Job Discussion Forums

loniponi · Joined: 09 Apr 2004 Posts: 13

Hi!

I am planning on going to Thailand this fall. I want to get TEFL certified while I'm there, and hopefully get a job for a year or so. Trying to decide what school to go to...and recently read on Stickman's guide that the TEFL International school in Ban Phe was the best in Thailand.

Does anyone know anything about this particular school in Ban Phe? Or, has anyone ever lived or been to Ban Phe?

Can a school in such a small beach town really be that good?

ANy suggestions would be appreciated.

-loniponi

Bruce · Joined: 22 Feb 2003 Posts: 51 Location: Around the world

The Thai MOE just hired TEFL International Ban Phe to train 1,000 Thai teachers. Over 50 organizations bid for the project.

WorkingVaca · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 135

I don't know anything about how great the school is, but I can say that Ban Phe is a stinky, boring little port town that tourists use as a launching off point for Ko Samet. Can't imagine wanting to live there unless you want to hang out at the beach or Ko Samet in your free time, but that will get old real fast.

zorro · Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 8:01 pm Post subject:

if you want to get tefl certified in thailand, the best bet is to get the celta in bangkok. i know that there are a couple of providers for this, particulary ECC in Siam Square. The celta is globally recognised. some tefl courses in thailand will be good for teaching in 'some' schools. do you want to end up in bangkok? if so, then the best bet would definetly be to get the celta.

...however if you do choose to go to ban phe, rayong is just down the road which will be lively. i know someone who worked in rayong for a year and loved it. it depends on what you really expect to get from your thailand experience.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Bruce · Joined: 22 Feb 2003 Posts: 51 Location: Around the world

Ban Phe is the perfect place to take a course. Enough things to do to keep you occupied in your little free time but not enough to distract you.

And an hour having a beer on the beach is a pleasant diversion to the work.

Gringo Greg · Posted: Fri May 21, 2004 2:43 pm Post subject:

Bruce has been around long enough and built up enough of a reputation that his course is known, maybe not like the celta, but it is known. And I have talked to people who took his course and they were happy with it and felt more prepared after taking his course. If you want to learn to teach, his course is very good. Knowing all I know, if I had to choose a certificate course, I would choose Bruce's.

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

Exactly what so you know Greg? More info please!

Gringo Greg · Posted: Tue May 25, 2004 12:55 pm Post subject:

I have talked with 3 teachers who took it and I actually asked them their impressions and how it affected their teaching. They were all positive about it. And they weren't paid by Bruce to say anything, it was just was colleague to another. Granted, I am making no plans to take a certificate course. It would probably be an eye opener and maybe even make me a better teacher, continual training is imperative for all teachers. Problem is that i have been teaching 6 years and it wouldn't be the best investment for me. It would be for a newbie with no experience.....any course would be a good thing.

No Moss · Joined: 15 Apr 2003 Posts: 1995 Location: Thailand

I took the course at Ban Phe, and I enjoyed it. Ban Phe is a tiny little town, but it's fun to have dinner and beers on the beach and kibbitz with your classmates. I lived in a hotel instead of the TEFL Intl quarters ($100 extra), traveled to Pattaya or Bangkok on the weekends.

Good to great content from Dave the teacher, who is an excellent teacher trainer. The course isn't easy but it's mostly fun, particulary if you enjoy learning about things.

AsiaTraveller · Posted: Wed May 26, 2004 11:49 pm Post subject:

Um, Gringo (and Bruce) ...

Is Bruce the director of the program in Ban Phe that is the subject of this thread?

That little tidbit of information would be helpful to those of use who don't know who "Bruce" is, especially because he didn't identify his connections with this program in his posts on this topic. Neither did Gringo!

I'm new here, so I might have missed out on the formal forum introductions... Smile

Gringo Greg · Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 1:38 pm Post subject:

oops, sorry there. I didn't think I had to state any affliation with the program in Ban Phe because I have NO affiliation with them. Just a long time teacher in Thailand who is familiar with the program through word of mouth. I think I made that clear, but since you might be slow, now you know. Smile

And if you don't know who Bruce is then you haven't been around long.

zorro · Posted: Fri May 28, 2004 10:06 am Post subject:

who is bruce? is he a phantom of the esl/efl world in thailand? i've taught in thailand for about a year and never heard of him. perhaps word of the legendary bruce hasn't spread as far as bangkok just yet...

RikkiHoon · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 9

Hi everyone,

Just a quick note to promote Bruce's course down in Ban Phe; and no, he hasn't paid me! I took the course back in early 2001 and have subsequently returned to England to complete a PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education) in English and Drama. Now I am back in Thailand once again working in an international school in Bangkok. Just thought I'd give you my background.

The course is great because it is well structured, incorporating the same framework as the Trinity providers, and because of the teacher trainer Dave Hopkins, who is truly a master teacher and makes the learning
fun. The workload is significant - as it is in any form of worthwhile training - but never becomes too much. OK, some night you may be working until 11 o'clock or so, but it is only for a month and there is a great support network, as well as some lovely seafood and mellow beach bars and restaurants for quiet time.

The location is also great because, as Bruce mentions earlier, having a quiet beer on the beach with friends from the course certainly is a welcomed break from academia.

I made the decision to study in Ban Phe because I, too, had heard good things about the course. I would strongly recommend it. The course must have improved, too, since 2001, at which time TEFL Int'l was a relatively new enterprise.

Let me put it this way, I still see a friend from the course and we still talk about what a great time we had down in Ban Phe, 3 1/2 years on.

RikkiHoon

champagne charlie · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Posts: 3

I took the course almost 2 years ago and I found it to be of high value, even if you're an experienced teacher. As many have mentioned, Dave Hopkins is a wonderful, inspirational educator. The workload is intensive but not overwhelming.
Ban Phe is a charming little city as well.