Looking to do a T.E.F.L course which one is the best ?

**Mister Fixit** · 09-11-2009, 07:10 AM

This is Teakdoor. Literacy is not necessary to post here, but I wish it was.

If you want to complain about literacy, go to the pathetic Ajarn website, home of the ignorant, uneducated and naive drug-takers and pissheads that pass for teachers of English in Thailand.

**elche** · 09-11-2009, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by Mister Fixit

This is Teakdoor. Literacy is not necessary to post here, but I wish it was.

I agree, but I've seen much worse.

"youknowitry to ritebut myspeling nogod so i try to teach englihs inthailandiworkalldayforgod$ .... ad infinitum, ad nauseam.

Question: Why do the ignorant always seem to have their mouths open?

Originally Posted by Mister Fixit

If you want to complain about literacy, go to the pathetic Ajarn website, home of the ignorant, uneducated and naive drug-takers and pissheads that pass for teachers of English in Thailand.

I'm not complaining so much as pointing out a fact, that if one wants to teach English, one should be qualified. Is that too much to ask?

**Mister Fixit** · 13-11-2009, 09:49 PM

Originally Posted by elche

I'm afraid to say that many of you are or at least appear to be functionally illiterate. When you are making simple errors in choice of word, tense, basic verb-noun agreement, and spelling, I sense you have more ambition than ability. A program with an entrance exam and a final exam would go a long way to ensure quality English teachers are available.

Thought so. Irony is plainly lost on you. There's a surprise ...

I'm not complaining so much as pointing out a fact, that if one wants to teach English, one should be qualified. Is that too much to ask?

Yes. It's a fact IN YOUR EYES, that teachers of English should be qualified to teach English (which is not what you said in your poorly expressed post). I have found a lot of teachers of English in Thailand to be perfectly adequate at teaching the language, despite being completely unqualified.

That's because the average Thai learning English is as thick as a pudding and can barely comprehend what day it is, never mind understand past perfect tense or how to use a modal or auxiliary verb ('where are you come from' and 'I don't sure' spring readily to mind), or how to stop stressing final syllables and hence sounding like an uneducated twat every time they open their mouths and speak English.

'I like play computeeerrr' ...

**inconsequential** · 13-11-2009, 09:50 PM

celta.

**Mister Fixit** · 13-11-2009, 10:00 PM

Originally Posted by inconsequential

celta.

I thought it was customary to use capital letters when using acronyms. So it would be CELTA.

Of course, I could hark back to the '50's and say it should be C.E.L.T.A.

**crazy dog** · 16-01-2010, 11:15 AM

Not much idea but friend asked me to find out. I did see some argument here about CELTA is better, oh no it isn't oh yea it is crap. I see you cannot ask the question on Ajarn for some reason. Lady wants to teach under ten year olds, has a degree but nothing English language related, any suggestions?

**benbaaa** · 16-01-2010, 11:22 AM

CELTYL: YL = for Young Learners

Can't see one in BKK, but Hong Kong British Council have one listed.

Cambridge ESOL: Cambridge ESOL

**Scottish Gary** · 17-01-2010, 01:31 AM

[quote=dirty dog;113080/, obviously if you want to become a whore mongering teacher then you can't beat Pattaya, learn in the day and go out drinking and whoring in the evenings.[/quote]

Considering the money most TEFL teachers make i dont imagine there will be much left for drinking and whoring once he has taken care of his accommodation, food etc.

**Bexar County Stud** · 17-01-2010, 04:05 PM

For those who claim that the CELTA opens more doors, etc, I don't understand. IME, at the entry level, either a TEFL or CELTA will suffice in Thailand, that I believe is 100% certain. As others have mentioned, a CELTA alone ain't going to get you in an international school.

Now, if one wishes to move into higher paying Asian and middle eastern teaching markets, again, a CELTA alone will not get you into these highly-competitive arenas, yes?

If you want to move beyond entry level jobs, you'll need qualifications beyond a CELTA or TEFL: Masters degree, "proper" teaching qualifications etc.

Therefore, CELTA vs TEFL is largely irrelevant if you're looking for a either a short term or long term career change. On the short term side of things, either cert will do, for long term career folks, you'll need more advanced qualifications.

It's true that CELTA has more brand recognition. But what exactly does that buy you besides bragging rights?

Interestingly, the private school were I work is an official Cambridge ESOL testing and training test prep center. This is a big draw with the parents. However, none of the teachers at the school have CELTAs...almost 100% have TEFL certs (I'm not sure what certs our non-native teachers have, most have home country teaching quals I believe). Yet we were officially recognized and authorized by Cambridge as a Cambridge Test Center, and our test scores are some of the best in the land.

As for me, I wanted to get my cert here in Thailand, so I came here and checked out each facility. I found TEFL to have much better customer service, so I went with them.
I understand some folks are attracted to CELTA's supposed exclusivity and snotty British attitude, but I've already got proper teaching qualifications from back home so I ain't impressed by some mickey-mouse 4-week training shop putting on airs.
I found Dave Hopkins in Ban Phe to be one the best teachers I've ever encountered.

**Bexar County Stud** · 20-01-2010, 11:00 AM

"Do I work at ECC,?" that's funny, Bangyai.
How many teachers with home qualifications are there at ECC do you reckon?

See if you can figure this out:
12.5 contact hours per week
3 months paid vacation
Yearly flight bonus, round trip ticket or cash
Yearly Christmas bonus consisting of one month's salary
10% yearly raise
Health insurance

Now, where do I work Einstein?

**NokTang** · 24-01-2010, 05:26 AM

Originally Posted by Bexar County Stud

If you want to move beyond entry level jobs, you'll need qualifications beyond a CELTA or TEFL: Masters degree, "proper" teaching qualifications etc.

.

Correct and well said. For entry level you don't even need a CELTA/TEFL unless you don't have a college degree or the ability to speak and write English. Some Thai people equate a TEFL with a college education and proof you can speak and write English despite one(TEFL courses) being one-six weeks and the other(College/University) generally being three-four years full time. With a B.A/B.S. from any college/university(even online ones) no TEFL required, period/full stop, in Thailand. Even if the college degree is from third world countries such as the Republic of the Philippines it will usually not be inspected, verified, or checked out for authinticity or accreditation etc..

**NokTang** · 29-01-2010, 04:33 AM

Originally Posted by oggie911

how much to do a course in pattaya but have no b.a

The degree doesn't matter to the TEFL outfits. The price will be the same for no degree, non English speaking etc., as it is for someone with a Ph.D. from Harvard in English.

**jacko69** · 25-07-2010, 06:09 PM

Can you complete a TEFL online at all? I am asking as I would eventually like to teach English in Thailand, however, with working in the Middle East at present, it is difficult to secure enough time off to take part in a residential course.

Many thanks

**rangmak** · 25-07-2010, 06:48 PM

Depends if you want to teach elsewhere. Thailand doesn't recognize the difference in the certs, so it doesn't matter which you have. A CELTA is great, gives you a bigger box of tools with which to work and is recognized as an international standard. Controlling a classroom is something learned over time;no course can really teach you to do it.

**jandajoy** · 25-07-2010, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by Bexar County Stud

See if you can figure this out: 12.5 contact hours per week 3 months paid vacation Yearly flight bonus, round trip ticket or cash Yearly Christmas bonus consisting of one month's salary 10% yearly raise Health insurance Now, where do I work Einstein?

Are those really your conditions of employment?

**genghis61** · 25-07-2010, 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by jacko69

Can you complete a TEFL online at all? I am asking as I would eventually like to teach English in Thailand, however, with working in the Middle East at present, it is difficult to secure enough time off to take part in a residential course.

Many thanks

have seen adverts for the Language Institute at Chiang Mai Uni offering an online cert. No idea re quality/content.
found a link for 60 hour On-line TEFL: Chiang Mai University Thailand | TEFL Program & Online TEFL Courses

**dirtydog** · 25-07-2010, 09:03 PM

With all the Thai tefl courses do a search for affiliates, see how much they pay in commissions and ask for that as a discount, sometimes its as much as $200.

**Dreadlord** · 25-09-2010, 06:42 AM

Ok stupid question for all the literate people here. I am currently attending an online college (Was Phoenix University- transferring in January to Ashford University) and have no degree yet. I can attend college and still come over there. If I did a TEFL course there, what are the odds of finding an entry level position that paid at least 20K baht a month? I figure I can at least do a few after school specials and make up the difference in either beer, food or mongering.

**teddy** · 25-09-2010, 07:41 AM

Originally Posted by genghis61

Originally Posted by jacko69

Can you complete a TEFL online at all? I am asking as I would eventually like to teach English in Thailand, however, with working in the Middle East at present, it is difficult to secure enough time off to take part in a residential course.

Many thanks

have seen adverts for the Language Institute at Chiang Mai Uni offering an online cert. No idea re quality/content.
found a link for 60 hour On-line TEFL: Chiang Mai University Thailand | TEFL Program & Online TEFL Courses

According to a thread on TV's visa section CMU LI's programs no longer exist.

**billy the kid** · 25-09-2010, 06:14 PM

Interesting what you say Bexar County Stud. But.
(Interestingly,the private school were !!!!( where) I work is ------)
So with all the qualifications you can still, not get it right.

**bourbonstreet** · 03-09-2011, 03:32 AM

Originally Posted by Vientianeboy

Originally Posted by cyrille

Originally Posted by Vientianeboy

Personally I have not found that the acronym CELTA opens any more doors than a decent TEFL.

You've 'personally found' that?

So you did a CELTA, and applied for jobs.

Then you did a TEFL and applied for jobs, not mentioning your CELTA.

Your dedication to research is admirable. Tell us more.

In particular, can you give more details about the weaknesses of the CELTA course that you took.

Fatuous comments Cyrille.

I have a BA. Dip Ed. Grad Dip Work ed. Grad Dip Comp and a TEFL. I think with over 30 years teaching, (how many do you have?) that I am qualified to discuss the validity or otherwise of a language course. The CELTA does NOT teach you methodolgy on how to teach kids. It is a British based, conservative course which does not use modern teaching methodologies. I have sat in on a number of CELTA classes and have trained a number of CELTA teachers. So, have I told you enough?

Of course, it depends WHERE and WHO your TEFL teacher is; but then again, the same rider applies to CELTA.

Comment to spitfire: a CELTA or a DELTA on its own will Not get you a job at an international school!

True! I should know as I have been on the Intl. school circuit for some time now. CELTA, DELTA, SHMELTA, BELTA. These fly by night courses mean very little in the world of Intl. Schools. Basic qualifications to land a job at a "real" Intl. school are:
-BA or higher in Education
-Full teacher certification issued by a state or province based on the successful passing of a proper teacher certification exam
- In many cases 2 or more years of teaching experience.

Show up at an international school interview with only a CELTA or the like and the school won't even give you the time of day. Are there exceptions? I'm sure there are, but not many.

**sabang** · 03-09-2011, 08:04 AM

Originally Posted by Vientianeboy

I have a BA. Dip Ed. Grad Dip Work ed. Grad Dip Comp and a TEFL

If you have those proper qualifications, why on earth did you bother doing a TEFL?

**Thormaturge** · 03-09-2011, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by sabang

Originally Posted by Vientianeboy

I have a BA. Dip Ed. Grad Dip Work ed. Grad Dip Comp and a TEFL

If you have those proper qualifications, why on earth did you bother doing a TEFL?

Probably needs to obtain a certificate by an organization recognised in Thailand. Some teachers just copy the one on the Text and Talk website and use that without doing the course.

**DrAndy** · 04-09-2011, 03:13 PM

maybe teaching English as a foreign language requires a different set of skills?

**Neo** · 04-09-2011, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by sabang

Originally Posted by Vientianeboy

I have a BA. Dip Ed. Grad Dip Work ed. Grad Dip Comp and a TEFL

If you have those proper qualifications, why on earth did you bother doing a TEFL?

To get back to back Non-imm B visas... ?

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