Get TEFL Certified On-Site in Thailand

One caveat emptor, strictly for those who want to come to Thailand to (first) holiday, vacation, and/or party, and only then (second) take up teaching English as a foreign language: you will find the course too demanding for a purely good-times, drinking and dancing schedule, and you may not be able to complete it with that kind of mindset. Like all worthy endeavors, you will get out of this program what you put into it. This is a rigorous, professional course designed for people who earnestly want to teach (or improve their teaching skillset). The tempo of the course is demanding (but doable by anyone willing to manage his or her time and put in the work), and you will be required to memorize relatively complex classroom practices as well as some formal English grammar — not easily done with too little sleep or a hangover. If this sounds like you, my best and most friendly advice is that you take the money you would invest in the program, have a fine party-holiday, and then pursue another line of work (the world doesn’t need more educators who are in it for the wrong reasons). If you can’t afford to travel without working at the same time — and that is your only motivation for teaching EFL — consider washing dishes instead. But if you have a passion for teaching or think you might find a passion in teaching, connecting to students, providing solid, effective instruction, you will be more than satisfied, delighted even, by the thoroughness of the program and the solid pedagogical foundation you gain from it.

One of the first things you will find out about SEE TEFL is that they are prompt, professional, and thorough in responding to any questions you may have before dedicating yourself to one of their programs — about coming to Thailand, obtaining appropriate visas, and about the program and school as well as opportunities to teach following program completion. And once you have registered, they provide clear guidance as well as the appropriate paperwork to help you (painlessly) acquire the necessary visas. This can be a rather confusing and stressful process to navigate on your own, but not with John Quinn et al on your side: you’ll be guided through a few simple steps, and you will be ready to go.

The staff at SEE TEFL will also help arrange (off-site) accommodations for your stay in Chiang Mai during the course if you like (I did not use this service, but several of my classmates did, and they were pleased with the arrangements).

On arrival, you will find a clean, inviting, well-maintained and modern school, attended by friendly and helpful staff: ample classrooms and meeting rooms (all complete with air-conditioning); work spaces; computers; office essentials for students; a comfortable and pretty outdoor break area, sheltered from the sun and rain; and a nice, inexpensive self-service coffee bar with snacks and drinks on offer.

Once you begin the classes, you will learn that SEE TEFL’s four-week training course provides intensive training for the classroom. The lion’s share of the program is devoted to (A) giving students tried and true principles and methods for teaching English as a foreign language, (B) providing students with a solid base of English grammar knowledge and terminology, and (C) instruction and practice in effective classroom management. Even as a previous English composition and literature instructor and writing tutor, I found the review of English grammar helpful.

The principles and methods that you will learn may seem rigid at first. However, as you progress through the program you will realize that the principles and methods are adaptable to any number of teaching situations, informal and formal alike, whatever your students’ abilities; and while you will go “off script” in your classes once you have a position at a school or language center, the principles will always be there to guide you in creating effective, student-centered lessons.

The classroom management skills you will acquire are simple and effective. They are designed with an awareness of Thai culture and customs in mind, but except for a few details the skills are clearly applicable to any classroom, regardless of the age or culture of the students — and they help make the classroom a fun and engaging place for students.

And you’ll learn that there is time for fun and for getting to know your classmates. The instructors are focused, but they have healthy senses of humor and are personable and friendly. SEE TEFL also arranges a night out on the first Friday of the program, and they arrange a “cultural awareness day” during which you will go to several sites around the city, including a cultural museum and Buddhist temple (where you will participate in a short ceremony if you like), all of which are discussed and explained at length.

The faculty at SEE TEFL are friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. They work hard to constantly improve the program in order to train and certify the best TESL/TEFL/EFL teachers that they can. While the classes move at a relatively quick pace, there is room for fun, the classes and instructors are always pleasant, and the instructors are very good about setting all of the students at ease.

Throughout the program, you will be required to make and produce several lessons — and teach them to actual students in actual schools. If this sounds daunting, do not fear: the SEE faculty are available (pretty much all day every day) to help with any questions or difficulties you may have while designing lessons and creating materials. The faculty of SEE TEFL are sincerely dedicated to seeing their students do well and succeed.

These “live” teaching practices are invaluable. Each time you teach in a school, a SEE TEFL faculty member will be there to observe your lessons and to provide you with constructive feedback afterwards. (And, if you listen to the suggestions and attempt to make the improvements and changes the faculty suggest, there is no two ways about it: your teaching will improve with each and every lesson.) Another upside is that at the end of the course you will have a set of lessons and materials to draw on, ranging from simple vocabulary to complex grammar, which you can showcase to prospective employers as well as use to get your classes started once you are offered a position at a school.

Also included in the program are several “survival Thai” language lessons. Following these, you’ll be able to communicate in the most necessary situations (ordering food and drinks, making polite requests, describing ailments to doctors…).

Finally, throughout, during, and even after the program the faculty and staff are prepared to help with visa issues that may arise and to help with contacting employers, resume writing, and interview skills.

This is a tremendous program, very well designed and well taught, definitely worth the investment, and worthy of its accreditations and international recognition. I could not recommend it more highly.

I completed the TEFL Certification with John and Ying at SEE TEFL in October of 2016. I would highly recommend this Program located in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The course was run exceptionally well by two people who know Chiang Mai incredibly well.

Before I even began the course, John was helpful in answering all questions I had about the program. Once I signed up to take the course, John was even more helpful in providing Visa information, as well an education document that allowed me to get a longer Visa for my stay. They also provide a couple of great options for long term stays close to the School.

The whole staff and team at SEE TEFL made me feel like I was instantly part of a family. John, Ying, and the entire staff do a wonderful job of helping you acclimate to the culture of Thailand. They provide a Cultural Day, taking you through the city and to a Thai temple. It was a wonderful experience. They even include a few culture and language classes during the course. The whole class meets up the first week after class to bond and get acclimated to the city.

The course itself is very well run. The course is a 120 hour TEFL Certification with 6 Observed Teaching Practices. Our class consisted of 20 students. That is the maximum number of students allowed in the course per month. Our instructors were very intelligent and taught the proper classroom teaching systems. They also gave us good lessons on English Grammar and provided in-depth training on classroom management. They provided us with detailed instruction on the best teaching practices and also provided us with great resources on how to create the appropriate lesson plans. Throughout the entire process, the entire staff is accessible to help with lesson planning and any other issues that may come up. They truly look after you and want you to do well.

My favorite part of the Certification Process with SEE TEFL is the 6 observable teaching practices. SEE TEFL sets up 6 different schools for the teachers to come and give in class lessons. We get a good variety of age groups, from kindergarten all the way up to one on one lesson with young adults. These are all observed by the SEE staff and we received graded and detailed feedback as a group and then individually in smaller groups. This gave us great practice for going out and teaching. On the last day of class, they offer good guides for getting employment in Chiang Mai, including help with building a resume.

This was a wonderful experience. It was also one of the better-priced options I could find anywhere. Chiang Mai is also an amazing place to live! I decided to teach in Vietnam upon completion of the course and I felt confident and well trained beginning my job in Ha Noi. You will have no regrets with this wonderful program and the amazing humans working at SEE TEFL.

Hands down, the best TEFL Course in all of Thailand! I completed the course in October 2016 and I can not even fathom how lost I would be without the support and comforts of the entire team at Guru! Especially John! He is extrememly helpful, responsive, and cares a lot about each individual that walks through those doors. You dont feel like just a number, like other schools. If youre wondering if SEE is the right program for you, you came to the right place. Trust me, look no further... this is it!! Above all else the provide support before you get to Thailand, whille youre there, and any time you need something or have questions in the future. Who wouldnt want to have support when youre moving across the world not knowing anyone?! That's why I chose them and -and to this day Ive never been so happy to have made the decision!... no regrets!!

My overall experience with SEE TEFL was outstanding. When I left the training program to go to my placement school I was confident and comfortable to teach in front of a classroom, something I have never done before. They really support you in all ways possible and are so good about answering all your questions. The facilities were clean and top notch. It was definitely a professional environment. Shouvik, our instructor was amazing! I would recommend this program to anyone!

I graduated from SEE TEFL in March 2014. This is an absolutely great course. I formed my foundation of TEFL friends in this building and built my basis of the beginning of my teaching English career. John Quinn is wonderful, personable, and an amazing person to work with. He treats each of his graduates as a friend, and is there to guide you through every step of the way. He has still kept contact with me 2 years later. This course is great! It is hard work, but completely prepares you for teaching English. They help set you up with a job, and provide great resources in Chaing Mai. I thought the practicum portion and hands on experience in the course was a great bonus. I would highly recommend this course to anybody considering getting their TEFL certification! 5 stars!!

I had a great experience at SEE TEFL in 2013. This was my first time traveling and living overseas by myself. I had a lot of apprehension about the course and living in Thailand. My first day at SEE TEFL immediately put me at ease. John Quinn gave a great speech about traveling and all his experiences living overseas. From start to finish, SEE TEFL was an amazing experience! I made great friends from all over the world and had a great time learning all the TEFL lessons. They teach great tips on how to be an effective teacher and how to create lessons plans. They also took care of all my visa applications and I never had any issues in the 2.5 years I was living in Thailand. SEE TEFL even takes care of you once you finish the course! They helped me find a great school to teach at and I ended up teaching at this same school the entire time I stayed in Thailand. I'm so glad that I took this course because it helped me discover my love for teaching! I want to give a special thanks to John Quinn who filled at a ridiculous amount of reference forms so that I could land a job as a public school teacher in the USA!

I would strongly recommend SEETEFL to anyone thinking of teaching english abroad or in particular Thailand. The school has a very friendly and comfortable feeling to it, and the staff and trainers are all very approachable and helpful. When i started the course, I was unsure of my own ability to teach a class, by the end of the course I was confident and raring to go, now a year later it's second nature!

I couldn't be more pleased with this course and the entire month process. I was nervous to get in front of a classroom, but the SEE TEFL team made each participant feel comfortable and have fun while doing it. They were professional and encouraging throughout the whole process. I learned a great deal about teaching as well as Thai culture, and secured a job quickly when I moved to Krabi. I would highly recommend this course to anybody interested in pursuing a teaching career.