Job Discussion Forums

[malcoml]

I'm looking at doing a course through Text and Talk that looks good but is about $1400.

The question I have does not relate to this course but as to whether a TEFL certificate is needed in Thailand. A friend of mine just walked into a school and they hired him on the spot simpley for being white and speaking English.

What is everyones elses experience? Do I need the high priced course or not. I have had experience teaching business studies to small groups of adult students.

[motown]

If you read enough posts on this and any other forum you'll see that an advantage of taking an onsite course is that you can get information on better schools in the country of your choice from your peers in the course and/or the contacts your course provider has.
The net result is that you should end up with a better job than just walking in off the streets. You should also be a better teacher and that will make your daily life more enjoyable/tolerable.
Thai culture, as do many Asian cultures, like people with certificates so bring a copy of any high school diploma or college degree and when you couple this with your TEFL /TESOL certificate you should be a desirable commodity.
Not saying that your friend has walked into an undesirable situation but why not better your odds?
By the way....other posts on this forum have raved about CELTA, SIT and Trinity courses as being the way to go for the longer term. They are accepted in Europe and other countries more readily but they are more difficult to get through. See other threads in ESL cafe for more on this.

[ThaneKerner]

If you do take this course, and I wouldn't myself, as it's too expensive, be sure to research where you want to work thoroughly before going to the program. I didn't, as I thought the program would cover where to get the best jobs. Mistake. My program barely covered where the good jobs are, and no coverage was given on where the BEST or highest paying jobs can be found. In fact, my program had a 'keep 'em in Thailand' feel about it. It seemed I was being denied the critical information I needed to make the best decision for me. I was constantly bombarded with offers for jobs in Thailand, a place that doesn't even come close to paying the salaries other places pay (see Japan, South Korea, and the Middle East), and given no leads for jobs in places that paid a decent salary.

[Kipling]

Mr T I would think it patently obvious that the best way to get a well paid job anywhere is as follows
1. Have a university degree
2. Have a Celta
3 or a Delta
4 a MA in TESOL/ Applied Linguistics
5 a Phd in the above
6. a lot of experience.
The more qualified you are the more likely will be able land a decent job.
My advice is NOT to do an online celta....they are rarely recognised.

I remain sir, Mr K

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

Please get back on topic. One off-topic posting has just been deleted.

[Pauleddy]

Avoid on line courses. many reasons.

Eddy

[AdamtheJohnson]

so where IS the best place to get a TESOL in Thailand?

[Kipling]

AdamtheJohnson

I am not sure where would be the best place to do a TESOL as it's a long time since I lived in Thailand, but the best advice is to make sure the centre and course are validated by a recognized international body, the US,UK or Australia. Any course offered by the British Council would be a good
bet and IH used to offer them though I am not so sure now.
Having a cert which is recognized internationally is the MOST important factor and well worth the money. I know the DELTA used to be offered in Bangkok so a google for courses there might give you some options.

Every Day, I am Mr K

[Pauleddy]

CELTA or TESOL accredited--essential if you want to work outside of TLand.

IH certainly do them, incl. one in a rural place outside the northern city of Chiang Mai.

There are others too. Try not to be seduced by the ones which talk of sun-kissed palm trees. There are some "home-grown" ones here, which are OK but not recognised outside.

On-line courses lack the daily TP (teaching practice), the interchanges with peers and the actual "magic dust" of having good teachers right there in front of you---among other reasons. Some places (not all) will actually frown on such a course when you go for a job. The experienced teachers know the pitfalls. Some on-liners even have "live" meetings and classes at weekends, but it still lacks the dynamic of a solid month of "live" study with similar souls (etc.)

P Ed

[80daze]

I took this course a few years ago in Koh Samui, I found that the certificate is very limited- as despite what Text and Talk say they are virtually unknown outside of Thailand.

I ended up spending the money again and doing a CELTA. If you want to work in Thailand then it's fine but outside Thailand you would be better served with a CELTA or Trinity certificate.

[wired]

I don't mean to bump the thread, but my question is related to the subject.

How about a certification from the American TESOL Institute? There was a posting in one of the ESL jobs websites (I can post/pm link if desired) that consists of obtaining the certificate through that institute for $950 in Thailand. The deal is, you go there, pay $950, take the 120-hour course for three weeks, and you get a guaranteed 4-5 month job, which can be renewed if desired. They also pay for accommodations.

Does that sound like a fair deal? Eventually I'd like to go to Vietnam to teach (ideally I'd like to go straight to Vietnam, to be honest, but this sounds good and short, plus experience is bonus), so I don't know if this would be a good move for me.

Thanks in advance for your help.
Regards,
Pedro

[MaiPenRai]

Once again, these guaranteed jobs from TEFL schools are most often in government schools with few resources, very large (45+) class sizes, remote areas, etc.

The actual ATI course is ok from what I have heard, but by wary of the job placement. Basically they often farm you out to recruiting agencies, so you will have almost no choice in where you are placed EVEN if the TEFL school tells you that Bangkok or Phuket, etc. will be no problem.

Teaching in a remote government school can be fun for a semester and you can really learn a lot (trial by fire), but most dont like it for more than a year. You will definitely learn some Thai and be engrossed in the culture and community.

Be knowledgable and enjoy the course if you choose to pay for it. A CELTA would be much more valuable and only a couple hundred more IMO.

[Pauleddy]

MPR is right.

I have answered a lot of posts from people who think that they will get a "great job" after the course, maybe even teach girls on the beach!!

These courses may not even be CELTA-genuine and the agencies place you in crappy schools that nobody wants, like in the boonies. Sure, some kids like that for 3 mths.

Some sites even charge a fee for placing you like this. Scam.

Eddy

[wired]

Thanks for your replies!. I'll keep all of this in mind. I'm currently just trying to go to SE Asia, and just looking into what would be the best way to get there. We'll see what happens

[sr]

The TEFL by Text and Talk is the only one that is recognized by the MOE in Thailand, and it is unknown why. Maybe they are paying somebody off?