Tefl - Online Course Vs. Classroom Course

[SkyRider]

I am American, 50 years old. I'm interested in teaching English in Thailand. I don't have a college degree and I don't have experience - I know that works against me. I've heard it's still possible to get a work permit for teaching English in Thailand (Bangkok) with only a TEFL certificate.

Is an Online TEFL certification credible for getting an English teaching job in Bangkok - or is a class room course considered to be much more credible?

I assume that since I don't have a college degree or experience, that a classroom course would be better, but I'm not sure.

How many hours does the course have to be?

Can anyone please recommend some credible TEFL schools?

[Slip]

You won't be able to work legally without a degree I'm afraid. The rules have been tightened up considerably in the last few years.

[aidenai]

You won't be able to work legally without a degree I'm afraid. The rules have been tightened up considerably in the last few years.

Agree. Chances are slim at primary and secondary OBEC schools supervised by The Teachers' Council of Thailand in regards to the teachers. Even teachers at the rural ONIE projects need to hold a university degree, however they are not supervised by the TCT. Many universities have their own local policy that teachers should at least a bachelor degree.

However, language centres, tutoring centres and teacher placement agencies are still in a gray area.

[Slip]

^^ Yes, thanks Aidenai- I should have added the proviso that I'm talking about schools under the TCT.

[Trembly]

If you're committed to living and working in Thailand and you're not in any great rush as of yet, I would recommend that you get yourself a degree from an accredited university first, via distance learning or otherwise.

[SkyRider]

You won't be able to work legally without a degree I'm afraid. The rules have been tightened up considerably in the last few years.

Agree. Chances are slim at primary and secondary OBEC schools supervised by The Teachers' Council of Thailand in regards to the teachers. Even teachers at the rural ONIE projects need to hold a university degree, however they are not supervised by the TCT. Many universities have their own local policy that teachers should at least a bachelor degree.

However, language centres, tutoring centres and teacher placement agencies are still in a gray area.

If I tried language centers, tutoring centers, and teacher placement agencies - is a classroom course more credible then an online course?

[Trembly]

You won't be able to work legally without a degree I'm afraid. The rules have been tightened up considerably in the last few years.

Agree. Chances are slim at primary and secondary OBEC schools supervised by The Teachers' Council of Thailand in regards to the teachers. Even teachers at the rural ONIE projects need to hold a university degree, however they are not supervised by the TCT. Many universities have their own local policy that teachers should at least a bachelor degree.

However, language centres, tutoring centres and teacher placement agencies are still in a gray area.

If I tried language centers, tutoring centers, and teacher placement agencies - is a classroom course more credible then an online course?

I can't see how an online course will ever manage to be as credible as a course that you attend in person, for the simple reason that the classroom courses include training lessons in front of real students with a real trainer supervising and giving you feedback.

[isawasnake]

No matter what anybody tells you, the online course is crap and the in person course will be more apt to be seen as legitimate. Now, certain interviewers may not care either way, but a "good" one would I think will not favor online courses. Online=crap in my opinion.... how about this, if you want to work on my car should I hire a person who has studied them online, or one who actually worked on cars?? Easy decision for me.

I would just skip the course altogether, save the money, and start showing up at schools. You'll get a job, it'll pay about 32k, which is what you'd get with the certificate, so why get it?

Edited March 12, 2013 by isawasnake

[SkyRider]

No matter what anybody tells you, the online course is crap and the in person course will be more apt to be seen as legitimate. Now, certain interviewers may not care either way, but a "good" one would I think will not favor online courses. Online=crap in my opinion.... how about this, if you want to work on my car should I hire a person who has studied them online, or one who actually worked on cars?? Easy decision for me.

I would just skip the course altogether, save the money, and start showing up at schools. You'll get a job, it'll pay about 32k, which is what you'd get with the certificate, so why get it?

Thank you for that feedback. If I were to show up at schools, an manage to get a job - would that job also give me a work permit?

[Slip]

No matter what anybody tells you, the online course is crap and the in person course will be more apt to be seen as legitimate. Now, certain interviewers may not care either way, but a "good" one would I think will not favor online courses. Online=crap in my opinion.... how about this, if you want to work on my car should I hire a person who has studied them online, or one who actually worked on cars?? Easy decision for me.

I would just skip the course altogether, save the money, and start showing up at schools. You'll get a job, it'll pay about 32k, which is what you'd get with the certificate, so why get it?

Thank you for that feedback. If I were to show up at schools, an manage to get a job - would that job also give me a work permit?

No!

[Slip]

You won't be able to work legally without a degree I'm afraid. The rules have been tightened up considerably in the last few years.

Agree. Chances are slim at primary and secondary OBEC schools supervised by The Teachers' Council of Thailand in regards to the teachers. Even teachers at the rural ONIE projects need to hold a university degree, however they are not supervised by the TCT. Many universities have their own local policy that teachers should at least a bachelor degree.

However, language centres, tutoring centres and teacher placement agencies are still in a gray area.

If I tried language centers, tutoring centers, and teacher placement agencies - is a classroom course more credible then an online course?

SkyRider I think you're misunderstanding the point my friend. Centres, and agencies are not about where you study- they are about where you work. Without a degree (BA Hons//) you will struggle to get work here these days. If you truly want to work here, get a B ED.

[Loaded]

No matter what anybody tells you, the online course is crap and the in person course will be more apt to be seen as legitimate. Now, certain interviewers may not care either way, but a "good" one would I think will not favor online courses. Online=crap in my opinion.... how about this, if you want to work on my car should I hire a person who has studied them online, or one who actually worked on cars?? Easy decision for me.

I would just skip the course altogether, save the money, and start showing up at schools. You'll get a job, it'll pay about 32k, which is what you'd get with the certificate, so why get it?

Thank you for that feedback. If I were to show up at schools, an manage to get a job - would that job also give me a work permit?

No!

It actually depends on what strings the school can pull. But in general, the answer is no.

[isawasnake]

No matter what anybody tells you, the online course is crap and the in person course will be more apt to be seen as legitimate. Now, certain interviewers may not care either way, but a "good" one would I think will not favor online courses. Online=crap in my opinion.... how about this, if you want to work on my car should I hire a person who has studied them online, or one who actually worked on cars?? Easy decision for me.

I would just skip the course altogether, save the money, and start showing up at schools. You'll get a job, it'll pay about 32k, which is what you'd get with the certificate, so why get it?

Thank you for that feedback. If I were to show up at schools, an manage to get a job - would that job also give me a work permit?

He was right, if you get a TEFL or not, you will probably not get the work permit. See why I tell you not to get the TEFL?

They actually need your degree to file for the work permit I believe. Of course, anything is possible though.... sometimes someone's cousin is the lady behind the counter at so and so office etc.

Don't be discouraged though if you want to work here. I did a TEFL (and regret it) and there was a guy in there who had no degree and he seems to have plenty of work now AND before he took the course. TEFL is just another way to soak money out of foreigners here. If you must do one, do it in a country that has regulations regarding this stuff.

Edited March 13, 2013 by isawasnake

[aidenai]

Don't be discouraged though if you want to work here. I did a TEFL (and regret it) and there was a guy in there who had no degree and he seems to have plenty of work now AND before he took the course. TEFL is just another way to soak money out of foreigners here. If you must do one, do it in a country that has regulations regarding this stuff.

I started teaching in Thailand in 2002 and in 2003 I did my TEFL course at Chichester College in Bangkok. It helped me a lot in performing better in the Thai classroom. I do hold a university degree and my last job in my home country was project manager/ consultant but I didn't have any experience with teaching in a Thai school environment.

[isawasnake]

Don't be discouraged though if you want to work here. I did a TEFL (and regret it) and there was a guy in there who had no degree and he seems to have plenty of work now AND before he took the course. TEFL is just another way to soak money out of foreigners here. If you must do one, do it in a country that has regulations regarding this stuff.

I started teaching in Thailand in 2002 and in 2003 I did my TEFL course at Chichester College in Bangkok. It helped me a lot in performing better in the Thai classroom. I do hold a university degree and my last job in my home country was project manager/ consultant but I didn't have any experience with teaching in a Thai school environment.

I guess mine helped me a little too, but it hurt my return on investment. If we are all professionals here, we can stipulate that we teach for money, correct. Deciding to do these or not is all about how much money will go into your pocket in the long run. If you see the number higher with a TEFL, go for it, if not, don't. For me, my TEFL helped me land nothing, I would have gotten my jobs anyway, or I believe that anyway.

[SkyRider]

No matter what anybody tells you, the online course is crap and the in person course will be more apt to be seen as legitimate. Now, certain interviewers may not care either way, but a "good" one would I think will not favor online courses. Online=crap in my opinion.... how about this, if you want to work on my car should I hire a person who has studied them online, or one who actually worked on cars?? Easy decision for me.

I would just skip the course altogether, save the money, and start showing up at schools. You'll get a job, it'll pay about 32k, which is what you'd get with the certificate, so why get it?

Thank you for that feedback. If I were to show up at schools, an manage to get a job - would that job also give me a work permit?

He was right, if you get a TEFL or not, you will probably not get the work permit. See why I tell you not to get the TEFL?

They actually need your degree to file for the work permit I believe. Of course, anything is possible though.... sometimes someone's cousin is the lady behind the counter at so and so office etc.

Don't be discouraged though if you want to work here. I did a TEFL (and regret it) and there was a guy in there who had no degree and he seems to have plenty of work now AND before he took the course. TEFL is just another way to soak money out of foreigners here. If you must do one, do it in a country that has regulations regarding this stuff.

What do you mean by regulations? Thailand's TEFL schools are not regulated?