By Michelle Mills
Imagine being greeted each morning by a friendly elephant and trekking through jungle-covered mountains on your weekends… all while gaining credit towards your degree and improving your career prospects!
Amazingly, for second-year education student Joe Caruso, it was an exciting reality during an international work placement in Thailand.
Situated in the resort location of beachside Pattaya, Joe taught English classes at The Regent’s School, a challenging and rewarding experience he describes as “exhilarating”.
“I can honestly say that it was one of the best experiences of my life,” Joe said. “I was able to combine the two things I enjoy the most, teaching and travel.”
Part of the overseas teaching experience is communicating across cultures, which provided Joe the chance to be creative.
“Using a remote control car as a teaching tool, teaching students that a fun way to learn punctuation was ‘ninja style’ and remembering that when you can’t speak someone’s language, that a smile goes a long way,” Joe recalls.
Joe was impressed with the international school’s teaching philosophy which focussed on giving students skills to take part in their global community.
“The students knew that the way to a better future for them is through knowledge and learning. They came with enthusiasm to the classroom which was in turn reflected by the teachers,” he said.
The Bachelor of Education (Secondary) student was assisted by a faculty scholarship to help meet the costs of a month overseas, which he said opened doors for his career and opened his eyes to what he is capable of.
“My advice is to just do it. The whole point of a teaching placement is to experience real-life classrooms. On an international prac you get to teach a classroom and live a culture.”
Joe’s work placement in Thailand is not the first time he has enhanced his degree through an international educational experience.
In early 2007 he received sponsorship from QUT International to participate in the global student humanitarian conference Education Without Borders, held in the United Arab Emirates.
Placements Officer Shirley Richards encourages education students to consider work placements overseas which are available in Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong and Singapore.
“It helps students broaden their outlook and puts theory into practice in another context which is great for QUT’s future teachers,” she said.
“Often opportunities are opened up through international field studies. On graduation, students often return to teach overseas and feel more ready and adaptable having had a rewarding field studies experience previously.”
Several scholarships are available to help students’ dreams of teaching overseas come true and interested students should contact the Field Experience Office in the faculty of Education. | 
