Teachers Refresher Course In Thailand?

[a269652]

I am a CELTA qualified ELT with approx. 1 years full time teaching experience in Eastern Europe. However I haven't worked in a teaching capacity for the last 6 months, yet am planning to re-locate to Thailand shortly. Given the fact that I haven't taught for 6 months & have no experience of teaching Thais, I would like to enrol in a short refresher course in Thailand before seeking work. Are such courses available in Thailand & if so can you recommend any in particular?

[PeaceBlondie]

By the lack of response so far, I'd say that there are no one-week refresher courses. I hadn't heard of one in the 2.5 years I've been here, and I looked around and asked.

Let's hope I'm wrong. Good luck.

[kenkannif]

Problem is as PB says there's no real refresher courses (although some providers offer them if you've studied with them), rather only short introductory course or prepatory (sp?) courses.....which aren't really what you want.

[a269652]

That is a pity as I don't really need the equivalent of a 4-week intensive course. Thanks anyway.

[kenkannif]

Give me a shout when you're over, I might be able to help...possibly...maybe!

[PeaceBlondie]

If we're correct that there are no one-week refresher courses (or a string of weekends, say) - and I insist there is no certification course to get your TL that's been threatened for years - it's a sad commentary on the state of TEFL. I know, the professional types have their annual TESOL conference which is in Chiang Mai this year/month, and there's a journal of sorts. But with literally thousands of ersatz "TEFL'ers" here, you might expect to find an evening course or two for those of us who'd like to sharpen our teaching skills. Oh, you can spent lotsa baht and several years part time in night school, getting an M.Ed. or an MA-TESOL, which might be worthless outside Thailand, but is a refresher course asking too much, in five metro areas?

[a269652]

Give me a shout when you're over, I might be able to help...possibly...maybe!

i will make a point of calling round upon arrival.

...but is a refresher course asking too much, in five metro areas?

I seemed to recall refresher courses being available in BKK a couple of years ago but in the light of what I've read in this thread, it would seem that I was mistaken.

[PeaceBlondie]

A year or two ago, I thought that TEFL International was going to have a refresher course during holiday time, in Bankok, and I considered doing it. It came to nought. Then there was all that ridiculous garbage about a course that all non-B.Ed. holders would have to take to get their teacher's license renewed (or their teacher's work permit renewed or issued). Nothing, just stupid rumors fueled by pontificating ministers of the Thai government.

If the Thai educational system worked on the principles of supply and demand, one might think that there's enough of a demand by ersatz "TEFLer's" to result in a supply of refresher courses. However, I begin to suspect that half the TEFLers aren't real teachers, or half-serious teachers who intend to stay in Thailand long enough to get seriously more qualified. But why should I, for example, get more qualified? What's it going to get me? If I had an MA-TESOL from a Thai uni, would I get 35,000/month outside of Bangkok? Would I ever get my tuition fees back by increased wages? How many really good jobs are there for such qualifications by a farang, in Thailand?

In other words, a refresher course might be beneficial just for self enlightenment, and would make you a better teacher. Monetarily, however, I don't see any advantage to paying lotsa baht for more credentials. Yes, a TEFL cert should help you to earn 40,000 baht more, in a reasonably short time. Beyond that, however, I have serious doubts.

[a269652]

In other words, a refresher course might be beneficial just for self enlightenment, and would make you a better teacher.

Yes you've hit the nail on the head, at least in my case as that's my prime motivation. I was sent an extract from a book, which detailed the particular challenges faced by Thais when learning the English language. It was extremely enlightening as I've never taught Asians (mostly East Europeans), and I thought what a useful exercise it would be to brush up my skills & gain some exposure to teaching Thais in a less pressured environment.

[robitusson]

I am a CELTA qualified ELT with approx. 1 years full time teaching experience in Eastern Europe. However I haven't worked in a teaching capacity for the last 6 months, yet am planning to re-locate to Thailand shortly. Given the fact that I haven't taught for 6 months & have no experience of teaching Thais, I would like to enrol in a short refresher course in Thailand before seeking work. Are such courses available in Thailand & if so can you recommend any in particular?

Get in touch with Thailand TESOL. They do conferences and workshops, not refresher courses but they might be able to help and point you in the right direction.

http://www.thaitesol.org/

[a269652]

Thanks, will look into it!

[Ijustwannateach]

Heh heh... as PB says, the number/amount of *additional* qualifications/certifications does NOTHING to increase your market value here... unfortunately.

The first TEFL qualification does open some doors that would otherwise be somewhat loosely closed, and it gives you skills and confidence that really are useful and necessary. Further qualifications or experience also make it more likely to get any particular job thereafter. However, without further incentive to actually get qualifications (in the form of real economic motivation, not silliness by fiat from the MOE, which has had how many heads in the last 2 years?) they are pretty meaningless from that point on. I've never been told by an employer here there that I would get an additional raise for attending to my professional development (so, PB, you are being a little hard on the TEFLers by placing all the burden of caring about their development on them, I'm afraid).

"Steven"