TEFL Course – Bangkok

TEFL Course Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Certificate: TEFL/TESOL

Duration: 4-Weeks

Online Course: Included

Course Fees: USD$1497

Deposit Required: $597

Private Hotel Room: $500-7,000 p/m​ low-high season

Age Group: 20-65

Visa Required: Tourist 60-Days

Average Salary: $1,500 p/m

Job Market:  Numerous job vacancies in Bangkok all over Thailand​​.

 

Course Start Dates 2018

Check with us on course dates available

Bangkok – The City Of Angels

 

Introduction

 

Bangkok, Thailand’s major tourist gateway, is where the old meets the new. Amidst the urban sprawl of mega malls, skyscrapers and trendy spots, you can still witness the country’s rich history and culture in its ornate temples, canal-side markets, river taxis, and much more. The city of Bangkok offers you the best of both worlds.

Before you depart, we will provide you with all the travel advice and support you will need. When you arrive, our driver will be waiting for you at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport and take you to your pre-arranged accommodation.

 

TEFL Training Center

 

We no longer run TEFL courses in Bangkok as most people prefer to study on the tropical islands of Koh Samui, Phuket or at the charming northern city of Chiang Mai. We will assist you in finding work in Bangkok after you graduate.

We limit classes to a maximum of 16 trainees, ensuring adequate time can be spent with each trainee throughout the course. 
All training staff are qualified and experienced teachers. You will also get to take part in observed teaching practices in a nearby school, orphanage or government office.

You will usually have evenings and weekends free to explore all the local culture, nightlife and attractions that this great metropolis has to offer. You will, however, have some homework assignments to complete.

 

The 4-Week TEFL Course

 

You must complete the Online TEFL preparation course at least one week before you arrive in Thailand. This means you will have completed most of the grammar and theory modules before you arrive so that you can focus on the more practical aspects of the course while you’re here, such as the teaching practices with Thai students at a local school.

Our 4-week TEFL course is fully accredited and certified to meet international standards. The training involves up to 6 hours of observed teaching practice and 120 hours of classroom instruction. You will acquire all the practical skills you need to teach English as a foreign language in any country around the world. Classes run Monday to Friday, 9-4pm. Weekends are free to explore the local area but you will have homework assignments.

 

Course Start Dates

 

Courses run virtually every month from January to December each year. We will confirm the exact dates when booking. You may change your start date after booking by giving just 30 days notice.

 

Accommodation

 

Our recommended hotels in Thailand offer private furnished accommodation with cable TVs, refrigerator, air-conditioning, comfortable bed, bathroom. WiFi internet cards can be purchased separately. Once your place has been confirmed on the TEFL course, our staff will contact you to finalize your housing arrangements.  

Alternatively, you can book your own accommodation on www.agoda.com, which offers incredible deals. We are not affiliated with Agoda in any way, and we do not receive any kickback from them, so our recommendation is 100% impartial.

Rooms usually cost around USD$600  for the month. There is no shortage of long stay apartments in Thailand costing anywhere from USD$400 per month for a studio to $1,000 per month for a standard 1-bedroom apartment.

 

Getting Here and Visas

 

Airport pickup and transfer is included in the Advanced package. We recommend you arrive in Thailand at least 2-days prior to the course start date. There will be a meet & greet on the Sunday evening before the course starts on the Monday. 

Students planning to stay in Thailand longer than 4-weeks should apply for a 60-day tourist visa, which must be obtained before you arrive in Thailand. Once you secure a job placement, your employer is responsible for sponsoring you for a Business (NIB) visa and then a work permit.

If you plan to stay for 4-weeks or less, you can simply arrive without any visa and you still get a 30-day arrival stamp at any main airport in Thailand. Check with your local Thai consulate before travelling.

 

Prospects for Teachers

 

English teaching opportunities exist in Thailand for anyone from an experienced professional to an untrained traveller. Only a small percentage of recruitment takes place outside of Thailand. Most ESL employers in Thailand no longer respond to job applicants who are not yet in the country as they have been let down too many times. Most schools prefer to find native speaking teachers locally. This is also true for Thai universities and private business colleges which have EFL departments. Only submit your resume after you have started your TEFL course.

In between school terms, summer camps and specialized language programs are offered although most teachers prefer to go off travelling. Language centers are open all year round except for National Holidays. There are also lots of new bilingual programmes opening up at Thai schools favoured by parents who want their children to have more exposure to English than in the standard school and cannot afford the prices of an international school. Language schools are very easy to locate in Bangkok and it is a good idea to visit these schools in person to enquire about employment.

A preponderance of teacher-travellers can be found on the Thai teaching scene, earning enough money to fund a longer stay or subsequent travels. Thais are fun loving people and their ideas about education reflect this. They seem to value fun and games above grammar, and an outgoing personality over a teaching certificate. Anyone determined to teach in Thailand is guaranteed some excellent opportunities, provided he or she is willing to go to Thailand and seek them out. Most students want to learn English for a purpose such as tourism or business, and a good teacher will find out their motives and tailor the lessons accordingly.

 

Conditions of Work

 

Government schools will usually require you to work from Monday to Friday, 7.30 to 4pm. Private language schools tend to open at weekends and with some classes during the week – Monday to Saturday, 9am to 9pm. However, your teaching hours will normally work out the same at any school. You may work 5 or 6 days per week (usually five) between Monday and Sunday, 8am-9pm.

Actual teaching, or contact hours are normally only 18-25 hours per week, although additional time will be spent planning your lessons. Your working week therefore should be assumed to be a standard 35-40 hours per week. Specific details of salary and hours worked will depend on your contract.

The Thai academic school year begins in May. The first semester generally finishes late September and the second begins in early November. The school year usually finishes in mid March just before the holidays.

 

Dress Code

 

In Thailand, people dress conservatively especially in Bangkok. Cleanliness and neatness are highly prized. In spite of the heat, most Thais don’t wear short-shorts or sleeveless upper wear in places other than beaches or at swimming pools. It’s appropriate that you have some conservative clothing to wear in public. Shorts should be knee length and shirts should not be low-cut. You can find clothing at prices far below those of Western countries. Light weight ready-made skirts, for example go for about 200 Baht (around $5.50) Beware: Asian sizes tend to be on the small side!

Once you begin your teaching placement, proper business attire will be required. Please make sure you have comfortable casual dress shoes, collared shirts or blouses, trousers or knee length skirts, and a couple of ties for men. A few schools will help with accommodation, however vacant apartments and houses are not hard to come by and rental deposits aren’t crippling.

It is also important to remember that there is a culture difference, and there are certain things you should know, such as to never touch a student on the head, which is difficult if you are teaching children. In class, a show of anger will soon lose the students’ respect since

 

Thais go to great lengths to avoid displays of negative emotion. Calm, smiling, and enthusiastic personalities make all the difference.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my time earning my TEFL certificate and have met some fantastic people who I hope to keep in touch with for the rest of my life. The staff in Jane, Damian, Michaella, Cello and the others were fantastic people who deserve all the credit for being so patient, helpful and fun to be around. I can honestly say, hand on heart, the only thing that could have been improved is that it could have lasted longer so I could have savoured and enjoyed the experience for just one more week…Thank you all so, so much”

– Phil Painter, UK

“I don’t have anything but positive feedback for my experience with the course and my work done at King’s [Job Placement]. I thought the TEFL Training was excellent. And I think the way King’s has taken us in, trained us, and provided superb life support has been brilliant. Thank you very much”

– Thomas Brownlow, USA

“My experiences in Thailand have inspired me to apply to become a qualified teacher in the UK, and the overall experience has expanded my horizons and given me numerous happy memories, and I made some enduring friendships as well. In fact, I am already planning my next trip to Thailand – it has been said to me on many occasions that people rarely come to Thailand just once, and I would definitely agree with that. Making the decision to go away is a big one, but it is one you will never, ever regret.”

– Becky Rice, UK

“As I began my search for an English program in Asia, I stumbled across a variety of courses. You struck me as the most compelling program for several reasons. First, the program’s flexibility is attractive. You offer a variety of certification locations to obtain the TEFL/TESOL, along with various teaching locations upon completion of the program. Secondly, a job guarantee provides me with a sense of security. I can feel comfortable traveling to a new country and not worry about searching for work. Lastly, everyone I contacted who completed the program had nothing but great things to say about it. I was assured to hear that everything from the program organizers, down to the accommodations throughout the certification process and the actual TESOL training was as advertised.”

– Andrew Berger, USA

“I truly had a blast during the course! There was a good, solid mix of in-class instruction, preparing for lessons, actual teaching, discussion, and of course FUN! I met wonderful people. Although the course was intense, the laid-back atmosphere provided a relaxed, enjoyable environment in which to learn. I don’t really want to leave!”

– Jen Hand, USA

“You have consistently responded to my many email queries and requests in good time. As an accounting practitioner running my own business for the past 14 years, I fundamentally understand the value of good service, and especially good response time. I have been impressed with Lisa’s commitment, professionalism and non-pushy assistance.”

– Susan Rumsey, South Africa

“Hi Lisa. Just thought I would drop you a quick email to tell you how much I am enjoying the TEFL course on Phuket Island. The people are really welcoming, friendly and so helpful. Ian is amazing, and the hotel that he owns is a luxury to return to each evening after a long day at the language school. I am also meeting great people and the others on the course are wonderful. After the course is complete would you be able to help me in finding a school to then teach English in as this would be great. I am now in the second week and loving everyday out here in Thailand. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

– Sarah Bullock, England

“I’m glad I have chosen you as the avenue for this as the course package is obviously thorough, well structured and professional. There is a welcome depth of experience evident and considerable support for course attendees. I was particularly drawn to the chance to take part in some formal Thai language lessons and to take part in hands- on teaching practice- so much more relevant than a course conducted in cyberspace!”

– Timothy Malecki, AUS