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TEFL in Thailand: A teacher´s Paradise

Our 3 week TEFL/TESOL course offers the perfect combination of training and hands-on teaching to prepare you for the challenges of the classroom. With over 100 hours of learning, and more than 6 hours of observed teaching practice, our course exceeds all basic international TEFL job criteria, and what´s more, it´s held on the island paradise of Phuket, the gem of Thailand´s Andaman coast.

Throughout the course every opportunity is made to immerse students in Thai culture. You will get to wander the famous sprawling market bazaars, try the weird and wonderful culinary delights cooked up at Thai barbecues and food stalls, visit the pristine and placid centres of the Buddhist worship that is the backbone of the Thai people, and get stuck into a way of life altogether different from your own. With most evenings and weekends free, you can unwind with a cold one on Phuket´s pristine beaches, get rough and ready with some infamous Muay Thai Boxing, or creative in the kitchen with cooking lessons from the masters; all of these activities are available locally, for students to pursue in their free time.

The Course

Arrival

You should arrive in Phuket some days before your course is due to start; this will let you get accustomed to where you will be staying for the next few weeks, meet the locals, enjoy the atmosphere and maybe feed your curiosity with some exploring of your own. You could even arrange to meet some fellow TEFL students and enjoy your introduction to the alluring charms of Phuket together.

Phuket has its own international airport, and it is quite easy to get connection flights directly here from most major airports in Thailand, with some from elsewhere in Southeast Asia. If you can´t get a flight connection, there are a lot of VIP bus services, most of which will run to Phuket from major towns and cities in Thailand on a regular basis, and at good rates; there are also several daily services from Bangkok. Once at the airport, you´re really close! Make your way to Bangtao Beach, around half an hour from the airport and that´s where you´ll find us. Full details will be given in a very detailed predeparture pack before you arrive.

What the 3 Week TEFL Course Entails

This 120 hour TEFL course covers all major areas of language teaching study, from grammar to classroom management, lesson planning to child development, and learning methodologies.

We aspire to teach a broad and detailed set of expertise that will put you in great stead to teach English effectively in a variety of classroom environments around the world. The fundamental aspects of our 120 hour course are:

English Grammar

Students will have a detailed introduction to English grammar and its central components, including parts of speech, tenses, cases, sentence construction and more. Students will look at how to effectively approach teaching grammar, and especially, how to make a subject often feared by students of English, fun and immersive in the classroom.

Child Development and Learning Methodologies

Students will be taught how to effectively teach students with different learning styles, and what expectations to have from their students as they develop.

Teaching Skills

The ability to get students talking, elicit responses and maximise participation are absolutely crucial for teachers of English. This course will teach the best ways to ensure your teaching employs these strategies, making it effective across the board.

Lesson Planning

Strong lessons planning skills ensure that teaching runs smoothly and communicates ideas well. Teachers will understand how to lead-in to lessons, evoke student interest and nurture participation, by using tried and tested lesson formats that are approved by EFL organisations worldwide.

The Fundamental Language Skills

Speaking and writing are the two productive language skills, while reading and listening are the receptive skills. Both sets are fundamental to a proper understanding of the English language, and our students will have training to ensure their methods encourage each of these individually.

Observed Teaching Practice

One requisite for many TEFL jobs around the globe is observed teaching practice. As a general rule, the more the better, so we’ve integrated it into the main body of our course. We make sure our students have practice teaching real Thai school children, to get the most raw and real-life experience possible. There really is no better way to prepare for EFL teaching in Thailand.

Cultural Introduction

We aspire to get students well acquainted with local cultural norms, so you really understand what makes your students tick, and what´s acceptable in the classroom. If Thailand isn’t your target TEFL destination, we´ll get you thinking about how certain cultural factors can affect your teaching elsewhere.

TEFL/TESOL Accreditation

You will receive TEFL accreditation from the American TESOL institute, a globally recognised TEFL certification from a highly respected provider.

After The Course

When the course is complete the experience begins in earnest. The first thing to mention is you will not be left to fend for yourself. We will help you build an effective teaching CV, and provide support in finding a job. Although we cannot guarantee a placement right away, we have great success rates in alumni employment, especially in Thailand, where there are plenty of opportunities.

We can guarantee you one job offer located in Thailand, the minimum contract will be the five months with a maximum of 12 months.

Once qualified, teachers with degrees in Thailand can expect to earn over $1200 a month. Working hours vary, but are typically between 20 and 30 hours a week. Schools break up in April and October, and while many do not pay during these periods, a lot of teachers supplement their income with private lessons (and this can be quite lucrative).

EFL teaching is a highly respected profession in Thailand, where English learning is considered really important, from the North to the South.

While You Are Working.

Your working hours while on your actual teaching placement will depend upon the school that you join, but will usually run somewhere between 20 and 35 hours (on average 25 hours) a week, Monday to Friday.

A school term normally lasts for five months and there are two school holidays in Thailand; one in April and one in October. Most schools don´t pay teachers during the holidays, but if you want to earn some extra cash, there are plenty of opportunities to help out in summer camps or do some private tutoring.

Teachers with a degree can expect to earn over USD 1200 per month. Your salary will be paid into your Thai bank account.

So, what are you waiting for? Pack those sunnies and, board a plane, Thailand is waiting!

Minimum Age & Eligibility

The minimum age to join this programme is 21, and you will have to be a native English speaker and citizen of either Great Britain, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa.

You do not need prior teaching experience, It helps to have a degree qualification (in any field)as this will guarantee you a higher earnings but not essential.

Course Inclusions

The course consists of a 3 weeks of 120 hours tuition with a minimum of 8 hours teaching practice. In just 3 weeks you graduate with an internationally recognized TEFL and TESOL certificate, allowing you to travel and teach in many countries around the globe. If you are a native English speaker and hold a university degree in any subject, you are guaranteed the offer of a teaching position in a Thai school upon successful completion of this program.

At the centre we teach the students the basis of teaching English in schools throughout Asia. The students receive Thai Immersion, guidance with preparing their CV/Resume and assistance in a job search in Thailand and all around the world. We have also negotiated good rates with local activities should the students wish to try, such as a local MuayThai boxing or learning Thai cooking. We pride ourselves in helping students understand the culture and way of living in Thailand.

The chosen language of business communication in Asia is English and there are opportunities not only in teaching but also in business interpreting , hotels , restaurants and related fields. The market is huge at the moment. This is a great opportunity for people who wish to travel for a gap year.

Accommodation

We offer the programme with accommodation or just the course depending upon the option you choose.

There are 5 spacious rooms in 2 bungalows next to the training centre and only 30 metres from the beach. Two rooms are en-suite, one has its own private bathroom while the other two share a bathroom. The bungalows have fully equipped kitchens and communal areas. They are offered on a “first come first served basis” prices include electricity, water and wi-fi.

Typically accommodation costs 15000 Thai Baht for the duration of the course, although there are several budget options in the vicinity.

Once you are on a teaching placement accommodation can vary many people opt the shared teacher houses but it really depends on where your school is based.

Meals

Food is not included in the project fee, although Thai food is exceptionally delicious it is inexpensive, you can eat for about two pounds per meal. You will have the budget for your food expenses during the course.

Trip Frequently Asked Questions

Important!

Visas

All visitors to Thailand are required to carry a passport valid for at least 6 months after arrival date. You must get a 60-day tourist visa which can be obtained from a Thai Embassy or Consulate in your home country before travelling, and may be extended for another 30 days at the discretion of the Immigration Office. You need to enter Thailand within 90 days of the visa being issued, otherwise it will be invalid. If you visit the embassy it will take 2 days to get your tourist visa.

The cost for this tourist visa is not included into the trip price, and is usually around £25.

Before travelling to Thailand, visit the Thai embassy in your country to acquire a 60-day Tourist Visa, to ensure that you have plenty of time to complete the course Once you have secured a job it is then converted to a work visa this may take some time and you may need to do one border run however your school will be able to assist you with this. The transportation costs for this border visit are not included, and will be around £50 and £70.

Criminal Record Bureau Check

On this particular programme, as you´ll be working in situations with children you´ll need to undergo an enhanced CRB, or Criminal Record Bureau check. There are plenty of online agencies that can help you acquire one of these and it is a relatively simple process. Please be sure that you have completed this check prior to departure and bring all documentation with you.

Price

Dates

• Courses run on the 1st Monday of each month for 3 weeks. Thailand has two semesters a year so there are more jobs available after the April and October courses. However, positions are available throughout the year. There is an abundance of teaching opportunities in Asia
• March April and May are the best times to join as this is when the Thai Semester starts and teach demand is highest.
• You can get a 5 month contact or 1 year contract upon course completion.

Start Dates 2014

•  06th  JAN \” 24th JAN
• 03rd FEB \” 21st FEB
• 03rd MAR \”  21st MAR
• 07th APR \” 25th APRIL
• 05th MAY \” 23rd MAY
• 02th JUN \”  20th JUN
• 07th JUL \” 25th JUL
• 04th AUG \” 22nd AUG
• 01st SEP \”19th  SEP
• 06th OCT \” 24th OCT
• 03rd NOV \” 21st NOV
• 01st DEC-19th  DEC