TEFL Advice

[raskol]

Hello All,

I will be moving to BKK next month to enroll in a TEFL course (or TESOL, Celta), and after having researched at great length, yes I have read everything on Ajarn, I still need some input.

I have received the most help from Text and Talk, however, I need some straight talk on whether it is a good course, I could do the SIT course or ECC, but it appears that T & T will assist me the most in all aspects.

OK, here is the deal, I have an Associates Degree, no BA, but plan on finishing that after I complete the course and find work, T&T claims it should be no problem on the job front, but I get a different feeling from all other sources.

Any opinions and advice?

I can't wait to be back in Thailand.

Thanks

[stogie bear]

This depends on how you define 'Good!'

The T & T course is an excellent way to learn a lot about the specifics of teaching in Thailand and these guys ALWAYS have work. I've done numerous corporate contracts for them.

But the pay isn't that good. It's not bad and they ARE fair but after a year or so of experience and 'cutting your teeth' you may want to move on... especially if you are good at what you do.

The owner of the school is a deeply religious man (Christian) and treats his employees well. This is worth considering because many schools are simply criminals and will rip you off.

The location of this school is pretty easy to get to I suppose but NOT if you want to live on Sukhumvit!

If you just want to come to Thailand and 'backpack teach' your way through the bar scene for a couple of years then you won't derive any benefit from this course. If you need an intensive refresher and some handy hints on the Thai teaching scene before you set foot in a class room then it's a useful course to do.

The actual piece of paper is of limited value. If you walk into Text & Talk and simply want to work then they will find you something regardless of if you take their course or not.

(That said - you must look the part, have a degree and be very flexible. You'll also earn less than graduates from their course.)

I'm not sure about your specific circumstances but generally I would say get the course. It's always handy to have bits of paper to wave at future employees. But the best part is you will meet other teachers, get invaluable experience and avoid some of the mistakes you may have made by going it alone.

The slave farms like ECC are not worth bothering with.

If you are youngish (under 40), American and good looking you will be in HUGE demand. Within a year or so you can easily be making 1,000 baht an hour.

[raskol]

Thanks Stogie,

That's the best advice I have received so far. This has saved me some unneeded anxieties over this decision.

As far as me personally, I will be 41, American, of course I like to believe "good looking", so we will see where this gets me. This is a career change for me, I have been mulling this over since my first visit to LOS in 2004.

Any other advice for a soon to be expat, will be appreciated.

Raskol

[stogie bear]

Actually, 41 is perfect. American is a bonus too. (Nike will only employ Americans!)

The problem with English or European teachers is that it's easier for them to get here and they whine like hell or simply can't accept the Thai way of teaching. A lot of them are drunks or in other ways unreliable.

Americans are usually more versatile and willing to simply 'go with the flow' and are also usually more reliable when it comes to showing up for class and keeping within the terms of the contract.

Thais (and employers) know this and look to preempt problems by employing Americans when they can find them.

By the way - this isn't a 'career move.' It's a lifestyle choice.

[dax spadackel]

your american accent is in demand so youve got that going for u, plus your older so the thought of you being a ''soi dog'' drunk everynight and showing up desheveld is low in thier eyes when thinking about hiring u. i would personally get fake documents on kal son, i took the tefl course over in thai, never even needed to show my credentials to work and felt after two days of the teaching i was already hearing the same boring shite over n over again, learn your tenses, understand that u cant teach most of them to thai in your class anyways and just learn a few techniques from other local teachers or sit in on thier class and learn that way, the 1500 us dollars or so courses arent worth a fuk in my opinon, classes are as simple as 1. explain the work 2. let them do the work,3. go over the work. if during any of theese parts of your class u can get the students to explain, or work in pairs n grade in pairs then your doing a great job, its always about student not teacher talking time..