Job Discussion Forums

Wanderir · Joined: 23 Mar 2013 Posts: 7

Good Day!
I'm moving to Bangkok in a couple of weeks. I have a university degree, I'm a native english speaker from the US and I'm going to get a cert. I've been accepted into a CELTA course, but now I'm having second thoughts.

Here is my dilema. I'm concerned about a number of things:
1. Will a CELTA or TEFL course better prepare me for teaching Thais? I have limited teaching experience and want to be as prepared as possible.

2. If I take a TEFL course, which one do I pick? It looks like SEE TEFL and TEFL Plus have the best on line ratings, but Island TEFL offers a 3 week course for about $1000 less and Talk and Text has what looks like an interesting program, but I'm not sure they have a good course. I've read over and over again, that it doesn't mater what cert you get as long as it's a 120 hours.

3. Since I plan to live in Bangkok, would I be better off taking a course there so I could start making connections, rather than taking one in Chaing Mai or Phuket?

4. Someone suggested on another thread that getting some volunteer experience in would be a good idea and give me exposure to different groups of students. Is this really worth doing? I get that I just missed the big hiring window. I was riding a motorcycle through Vietnam and having too much fun to stop!

A bit about me. I've been managing people and working with technology since I was 19 and I'm now 48. I've been trying to get out of high tech and transition into something else for over 5 years. I'm moving into teaching because it's something I've always wanted to do and I like kids. I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts and have developed class material and taught jewelry and technology classes in educational and professional settings.

I've been to Thailand a couple of times and it's my favorite country in Asia. I'm more concerned with quality of live than getting rich, or I'd be doing something else for work.

Any and all advice or ideas, greatly appreciated!

tttompatz

Wanderir · Joined: 23 Mar 2013 Posts: 7

Thanks tttompatz!

Sorry, I wasn't clear on my first question. Which was meant to be:
Will either a CELTA course with a Young Learners component or a TEFL class that includes subject matter on teaching Thais be more helpful for teaching in Thailand.

I agree, that getting started is better than later. I'll be back in Thailand on May 27. There's a TEFL course starting on June 3rd in Phuket and the CELTA course I've been accepted to starting on July1.

I'm inclined to take the earlier course so can start looking for work sooner, but is it worth waiting to take a Celta if I don't plan on teaching outside of SEA?

Thanks!

tttompatz · Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 10:25 pm Post subject:

Wanderir · Joined: 23 Mar 2013 Posts: 7

tttompatz,
Very interesting suggestion. I'd not thought of it because I was so focused on getting a cert. I'll have to see what jobs are available that don't require a cert.

Thanks so much!

tttompatz · Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 11:15 pm Post subject:

Wanderir · Joined: 23 Mar 2013 Posts: 7

Thanks! I've got a couple of leads and I'm writing my resume. I just need to do that and take a headshot and off I go!