which is provided, as well as textbooks and some other school activities. School rules require male students to keep their hair short.
Although some year and semester program participants obtain academic credit for the coursework they successfully complete while abroad, AFS cannot guarantee academic credit for courses. Please discuss your plans with your school before you go abroad.
Learn more about schools in Thailand.
Language
Thai is the official language of Thailand and the language that will be spoken in your host community and school. All instruction, with the exception of foreign languages, is done in Thai. In the beginning, you may find it hard to follow, but as you learn more of the language, communicating with your family and at school will become less challenging. So be patient, work hard, and keep at it!
You are not expected to speak Thai prior to departure but we encourage you to learn as much as possible before you leave since the more you know the easier your transition will be. While on program, you will likely be offered Thai language instruction and assistance by your host school or arranged by your local volunteers.
Vegetarians
Many host families in Thailand can accommodate vegetarians so this is a good destination if you have dietary restrictions. Strict vegans, however, are more difficult to place so please be as flexible as possible with your diet.
Eligibility
To be eligible you must:
- Be between 15 years 0 months and 17 years 11 months old at the start of the program
- Have a minimum 2.8 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
- Be mentally, physically, and emotionally healthy in accordance with the AFS Medical Evaluation Policy
- Have an open mind, willingness to be flexible, and the ability to adapt to new a culture, school, and environment
Visa and Travel
In order to travel internationally, you must have a passport that is valid for six months longer than your intended stay. It’s important that you have a valid passport at the time of application so that we can submit a copy of it to the Thai Consulate for early approval.
Visa
In addition to your passport, you also need a visa to enter and reside in your host country.
The visa application process for Thailand is time-consuming but not particularly difficult. You must submit a copy of your passport and 2 passport/ID photos early in the process (at the time you submit your AFS application). Later, you’ll need to submit at visa application form.
Currently, the visa application fee is $65.00 but this is determined by the Thai consulate and is subject to change.
After you have been accepted into the program and in the months prior to your departure, AFS will provide you with detailed instructions regarding the required documents and how to apply for your visa.
Travel
You and your fellow AFSers will travel together from Los Angeles to Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. Upon arrival and after you have collected your luggage and passed through customs, you will be met by AFS staff and volunteers who will escort you to the arrival orientation site.
After the arrival orientation, you will meet your local AFS contact who will accompany you on your trip to the host community. Or, if you are placed near Bangkok, you will be picked up by your host family at the orientation site.
Orientations and Activities
In addition to the orientations that you will participate in domestically (the local Pre-Departure Orientation, Culture Trek, and the Gateway Orientation), you and your fellow AFSers will have multiple orientations while abroad.
Arrival Orientation
After your arrival into Bangkok you will be met by AFS staff and volunteers and taken to an orientation site where you will take part in a 2-4 day arrival orientation.
In addition to covering the rules and safety tips, there will be an emphasis on approaching your experience from an intercultural learning perspective. This is an international orientations so you’ll have the opportunity to meet other AFSers from around the world. The orientation will be held in English.
The second night of your Arrival Orientation will include a welcome party, during which you will be invited to participate in a talent show with other participants from around the world, giving you a chance to share your talents and/or national costume. Please remember to bring any props, musical instruments or clothing that will be useful in this show.
Post-Arrival Orientation
You’ll have another orientation six to eight weeks after your arrival, this time in your local community. It is held regionally for three to five days. You will meet with AFS staff and volunteers to evaluate your first few weeks and be offered guidance to make the continuing transition as smooth as possible, all while participating in fun activities, which may include elephant riding, river rafting, visiting a night bazaar and exploring the region’s beautiful nature.
Mid-Stay Orientation
If you are participating in a year program, you will also be offered a 2 day mid-stay orientation about 5 months in to your stay. Once again, this will be a time to meet with staff and volunteers, evaluate the first part of your experience, and gain more tips to aid your cultural adjustment.
End-of-Stay Activities
In the week before your return flight you will be invited back to Bangkok for a 2-day evaluation camp. This is your chance to reflect on your experience and to share with other AFSers. You will also prepare for the cultural readjustment that is a part of returning home.
Optional Activities
In addition to the orientations, many local chapters organize activities for students and host families throughout the year. These will vary from chapter to chapter but may include parties or excursions to other cities or regions in Thailand. Unlike the orientations, these activities are optional and are at your expense.
Some AFS local chapters organize special events, activities and trips for your enjoyment, including Meditation Camp, a massage course for traditional Thai massage, and optional trips to different regions of the country.
There are many other activities that you can do in Thailand. They may be offered by AFS, by your school or by the community. Such possibilities include becoming a novice monk or nun and taking a meditation or massage course. You can also take part in community service activities and will be asked to do some presentations on your home country.
English camps are very popular in Thailand. They may be organized either by AFS or by your school. AFS students are invited to participate and, depending on your English skills, to be leaders. The camps are sponsored by a school, and the AFS national office arranges for AFS students to participate. You may have the opportunity to go to one or more English camps. They are a great way to make friends with Thai students.
An optional week-long exchange to another part of Thailand is another possibility, where you will live with a host family and attend school. This is coordinated by your local advisor and, should you choose to participate, you would pay transportation costs.
