Destination TEFL Reviews

When looking for a top notch TEFL course in Thailand there's no other program in the country that competes with Samui TEFL. Kathryn is the consummate professional; she doesn't pull punches, preferring instead to prepare students for the workloads that they will encounter; she expects effort and adherence to her methods, which focus on a high energy, totally engaging teaching style that keeps students too busy to be distracted and disruptive at the same time that they learn a well organized lesson. This is not a course for the casual-minded individual who says he/she wants to teach when he/she means travel. It's real work. That said, if you're willing to work then it's the best practice and prep you can hope for. Kathryn and Roseanne introduced our class to an agent (of which they have access to a whole network) who set me and three friends I met at Samui TEFL up with jobs in a great school just outside of Bangkok. After more than a month working as a new teacher I'm amazed at how much I continue to refer to my Samui TEFL material for inspiration, ideas, and teaching tips. Kathryn's style definitely influenced my approach to teaching - fast paced, high energy, and fun - and she remains a valuable resource months after the program.

Add to that the fact that you get to spend a month on one of the nicest islands in Thailand, set up in a comfortable hotel right on the beach just a few blocks from the TEFL center. There's plenty to do and explore in Choeng Mon and the greater island depending on how adventurous you are. The program's size means you won't lack for attention or feedback and more than likely you will make friends that you enjoy traveling with.

Overall, the program was a wonderful experience that set me up well for every subsequent venture I've undertaken in Thailand. I think that Samui TEFL will continue to serve me well in the future and nearly everyone who I graduated the course with agrees. If you want more information on traveling in Thailand, various hurdles that foreign teachers need to jump through and what to expect in a place that promises no standardized method for doing things, check out collierconnell.weebly.com for more info and feel free to contact me with questions.

I loved my experience with Kathryn and Ashleigh at Samui TEFL! After graduating from University and then working for a year in an office, I realized that wasn't what I wanted to be doing for the rest of my life. I had a strong urge to travel, but wanted to be doing something meaningful while traveling as well. A friend had told me about a few online TEFL courses, but after doing a bit of research, I found that the in-person courses tend to be much more effective. Samui TEFL confirmed this 100%!

Not only was I able to live on a beautiful (and super fun) island for four weeks with some AMAZING classmates and friends, but I was also able to learn more about teaching English than I ever thought I would in just 4 weeks. The course is incredibly intense but I listened to Kathryn and stayed on top of all my tasks, so it went just fine! Kathryn refreshed us on grammar while showing us helpful teaching techniques at the same time. She ensured that I was fully prepared before I went into all of my different teaching pracs. I felt a bit nervous going into them, but once I was in front of the class and applying the advice that Kathryn gave me, I felt so comfortable.

Throughout the course, Ashleigh and Kathryn were so helpful when it came to assisting me in finding a job. I ended up traveling for a few weeks rather than working right away, but now that I am planning on working in the next few weeks, they have reached out and given me all the resources I need for finding a job!

Overall, I HIGHLY suggest this course for individuals of any age and any background - you will not regret it! Thank you Kathryn and Ashleigh for a great experience.

I came to Thailand in order to travel, meet new people, reignite my passion for teaching, and escape the monotony of everyday life. I was absolutely delighted when all of these things happened easily and naturally. As soon as I arrived in Koh Samui, I was greeted at the airport by Joy, a lovely woman who managed one of the hotels in which the program is affiliated. Joy drove me to the hotel and pointed out some key destinations along the way. The hotel was very clean and only cost 10,000 Baht for the month. Most people from the program stayed in the same two hotels, which was wonderful because we became instant friends and travel companions. My friends and I spent many hours working on lessons and resourcing, but during our leisure time we went to the beach, markets, restaurants, and of course, out in Chaweng. I have since travelled with several of the people in my program and intend to remain close friends with all of them. The program itself is super informative. The instructor has a ton of teaching experience and a wealth of knowledge to be shared. I was a teacher back in the states for several years, and I was surprised by how much I learned in the four short weeks. Teaching English to native Thai speakers is an incredibly different experience, and my expectations of the program were completely surpassed. The instructor also helped me secure a teaching position at a local international school. I recommend this program to anyone that has an open mind and sense of adventure. Living amongst the Thai people is an absolute privilege, and I wouldn't trade this experience for anything in the world.

I highly recommend taking this TEFL course on Koh Samui Island. Both Kathryn and Ashleigh go above and beyond to get you fully prepared to teach English in Thailand or in other country. I couldn't imagine trying to teach English in a foreign country before taking this course. Kathryn makes sure to use our classroom time wisely, focusing on the most important items one needs to know to be a successful teacher. She provides each student with a flash drive of resources that will jump start their teaching career and job search. After taking the course I have learned/ refreshed my grammar, learned about the Thai culture, learned how to lesson plan in the most efficient way and feel confident in front of a classroom full of students.
In addition to the course I would recommend this program because of its location. I mean it is located in PARADISE!!!! And they help set up room accommodations at a hotel a minute walk from the beach and about a 5 minute walk from the TEFL school. When I wasn't in class I had so much time to get to know the other classmates, go to the beach, scooter around the island and endulge in the Thai cuisine. During my 4 weeks on the island classmates and I traveled around the island to Temples, waterfalls, beaches and night markets. Kathryn and Ashleigh our instructor even took us on a beautiful hike one Sunday morning. (They really go above and beyond with their students). I couldn't be more pleased with my decision to take the Samui TEFL course. I highly recommend you take it as well.

Sincerely,

One Happy TEFL Certified Student -Kala

To anyone considering obtaining their teaching certification in Thailand, I can thoroughly recommend Samui TEFL.

After 20+ years working in a corporate environment I decided to take time out for a sabbatical and explore a different path by volunteering to teach English in Cambodia. Although it was not a pre-requisite to have any formal teaching certification for the programme, I was keen to learn the necessary skills for preparing and delivering lessons and get some practical experience under my belt.

The Samui TEFL course delivered on my objectives and then some. Beyond learning good lesson planning and resourcing techniques and habits, I learned a lot about classroom management, the importance of making lessons fun and engaging for the students (regardless of age) and how to tackle common issues Thais face with learning English, particularly pronunciation.

While the course is intense at times, the classes were always energetic and entertaining, in no small part down to Kathryn’s passion and enthusiasm for developing teachers. The course is centred around practical experience rather than dry theory and the teacher practices provided everyone with an opportunity to teach young and mature students.

Kathryn and Ashleigh were very supportive of all the students throughout, whether giving feedback on lesson plans, assistance with CV writing or applying for/securing jobs.

I found the class size of 13 to be ideal. I was fortunate to have an amazing set of classmates from all kinds of backgrounds and experiences. We all bonded from day one and worked hard and played hard together over the four weeks which made the course all the more enjoyable.

A big thank you to Kathryn, Ashleigh and my classmates. I now venture forward to Cambodia (and beyond…) with the confidence I can put the skills learned on the course into practice.

I am so happy that I chose Samui TEFL to get certified. Both Kathryn and Ashleigh are the best! I learned so much in just 4 weeks. How to manage a classroom, Thai culture on what not to do/to do based on cultural norms, lesson planning and how to adapt a lesson plan for any age group are just a few examples. I am currently teaching at a school in Uttaradit, Thailand and I have felt 100% confident with any grade, subject or task the school asks me to teach. The course not only taught me how to be a great teacher but living on Koh Samui and meeting my fellow classmates from around the world was so much fun. Exploring Koh Samui or the other surrounding islands on the weekends or after school is a great way to have fun and make memories, all while working hard and learning a skill you can use for the rest of your life.

Samui Tefl has to be the most amazing experience of my life. Being dyslexic and knowing I find it hard to learn in a classroom setting I was worried. There was no need for me to worry, the teachers are always there to help and the support you get from class mates is amazing.
We all became one big family and I will forever be grateful to them for the help the gave me.

The island is beautiful and you are able to learn so much about Thai culture. It is very different to any other culture I have been able to experience. They are humble, caring and every morning the locals will say 'hello.'
Living is so cheap, we were going for meals at what we call the post office for around 50bht a meal (in gbp this is just over 1 pound).

I had so many worries coming here, I had packed my bags and left England with nothing to go back to. It was a gamble but I an certain I made the right choice.Hopefully I can stay in Thailand for a long time.
Thankyou so much to everyone at Samui Tefl. Thankyou to Kathryn and Ashleigh (our teachers) you have helped me become a better person, you saw potential in me and have given me the confidence to be able to do anything.
I'll be seeing you very soon ;-)

Dear Kathryn,

I hope this finds you well. May the following act as my review:

I completed my Samui TEFL course on the 24th June, 2016.

As a fully-qualified teacher, I undertook the TEFL course for purposes of career professional development. My dual aims in terms of outcomes from the course were:
i) To gain a better understanding, and enhanced professional capacity, to teach EAL students of Senior school age (11-16 years).
ii) To gain a professional qualification enabling me to teach in ESL summer schools/camps in Europe and the USA.

My review contains 3 component parts: content, teachers and facilitation.

Firstly, I found the content within the course to be very useful for anybody hoping to earn a TEFL qualification which is practice based. This course is particularly relevant for those who seek to work in the Thai education system. The intense and rigorous course involves teaching practicals in local Thai schools. This provides relevant and important experience ‘on the job’. All students are supported in seeking - and finding - employment at the end of the course which I think is the main asset of this course. Not only do students learn the requisite skills to teach English as a foreign language but, in addition, they are supported in finding work within Thailand. Nearly all students have jobs in Thailand at the end of the course if they have worked hard and meet the required standard, which is amazing and very reassuring.

Secondly, Kathryn and Rosanne are really kind and supportive of the students. Kathryn is a very experienced ESL teacher and I learnt so much despite being an experienced practitioner. Namely, the course reminded me of the necessity in making learning active and fun for learners, especially young learners. In addition, I was reminded of the fundamental necessity of resourcing lessons and activities properly. I was reminded of how the success of learning often hinges on this. Rosanne helps students upon arrival and assimilation and also helps students find work upon completion of the course (as does Kathryn). The centre is very well organised and both women are very professional. I know both very well and they are caring and considerate people. You can be rest assured that if you do this course they are trustworthy and reliable. You could not be in better hands!

Lastly, the location of Samui TEFL is truly unique. The location of the language centre in Choeng Mon is a relaxed, beautiful setting on the tropical island of Koh Samui. Although I opted not to stay at the recommended accommodation provided as part of the course, I do know that it is highly regarded and the other students really enjoyed staying there. Koh Samui is the perfect place to do a TEFL course. The island is fun and there is lots to do and see. The cost of living is very affordable, making this course a cost effective option compared to completing a course in Europe.

This is amazing course on a beautiful island, so just go and do it! I was lucky enough to have a fantastic group of students, of all ages, this made the course fun :-)
Kathryn is an incredible teacher, you will learn so much and you can really see her experience in this field. She will instill confidence and you will learn a lot!

It wasn't an easy course by any means....be prepared for hard work and to put the rest of your life on hold for 4 weeks! It is all worthwhile though and will make you a better prepared teacher :-)

Rosanne does help with finding work afterwards so it's pretty much guaranteed that you will get a job if you want one.

It was a great experience, hard work but very rewarding, I have no doubt that this is the best course on Samui :-)

To all future TEFL students and individuals thinking about making a difference in other people's lives. My name is Irene and I completed the course on the 16th of September 2016. This was by far the best decision I ever made in my life!

At first I thought to myself: "Me? A teacher? I have never taught English to foreign students!" I gained confidence after receiving amazing support and additional information that answered all the questions and doubts I had with regards to this career change so I took a leap of faith and here I am today - a qualified TEFL teacher!

You can't get any better than the TEFL course in Koh Samui. The support, patience, guidance and advice we received is unheard of! Kathryn and Rosanne are two amazing individuals! Kathryn has such a broad range of experience and knowledge and she is hands on in every aspect of the course. Rosanne is excellent in providing information and giving advice with regards to jobs and the island in general. The fact that every student in the TEFL course passed is living proof that they are experts in their field of work.

I am now living in Chanthaburi - a beautiful town in Thailand pursuing my career as a teacher and making a difference in other people's lives. There is nothing more rewarding than 35-40 confident and smiling faces everyday practicing the English language.

I recommend the Samui TEFL course to anyone who has an interest in teaching and making a difference in Thailand. You get to work hard for 4 weeks while enjoying the breathtaking island vibes - what more could you ask for!

Make a difference and sign up today!