Anyone done a CELTA with these guys in Phuket?

[Great White]

International House Bangkok.

They run courses in BKK, Phuket and Chang Mai.

Any reason to avoid them, or any other recommendations?

Keen to do it in Phuket or CM.

[Burl Ives]

did it in Chiang Mai 7 years ago, professional outfit, but the tutors can be English prats sometimes...you have to do it THEIR way!

[Great White]

did it in Chiang Mai 7 years ago, professional outfit, but the tutors can be English prats sometimes...you have to do it THEIR way!

I thought that would be "normal"?

Edited November 9, 2014 by Great White

[brewsterbudgen]

If you want to take a CELTA in Thailand you don't have a lot of choice. I did mone with ECC and they were excellent, but I don't know if they still run CELTA course here. IH have a very good reputation, although the CELTA is pretty much the same wherever you take it.

[Great White]

If you want to take a CELTA in Thailand you don't have a lot of choice. I did mone with ECC and they were excellent, but I don't know if they still run CELTA course here. IH have a very good reputation, although the CELTA is pretty much the same wherever you take it.

Sweet, thanks friend.

[MikeDK]

I did, in Phuket two years ago.

It was incredible and I highly recommend it. The teachers were experienced, inspiring, knowledgeable, helpful and approachable. The lessons were very interesting and the feedback I got was detailed and useful.

As it is a CELTA, it is quite hard work. You wont have much time to see the island, except during weekends - and even then, you may have a writing assignment due for Monday. If you only plan on doing your CELTA and then going back home (most people in my class did this), I would recommend that you come a week early or leave a week after the course is finished to have time to get some sightseeing done.

Our lesson plans were required very formulaic and had to be incredibly detailed. During the course, I would spend over an hour to plan a 20-minute teaching session due to the requirements. While this does not reflect real life teaching situations, it does teach you to consider a lot of different things before you carry out a lesson.

We did the course at the British International School. The classroom facilities were very nice compared to government Thai schools, and on par with most Western schools. Power point, electronic whiteboards, speakers etc.. The living areas were decent. We lived in the student dorms while the students were on break. The room had A/C and internet, but the latter would cut off in the evening because the students are not supposed to play online games after bedtime. Also, I had to share a bathroom with the guy living next door, but that was not an issue, really. The common room had a pool table and a ping pong table and a kitchen area. The kitchen area was never used, as we could eat in the cafeteria - the food there was very nice.

We were also allowed to use the schools facilities - swimming pools, basketball courts and the gym.

Having all this stuff available on campus meant that one could basically stay there for the entire duration of the course. This, in turn, meant that even if the workload is high, not having to worry about getting food or finding a proper gym saves an enormous amount of time and allows you to focus on your studies.

In short, I could not praise International House or the teachers enough and I would recommend the course to any aspiring TEFL teacher.

I made an album with a few pictures of the dorms and facilities for you to check out. Click here.

If you have any further questions, feel free to ask and I will do my best to answer.

Edited November 12, 2014 by MikeDK

[EmptyHead]

The one they run in BKK is brilliant. Probably doesn't matter where you do it. You ain't gonna have much free time in that month.

I have heard mixed reports about ECC's CELTA. I have actually taugh for ECC and would not study there.

Go with International House. Its a world wide organaization. More reliable.

[brewsterbudgen]

The one they run in BKK is brilliant. Probably doesn't matter where you do it. You ain't gonna have much free time in that month.

I have heard mixed reports about ECC's CELTA. I have actually taugh for ECC and would not study there.

Go with International House. Its a world wide organaization. More reliable.

The ECC CELTA is run independently from the ECC language school. As CELTA has to be accredited by Cambridge there is not much scope for differences, other than in the tutors. My ECC CELTA tutor (Barry) now works at IH.

[Great White]

As it is a CELTA, it is quite hard work. You wont have much time to see the island, except during weekends

If you have any further questions, feel free to ask and I will do my best to answer.

Been to Phuket 3-4x so no need to do much sight-seeing.

There is no reason why you would stay with them is there?

I was looking at doing the course, but staying elsewhere, and maybe save $400 over the month.

Should be able to find somewhere cheap and 2-3 minutes away.

[Great White]

The one they run in BKK is brilliant. Probably doesn't matter where you do it. You ain't gonna have much free time in that month.

I have heard mixed reports about ECC's CELTA. I have actually taugh for ECC and would not study there.

Go with International House. Its a world wide organaization. More reliable.

Thanks for that.

I will be doing it in Chang Mai since the next Phuket one is not until june or july.

[MikeDK]

As it is a CELTA, it is quite hard work. You wont have much time to see the island, except during weekends

If you have any further questions, feel free to ask and I will do my best to answer.

Been to Phuket 3-4x so no need to do much sight-seeing.

There is no reason why you would stay with them is there?

I was looking at doing the course, but staying elsewhere, and maybe save $400 over the month.

Should be able to find somewhere cheap and 2-3 minutes away.

I guess that depends on your preferences.

Using the facilities, having the free food and talking to the teachers outside of school hours becomes a lot easier by living on site. I am not sure if you are entitled to free food if you do not live there. Another aspect is being able to talk to your fellow students and/or have them proof-read your work - again, its easier when they live in the room next to you.

While you might save some money by living off site, you would still have to pay rent for a house and motorbike, food and gasoline. While this will not make up the 400$ you mention, it is still a factor to consider. Coupled with the time saved by not having to go to restaurants, getting up earlier, doing laundry and all these things, you may find that living on site is a convenience you are willing to pay for.

I guess thats what it all comes down to: Personal preference. If you dont like living close to other people, if you prefer having your own place, if you dont need people to proofread and if you prefer to not socialize a lot, living off site is a fine option. You will, however, miss out on a lot of small conveniences. Having said that, a few people in my class lived off site - I dont remember how happy they were about it, though. For myself, if I had to do it again, I would still live on site. In the end, its up to you

[Great White]

Using the facilities, having the free food and talking to the teachers outside of school hours becomes a lot easier by living on site. I am not sure if you are entitled to free food if you do not live there. Another aspect is being able to talk to your fellow students and/or have them proof-read your work - again, its easier when they live in the room next to you.

Good points and something to consider over the next few weeks.

Thanks friend.

[SheungWan]

For a portable qualification and reputation, International House is the top of the tree.

[brewsterbudgen]

For a portable qualification and reputation, International House is the top of the tree.

True. But a CELTA is a CELTA wherever it is taken. Not that there's a lot of choice in Thailand.

[SheungWan]

For a portable qualification and reputation, International House is the top of the tree.

True. But a CELTA is a CELTA wherever it is taken. Not that there's a lot of choice in Thailand.

Don't disagree re the CELTA qualification, but IMHO International House's reputation enhance one's CV if one is looking forward to the possibility of careers in other climes in the future. IH is known internationally. I think ECC is the only alternative? Anybody here have experience of them?

[brewsterbudgen]

For a portable qualification and reputation, International House is the top of the tree.

True. But a CELTA is a CELTA wherever it is taken. Not that there's a lot of choice in Thailand.

Don't disagree re the CELTA qualification, but IMHO International House's reputation enhance one's CV if one is looking forward to the possibility of careers in other climes in the future. IH is known internationally. I think ECC is the only alternative? Anybody here have experience of them?

The ECC CELTA course was great when I did it in 2005. The course provider for CELTA doesn't make much difference as Cambridge closely monitor how it is taught. CELTA is recognised worldwide. Where you took it is irrelevant once you've passed.

[aarontendo]

Yeah, I do wonder if it would make any difference where it's taken. As pointed out, it's externally assessed. I wouldn't be too surprised if the same teachers who work for IH bounce to ECC and such anyways.

Did mine with IH Bangkok back in 2006, good experience.