Job Discussion Forums

ceciletorres · Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 2

I am trying to choose a TEFL certification course in Thailand and have done a considerable amount of internet research on the various schools/programs, and have inquired about their programs directly with them via email. That said, it would be really helpful to get some input from people who may have actually gotten their TEFL certificates there. Does anyone have any impressions (good or bad) about any of the following programs: Island TEFL, Chichester College Program, TEFL Institute, TEFL International, TEFL Plus or TEFL World?

Thanks!!

Cecilia

isanity · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 179

TEFL International is the only one of those I'd consider. TI, Text and Talk and the various Celta courses are the big three providers in Thailand, and so are the most credible.

tedkarma · Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 12:33 pm Post subject:

I'd say its more a matter of if they provide what YOU want.

Contact schools and ask them your questions. You WILL be surprised by the lack of response - that will tell you something about the program in itself. Consider a school that is reponsive to your needs.

Take a look at "How to Choose a TEFL Certification Program" at:

http://phuketdelight.com/TEFL.htm

ceciletorres · Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 2

isanity, i'd love to hear why you wouldn't consider any of the other schools I mentioned? have you heard specific negative things about their programs? do you feel it would be harder to land a teaching job with a certificate from them as opposed to one from TI or Text&Talk for instance? bad teachers, bad programs, poor reputation, what exactly is the difference?

thanks.

isanity · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 179

I wouldn't consider them precisely because I've heard very little about them. With the partial exception of CELTA and Trinity, TEFL certificates have no externally set academic standards. Because of that, all that most TEFL certificate providers have to go on is their reputations. TI and TNT are big names in the Thai TEFL world- you can expect any recruiter in Thailand at least to know of them and probably to have some idea of their standards.

The others are all much smaller operators, and so less well-known. They could provide the greatest educational experience in the world, but the people hiring you have no way of knowing that. So as qualifications, they are relatively useless.

If you do consider one of the lesser-known names, then at the very least make sure that they provide 100 hours of tuition and 6 hours of observed teaching practice (the generally accepted minimum for TEFL certs), and get as many opinions on the particular organisation as possible.