Destination TEFL Reviews

I am an English teacher from Hungary, you may ask me why do I need to take a TEFL course. I have some experience teaching English in Hungary but it was 20 years ago. After finishing this course I realized how boring teacher I was back then. I knew I had a lot to learn and if you want to learn about teaching English Chiara is the best teacher you can get. We had an amazing group of people in our class from every part of the world, we went to the training centre excited every day, nobody missed a class in 4 weeks, I would've stayed longer if I could. We had the chance to practice in 3 different kind of schools and it was an amazing experience, Jane, Off and Chiara helped us in every way they can in organizing and planning these teacher practices. They even helped me to find a job in Samui, and I'm really grateful for that. Why Samui? I think it's enough to say I've been living here for 8 years now. It's a beautiful tropical island where you can find countless beautiful viewpoints in the mountains, amazing beaches, or you can visit busy markets, pubs with live music and party places.

"I think to travel and work abroad is something that everybody thought about sometime in their life. So many options and careers to choose from. So I decided to become a foreign teacher and what an adventure it has been since day one. Since arriving on Samui I knew exactly that my days of travelling is not even almost over. I lived my best life in Koh Samui with some life time friends I met on the Samui TEFL group. The course does not only give you an internationally accredited TEFL certificate but also a whole bunch of new best friends. Never knew that you can have so much fun while actually working really hard during the day. During this month on Samui you get to work with kindergarten up untill adults , which I think is great because then after the course you candecide the age group you want to teach. The trainers at the course also made learning very fun through constantly playing games - games which you can use in your own classroom one day - and also having little coffee breaks where it gives you enough time to quickly catch up with the other trainees. The trainers also wrote the days' agenda on the board for everybody to see so that we are always on track of what's going to happen next. The amount of work was split evenly everyday so we always worked just as hard as the previous day. The TP's looked a bit daunting at first but once you are in front of the classroom with another trainee on your side , things just go smooth sail from there. You can never be worse than the previous day because after every TP you get feedback and tips that would help you to just get better and better. Having just a TEFL certificate does not make it harder to get a job , I was surprised when I realized how many International Schools there are around Asia. And they always seek passionate teachers like the one's Samui TEFL develope. I am very fortunate for having this oppurtunity granted to me. Strange how much your life can change in just one month. THANK YOU SAMUI TEFL! " 

My partner and I decided to take a risk and work abroad. We did some research on different TEFL courses and came across Samui TEFL through an agency called OVC. Deciding to do our TEFL course through Samui TEFL was definitely one of the best decisions that we have ever made!

Samui TEFL offers you so much more than any other TEFL company. Yes, the costs are a lot more, BUT the knowledge and skills that you gain at the end of the course is definitely worth every cent. Samui TEFL doesn't only offer in-house theory classes, but they also expose you to Teaching Practicals that allows you to experience the world of teaching English as a Second Language to foreign students.

The trainer, Chiara Gasparotti, who facilitates all the classes is such a star! She puts so much thought and effort into all her lessons and genuinely makes every second so enjoyable. Her assistant, Off, is just as awesome and always willing to help. They literally break their backs to ensure that you are equipped and skilled for your Teaching Practicals too. The classmates that we worked with also made the course so much fun and bearable. We got the opportunity to learn about different cultures and all the team work also allowed us to gain some knowledge on different classroom ethics and lesson plans.

Samui TEFL does not only ensure that you become a well qualified ESL Teacher, but they also assist you in job placement. Jane Openshaw, one of the teacher trainers, helped my partner and I throughout the whole process. She assisted with all the documents and ensured that the necessary parties received all the required information. We are both currently teaching at the same International School in Sihanoukville, Cambodia and are looking forward for what's ahead.

We definitely recommend Samui TEFL to anyone who is looking into completing their TEFL course through a good company!

Keep up the good work, Samui TEFL!

If you are looking for a very high quality, high standard and extremely well run TEFL course, then Samui TEFL is definitely the right place for you.
Samui is a beautiful island rich in Thai culture and a great place to study, I managed to go for a quick swim everyday. Our class was very multicultural and we all quickly became a community working together to help each other achieve the highest standards we could.

The training centre is simple but is well organised and provided a great environment for us to learn together, good air conditioning and all the facilities needed to put lesson plans in to action. The trainers are excellent, very experienced and passionate about teaching. Each lesson is amazingly well organised and really makes learning fun. Wisdom is in abundance so make sure you listen up and prepare for a great challenge.

The course is pretty intense but incredibly rewarding, you will definitely get good pay back if you put the effort in. We actually taught at an international school, a local Thai primary school and for those of us who wanted to do so, at an adult language school. When you graduate you really feel that you have achieved something significant and that you have gained the confidence to start the TEFL journey, especially after actually doing real teaching in real Thai schools with real kids!

Friendships made on the course will last forever and through the powers of social media we all keep in touch to discuss the next steps in our journey and the jobs we are undertaking. As I write this I am on my way to the UK for my first teaching job within 2 weeks of graduation, where to next ?

I chose to take a TEFL course on Samui, as the prospect of studying on a tropical island appealed to me, and it did not dissapoint! Samui is a fantastic island in the south of Thailand, and being able to relax on the beach (just a few minutes walk from the school!) after a hard day studying was brilliant. The school provided everything we needed to take the course - pens, pencils, white board pens etc as well as free wifi water and hot drinks. There is also printing facilities and so much arts and craft items to use for teaching aids. Chiara , the TEFL teacher, was superb. She made everyone comfortable and eased us into the course and before we knew it, the first week had passed - and i was amazed at how much material had been covered, and more importantly that material had been taken on board as well! Chiara is a very experienced language teacher, and included many techniques that have been tried and tested in the classroom. My coursemates on the course were also great, and we bonded well taking full advantage of being on a tropical island. We were given plenty of material, so when it came to our first teaching practice, we all felt well prepared to go and teach the kids in the school. We had the oppurtunity to teach in an international school, a government school as well as some adults who were learning english. This gave us a good overview of the different environments we could be teaching in, and the potential issues we could face. Throughout the course there was help provided in applying for jobs, as well as perfecting your CV. Overall i would reccomend this course, as Samui is a fun island to stay on for 4 weeks, and the quality of teaching and assistance offered is excellent.

This review has taken many months to write. Each time I've attempted to write one there seems to be more instances where this specific course and the tools given to me by the highly skilled and specialized teachers has come into my daily life and been a savior to teaching.

Think not the concepts are absurd or outdated (for they are) the reality is that alnodt everything you learn through this course works. You just don't understand the context yet.

If you are considering a TEFL course choose SamuiTEFL. Go in and try to absorb everything that you humanly can whether you think it relevant or not, there will be a day when use it and are thankful.

Managing your interactions with the children you teach and the students on the course with you will ensure that you get the maximum out of this course. It's predominantly about how much love and happiness you can share and the tools this course gives to ensure it.

(pro tip)
The beer is good but expensive. Get "local" whiskey and sprite for a winning evening.

Samui TEFL provides their students with the essentials needed to succeed in a classroom setting. Prior, during and after the course has completed, the TEFL staff are there to help. Whether it be with accommodations during your stay in Samui, packing, professional clothing, cultural norms or job placement; the staff is available and willing to help. It is up to you, as a student in the course, to listen, corporate and work as a team player to gain the most from this experience.

Samui TEFL was recommended by a friend, and I would recommend this course to anyone searching for a TEFL course led by experienced professionals in the education system.
I thoroughly enjoyed the interactiveness of the course, the time spent with the students in the Thai schools and preparing the lesson plans together as a class.

The time and energy the TEFL staff put into this course is evident. It was a pleasure to be a student and learn from instructors who are so passionate about their jobs.

Good luck, and thank you Samui TEFL!

I had never travelled, taught, or heard of a tuk-tuk before flying to Thailand to pursue my TEFL certification. Thank goodness for the exceptional team at Samui TEFL. Inside and outside of the classroom, I never had a question that went unanswered. I always felt supported and rooted for, and when you’re a world away from home – that is invaluable.

Our teachers were dedicated to preparing us for classrooms of our own. I quickly learned how much thought, strategy, and preparation goes into each and every lesson. By the end, I wanted to send fruit baskets of thanks to all the teachers I have had. (It’s a lot of work!)

But it’s rewarding work. You’ll see the smiles on the students’ faces when you bring boxes of resources for interactive, fun practice lessons. The course is so worthwhile in that it stresses bringing creative approaches to education. It’s a hustle to learn to teach in four weeks, but this program will ensure that you leave with a strong foundation which you can build upon and tailor to wherever you find yourself teaching next.

And Samui TEFL helps with the “what’s next” part, too! The team made sure that we had access to and were connected with prospective positions. They will guide you through preferences, locations, and contracts.

My experience with Samui TEFL was positive and impactful. I learned so much and made fabulous friends. Bring an open mind and a willingness to learn, and the course won’t let you down.

Thank you, Samui TEFL!

Hi, my name is Stuart.
I have lived in Thailand for the last eight years. For seven of these years, I have worked in most countries in Asia and in all of these countries, English is not the first language. Living in Thailand where English is a subject for all students, I have witnessed and experienced the difficulty people have had with speaking English. With my experience, I believe I can make a significant difference to help children and adults to learn English.
From contacts I have in Bangkok, I knew of the Samui TEFL school and that it had a very good reputation, and I was not disappointed
Everyone in the school was helpful. Our instructors were professional and very proficient in teaching the TEFL program.
The students came from different countries and with them their diverse backgrounds, it really helped the class dynamics.
The course takes place on Kho Samui island that immerses you in a unique and beautiful culture. The opportunity during the course to have practical experience teaching at the local schools with the Thai children was enormously beneficial.
Once the course was completed Samui TEFL was instrumental in helping all the student get jobs. I now some On-Line teaching and will continue to work helping English teach in Thailand.
The friends you will make and skills you will learn makes this a lifetime opportunity you shouldn’t pass up.

Hello, my name is Frank. After graduating with my bachelors degree in May I found myself looking for something new and challenging. I heard about Samui TEFL from a friend online. After doing some in depth research I decided that Samui TEFL was the correct choice.

Everyone in the program is so helpful and inviting. From the first day to the last day our instructors were dedicated to the success of each and every student. The course is not easy but you are given the tools to succeed. The instructors give constant support and show that they believe in you as the student. Samui TEFL is a program that works.

The course takes place on an island that emmerses you in a unique and beautiful culture that can only be found on Ko Samui.

I’ll always be grateful for the experience this program gave me. I was able to find a job and start within a month of graduating from Samui TEFL.
The friends you will make and skills you will learn makes this an opportunity you shouldn’t pass up.