Hi^-^ I'm Thai. And I need help from anyone who have taken Tesol course.

[ThePinxpowder]

I am now freelancer teaching English Grammar for Thai high school students who wanna get into universities.Anyway I still need to improve both Grammar Theory and Teaching Technique so i think i have to take course. I choose tesol at Chichester College,Bangkok branch.But my friend tell me that this course is for foreigners wanting to teach English in Thailand.Then I wonder if it suits me.

At first, I wanted to go abroad to get any course of Language Diploma. However,becuz of economic problem,i hav to study here in Thailand.So I hav some question

if:

- I need to study in the environment like i study abroad.

- I still need to practice my 4 skills of English (I need them more than teaching technique).

(so I wonder whether the teaching gives me a practice of these skills enough as I havnt used it fluently.)

,the question is that Is Tesol suitable for me? or anyone please suggests me which course I should take(I give it 1 year)

big huggg, thx so much for helping.Luv u all+!

[Maestro]

Do your students want to get into universities in Thailand, in the United States, or in an Anglo-Saxon country? It appears that you want to prepare your students for the English language test they have to pass to be accepted at a university in any of these these countries. I know that for Anglo-Saxon countries it is usually the IELTS, don't know about the USA and Thailand.

At any rate, from what you wrote it looks like you need two separate courses, one to improve your English language skills, apparently especially grammar, the other one to improve your teaching skills.

[NeverSure]

Do your students want to get into universities in Thailand, in the United States, or in an Anglo-Saxon country? It appears that you want to prepare your students for the English language test they have to pass to be accepted at a university in any of these these countries. I know that for Anglo-Saxon countries it is usually the IELTS, don't know about the USA and Thailand.

At any rate, from what you wrote it looks like you need two separate courses, one to improve your English language skills, apparently especially grammar, the other one to improve your teaching skills.

Good advice. My next question would about how well he can pronounce English words. I know several Thais who are very "fluent" in English, especially reading and writing, but who still can't pronounce the words. They learned from a Thai at a Thai university. I think this is very prevalent.

[Somtamnication]

He would do well teaching rap to younger students.

[SlyAnimal]

A TESOL course isn't really what you want ThePinxpowder.

As a TESOL course focuses on teaching native speakers how to teach. As native speakers already have 20-50 years of practice speaking English, TESOL courses usually don't focus much on teaching English itself. Sometimes a little bit about grammar terms, since native speakers often don't know the jargon, but the primary focus is on teaching them to teach.

Whereas, as you've said, you know how to teach, you mainly need to touch up your English grammar etc. To improve your grammar, your best bet would probably to take an English course by one of the English language schools or similar.

However in saying all that, if you aren't too worried about the cost of the TESOL course, it'd be worth taking. As it teaches native speakers how to teach without speaking Thai, and a lot of the principals and techniques from it could be very helpful for you (And may not necessarily be covered in your BEdu, as a BEdu usually assumes that you can speak to your students in Thai).

[brewsterbudgen]

Do your students want to get into universities in Thailand, in the United States, or in an Anglo-Saxon country? It appears that you want to prepare your students for the English language test they have to pass to be accepted at a university in any of these these countries. I know that for Anglo-Saxon countries it is usually the IELTS, don't know about the USA and Thailand.

At any rate, from what you wrote it looks like you need two separate courses, one to improve your English language skills, apparently especially grammar, the other one to improve your teaching skills.

Most Thai students who take IELTS do so to get onto a Masters degree course in the UK/Australia/US. If it's a bachelor degree, they'll most likely be doing an English language programme at ABAC or another Thai univrsity.

[zeichen]

I always find it funny when everyone assumes that the OP is male. Reading the last line, big hugg thanx so much love you all. Well if it is a male, not a very masculine closing.

Contrary to every single post so far, Tesol courses have nothing to do with native English speakers teaching English. There isn't a program anywhere in the world that makes being a native speaker a pre-req. for the course. Most do require trainees to pass a certain score on TOEFL or IELTS though.

Also overall TESOL courses offer very little to the experienced teacher and most that I have contacted have actually told me that they prefer non qualified teachers to take their courses. Most saying that everyone that doesn't do it their way has bad habits in the classroom.

Personally, I feel you will be better off getting an MATESOL rather than a 30 day intro course.

TESOL courses are focused on communicative English mostly using communicative approach. The CELTA does touch on grammar and certain strategies on how to teach it, whereas a lot of the homegrown TESOL programs barely go over grammar at all.

Though communicative approach has merit it isn't the only effective method of teaching and one which I feel has little use to your students. Most students that need to pass their entrance exam for universities do not need to focus on oral communicative skills. Pronunciation is a big deal for native English speakers because frankly that is all that they really offer in terms of language skills. You have a serious advantage to most native English speaking teachers as that you can offer a lot of what they cannot. There is nothing wrong using the learner's first language, however you do need to be careful that you are actually teaching the language and not just teaching about it. Many Thai teachers will speak in Thai for 80-90% of the class using Thai, and just saying the English words but giving all explanation in Thai, that doesn't help them much either. Knowing that Thai language is from the syno-tibetan language structure doesn't make you fluent or comprehend the language.

For most IELTS, TOEFL tests one can score quite well without being a great verbal communicator. They do need to possess a strong vocabulary and need to be able to understand the function of grammar. That is what you need to work on not memorizing grammar rules and having them translated to Thai but to be able to explain and have students comprehend why a sentence is correct or incorrect. Knowing that the sentence is first second or third conditional doesn't help them, but having them know how to express themselves in the different situations will help them.

The problem with just taking language skill courses is that most trainers will just focus on communicative approach with you also. Very seldom do they offer high grammar skill courses. Perhaps taking IELTS or TOEFL prep courses will help a little understand what the students will encounter. Unfortunately the Thai equivalent tests like the entrance test and local universities home grown tests have serious issues with ambiguous answers and unclear instructions.

Good luck. Also you might want to get Michael Swan's grammar books. Practical English Grammar is very clearly explained and can be a great resource for teachers and students.

[Somtamnication]

They also take IELTS to get into the UK. Good source for analytical practice.

[ThePinxpowder]

haha..I might be"He" nahh..^3^"

Anyway,Thanks a lotttt to everyone for so much useful advice.

Finally, I had decided not to take this course..Thx again >w<"

[kblaze]

to answer someone earlier, the TOEFL is what international students wishing to enter US universities/private schools need to take. The IELTS is for UK/OZ, etc

[brewsterbudgen]

to answer someone earlier, the TOEFL is what international students wishing to enter US universities/private schools need to take. The IELTS is for UK/OZ, etc

Most US universities will accept a good IELTS score, instead of TOEFL.

[sirchai]

I'd reckon to download all the TOEIC examination stuff including audio from the bay, where all the pirates usually go for a swim.

You'll learn a lot of English, it's free and once you've got a TOEIC examination in your pocket ( test 1,500 baht) your chances will be much higher to find a job and your English will improve.

Good luck.-

[aidenai]

I'd reckon to download all the TOEIC examination stuff including audio from the bay, where all the pirates usually go for a swim.

You'll learn a lot of English, it's free and once you've got a TOEIC examination in your pocket ( test 1,500 baht) your chances will be much higher to find a job and your English will improve.

Good luck.-

Also loads of IELTS and TOEFL lessons available for downloading.

[sirchai]

I'd reckon to download all the TOEIC examination stuff including audio from the bay, where all the pirates usually go for a swim.

You'll learn a lot of English, it's free and once you've got a TOEIC examination in your pocket ( test 1,500 baht) your chances will be much higher to find a job and your English will improve.

Good luck.-

Also loads of IELTS and TOEFL lessons available for downloading.

"Tell me more" for beginners up to advanced levels will also be a very nice tool for you.-

[greenjade]

I learned English mostly by reading books, newspapers, magazines, watching movies, & talking with native speakers, besides taking classes @ schools. So, my advice is to do all of the above + surf the net!

Sent from my VM670 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[zeichen]

So your advice for someone trying to help their students improve their grammar and get prepared for entrance exams is to "reading books, newspapers, magazines, watching movies, & talking with native speakers"

Not really what the OP is looking for. Besides if you are advising for others to do as you do, then you are assuming that you have achieved something that others should emulate. Personally I find that a little bit presumptuous and arrogant.

The OP isn't asking for help with her ability in English but she is looking for help to improve her teaching of the subject.

[Scott]

An off-topic post has been deleted. Please re-read the OP and stick to the topic.

[zeichen]

Her request was about brushing up on grammar theory and teaching. I did give some advice on which books would help and the problems she will face if taking a tefl course.

The issue with grammar is not knowing it but knowing how to teach it to a non native speaker. Students will have common issues with first language interference which the OP probably can address as she is teaching students from the same language. The other issue really is improving one's students knowledge of use of the language and not just having them memorize grammar rules. However as I stated before when these students are taking their entrance exams for Thai Universities, they don't need to have oral communicative English skills. They will need to make a basic argument and support it in written form and correct or choose the correct sentence. So a Thai translation style class actually can help them more than an oral communicative course from a native speaker.

Yes greenjade your advice for a student learning a language is great. (not a big revelation though, that is how many people have been learning languages for 100 years) However this thread is how a Thai teacher can best serve her students not on how to improve her own English skills.

The other book that will give you insight on communicative approach to teaching "how to teach English" by jeremy harmer. Other suggested books on language acquisition is ":how languages are learned" by Nina spada. And Teaching through principles (forget the author)

For actual textbooks for these prep classes, for writing I suggest "Introduction to Academic Writing" by Ann Hogue (which is excellent for setting up a 5 paragraph essay for supporting a topic sentence. She has other books that are more advanced but this is pretty good for Uni prep essay questions.

Edited July 8, 2013 by Scott

[Scott]

Off-topic posts deleted.