Teaching In Ban Phe

[dgm102]

hi all

i was planning to do a TEFL course at ban phe. has anyone done it before in that location? i've been to thailand before but not to that area. what's it like in terms of finding a job in the area afterwards? any schools you would/wouldnt recommend?

thanks....

[mad_dog]

I wouldn't live in Ban Phe it is pretty run down. The training center you are referring to is on a derelict street.

[dgm102]

I wouldn't live in Ban Phe it is pretty run down. The training center you are referring to is on a derelict street.

Hmmm...thanks for the info. Might as well do it anyway - i already live in a derelict street here in london, doubt it'll be worse-

[wilko]

hi all

i was planning to do a TEFL course at ban phe. has anyone done it before in that location? i've been to thailand before but not to that area. what's it like in terms of finding a job in the area afterwards? any schools you would/wouldnt recommend?

thanks....

Ban Phe is where the ferries (passenger only) leave for Koh Samet. This is a pretty island with white sand and coconut fringed beaches and rather over-priced resorts. So if you fancy a break it's just a 30 min (?) boat ride.

Ban Phe itself is not that bad and there are some very pretty places nearby. If you need a big town Rayong has a lot of industry (petroil & automotive)…there is even a Tesco’s. You’re about 3 hrs from Bkk, 1.5 from Pattaya a few minutes from Rayong. The area is famous for fruit. If you have transport there are a lot of beautiful beaches and national parks in the region all well worth exploring. If you want night life take the bus to Pattaya and stay there overnight.

I know the school…I think they are a Franchise of sorts… I don’t know about the standard of training but the street is not derelict…just typically Thai run down.

If you’re going to teach in that area you should have little trouble finding work with the right school. There are opportunities both in schools and industry. The academic year starts at the end of April so you probably won’t get in on time for that but it doesn’t mean other jobs won’t be available.

Whereas to teach here you should (in theory) be equipped with a degree and a TEFL, if you’re serious about teaching you should go for one of the universally recognised certificates such as Trinity College. This you could do in UK first?? I’m not sure how well recognised their certificate is.

You could always train for a month in Bkk and then look for somewhere...just check and see if the qualification is innternationally recognised.

[mad_dog]

Most of the houses on the street are abandoned... some have squatters... some have brothels packed with illegal immigrant Cambodian sex workers for the local fisherman and the occasional randy trainee to ravage. The street is derelict. Ban Phe isn't really the place to work it is a poor area and there are an abundance of TEFL "graduates" hanging around the area.

[dgm102]

Whereas to teach here you should (in theory) be equipped with a degree and a TEFL, if you’re serious about teaching you should go for one of the universally recognised certificates such as Trinity College. This you could do in UK first?? I’m not sure how well recognised their certificate is.

You could always train for a month in Bkk and then look for somewhere...just check and see if the qualification is innternationally recognised.

Thanks for the info...I already have a degree, that's why I thought about the TEFL. I know they run such courses here in UK, the problem is: I NEED TO GET OUT. I wouldn't stay here for any amount of ££££££. Then the same goes for training in Bkk -ok so this is my problem, i can't stand big cities- I have read contradictory opinions about the TEFL International certification, some say it's recognised everywhere, some don't. Don't know what to think.

Your opinion???

Thanks again

[wilko]

Whereas to teach here you should (in theory) be equipped with a degree and a TEFL, if you’re serious about teaching you should go for one of the universally recognised certificates such as Trinity College. This you could do in UK first?? I’m not sure how well recognised their certificate is.

You could always train for a month in Bkk and then look for somewhere...just check and see if the qualification is innternationally recognised.

Thanks for the info...I already have a degree, that's why I thought about the TEFL. I know they run such courses here in UK, the problem is: I NEED TO GET OUT. I wouldn't stay here for any amount of ££££££. Then the same goes for training in Bkk -ok so this is my problem, i can't stand big cities- I have read contradictory opinions about the TEFL International certification, some say it's recognised everywhere, some don't. Don't know what to think.

Your opinion???

Thanks again

I've heard both good and bad about them too...can't say anything more than that really.

Perhaps you should bite the bullet and do it in Bangkok...it's only 4 weeks. I went there for a month at the end of last year and got a good room for about 18000 for the month (you could pay a lot less), broadband internet, nice area, right by BTS Skyrail, plenty to do and eat etc...was OK.

If you're going to spend 4 weeks getting a TEFL/TESOL you might as well get a good one.

I wouldn't be too put of by the other poster's comments about Ban Phe....nearly every street in Thailand has a brothel and people speaking Khmer....I doubt if he's checked their passports.....anyway it's not that far from the border so you'd expect a few Cambodians about.

How well do you know Thailand?

The Eastern Seaboard is the biggest industrial area in Thailand...which means there is a demand for EL teachers, but pay & conditions vary...it's best to come here and look around for a few weeks/months if you can afford it... take a course and start working part-time.

[Simmo]

If you do the course at TEFL international there's a chance you could get hooked up with a job in the area , probably in Rayong. At least 2 people on the group I was in got jobs that way , another woman ended up going on to be an instructor there as well. The public schools they do teacher training at usually hit you up with a job offer as well , but the pay / conditions are crap.

Regarding the comments about the area , yes it's pretty run down but its quite a pleasant place to stay & relax for a while , don't know about working there though. There's a small community of ex-grads that tend to hang around the town & Samet, talk to them to scope out the scene & jobs.

[Kathe]

Most of the houses on the street are abandoned... some have squatters... some have brothels packed with illegal immigrant Cambodian sex workers for the local fisherman and the occasional randy trainee to ravage. The street is derelict. Ban Phe isn't really the place to work it is a poor area and there are an abundance of TEFL "graduates" hanging around the area.

Baan Phe is a nice place and not far from Suan Son, many nice hotels and apartments nearby the beach. Many excellent restarants. You might not know Baan Phe well mad_dog. You just maybe passed along the street. It is only a short hop to Rayong Town. Many nice places nearby. To Chantaburi, or to Koh Chang, isnt that far.