Job Discussion Forums

ebens19 · Joined: 19 May 2008 Posts: 2

I just had an interview over the phone with someone from American TESOL Institution (ATI) and have interest in doing their Special Thai Project. Has anyone else done this program through ATI or currently enrolled in it?

What should I make of it? It didn't take much for the man I spoke with to give me a spot. He was very friendly and seemed very honest with the questions I had, but I have never done this before. Any info that anyone has on this specific program or the ATI would be very helpful Thanks!

marliesue · Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 22 Location: USA

hey... I am currently enrolled in their special thai project in Phuket for September.... it was just as easy for me to enroll but that seems to be how they work. I have heard only positive things about the program and therefore chose them to go through. Try applying through other companies and it will be as easy to get accepted if you have a BA and are over 21. email me if you want and I can try and help... but this is my first time too

[email protected]

3585kate · Joined: 22 Jun 2009 Posts: 10

Hi,

I have just signed up to the ATI Special Thai Project starting in October 2009, after reading your post seems like you have done it or still doing it?

Could you guys give me some advice on this and let me know what you thought as Im a bit worried and never been to Thailand before! I have heard positive feedback on this.

Would be great to hear any advice

Many Thanks!

Marquess · Joined: 05 Feb 2009 Posts: 165

Of course it is easy to enrol-you are paying them Razz

Jeepers · Joined: 06 Jul 2009 Posts: 4 Location: New Zealand

Hi

I completed a TEFL Cert in Phuket - great course but the promised help for finding jobs turned out to be nil.

I have emailed ATI more than once regarding their special project offering and have received no response.

I have also emailed TEFL International regarding their special projects - no reply.

ECC also offer "guaranteed work" after compltion of their CELTA cousrse and also do not answer emails regarding the proffered "guaranteed work".

These companies may be in need of training on aspects of marketing and communication or they are only interested in getting your money for a training course and the "guaranteed work" offers are a marketing ploy and to be ignored. Surely a bone fide company would answer queries from prospective customers!

It would be really helpfull to hear from people who have been through these courses to help potential teachers avoid the scams that are out there.

I hope that teachers who have completed these courses can post their experiences to provide a benchmark for potential learners on the training providers and their "promises".

PJ

sheikxhoni · Joined: 28 Jun 2009 Posts: 48 Location: Bangkok

The person who started this thread said their course in Phaket was "great" so maybe there are two separate programs here - Phuket and Ban Pa - followed by an offer to arrange teaching. Last March/April I took the three week training in Ban Pa with the promise of a job. I also took CELTA in January and so I had a measure for comparison. Don't worry about the job, worry about the training. For me, this program was simplistic and inflexable. Those are the best words I can use. "Stupid" comes to mind as well. I left after two weeks. I learned so much at CELTA and in my previous experiences that I consider this TEFL training in Ban Pa to possibly do beginners more harm than good. For example, we spent a lot of time making stick drawings. It is completely normal in the method they teach to spend more than 15 minutes drawing stick pictures and word balloons on the board, basically ignoring the students, to "set the context". In their lesson plan I was required to write that the students were engaged in actively thinking about this while I did it. But anyone with an ounce of sense knows that is a crock - and it is dishonest to say it in a lesson plan. I could go on and on but, again, the best words are simplistic and inflexible. Twice I was told that "there are many ways to dance, and we only teach one." But before people make a decision to learn this "one dance" they should consider whether it is a good one. In my opinion all the people were very nice and they were honest enough as marketers, but they have a bad product. You can do better. Buyer beware. "TEFL" in the name doesn't mean anything. A forum like this needs to honor the good and expose the bad. Why else do we come here?