Job Discussion Forums

Matt_22 · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 193

I constantly change my mind on where I want to go. I have been seriously thinking of Cambodia, but Thailand seems like it would offer a much better quality of life.

I am 23 with a Bachelor's Degree and a minor in English, with a year of experience tutoring children with English (not specifically ESL work). I am ready to leave the states soon, and am all setup to enroll in an October course through TEFL Int'l, but now I'm having some questions. Namely,

1) Should I take the CELTA instead? I kind of want to teach in Phuket, and I've read that taking a local course can help in finding a job. Having a CELTA rather than a TEFL can as well, so I'm told. So should I just blow of the TEFL Int'l course in Ban Phe and enroll for the CELTA in Phuket?

2) Is Bell International a decent company? They constantly have wanted ads for teachers on TEFL.com, and their contracts for entry-level teachers sound great (40,000 baht, 8 weeks paid vacation, health/medical, visa). Think this could work for someone in my position?

3) Are there any nice coastal towns that have a reliable need for teachers? Are there many cities outside of Bangkok with sizeable expat communities?

eek · Joined: 19 Jun 2006 Posts: 61

I can only answer a small part of your query based on good information I have received from others and personal research.

I too wondered which avenue to go down: CELTA or TEFL.

TEFL Int'l seem to have good reports as a quality course as do ECC and International House for the CELTA, but as for choosing between them, thats really down to personal choice.

The reason that I chose to do the CELTA instead of the TEFL Int'l course (and the location of the TEFL Int'l looks wonderful, so was tough to say bb to being near a beach) is that the CELTA is easily internationally recognised. TEFL Int'l, from what I gather, has an excellent reputation, but mainly recognised within Thailand. I suspect the reason is that there are so many TEFL courses around the world that it is hard to know which one is producing high standards(?). CELTA is known worldwide, has a rigorous approval process, and each student must meet a standard to be accepted and to pass. CELTA is also unavailable via any form of distance learning.

So, if you wish to move around Asia and Internationally, you may find the CELTA to be the better investment long term.

Dex · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 38

I personally would get a CELTA from a real accredited school (not tefl international - have met many teachers with a CELTA from them and from all reports its not very good)
Bell International has lots of good things going for it, like the excellent salary, and foreign management and generally being very professional and reliable.
On the other hand some schools have been very understaffed lately meaning a little overtime...

Sgt Killjoy · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 438

I would go with a CELTA if I were you. Well that is if you are traveling outside of South East Asia. I don't know how much traveling you will be doing in other places, but one thing i can tell you if you are staying in Thailand, your TEFL International will open up just as many if not more doors than a CELTA. Many teachers have done the TEFL International course and I haven't met a teacher yet who took the course and didn't like it. It's value in Thailand? Worth it! Value outside SE Asia? Don't know.

isanity · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 179

philbags · Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 149 Location: 1962-69

I've worked in a few countries and Ive never heard of the TEFL international - the ONLY 2 international efl qualifications that are widely accepted are CELTA and TESOL . They are pretty much on a par these days (tho' I think TESOL isa bit cheaper). Both also offer diploma courses that require about 2500 hours practical experience with adults; DELTA and DTESOL.These are the standard qualifications ( + B.A.) for D.O.S. jobs.
If you think you'd like to travel and work further afield eventually, then anything else would be a waste of money. (IMO)
all the best, CELTA is 'king hard work but well worth it.

isanity · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 179

Matt_22 · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 193

Well I'll only be working for probably 10 months. I'm also thinking about doing some part-time work (or private tutoring) in Prague for a couple years, hopefully while I'm enrolled in a graduate program at Charles University. So it's not like I'm looking to make a career out of TEFL or anything.

isanity · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 179

If you want to work for a language school in Prague, then the CELTA would be best - there are a lot of people wanting to work there, so you need something extra to get a decent job. If you're just going to be working freelance, a personable disposition will get you much further than any qualifications. For work in Thailand, TEFL International at Ban Phe is at least as good as the CELTA.

As for nice coastal towns needing teachers, I'd look at Rayong, Songkhla, maybe Hua Hin. I wouldn't say any of these (except maybe Hua Hin) have expat communities, but there will be some others there.