Teaching English, Help Needed.

[cookieneedshelp]

hello,

Just wanted get some opinions on teaching English in Thailand, i've been doing quite alot of reading about it on various websites today and i feel that i need a change in my life, and believe it's something i could enjoy doing.

i've been looking into moving back to thailand for the last couple of months and seeing as my job in England seems to be coming to an end in the next month or so, i seems like a good idea.

I just wanted to know if anyone has any experiences of the best way to get a a decent teaching job, i was looking into doing a 120 hour 4 week course in a school in Ban Phe and then look into moving to bangkok to find work after i have done this, is this a good idea? or should i just get a weekend TEFL course in london, for about £300 and then find work in thailand?

i don't mind paying money for a 4 week intensive course if it will provide me with better stead for the job also i guess i could gain more contacts for possible work contracts, would i be right in thinking this?

any help on decent schools or the best way to go about this would be really appreciated.

thanks alot.

John Cook

Edited May 17, 2009 by cookieneedshelp

[PeaceBlondie]

The course at Ban Phe has a good reputation. Also, check our forum sponsors. One sponsor http://www.tesolcourse.com/ has an online course.

[thunder30101]

Do your course here as you will gain invaluable insight into the thai way of teaching in your instruction and practice teaching. Just be sure to bring enough money to live on for awhile so you can take your time and find a teaching position you will like, I have seen too many people here that come on a shoestring budget and take the first job they are offered only to regret it and complain about the bad teaching enviroment in thailand later.

[penkrew]

Hi,

I don't normally post here but couldn't help wanting to respond to this one. If the course in Ban Phe is the same one I'm thinking of, I can only say I've heard nothing but bad things about it. As the other poster says, doing a course here is a great idea if you have the cash to keep you going (a CELTA is the most recognised one, and also the most expensive).

I believe the course you mention gives you a work placement after the course, which you need to then stick with for four months to get your TEFL certificate. The course also takes some of your salary from the school. You can't remain at that school after your four months if you want to (as they want to push more candidates into the school and get another cut of their salary).

So it's an option, but if I were you I'd pay a bit more, do a course that actually gives you a certificate when you finish, and then you're free to make your own choices.

Best of luck!

[PeaceBlondie]

Most 4-week courses help to place you, but you should not. IMHO, tie employment to a course.

[cookieneedshelp]

thanks for the info so far. it has been helpful, there are about 3 different schools in Ban phe so i'm not sure which one is the bad one your talking about,

i will defenitly bring enough money with me for about 3-4months just to be on the safe side, i'm only 24 so i still like to get caught up in the nightlife sometimes but i have lived in thailand for 2 years previously and i feel i have done that bit of Thailand more than enough! as long as i could earn enough money to suppport myself i think i'd quite enjoy teaching in Thailand

just a couple more questions though.

ii have heard on some websites that some school now do not even worry or ask if you have a TEFL certificate, and is it better to pay a little more and go for the CELTA cert?

thanks again.

[PeaceBlondie]

Mixed message there: if schools are not asking for 4-week cert, why pay top dollar for an expensive one?