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ksagain
Joined: 11 Jun 2006
Posts: 12
Location: Scottsdale, AZ, USA
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 Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 3:18 pm Post subject: Ban Phe or Koh Samui? |
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I will be arriving in Thailand in February and am considering TESOL training programs in Ban Phe or Koh Samui. Can anyone give me some recommendations or preferences between the 2 locations. Also, is this a good time of year to be at the beach or should I consider the North?
Thank you for your time.
~K |
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bluffer
Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 138
Location: Back in the real world.
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| Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 10:15 pm Post subject: |
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Who are the training providers?
I would guess Ban Phe is Bruce and TEFL International. Thats the course I did and recommend it. Its really good and demanding but without the boot camp reputation that the CELTA has. |
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ksagain
Joined: 11 Jun 2006
Posts: 12
Location: Scottsdale, AZ, USA
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| Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 3:48 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks for the reply. Yes, it is the Tefl International course. Since you thought the course was worthwhile I wanted to know how long it took you to secure a job in Thailand after completing the course? |
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SheZook
Joined: 31 Jan 2006
Posts: 187
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| Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 5:10 am Post subject: |
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| I am also looking at doing the Ban Phe course in February. Have heard nothing but good reports about TEFL Int. so far. |
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No Moss
Joined: 15 Apr 2003
Posts: 1995
Location: Thailand
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| Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 3:26 pm Post subject: |
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I took the Ban Phe course three years ago. Dave Hopkins taught it, and it was excellent. Ban Phe is a sleepy little town, but it's right on the beach. I have fond memories of breakfast on the beach before class and beers afterwards, chatting with my classmates.
It's not easy, especially when you get to the practice teaching, but hang in there and you'll do fine. |
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SheZook
Joined: 31 Jan 2006
Posts: 187
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| Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2006 5:01 am Post subject: |
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| No Moss - I think I read on the TEFL International website that accommodation is included in the cost of their course. Is that correct? ECC's CELTA course requires that you find and pay for your own accommodation on top of the cost of the course, which is why I was looking at TEFL's course instead. Do you have to have an application interview with TEFL? |
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No Moss
Joined: 15 Apr 2003
Posts: 1995
Location: Thailand
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| Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2006 4:49 pm Post subject: |
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| SheZook wrote: |
| No Moss - I think I read on the TEFL International website that accommodation is included in the cost of their course. Is that correct? ECC's CELTA course requires that you find and pay for your own accommodation on top of the cost of the course, which is why I was looking at TEFL's course instead. Do you have to have an application interview with TEFL? |
Of course things can and do change over time, but when I went there the accomodation was included with the course. Several of my classmates and I (middle-aged guys with a bit of money!) took the option to stay at a local hotel for an additional US$100 for the month, since it was the low season (summer) and the hotel had plenty of rooms. We walked to class every day, about 15 minutes. The accomodations on site are modest, but they're OK for the short time you're there. For me, it was more a matter of getting away from the school when we were off.
I don't think I ever called them, just explained my qualifications in an e-mail and deposited money into their account per their instructions. I downloaded a pre-course questionnaire, which was interesting.
I think you'll enjoy yourself, but you'll feel a little bit of heat when you get to the practice teaching.
You can check it all on their website. I'd try to make sure Dave is teaching the class, or at least part of it. He's quite a guy. |
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SheZook
Joined: 31 Jan 2006
Posts: 187
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| Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 3:45 am Post subject: |
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You've got me worried now LOL
What's wrong with the practice lessons? Is it just that you are scrutinised carefully and criticised harshly? I've been teaching for awhile and have been observed on several occasions so I'm pretty sure I'll be okay but any tips would be appreciated! |
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isanity
Joined: 05 Nov 2004
Posts: 179
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| Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 3:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Practice lessons are strange things, which don't bear much resemblance to real lessons. I've just finished my second TEFL cert course after four years of teaching, and the TP was still nerve-racking. I put it down to two things: unfamiliarity with the students, and investing so much effort in each lesson. If you've spent a whole day planning one lesson, you really want everything to go perfectly (but it won't!). |
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No Moss
Joined: 15 Apr 2003
Posts: 1995
Location: Thailand
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| Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 4:06 am Post subject: |
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| What "insanity" said! Don't worry, SheZook, you'll do just fine. |
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naturalis
Joined: 31 May 2006
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 2:23 pm Post subject: Ban Phe |
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| I'm going to start the TEFL international course the first week of August (gasp). I'll try to post in the Thailand forums here to let you know how it goes for me!! |
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