Lifting up all the Rocks

There are so TEFL courses to choose from in Thailand. I read all of the reviews. Some talked about “…the fun you could have at nearby beaches while taking our course." Other providers mentioned how you could see the nearby cultural sites around the city while you learn.

Too much tourism and too little detail on how they would enable any comprehensive learning. At the end of the day, I wanted to become a professional teacher. I figured the beaches would still be there to enjoy after a completed my training.

After my initial research phase, I decided to visit a short list different schools. For us, they had to be internationally recognized and accredited by a reputable educational Institution. I learned early that Thailand’s Ministry of Education doesn’t accredit or license any specific TELF program so programs that touted only this lost ranking points. Secondly, they had to have more than just a couple of hours of actual observed teaching practice. Thirdly, the trainers not only had to meet, but exceed stringent academic requirements for teaching ESL.

Finally, we found a TEFL course that met all of these expectation—and more. Vantage. The course training was highly professional and vigorous.

Our class size was relatively small so we received a high level of personal instruction all along the way. The main instructor, Chris, has an extensive background in teaching English and in developing teaching materials and even course curriculums. He is an accomplished language teacher focused on your learning to do what he does. He really goes out of his way to see how you’re developing into a professional teacher. In addition, he has a great sense of humor which makes the class engaging, interesting, and most of all—fun.

The other trainers were just as skilled and proficient. We learned how to format a "power resume" to help a prospective teacher stand out amongst other applicants and land your first job. Furthermore, we had a trainer that focused on some basic conversation of the Thai language as well as some of the important cultural norms.

Besides receiving a detailed education on lesson plans, grammar review, and classroom management, we feel that Vantage has provided us the necessary tools and a solid foundation to begin teaching ESL to others. We got a world-class teacher training program with an American accreditation at Vantage.

We certainly feel that we made the right choice.