Job Discussion Forums

turbo · Joined: 17 Feb 2009 Posts: 4

Hello Everybody! I've been searching near and far for information regarding American Tesol Institute's Special Thai Project. While I have read from some posters that the company and the course seem legit, I do have some questions regarding the 4 month job placement after the course. It seems like you don't get to choose where in Thailand, or at which school you work at. Is this true? This leads me to believe that the job placements are in places/schools that nobody wants to live/work at. I'm enrolled to take the course in Phuket in May, and I'm a little bit nervous that I'll end up spemding 4-5 mths in Nowheresville as the novelty farang. If there is anyone out there who has taken, or is currently taking the course could you answer some of these questions for me? Any info or insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks very much!

MaiPenRai · Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 390 Location: BKK

Yep I know 1 or 2 that took it in October I think. One liked the school he was at. The other really didnt. But it was just four months and he is moving on to Korea now I think. If you want a TESOL and want to make sure you have a job after, then go for it. Ya, its a crapshoot as to how "good" the school will be, but its kinda a crapshoot anywhere you decide to work. Personally I enjoyed the 1 year that I spent in "Nowheresville" (not through ATI). It helped (forced) me to learn to speak Thai. And you will only be the "novelty farang" if you allow yourself to be. I fell into that trap my first month.

Good luck with the course and hope for the best I guess. At least you will get to spend a month in Phuket right?! A positive attitude will go a long way. If you go into it thinking it will suck, it probably will. Don't fall into the pattern of negativity that so many teachers in Thailand do. try experiencing it for what it is.

MaiPenRai · Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 390 Location: BKK

Yep I know 1 or 2 that took it in October I think. One liked the school he was at. The other really didnt. But it was just four months and he is moving on to Korea now I think. If you want a TESOL and want to make sure you have a job after, then go for it. Ya, its a crapshoot as to how "good" the school will be, but its kinda a crapshoot anywhere you decide to work. Personally I enjoyed the 1 year that I spent in "Nowheresville" (not through ATI). It helped (forced) me to learn to speak Thai. And you will only be the "novelty farang" if you allow yourself to be. I fell into that trap my first month.

Good luck with the course and hope for the best I guess. At least you will get to spend a month in Phuket right?! A positive attitude will go a long way. If you go into it thinking it will suck, it probably will. Don't fall into the pattern of negativity that so many teachers in Thailand do. try experiencing it for what it is.

3585kate · Joined: 22 Jun 2009 Posts: 10

Hi Turbo,

I read your post about the ATI Special Thai Project and i have signed up to go this to go i in October 09, could you give me any feedback as to how it went or is going?

sounds like I have done the same as you researching into it alot to find out more about it and it all seems legit to me.

Any advice or feedback would be really appreciated??

Many Thanks!

turbo · Joined: 17 Feb 2009 Posts: 4

Hey 3585Kate.

I can tell you that the ATI Special Thai Project is legit. I took a 3 week long Tesol course with about 30 others and am now in the middle of a 4 month teaching contract. Though you absolutely don't need to take the Tesol course to get a job here, I felt like the training I got did better prepare me to face a class. It also gives you an opportunity to meet a bunch of other rookie teachers that you can share your experiences with, and saves you from any headaches associated with getting that first job. All in all, it's a pretty gentle introduction to teaching English in Thailand. The job placements themselves are a little hit and miss. I didn't find out until a week before where I was going to be living, and I ended up alone in an industrial suburb on the far outskirts of Bangkok, though I should point out that most of the others from my group were paired up all over the country. Even though it was definitely pretty lonely at first (there is literally no one who speaks English around here, even at the school!) you just try to make the best of it - and if you really don't like it you can just move on in 4 months. Most weekends I meet up with other ATI teachers from the surrounding area and, thanks to some friendly locals, my Thai is starting to come along...

Let me know if you want some more info,

Turbo

3585kate · Joined: 22 Jun 2009 Posts: 10

Hi Turbo,

Thanks for that was great to hear off someone that has done the TEFL and still on the placement. That was the only thing i was worried about was being placed on my own in a school I would prefer to be placed with one or two of the others that will be on the course can you opt of this do you know?

Also when you land is it pretty easy to find the STI people in order to get the transfer?

Thanks again for all this been a great help

Kate

turbo · Joined: 17 Feb 2009 Posts: 4

Hey Kate,

Of the 30 of us, only me and about 3 others ended up on our own somewhere - so your chances are pretty good of ending up with at least one other person. You can make requests regarding your placement, but you will get "no guarantees". The staff at ATI do their best, but your placement really is a bit of a crap shoot. As far as the transfer when you arrive in Thailand, you shouldn't have much trouble. I made my own way to the accommodation as there is never any shortage of people in Thai airports and bus stations who will take you where you want to go, but be ready to negotiate! ATI does arrange pick up and transfer for you if you arrive on the designated date/time..

Ian.

3585kate · Joined: 22 Jun 2009 Posts: 10

Thats great thank you so much for that info been really helpfull, If i get stuck on anything else can i ask you again on here!!?

One last thing sorry! Is it quite fun out there and do you get some free time or is it hard work all the time, also is it easy to pass the TEFL!!?

Kate

turbo · Joined: 17 Feb 2009 Posts: 4

ha ha. So many questions! As for fun - Thailand, like anything else, is what you make of it. You can have as much or as little fun as you like. The amount of work you do each week will depend on the school and your dedication to your job. I know some people here who work for no more than 15-20hrs per week including lesson planning, and others who are teaching 25 hrs a week and spending 3 hours a day planning. i teach for 19 hours per week and probably spend somewhere between 5-7 hrs planning lessons. The course itself is pretty simple. I think it is possible to fail, but you would have to work at it;)

Hope this helps,

Ian.

3585kate · Joined: 22 Jun 2009 Posts: 10

Ha ha!! Thank you so much for that, hope you enjoy the rest of your trip

Kate

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

Don't forget to consider the quality of the training. I took the TEFL International training in Ban Pa - which I believe is what you are talking about here - and I quit after two weeks. For me it was a big waste of money. I had previously taken CELTA and was shocked at how simplistic and inflexible this training was. If you want a quickie certificate, this is the place. Lots of fun, stick drawings, complacent students to practise on, and no pressure except that you aren't learning much. The people are very nice and they are honest enough about what they do - but for me the training was very very entry level at best.

3585kate · Joined: 22 Jun 2009 Posts: 10

Hi,

Could you tell me the dress code for when you are teaching I have heard it is knee length skirts, tailored trousers, shirts and blouses? Do you not get hot?!!and outside work you can wear whatever?
Also is there anything that you would advise packing that you cant get out there?

Many Thanks

Oz_Nicole · Joined: 10 Jul 2009 Posts: 1

I am also attending the ATI training in Chiang Mai in late September so will post feedback once the course is completed. I have also only read positive notes about this training however very little feedback is out there... Stay tuned

MaiPenRai · Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 390 Location: BKK

The thing to remember with these TEFL courses that offer the "special project" is that you will have very little control over where your placement will be. You may get the location you want, BUT it is quite likely that you won't get the location that you want. Also, most TEFL school "special projects" teaching placements/guaranteed jobs are in government schools with large class sizes and very little actual teaching happening. If you are aware of those things going in, then you should be ok.

As far as the actual "training" from ATI, it is probably helpful for anybody with little to no experience teaching EFL and probably helpful for Thailand specifics. Don't expect your certificate to be worth much outside of Thailand though.

The quality of training rests heavily on the trainers rather than the course, similar to most Uni courses.

Most of he bigger TEFL schools in Thailand are now doing the "special project", ATI, ECC, TEFL International, etc. Some of the smaller ones do as well.

Oh and yes, teaching dress is quite formal in Thailand and DONT expect to have A/C in most of the government school classrooms either.

Good luck

motown · Joined: 07 Jun 2008 Posts: 68