Howay. I'm currently thinking about doing a tefl or tesol course,possibly in the winter. I've found a few online,in Thailand but mainly seem to be in Pattaya(yuk)or Phuket(yuk yuk). Are there any schools or colleges that do this sort of thing in Hua Hin??The ones i've looked at all lend themselves to about a month intense training in a classroom. Is this the norm??
Also,on completion,are the job opportunities there?? I realise i won't become a millionaire doing this but i'm told the wages aren't too bad and it would be a good way to keep myself in LOS for more than 3 months each year.
All feedback and knowlege would be greatfully received
Yours
completely disillusioned by the UK
tefl
There is no real norm for length of study, mine took a year for eg.
As a long-time ESL teacher in Europe, Asia and North America I would recommend the CELTA/IELTS course.
Its one-month, hugely intensive (study/assignments/sleep) but the certificate is a world standard.
Most importantly, you will know what to do and how to do it when you face a class.
Its given around the world, including BKK and is cheaper to do it there than in Europe or N. America.
Its the only one-month course I know of that is good, most quickie cert. courses are crap designed to get your money
As a long-time ESL teacher in Europe, Asia and North America I would recommend the CELTA/IELTS course.
Its one-month, hugely intensive (study/assignments/sleep) but the certificate is a world standard.
Most importantly, you will know what to do and how to do it when you face a class.
Its given around the world, including BKK and is cheaper to do it there than in Europe or N. America.
Its the only one-month course I know of that is good, most quickie cert. courses are crap designed to get your money
disillusion
Well, if you are disillusioned by the UK, wait until you hit the Thai educational system!
I agree with ADW.
My best advice is not to worry as much about certificates as what you are getting yourself into when you apply for a job. (I have had both the best and the worst jobs in my long life as a teacher here in the Thai "educational" system.)
If you have a university degree, that is really all you need and you already know more about teaching than most folks you will work with. Just the degree should get you a list of jobs. ( EXpat teacher turnover is notoriously high) if not go with the cheapest, fastest "ESL training" program you can find.
But just be SURE to check out the various "bad school" lists before you apply anywhere, definitely talk at length with current expat staff at any school you are considering. If possible, talk to people in person . . .away from the school. Talk to some parents too if you can. .. and talk to current Thai staff.
Before signing on, take a tour of the place while school is in session and get a feel for the atmosphere. ( Classes of 50+ for 6 periods in a row, no AC, no chalk, no books, pay for your own copying & paper, rowdy and rude students, high expat staff turnover . ..seen it all!!)
I agree with ADW.
My best advice is not to worry as much about certificates as what you are getting yourself into when you apply for a job. (I have had both the best and the worst jobs in my long life as a teacher here in the Thai "educational" system.)
If you have a university degree, that is really all you need and you already know more about teaching than most folks you will work with. Just the degree should get you a list of jobs. ( EXpat teacher turnover is notoriously high) if not go with the cheapest, fastest "ESL training" program you can find.
But just be SURE to check out the various "bad school" lists before you apply anywhere, definitely talk at length with current expat staff at any school you are considering. If possible, talk to people in person . . .away from the school. Talk to some parents too if you can. .. and talk to current Thai staff.
Before signing on, take a tour of the place while school is in session and get a feel for the atmosphere. ( Classes of 50+ for 6 periods in a row, no AC, no chalk, no books, pay for your own copying & paper, rowdy and rude students, high expat staff turnover . ..seen it all!!)
Last edited by Chas on Tue Jul 08, 2008 10:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
bubbly,
Agree fully with Chas, his post arrived as I was typing mine!
Thailand is far from the best place in Asia to teach ESL.
Wages are not really up to snuff compared to Taiwan or Korea where you can actually save money (Japan too expensive to save anything much).
Most places will try to get away with paying you 20-30K baht a month. In Taiwan you can get 75-85K equivalent with a little effort and living costs are not too much more expensive.
Educational standards are poor in LoS and too many drunk backpackers drive the market down. They are willing to work cheap so they can stay in LoS to booze and fornicate. So an unqualified, inexperienced, but vertical, white guy in front of the class is acceptable to many "schools" and can keep the baht flowing in.
Class sizes are large (50+ sometimes!), materials often non-existent, children undisciplined, and parents are always right. And remember, Somchai won't get his job because he knows something, its because his dad is owed a favour.
Agree fully with Chas, his post arrived as I was typing mine!
Thailand is far from the best place in Asia to teach ESL.
Wages are not really up to snuff compared to Taiwan or Korea where you can actually save money (Japan too expensive to save anything much).
Most places will try to get away with paying you 20-30K baht a month. In Taiwan you can get 75-85K equivalent with a little effort and living costs are not too much more expensive.
Educational standards are poor in LoS and too many drunk backpackers drive the market down. They are willing to work cheap so they can stay in LoS to booze and fornicate. So an unqualified, inexperienced, but vertical, white guy in front of the class is acceptable to many "schools" and can keep the baht flowing in.
Class sizes are large (50+ sometimes!), materials often non-existent, children undisciplined, and parents are always right. And remember, Somchai won't get his job because he knows something, its because his dad is owed a favour.
I used http://www.i-to-i.com/ and found the whole process professional and reasonably priced. Good Luck.
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Vital Spark
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I did my CELTA in Bangkok (ECC Siam Square) and I'd recommend anyone who's thinking about teaching here to do some kind of training. The course I did was extrememly well-structured with input in the morning and teaching practice (with real students) in the afternoon.
Think of the future. In some countries a CELTA/Trinity certificate is a requirement. Do it now, and you'll be set up to teach anywhere.
VS
Think of the future. In some countries a CELTA/Trinity certificate is a requirement. Do it now, and you'll be set up to teach anywhere.
VS
"Properly trained, man can be a dog's best friend"
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bubbly
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Thanks everyone for your imput, i will sure look into a CELTA course and its given me food for thought about class sizes and impliments etc etc. I guess there's good and bad schools(just like the uk) but for now at least thats a long way down the road.
I know a person(lank greasy blone hair and a tatoo of oriental origin) who taught in Rayong.The schools advice was to go down the Khaosan rd and buy a certificate for 1000 bahts!!! Not my way forwards but interesting after reading some of the comments.Thanks again Bubbly
p.s.
ADW,why are you so negative towards me? How do you know why i want to stay in Thailand??Why do you assume that i dont want to further my career.I've taught in different fields and its something i've been fairly good at. I came on and got a lot of good advice from people glad to help me. You had absolutely nothing of any use to post so you just tried to rubbish my intentions.Why bother????What do you gain from this???
I know a person(lank greasy blone hair and a tatoo of oriental origin) who taught in Rayong.The schools advice was to go down the Khaosan rd and buy a certificate for 1000 bahts!!! Not my way forwards but interesting after reading some of the comments.Thanks again Bubbly
p.s.
ADW,why are you so negative towards me? How do you know why i want to stay in Thailand??Why do you assume that i dont want to further my career.I've taught in different fields and its something i've been fairly good at. I came on and got a lot of good advice from people glad to help me. You had absolutely nothing of any use to post so you just tried to rubbish my intentions.Why bother????What do you gain from this???
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dtaai-maai
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Jockey, just in case potential teachers read this, did you use this as a teaching qualification?Jockey wrote:I used http://www.i-to-i.com/ and found the whole process professional and reasonably priced. Good Luck.
This is the way
Yes, I have a fully authentic TEFL, gained from the online i-to-i course. The course is not all online. It requires attendance a couple of weekends and a little practical experience. I was surprised at the inadequacy's of some in the class who wouldn't pass a 3rd grade exam yet they passed the TEFL, and even worse, I did too!dtaai-maai wrote:Jockey, just in case potential teachers read this, did you use this as a teaching qualification?Jockey wrote:I used http://www.i-to-i.com/ and found the whole process professional and reasonably priced. Good Luck.
I agree a CELTA certificate is much better than a TEFL but the OP seems to be just looking for the fastest route which is a TEFL.
In Thailand they are more strict regarding having to have a uni degree as a prerequisite to compliment the TELF, but I know teachers who have no qualifications whatsoever and a very basic command of the English language, yet are teaching in schools on low wages.
ADW,why are you so negative towards me? How do you know why i want to stay in Thailand??Why do you assume that i dont want to further my career.I've taught in different fields and its something i've been fairly good at. I came on and got a lot of good advice from people glad to help me. You had absolutely nothing of any use to post so you just tried to rubbish my intentions.Why bother????What do you gain from this???
Bubbly - in answer to your above comments (sorry can't do that funky quote thing!)
I'm not negative towards you personally and I don't know your reasons about staying here, career or anything. From your original post the implication was 'one way to stay here is to teach'. I employ teachers and some of the dross I've had to wade through is unbeleivable. I'm passionate about my job teaching and get frustrated when you here about people just doing it to stay, drink and fornicate (as mentioned before). It puts the rest of us in a bad light.
Bubbly - in answer to your above comments (sorry can't do that funky quote thing!)
I'm not negative towards you personally and I don't know your reasons about staying here, career or anything. From your original post the implication was 'one way to stay here is to teach'. I employ teachers and some of the dross I've had to wade through is unbeleivable. I'm passionate about my job teaching and get frustrated when you here about people just doing it to stay, drink and fornicate (as mentioned before). It puts the rest of us in a bad light.
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Vital Spark
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OK, I did my course over 10 yrs ago, but there were a couple of people on the course who didn't have degrees. The blurb says it's a pre-requisite, but in reality it isn't. As for the failure bit, I think you'd have to possibly miss some assignments, some practice or attack one of the instructors to fail. They do (or did), however, interview everyone before signing us up. I also had to do a grammar test. If they felt you weren't up to it, they wouldn't accept you on the course.johnnyk wrote:bubbly
2 other things forgot to mention about CELTA:
1) A Bachelor's degree is a pre-requisite
2) People do fail, its for real.
VS
"Properly trained, man can be a dog's best friend"
VS,Vital Spark wrote:OK, I did my course over 10 yrs ago, but there were a couple of people on the course who didn't have degrees. The blurb says it's a pre-requisite, but in reality it isn't. As for the failure bit, I think you'd have to possibly miss some assignments, some practice or attack one of the instructors to fail. They do (or did), however, interview everyone before signing us up. I also had to do a grammar test. If they felt you weren't up to it, they wouldn't accept you on the course.johnnyk wrote:bubbly
2 other things forgot to mention about CELTA:
1) A Bachelor's degree is a pre-requisite
2) People do fail, its for real.
VS
I have 3 friends/colleagues who did CELTA (all in Canada) and they knew people who didn't pass some parts. I should have been clearer about that. I guess my point was that its not a walk in the park and more is required than attendance.
Are you using your CELTA now?
Agree with VS and others, do a CELTA, it's more widley recognised and generally given more credit internationally than the others.
I did mine in Bangkok too at ECC(who have now moved from Siam Square to just down the road), who, it is mostly agreed upon do the best CELTA courses. True, people do fail, but it's the one to do.
The other thing is that the Thai's are sadley, blinkeredly impressed by the words "University of Cambridge", over anywhere else, even Trinity(Oxford).
Soon it will be a standard everywhere, just time, is in a lot of places already. Good time to do it while the US dollar is so low because they want paying in US dollars or the equivelant for the course.. Good luck.
I did mine in Bangkok too at ECC(who have now moved from Siam Square to just down the road), who, it is mostly agreed upon do the best CELTA courses. True, people do fail, but it's the one to do.
The other thing is that the Thai's are sadley, blinkeredly impressed by the words "University of Cambridge", over anywhere else, even Trinity(Oxford).
Soon it will be a standard everywhere, just time, is in a lot of places already. Good time to do it while the US dollar is so low because they want paying in US dollars or the equivelant for the course.. Good luck.
Resolve dissolves in alcohol