Program Reviews

I wasn't sure what to expect when starting the course at Samui TEFL but it exceeded any expectations I could have had. By the end of the course I felt as though I was thoroughly prepared to start teaching!Kathryn is an amazing teacher and ensured that we all were comfortable and well versed with the various skills that were needed for classroom management, lesson planning, resourcing and more. Ashleigh made sure we stayed on top of things and helped us in any way she could. The course is definitely a lot of work but the atmosphere that Kathryn, Ashleigh and your class creates makes it a very enjoyable experience and most of the time it doesn't even fill like work! Also, it doesn't hurt that it is located on an island that has some amazing beaches!

A spectacular experience in terms of both personal and professional development. After finishing university, and being engulfed by the usual graduate malaise of wondering what to do with my life, I decided to take the plunge and enrol in the Samui TEFL Course. I have not looked back since. It was truly one of the greatest experiences of my life and has not only provided me with great memories and friendships but has also provided me with the skills and confidence to go out and make new ones too. You receive the greatest levels of support in all aspects of your personal and educational journey. I urge you to embark on this course and embrace all the good vibes this course has to offer.

Pretty much just reinforcing what everybody else seems to have said about this course. It is superbly run, a great deal of fun was had by all, the levels of support given are second to none and everything these ladies (Kathryn and Ashleigh) do is designed to help you succeed as a teacher of English as a foreign language. Having said that though, it is still up to you as an individual to put in the effort to ensure your own success. At times it may seem overwhelming and slightly confusing but that is normal and by the end of the course it will become clear as to why things are done the way they are. Once you get up in front of all those kids in the classroom and see the smiles on their faces and just how keen they are to learn and have fun, you'll realise then that you have made the right choice. This has been an extremely rewarding, not to mention a life changing experience, and by far the best decision I have made in my life up to this point. So what are you waiting for? Save your pennies, book your flights and your spot on the course and get your bum over here. You will not regret it!!

Samui Tefl. What an experience. I honestly couldn't recommend it enough. If you interested in teaching English as a foreign language, Samui Tefl is the best decision that you could make. The course is intense, and by no means four weeks of fun - you work hard, but it's totally worth it as it prepares you so well for when you get a job. Kathryn is a wonderful teacher and has a lot of experience behind her, so she has lots of tips and advice which she will happily pass on to you. As amazing as the course itself was, the best part was making lifelong friends and memories that will be treasured for a lifetime. Having a support system around you really adds to the experience of living in Thailand - and it gave us all the opportunity to travel to different locations to visit friends, that we perhaps wouldn't have been aware of otherwise. All of us found jobs no problem, and seemed to all find different types of jobs/locations which suited us as individuals. If you are considering the course, take the risk - you won't regret it!

Samui TEFL is an incredible experience for anyone involved! The course is a very good introduction to teaching and is definitely worth the price. Kathryn is a excellent resource and has loads of experience to guide you into a new career. At times the course is intense and requires hard work, but it pays off! After completing Samui TEFL I find my current teaching job to be a breeze. The lesson planning, resourcing, and teaching pracs will seem intimidating to start, however, they do more than prepare you for your first week at a real job. In addition to feeling extremely prepared to go into the world of teaching I gained an incredible group of friends. Get to know your peers during the course! I feel truly fortunate for the people I met and the relationships I created whilst on Samui for a month. After the course was over, I had friends all around Thailand and was able to travel from Bangkok to Pattaya, Hua Hin, Ayutthaya, etc and stay for free :) Samui TEFL is an experience that you will reminisce about for a life time.

Moving to another country can be exciting and daunting at the same time. I did a lot of research on the many TEFL courses in Thailand and while there are many great ones all throughout the country I am very happy I chose Samui TEFL. The support Roseanne and Kathryn gave before the course put my mind at ease prior to embarking on this new adventure and the support given during and even after the course was so helpful I cannot thank them enough. I met so many incredible people from all around the world that have become some of my closest friends. With Roseanne and Kathyrn's help I received an interview at a really lovely school on the island and was offered a position. I continually look back on the time of the TEFL course as the best month I have had in the year I have been living in this beautiful country. Thank you for the very fond memories and for helping me reach my goal of doing the TEFL- to feel comfortable in and in front of a classroom!

Each of us embark on a personal journey for purposes that either help us to remedy our current situations, or to give us a purpose for our future aspirations. When deciding where to begin my TEFL journey, I was drawn to Samui purely by the lure of the relaxed Island lifestyle, which is also complemented by beautiful beaches, climate, and a relatively low population density. I am so thankful that I made the right decision choosing Samui TEFL, and am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of this course. My only regret is that I didn’t make the choice to come sooner!
Samui TEFL has given me an extremely strong foundation to begin my journey as an English Language Teacher. I have no doubt that in years to come, I will still be making references to the broad range of knowledge that I have learnt on the course. Kathryn is an extremely competent trainer, who shares her invaluable knowledge and experiences with all. This ensures trainees are made fully aware of what to expect in real Thai classrooms and language schools. Each lesson, activity, and task is meticulously planned to equip us as ‘teacher trainees’, with a ‘toolbox’ of skills and techniques that are easily transferrable to classroom situations. Nothing is without a purpose!
For myself personally, the most beneficial part of the course was going into classrooms and teaching. Essentially putting all the knowledge and skills we had acquired to use. This gives a great insight to what it will be like teaching in a Thai school. Although at first, I found even the thought of this extremely daunting, my confidence grew as I became more familiar with the course content and applications of teaching techniques. I had faith in, and knew that all the information and advice that had been given to us by Kathryn and Ashleigh, was set up in a way to ensure we would all succeed. I am still amazed that in just 4 (intense) weeks, I was able to learn so much information, and was able to develop different personal attributes.
I could go on… but in summary I am so happy with how the course panned out. Kathryn and Ashleigh are both so supportive, helpful, and knowledgeable and I couldn’t be more grateful to them both for getting me to a level where I now have belief that I can be a competent, and effective teacher. Before coming to Thailand, in one of my previous office roles, my favourite part of the job was going home, or that the chair would swing around 😂. Now I am living in Phuket, listening to Thai children who are adopting a Kiwi accent, 10 minutes from the most beautiful beaches and living my Island dream 😃
Thank you Samui TEFL

I did my TEFL last year in the end of January, honestly it was one of the best experiences. Not only was Kathryn extremely professional, but she was also an excellent teacher!!! She taught me new techniques which I still use in my classes today! Don't expect to chill during this course, no you work hard, BUT its all worth it. So when you walk into a Thai school you are ready and fully prepared! The program is situated in Choen Mong in Koh Samui, paradise is one word to describe it! We worked hard during the week and weekends got to have the island holiday! With regards to jobs, Kathryn and Rosanne helped a lot and after job hunting for a week or so my friend and I had jobs and were sorted out!

Overall everyone PLEASE do your TEFL with Samui TEFL it s worth every penny !!!

I am so grateful to have been apart of the Samui TEFL program. This class allowed me to gain essential teaching skills in order to teach English to non native English speakers while creating strong friendships I would hold with me throughout my time teaching abroad in Thailand.

When I first arrived I had no idea what to expect and was honestly quite nervous, however, from the first day of class all my nerves were settled. Through daily classes and multiple teaching demos I was able to gain real life experience and the confidence I would need to teach a class of my own.

Kathryn gave me important tools and techniques to use to be the most effective teacher I can be. She is extremely helpful, kind, knowledgeable and was a great resource while creating lesson plans of my own.

Samui TEFL laid down the foundation I would need to teach Kindergarten in Bangkok and I can't imagine trying to do it without them!

I arrived in Koh Samui not knowing what to expect from the upcoming course. 30 minutes into day 1 and I was already happy with my choice in Samui TEFL! Before my arrival I corresponded with Rosanne who was incredibly prompt with her replies and super helpful with all kinds of questions I had - TEFL related and otherwise. Kathryn is the course leader and has years and years of experience in the field; you couldn't ask for a better teacher! Ashleigh is possibly the most organised person I have ever met, she helps with organising the practicals and always has an answer to any questions.
Do not take this course if your intention is to slack off... it is very intense. You get given homework almost every day, have class tests, have to make (what seems like endless) resources and have a diary to write once a week. It sounds a lot, and it is, but you get to work as a team and have fun with it! By the end of the four weeks my group and I were very close to each other; exploring the island, going to the beach and eating out together were things we did a lot. Samui TEFL even organise an island tour on your first weekend - a great way to get to know your surroundings and your new classmates.
Teacher practicals (TPs) happen in week 2, 3 and 4. Everyone preps for the lessons together and spends time after class to make the resources. The day of your first TP is filled with nerves, but once you get into the class room the feeling is amazing and it all seems to come together. The good thing about Samui TEFL is that you have a certain amount of TPs to complete, but almost every one is with a different age group. Adults - Thai and other nationalities - and a range of children. This gives you an idea of which age group you'd prefer to teach in the future.
Samui TEFL gives you a stationary pack, folder with lots of useful paperwork inside, access to printing and resources (paint etc) and a USB that has all the documents you can ever need. Ashleigh helps you with your CV and tailors it to how a Thai employer would like it. An agent even came in to speak to us and by the end of his visit, most of us had been offered jobs. The USB has a list of agents (and ones to avoid) who work with you to get work.
If you're thinking about doing your TEFL in Thailand, Samui TEFL is the one to choose. You live in a beautiful location for 4 weeks with people who will become your close friends, and have access to amazing mentors who are happy to help with anything. The course is intense, but so worth it. Many things are included that may not be in other courses (teaching and classroom management techniques, CV help, agent access etc).