Job Discussion Forums

butterflyefect · Joined: 22 Nov 2004 Posts: 28

Hello,
I'm planning to take a TESOL/TEFL/CELTA course in Thailand in the near future...I'm planning to take either the CELTA course at ECC or PELT (the one that combines direct classroom study with a paid student internship). However, I need more information from teachers who have taken these courses so I can decide which one that's more suitable for me. Thanks in advance for your help Smile

struelle · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2372 Location: Shanghai

Haven't heard of PELT, but paid internship sounds like a good deal. As for ECC, I took the CELTA there in 2003 and it was a good experience. Rigorous, but good. You get lots of hands-on teaching experience and plenty of evaluations. The course was expensive at $1400 US, but other countries charge more so this is a good deal relatively speaking.

Steve

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

Go for the CELTA as it's a 'proper' TEFL course, with the required classroom time and OTP!

Sheep-Goats · Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 527

Get the CELTA.

That PELT "Learn and Earn" thing smacks of a gimmick -- and whether it is or not it may well smack of a gimmick to your employer as well.

butterflyefect · Joined: 22 Nov 2004 Posts: 28

Thanks for your information but I need to ask struelle a few more questions or other teachers who have taken the CELTA course at ECC :
Did they really give you a teaching job at one off ECC schools with the salary of 35,000 baht per month and did they give you half of your money back after you finished the one year contract? How long did you have to wait until you could really teach at the school? Could you really pick the cities/towns in Thailand where you wanna teach? I really need to know coz I'll be coming with a very limited budget. Thanks once again for your help.

bluffer · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 2:02 am Post subject:

If you look at ajarn.com one of the guys there did the PELT and wrote about it ( It may have been Phil ).

Do a search on it, i am not sure if it is still there as the board has been hacked a few times.

If you do the CELTA at ECC I would get the certificate then run away to another school. ECC doesnt have the best reputation for teachers. Its sort of the McDonalds of the language school world.- feel the numbers not the quality.

With a degree and CELTA you should be able to get a better job than with them.

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

Yeah Phil covered it on Ajarn, although according to Bruce it has been 'improved' somewhat now!

struelle · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2372 Location: Shanghai