While traveling the world is a popular goal for many college students, most settle down in their hometowns or somewhere near their alma mater after graduation. For Hannah Hunter, this wasn’t the case. After graduating in 2014 with a degree in childhood/special education as well as a minor in Asian studies and a concentration in women and gender studies, Hunter moved to Pattaya, Thailand where she taught for six months. She was able to pursue this incredible experience with the help of her adviser, Associate Professor of Education Linda Ware, who encouraged Hunter to follow her educational passions.
Ware advised Hunter to apply for the Fulbright Scholarship; after being awarded the competitive scholarship to teach in Malaysia for a year, she returned to teaching in Pattaya. “It was such an impactful experience there in terms of culture and learning about the beautiful humans that make up this world,” said Hunter, reflecting on her experience in Malaysia.
Today, Hunter teaches fifth grade at the Berkeley International School in Bangkok — joined by another Geneseo School of Education alumna, Samantha Vell ’16, proving once again that it is indeed a small world! Vell completed her student teaching in South Korea. As Hunter explained, teaching abroad actually has more similarities with teaching in the United States than one might imagine. Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Berkeley International follows the American curriculum, which means that its teachers use the Common Core and follow the New Generation Science standards.
However, teaching overseas does offer more freedom. “International teaching is kind of like being able to do all of the things we love about teaching without the stressors of the American educational politics,” Hunter observed. “There is more freedom for creativity and slightly more emphasis on global issues.”
Hunter added that because her students come from all over the world, they bring so much to the table with their diverse cultural backgrounds, yet they’re all able to “...come together speaking English to learn about ourselves and the world around us.”
“Our outstanding faculty and students are uniquely positioned to support P-12 learners from all walks of life,” noted Anjoo Sikka, dean of the Ella Cline Shear School of Education. “It’s a challenge that the School of Education has accepted, and we flexibly respond via our curricular and co-curricular programs to our changing world. Kudos to Hannah Hunter and Samantha Vell for selecting this opportunity from the many available through our School and Geneseo. I wish them the best and am heartened to know that they are standing by to support the current group of teacher candidates at Geneseo.”
In terms of living abroad, Hunter has found it to be an extremely rewarding experience. At first, she noticed all of the differences between Thailand and the States, but eventually Thai culture became her “new normal.” She has had no trouble meeting people and making friends.
Now, she sees herself living in Thailand for quite awhile and is currently working on becoming fluent in Thai. “I have such a deep love for Thailand,” she said. “This country has filled me with a happiness and independence I never felt anywhere else, so much that that I would be proud to say that I could speak Thai.”
Hannah truly encourages other Geneseo students to look into teaching internationally. She feels that it has not only changed her perspective on teaching, but also opened her eyes to so much more of the world. For example, Bandar Pusat Jengka, the town in Malaysia where she lived during her Fulbright scholarship, taught her the meaning of compassion and acceptance. Thailand is a place where she has “...felt happy on my own.”
As described in her favorite quote from a Chinese proverb, Hannah believes that everything —every event, every person in her life — is connected by a red thread. Every lesson learned, every person met, every piece of knowledge gained was in her life path and meant for her.
“One thing could not have happened without the other and I am so very fortunate for everyone I've met along the way and what I've learned about myself and the world,” she said.
Currently, Hunter is pursuing her M.Ed focusing on Universal Design for Learning and Inclusion from the University of San Diego and has no plans to leave Thailand anytime soon. Read more about Hunter’s life after Geneseo and her international experiences at her blog.
Students interested in learning more about international teaching opportunities, including student teaching at the Berkeley School, may contact John Williams at (585) 245-5560 or williamj@geneseo.edu.
Story written by Office of Academic Affairs intern Genna Amick.