Job Discussion Forums

marge_81 · Joined: 09 Aug 2004 Posts: 8 Location: Belfast

Also, does anyone have any details on what esteem the FAETC (Further and Adult Education Teachers Certificate) may be held. Both of us hold this certificate.

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

Well look at your other options as well. There are in my opinion a few good courses in Bangkok (TEFL Int. is good but based in Ban Phe) so look at the CELTA at ECC (although the main drawback with the CELTA is lack of Visa help, lack of placement and lack of kids teaching...which is the main market here in Thailand), Elite seem to cancel their's a lot due to low numbers. Text and Talk I like and their trainees seem to know their stuff (will help with Visas, placement etc.) also AUA offer a 'new' course (so I don't know how favourably it's looked on yet, or how beneficial it is) which is the SIT TEFL (TESOL?), and I'm not sure if they will assist with Visas or placment either. Any and all should let you spend time in them before making a decision....if they won't....worry!

CELTA is (I think) 6+hours class time with teaching practice on top a day, 5 days a week over 4 weeks.

T&T is 5 hours a day (teaching practice on top), 4 days a week over 6 weeks.

The AUA course I'm not sure would be similar to the CELTA with possibly less hours of teaching practice.

The certificate you hold won't hurt, but I'm not sure how much it will help. How long did it take etc.?

Just contact a few of them see if they'll help with Visas, accommodation, placement etc. BEFORE you come and then see if they'll let you spend time in them before you make a decision.

marge_81 · Joined: 09 Aug 2004 Posts: 8 Location: Belfast

The certificate was gained from this course FAETC which lasted a year. It involved basically a lot of the theory of teaching and also a substantial amount of teaching practice.

Its definitely tough trying to figure out what to do for the best, as I mentioned before I have planned to spend the first few weeks sightseeing and travelling around and dont know if I could afford another 4 weeks on top of that studying.

But saying that I think its worthwhile checking out those courses you have mentioned. Thanks again its been brilliant help.

wtdot03 · Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2004 12:14 pm Post subject: ahem!

Exactly assess your options and make up your own mind.I was just giving suggestions, however it is true that alot of teachers i have met have done phone interviews after placing an ad on the net or replying to one and secured a job in that way.I did it myself with my first job and after that it was word of mouth and the normal route as other teachers here have mentioned.As regards doing a course in Thailand, yeah there are good and bad points and i was just giving an example of what hapened two of my Irish martes in Chiang Mai.The idea being to make up your own mind.Best of luck with your future job and enjoy your travels, i'm sure u will.All the best girl! Laughing

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

wtdot03 · Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 9:51 am Post subject:

Well youre being a bit up your own bum about it, no sense of humour at al!But it was The Language in Surathanni for a couple of teachers i know for one example, there are more also, jobs they were advertised on places like Tefl.com, ajarn.com etc.I got two myself that way, one i didn't take up in Had Yai.My two friends in Chiang Mai have Degrees in Law from University College Cork and as i said did a Tefl course in Chiang Mai and found it hard to get work.Perhaps due to lack of praqctical experience as i mentioned.I will say agin i know alot of teachers including myself who did a Tefl Certificate in Ireland either RELSA or CELTA and no it wasn't too broad or general for Thailand.A good teacher can adapt, it's more to do with personality and effort than your exact Tefl course.I will say no more about personality or lack there of...lol!!

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

Which course out of interest did they attend in Chiang Mai?