English teacher development workshops/seminars?

[Wopanese]

Hi, I'm a full-time English teacher here in Thailand just completing my first year. I would like to further my professional development as a teacher by attending workshops and seminars in Thailand. I was watching a Youtube clip of a professional teacher presenting a lecture called, "How to motivate low level students" at an event sponsored by Korea TESOL and it was excellent. Does anyone know if there are such things as, say, weekend seminars in Bangkok or other parts of Thailand taught by professionals in the field? Thank you.

[brianp0803]

What useful tips did you hear in the video?

Did you try any of the ideas yet?

[Raymonddiaz]

Last Saturday i attended a teacher training day organised by oxford university press Thailand, Please google it maybe you will find their contact for future seminars...

[Mudcrab]

This'll be good

Give it time

[kinmaew]

I think all of the "Additional Training" like TESL CELTA or whatever are a complete waste of time and money (In Thailand). When I taught one day I had to co-teach with a Brit who was "TEFL" qualified, he had no better ideas than me for the lesson plan. I used to create my own plans for my part time students and work at other places, I dont need some BS Thai "Teacher Training Agency" to tell me how to be creative, most of it is common sense and also requires a bit of research and imagination. They are charging you $1000 for a piece of paper that you probably will pass no matter what so what is its real worth but I understand that most of the schools require this as TIT but I will try and avoid it if I can and just sell my other qualifications from my home country where you actually have to work hard and pass the difficult exams.

[cpbkk]

I think all of the "Additional Training" like TESL CELTA or whatever are a complete waste of time and money (In Thailand). When I taught one day I had to co-teach with a Brit who was "TEFL" qualified, he had no better ideas than me for the lesson plan. I used to create my own plans for my part time students and work at other places, I dont need some BS Thai "Teacher Training Agency" to tell me how to be creative, most of it is common sense and also requires a bit of research and imagination. They are charging you $1000 for a piece of paper that you probably will pass no matter what so what is its real worth but I understand that most of the schools require this as TIT but I will try and avoid it if I can and just sell my other qualifications from my home country where you actually have to work hard and pass the difficult exams.

Taking the CELTA was the most difficult and challenging month of my professional life and nothing I endured in university or 25 years as a New York executive prepared me for the dedication and intensity required to complete the course. Without a doubt, I credit my current success as a teacher to what I learned in the CELTA.

[Phatcharanan]

I think all of the "Additional Training" like TESL CELTA or whatever are a complete waste of time and money (In Thailand). When I taught one day I had to co-teach with a Brit who was "TEFL" qualified, he had no better ideas than me for the lesson plan. I used to create my own plans for my part time students and work at other places, I dont need some BS Thai "Teacher Training Agency" to tell me how to be creative, most of it is common sense and also requires a bit of research and imagination. They are charging you $1000 for a piece of paper that you probably will pass no matter what so what is its real worth but I understand that most of the schools require this as TIT but I will try and avoid it if I can and just sell my other qualifications from my home country where you actually have to work hard and pass the difficult exams.

The day that you think you are a great teacher is also the day that you stop learning how to be a great teacher.

[brianp0803]

But doesn't mean the training program was good.

Sure - we need to be constantly learning and trying to improve our teaching techniques.

[somchaismith]

Contact this outfit, http://www.learningtree.co.th

[mrwebb8825]

I applaud your thinking and enthusiasm and as you will soon learn, these seminar's are 1 of the many requirements to getting your licence from TCT. Those on here calling them BS are the same "Teachers" who will be back here crying that they have been rejected as teachers because they used up their waivers.

As for seminars you can attend, check the Teaching Section on here, Google the Oxford University Press, look on ajarn.com. Also, there are Teacher/Teaching Facebook groups such as https://www.facebook.com/groups/TEFLTHAILAND/ that have a large network of folks teaching here as well as agencies and recruiters with plenty of information.

Good luck

[brianp0803]

Many of the seminars I have seen I have not learned a lot from the speaker.

But getting a group of teachers together wanting to improve and share their ideas together is excellent.

The seminar initiated talking. The teacher's attending provided the rest of the valuable content.

During coffee breaks sharing techniques that work for you and listening to other experienced teachers.

[aidenai]

I applaud your thinking and enthusiasm and as you will soon learn, these seminar's are 1 of the many requirements to getting your licence from TCT. Those on here calling them BS are the same "Teachers" who will be back here crying that they have been rejected as teachers because they used up their waivers.

As for seminars you can attend, check the Teaching Section on here, Google the Oxford University Press, look on ajarn.com. Also, there are Teacher/Teaching Facebook groups such as https://www.facebook.com/groups/TEFLTHAILAND/ that have a large network of folks teaching here as well as agencies and recruiters with plenty of information.

Good luck

It's a requirement for getting the teacher license renewed.

Hold Bachelor’s degree or higher in Education field or

• Hold Bachelor’s degree in other fields + teaching experience of not less than 5 years or

• Hold lower than Bachelor’s degree + teaching experience of not less than 10 years

• License holder must supply reasonable documentation of not less than 3 professional development

activities during the 5-year validity period of the license

http://site.ksp.or.th/about.php?site=license&SiteMenuID=220

[brianp0803]

Yes, for teachers that have the Thai professional teaching license, attending 3 seminars in 5 years is required to extend it.

I think most teachers in Thailand have not cleared that obstacle.

Since it is a requirement, it seems more seminars should be organized.

But I hope people will also attend out of a desire to improve their teaching ability.