Job Discussion Forums

joint · Joined: 20 Jul 2009 Posts: 13

I'm considering taking the TEFL Phuket course near Kamala.. has anyone had experience with this place ..http://www.teflphuket.com/.. I'm interested in hearing of anyones experiences with working In Phuket would be appreciated.... I have been there before for a few weeks so would like to hear some opinions of any teachers who have ideas about how hard it is to find a job after completing a TEFL course there... any replies are welcome...I have been searching here for hours upon hours already...

gregoryjgrove · Joined: 24 Sep 2009 Posts: 1 Location: Phuket

I did the course (www.teflphuket.com) in August and I must say I found it very professional and beneficial. I haven't been knocking myself out looking for work so far but there does seem to be quite a bit around, especially North of here. If you have a BA you have a good start.

Pauleddy · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 295 Location: The Big Mango

Usual caveats, repeated---

Ideally, your TEFL cert should be CELTA or TESOL accredited. That means that they are "monitored for quality" by famous universities and whatever. They are inspected.

Courses which dont have these accreditations may be good for Thailand, but may be frowned upon if you go to another place. The fact that the course is "Approved by the Thai Education Dept" etc doesn't mean a hoot. I can get my course approved by buying a nice bottle of scotch as a present for a certain local education officer I know.

Phuket I find to be small, gritty and expensive. It is well-known that you will get ripped off there. The motor bike taxis and the bars all have tourist price. Patong is horrible--a real sleaze dump with many tourist bars and restaurants. There are some nice beaches on Phuket, but you have to hire a bike or car and get away. Like many places here, Phuket was spoiled years ago, and the locals tend to be greedy and uncaring. Phuket Town, the main town, is ugly and boring. The airport on Phuket is in the north, and 30 minutes or more from the main places. There are plenty of taxis and "private taxis" waiting there to part you from your lucre.

I once secured a job at the main university on Phuket, and I even moved into a condo. However, I woke up just before term started and got the hell out of the whole dumb place.

There are some teaching jobs on Phuket, mainly in gvmt high schools--but there is not a huge range of jobs. people who think that they will sip cocktails while teaching beautiful girls on golden sands will get a rude shock (all over Thailand--it doesnt work like that)

Eddy

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

What Eddy said.

There are better places to work in Thailand than Phuket. Most teachers dont make enough to really "enjoy" a place like Phuket full time anyways. Personally I would try to get a job outside a tourist town, save lots more money and than enjoy the tourist "traps" (which is what Phuket is) or other areas of Thailand during the weekend or holidays. Living in "paradise" (although as Eddy says, Phuket is far from paradise) is usually not all that it is caracked up to be.

dee123 · Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Posts: 25

Is text and talk still running programs on Phuket? I think they are in Patong along with a number of other providers on the island.