Hi,

I am considering doing a TESOL course in Thailand and when googling 'best tesol course in Thailand ' the top hit is a place which says the age limits for people wishing to study the courses are 18-45.

I just turned 46!

Does this mean I cannot study for a tesol cert. ?

Is this common, or just the policy of this particular school?

Any advice appreciated.

Information on alternative schools that are widely recognized also appreciated.

Kind regards.

Tell the school to shove their course up their a$$s! There is no age limit for studying the course.... Do they want your money or not?

I think you'll find many alternative course providers who do not discriminate

Simon (aged 54 and a bit...)

Thanks simon. Thought it was a bit strange. I have written to them so will let you know what they say.

If anybody knows of a decent place to study a tesol course in BKK I would greatly appreciate any good recommendations .

Kind regards

I would take a wheel chair and apply in person. If they refuse you, just sue these m-froggers.-

Since there is now way to accurately judge a TESOL course in a comparative manner, searches for the best anything wouldn't provide you an accurate assessment.

Most people take only one course and the course itself will vary depending on who the trainer is. Also since the courses are very short and fast paced it is more like taking a survey course with a practicum. They are better than nothing but are only a basic introduction and shouldn't be viewed as all that you need. You will need to do a lot of work on your own afterward to become an effective teacher. In my experience usually after the 3rd year people start perfecting their craft. But in Asia most think that 1 year experience makes them veteran/experienced teachers.

Any course that has a specific age distinction should be avoided.

Look for a school that has been around for at least 10 years. Many schools are just getting in the game because it is a cash cow. If you are British (even if you are not it is still recommended), take the CELTA, it opens the doors for British Council Jobs in Thailand and for being an IELTS examiner. If you are looking for just the certificate, then take any course. If you only want to teach at local Thai schools, TEFL International or SEE are pretty standard and will give you pretty much what you want.

I might also suggest just checking out the schools in your area that you are going to be in. Actually meet and talk to the trainer. If you don't like the person, the course will suck.

^ thank you for taking the time to write a long an informative post.

A response from my inquiry:

*****, good morning?

Thank you for the interest in our TEFL courses. 46 isn't too old, our best teachers are all in their 40's and 50's but we do need to publish some guidelines.

I hope you understand and maybe we might meet one day.

Yours sincerely,

****** *******

"but we do need to publish some guidelines."

My response would be Why? and How is putting a discriminatory age range helping them weed out bad students?

Really find a different place.

As Zeichen says, CELTA or Trinity TESOL are the best TEFL courses to take if you're serious about a career in TEFL. Neither has any age limit.

No school will refuse you at 56, monnee.

You really don't want to teach here unless you have family or a clear path to a professional position. The pay is horrible, the conditions unpleasant by account, the TCT governing board is an absolute mess. WPs, even visas are not always forthcomming and then there are the agencies.

Do you have a BA (in Education)? If not, you are done before you start.

Thailand, highest requirements - lowest pay - - - in the world

Chaos and utter confusion, abdolute in ability to communicate with foreign teaching community and to set standards and mechanism to meet those standards.

I heard the Chichester college is good, but they ll pass everyone don't they?

Thanks simon. Thought it was a bit strange. I have written to them so will let you know what they say.

Many schools and also governments restrict the age of foreign teachers.

With English First, the upper limit for them accepting qualified teachers seems to be 55 in most countries, and while I've been told they're flexible in this, their governments may not be.

The Indonesian govt also has an upper limit of 55. That's their retiring age for public servants.

Do a CELTA if you can and ignore the comment about "being done before you start" if you don't have a BA in education. Absolute BS, you'll need a BA in ANY subject to be legal, but you'll still find plenty of work even without a degree.

Absolutely no age -limit at TEFL...( I took it at the age of 57...)

My BA was in History and my first day on the CELTA course was also my 61st birthday. Mind you, it's a very demanding course and I was totally knackered at the end of it. While my younger fellow students went off drinking and dancing to celebrate I slept!

If you want to take a cheap online TEFL course I've just been told that love Tefl are offering a 120 hour course for £99. The offer ends at 7pm tonight though.

The "We must post guidelines." is total BS! I wouldn't touch them with a 10 foot pole. Find another school.

I took my TESOL with ECC at age 66. They were fine from my viewpoint. Was going for the CELTA, but life interfered. I don't have to work financially; however, got bored as a retiree. Have been teaching for 8 years; Head Teacher for the past 4 years. Keeps my brain engaged.

Agree that the CELTA is the best credential, especially at your age. Opens more doors and Thailand is the cheapest place in the world that I know of to get that credential.

Unless you are independently wealthy, suggest you are better to go home, get a real job, build up your retirement fund, and then retire in Thailand when you can really afford it. Very, very few people are able to build a retirement fund on the meager teacher's pay in Thailand. And remember, after you retire the cost of living keeps going up - year after year. So plan ahead in that regard, too.

Requirements for a work permit vary with the class of school and with how well the school is connected. I know teachers at some government schools with no degree and a work permit. Some schools hire teachers with no credentials at all; however, they rarely get them a work permit/non-O B visa. But at our school, you need either a BA in Education, or a BA/BS in any major plus a TESOL, TEFL, CELTA, etc. Have heard good and bad about agencies, but far more bad than good, so be careful. Good luck.

I heard the Chichester college is good, but they ll pass everyone don't they?

The TEFL schools cannot just pass everybody, if they did, the students who should have failed would soon be found out, and that would not do the schools reputation any good.

It is said that everybody graduates, I heard that a lot of times when I was doing the TEFL course. What actually happens is if you are not up to it then the school will not let you graduate. But the school I went to, let you repeat the course at no extra charge.

There is also about a 20% fall out, those who don't finish the course, either because they don't fancy it, or have been told they will not graduate, or as I said, can repeat the course at no extra charge.

No school will refuse you at 56, monnee.

You really don't want to teach here unless you have family or a clear path to a professional position. The pay is horrible, the conditions unpleasant by account, the TCT governing board is an absolute mess. WPs, even visas are not always forthcomming and then there are the agencies.

Do you have a BA (in Education)? If not, you are done before you start.

Thailand, highest requirements - lowest pay - - - in the world

Chaos and utter confusion, abdolute in ability to communicate with foreign teaching community and to set standards and mechanism to meet those standards.

Yeah I agree that no school will refuse you whatever age you have. Schools offering those courses are good businesses. So if they are strict in age, it is tantamount to also limit their earnings

Somtam

I got told the same thing.

Itis more for their protection as most people that take these courses hae the mistaken belief that once they are finished a job will be quaranteed.

Simon and i have the same age issue lol

You should know however that a lot of schools are looking for the same thing. A young teacher so that they are easier for the school to controland supposedly easier to teach the students.

School I was at tried that and i ended up having to supervise and try to teach him and teach all my classes.

Take the course do what you have to do and be polite and keen and you will get a job no problem.

As Zeichen says, CELTA or Trinity TESOL are the best TEFL courses to take if you're serious about a career in TEFL. Neither has any age limit.

Trinity includes observed younger learner classes. CELTA only teachers you to teach adults. Most work in Thailand is with young learners.

Thanks simon. Thought it was a bit strange. I have written to them so will let you know what they say.

Many schools and also governments restrict the age of foreign teachers.

With English First, the upper limit for them accepting qualified teachers seems to be 55 in most countries, and while I've been told they're flexible in this, their governments may not be.

The Indonesian govt also has an upper limit of 55. That's their retiring age for public servants.

i havent heard if thais have this.

i have taught tefl , toefl, tesol, and this year i will be 45.

keep asking this more

well...rock on

As Zeichen says, CELTA or Trinity TESOL are the best TEFL courses to take if you're serious about a career in TEFL. Neither has any age limit.

Trinity includes observed younger learner classes. CELTA only teachers you to teach adults. Most work in Thailand is with young learners.

True, but there's plenty of work teaching teenagers, adults, business and exam prep (IELTS etc) in Thailand and CELTA still gives a good grounding in TEFL. If you only want to teach kids, I would pick a more suitable course, but for general TEFL it's the best.

I maybe wrong, but I think the mandatory retirement age in Thailand is 60. I know many Thai teachers who were forced to retire when they hit their 60th birthday.

No school will refuse you at 56, monnee.

You really don't want to teach here unless you have family or a clear path to a professional position. The pay is horrible, the conditions unpleasant by account, the TCT governing board is an absolute mess. WPs, even visas are not always forthcomming and then there are the agencies.

Do you have a BA (in Education)? If not, you are done before you start.

Thailand, highest requirements - lowest pay - - - in the world

Chaos and utter confusion, abdolute in ability to communicate with foreign teaching community and to set standards and mechanism to meet those standards.

Absolute horsesh*t.

Why do you need family or path to pro position?

The pay is what you make it. Normal is 30k baht per month.

Many people can live on half that and have a decent life. Unpleasant conditions? Things are different, but by no means intolerable.

Nobody is demanding a B Educationdegree.

The TCT asks certain things of you which are doable and I wouldn't say difficult to overcome. My WPs and Visas were absolutely straight forward and the schools have bent over backwards to do them for me. Don't let one person's horrid experience cloud the whole teaching thing here. Yes, it's hard and can be frustrating, but also incredibly rewarding.

they are doing you a favour mate

No school will refuse you at 56, monnee.

You really don't want to teach here unless you have family or a clear path to a professional position. The pay is horrible, the conditions unpleasant by account, the TCT governing board is an absolute mess. WPs, even visas are not always forthcomming and then there are the agencies.

Do you have a BA (in Education)? If not, you are done before you start.

Thailand, highest requirements - lowest pay - - - in the world

Chaos and utter confusion, abdolute in ability to communicate with foreign teaching community and to set standards and mechanism to meet those standards.

"...abdolute in ability to communicate..." errr, exactly.

I maybe wrong, but I think the mandatory retirement age in Thailand is 60. I know many Thai teachers who were forced to retire when they hit their 60th birthday.

You are correct as per civil servant and government positions such as government schools & universities. Private may not have such policy.

I maybe wrong, but I think the mandatory retirement age in Thailand is 60. I know many Thai teachers who were forced to retire when they hit their 60th birthday.

You are correct as per civil servant and government positions such as government schools & universities. Private may not have such policy.

but foreigners can't be civil servants or work directly for the Thai government so this restriction doesn't apply to them. Foreigners in government schools aren't recognized as government employees. They work indirectly for the government at government schools/unis so therefore don't receive the same benefits and aren't covered by the same rules

Go for it! I am 57 and got mine and to hell with any listings of 'rules' about age.The schools here do not look at ones age but rather at the person and what they think that the person can bring to the classroom. This is as it should be. Now this is not to say that every school will do this, but it really is a matter of how you present yourself.There are many TESL (etc) courses out there. Each says that they are the best or offer some sort of 'placement service'. Close your eyes and pick scientifically with the tip of your finger on the screen. For the best chances of fulfilling the needs of many of the schools I would suggest taking the 100 or 100 + hour course and then 'specializing' by taking a Young Learners course or Business English course (just as examples). Always a good idea to have a particular area of 'study'. But all of these courses, even the ones that require 'in class training' are easy enough to complete and only require you to give a dam and do the work. Mine, though it gave me 4 months to do it, I was done in 2. I even went with the option of paying the extra for a tutor at the other end. Sort of nice when you have a question and we became rather friendly. He was a good contact to have and we still talk from time to time. My 'school' was here in LOS and was reputable (I checked). So do check them all out and go with your gut. But do not think that it will get you a job. That depends upon you.