Vantage 120-Hour TEFL Certification

This is one of the most intersting and useful courses I’ve ever taken. The course book was very well structured and helps trainees approach new skills for teaching later. The materials also brought clear insights of how to prepare lesson plan as well as to manage class professionally.

My observed practice teaching sessions was where my knowledge was turned into skill. It started with a first day so full of anxiety and thinking I could never do this to my last session where I felt supremely confident. That was also a sad day in that my practicum was over and I wouldn’t be with my students anymore.

Vantage really stand out in their quality of their trainers. They are incredible in terms of knowledge, and teaching experience. He guided trainees with his heart and never said no when trainees asked for help. You couldn’t ask for anything more.

I will strongly recommend this course to my friends. I strongly believe that they will benefit from all the knowledge I gained during the course.

This review may be a little different. I was already TEFL certified and I’m an experienced teacher. My goal was to observe a top-notch TEFL training program in action so I could become a full-time TEFL trainer in a center in the Philippines.

I chose Vantage as it was recommended by TEFL international who certify some 30+ training centers around the world. Moreover, it’s the top-rated program in Thailand according to some of the major review sites like this one.

One of the first differences I noticed at Vantage was their workshop style of presentation—instead of the lecture approach I had when I did my TEFL. This promoted a lot of discussion with the students and it allowed the lead trainer to share his over two decades of experience on a topic basis. We ended up learning a lot more than just what was in the course book.

Vantage’s curriculum emphasizes the ESA teaching methodology (engage, study and activate), which is an evolutionary development out of the older PPP (presentation, practice, and production) technique. In the ESA methodology, the teacher tries to motivate the students and arouse their interest. Language is studied and practiced and then used freely without correcting comments. A key benefit is that students learn how to communicate successfully without fear of mistakes.
In the ESA method, there is more emphasis on student-led language discovery, eliciting the grammar and vocabulary from students rather than giving a detailed (and often boring) teacher-led presentations.

In the PPP method that I was taught, there is a lengthy introduction to the given topic where the students are given a model how to do/say something and then practice it almost mechanically in written/spoken exercises. It’s effective, but not as engaging, and it’s arguably harder to motivate students to continue their language studies over the long term.

The trainers at Vantage are world class. This is truly a great program and I hope to incorporate a lot of what I’ve experienced into my TEFL classes.

I couldn’t be happier that I have completed my certification at Vantage.

The curriculum is comprehensive and well written. Vantage spice this with a lot of great practical ideas for the application of the teaching methodologies taught. And the special supplementary material that Vantage has created covers emerging new teaching technologies and assessment techniques that most TEFL coursed don’t cover.

But any course is only as good as its trainers. Here Vantage really stands out. The course was brilliantly delivered. Trainer Chris delivered dry content in a highly engaging way. I know this first hand as I am an experienced teacher who has done corporate training for 20 years. I learned new teaching techniques from this courses. I also gained as a native English speaker through Vantage’s logical presentation of English semantics.

Of equal value is that they also have a specialized Jobs Coach. This added part of the course focused on resume writing and interviewing techniques classes. These are highly unappreciated tools for launching a career as a professional teacher.

They also have what they call their ‘definitive lists’ for a lot of different types of employers from private and public schools, to private language academies, to universities, to demonstration schools…even online teaching and they even have an agreement with a major Chinese institute for those who want teach there.

I’m so satisfied with Vantage TEFL that I’m signing up my daughter for an upcoming course for the sole purpose of improving her English language skills.

My first choice was to do a TEFL course in Thailand’s Eastern seaboard area where I live. However. TEFL accreditation was a key issue for me, and as none of the Pattaya-based schools had global affiliations, I chose Vantage as it’s accredited by two universities.

I taught before where I tutored students one-on-one without much, so I realized I needed to learn how to teach successfully in a classroom.

The course itself was very informative. The trainers made the grammar easy to understand and it was taught very logically. The lead trainer was very knowledgeable and took the time to answer all our questions. I learned a lot about learning methodology and teaching techniques.

In addition to the course curriculum, I also found the additional supplements developed by Vantage very and important, especially the lessons about resume writing and job interviews. After the course was over, I sat down with their Jobs Coach to create my resume and cover letters.

It was in the practicum (observed teaching practices) where my new knowledge was fused into teaching skills. At Vantage, I first learned how to formulate a lesson plan and to source the needed materials for my class. Then, after each practice session, I got great feedback from the trainers, which helped me to develop my teaching skills quickly. I would highly recommend this TEFL course to anyone who really wants to be a good teacher.

I was skeptical about going to Vantage. For one thing it seemed so far away from downtown Bangkok, which was were I wanted to be. For another it seemed to have too many good reviews on sites like this and this made me a little uneasy because I thought this was fake. I scoured the reviews looking for similarities or fake looking names to no avail.
My first option was full though and other institutes took a while to get back to me, so on a whim I decided to study at Vantage... lucky me. This place deserves the glowing reviews. Instructors are not only very knowledgeable, they are walking models of what it means to be a great teacher. Sure it wasn't all breezy, there some parts of the course that were essential but boring . But instructors worked hard to keep us engaged even when we encountered such material. Overall a solid TEFL course. Keep it up Vantage!

Vantage’s TEFL course is very well structured. I first learned teaching techniques and methodologies, which I found extremely important and helpful. I would soon discover that they were more than important when I first went into a real classroom.

The qualifications and personality of the trainers are really excellent and it shows throughout the course. I thought much of the curriculum would be boring and even though it was a lot of work, I was so engaged that I really enjoyed every minute.

For me, I really learned how to teach during my practice sessions. Importantly, the feedback I got from my trainers helped me improve over each of my seven teaching sessions. The teaching environment was superb as these Thai students were so polite and attentive. They are a joy to teach.

There are some additional things Vantage did which I found very important, too. First of all, there was a high level of patience from the trainers who answered a number of my emails, solving all my concerns before I took the course. They were willing to help me with accommodation on my strict budget—giving me different options. They helped me arrange bus and train connections which would work best for me. They even let my 5 years old daughter come with me to the school for the first week, as her sports camp started a week later than TEFL course.

Vantage provided an excellent primer about Thai culture as well as basic Thai language expressions. I also sat with their Jobs Coach and created my own individual resume, cover letter and I got a lot of support as far as finding a teaching job. I would highly recommend Vantage TEFL to anyone who wishes to become a professional English teacher.

Having been a computer science teacher for the past three years in Thai schools, this course made me realize how I previously taught was not very effective.

I did an extensive online research of TEFL schools in Bangkok, I then made some follow-up phone calls and shortlisted a few programs to actually visit. Vantage always quickly responded—and in detail—to all my questions. They seem to be the most professional and their alumni reviews seem to bear that out.

The ESA (engage-study-activate) method I learned at Vantage really showed me how to first formulate a lesson plan and then efficiently deliver into a live classroom.

The Lead trainer, Chris, is a “teacher extraordinaire.” He is funny, considerate, engaging while being thorough and serious. He motivated us through each stage of our training. He made the curriculum easy to understand…probably because he teaches from over two decades of classroom experience.

Vantage was also unique in their observed practice teaching sessions. We taught real nursing students at one of Thailand’s most prestigious medical colleges. It gave us an excellent opportunity to put into practice all the teaching theories we learned.

My Vantage TEFL training has been one of those best things that have happened to me in Thailand. For future professional teachers, I would recommend this program without hesitation.

It's a common misconception to assume that anyone who can speak English has the skills to teach the language. I knew, for example, that even though I’ve eaten all my life, I couldn’t just walk into the kitchen and become a great chef.

I needed professional training to develop my own foundational skill set in language teaching. And to do that, I required a TEFL course that would not only enable me to revisit grammar but also introduce new pedagogics.

After making numerous phone calls and meeting with different training schools, I was sure that Vantage was the right program for me. Vantage’s lead trainer alone has more than 20 years of experience in education. They knew how to motivate and inspire their TEFL students by empowering them with the tools needed to become great teachers. Any question or problems I had, these guys were patient and always there to help.

We were taught how to create effective lesson plans, which were then put into practice with non-English speaking students in a real classroom at a local University. There are very few courses that give their students such live training to prepare them for real-world classrooms.

This course has far exceeded my expectations. It applauded me where I was strong and it developed me in areas that needed attention by challenging me to try different things. In the end, I felt I became the whole teacher I needed to be.

I would definitely recommend this course to anyone who is serious about embarking on a teaching career.

I was looking to teach English in Bangkok to Thai students as I believed I could made a difference to these individual learners. I wanted to motivate them to become something more than they were by helping them learn English. And being a young teacher, I thought it would help me connect with the students better too.

So my aspirations were good. The problem was I didn’t really know to teach—outside the years I spent observing as a student on the other side of the desk.

Vantage took care of all that—and more. I was taught to create lessons through the communicative approach. The program breaks down into six key areas of study from language awareness, to teaching materials, one-to-one tutoring to teaching techniques. I was also surprised to learn that the skills I learned go further beyond just teaching. I also came away from the course as a better presenter and public speaker.

The heart of turning teacher candidates like me into full-blown professionals is, however, the observed teaching practices. Here theory meets practice. And I got detailed feedback after each session from the Vantage trainers. They highlighted what I was doing well and gave me a challenge for my next session on areas that still need to be worked on. After six observed teaching practices, I was ready to begin fulfilling my aspirations.

The trainers at Vantage have decades of experience. They’re world class. They also experts in testing and know how to use language proficiency systems to test students and to source teaching material appropriate to the level of the students were teaching. No other TEFL program I looked at covers this key area.

I’m a non-native English speaker and I had no previous teaching experience, so I was more than a little worried about my new career choice.

I found that Vantage TEFL was the right place to take the course. A read a lot of their reviews—and even online videos—where non-native speakers were talking about the advantages of not being a native speaker of English. I knew then these were the guys for me.

Vantage first built a strong foundation. I first learned how to create great lesson plans. Only after learning this phase, did I enter the classroom and do the most rewarding part of the course—my observed practice teaching classes. I was consistently building up teaching mythologies, grammar knowledge and training techniques that were both powerful and effective. The detailed feedback I got after each lesson in order to improve my teaching skills made me even better after each session and gave me even more confidence.

It was during these practice teaching sessions that my confidence as a teacher really grew. By the sixth practice, I felt I was ready to teach anyone anywhere.

Vantage was also absolutely fantastic in their job preparation. During my last week, we created my own personal Power Resume with a Cover Letter. I was then coached in effective interview techniques.

Something worked! I got hired the Monday after my Friday graduation.

I would definitely recommend Vantage TEFL Program for anyone considering coming to Thailand to become a teacher.

I was planning to return home after traveling in Thailand for a few weeks, but I began researching TEFL courses. However, I was concerned that I didn’t have enough experience or qualifications to be a teacher.

My research led me to Vantage TEFL—mostly through their remarkable reviews online.
Probably what I found to be most rewarding were the six hours of practical teaching experience as well as the power resume building and job placement support I got.

Vantage, unlike many other TEFL programs, gives each student at least six hours of practical teaching experience in front of actual university students. The process of creating lesson plans—and first getting professional feedback on those—was a huge factor in giving me the confidence that I was ready to step into a classroom.

My primary course instructor had over 20 years of teaching experience. Vantage instructors are available to guide you each step of the way. The instructors also have additional information that you will need to be a teacher, which is not covered in the course book, through their supplemental book that they’ve clearly taken many hours to build based on their teaching experience.

They’ll answer your questions not only throughout the course but after you graduate too. They also show you how your past work can be used—they call it transferable skills—to build a career in teaching.

I spent a lot of time researching TEFL courses including online and face to face courses. I made the decision that an In-Class course would be far more beneficial, as it offered was a practical component to the course of real-time teaching with real non-English speaking students.

My investigation led me to Vantage as it met all my expectations. First and foremost, it had to be internationally recognized and accredited by a reputable educational Institution. Secondly, they had to have more than just a couple of hours of actual teaching practice. Thirdly, the trainers not only had to meet but exceed stringent academic requirements for teaching TEFL. Having Cambridge University accreditation and backed by Fort Hays State University certainly met the criteria. Kevin, the Courses Director, answered all my follow-up questions and showed me around their training center.

Teaching a language is much more about getting the students to speak—and motivating them to do so. The course pushed me well beyond my comfort zone on some occasions. Trainer Chris was always there to encourage us. As a trainer, you would be hard to find someone any better. With the level of experience he has, his knowledge of the industry and how he always goes above and beyond with every aspect of the training. He will do everything in his power to ensure that you are prepared and confident with teaching English to others, as well as making sure you are enjoying the course. And he does this all with a sense of humour.

I certainly had many rewarding experiences during the practicum sessions. Without the 6 hours of observed teaching we were required to do, I would have found it far more difficult to become a confident teacher. While I was more than nervous at my first session, by the sixth lesson. I felt far more confident, relaxed and knew what to expect from the class and from myself. The feedback from Vantage and my fellow trainees were, productive, and invaluable. The Thai students were fantastic, very polite and a joy to teach.

By doing this course, be prepared to step outside your comfort zone. The experience, feedback, and encouragement received throughout the course from the team at Vantage are second to none.

Doing my TEFL training at Vantage was an amazing experience. The course certainly gave me the necessary skills to be able to successfully teach English as a second language.

I approached this TEFL course knowing I had a lot to learn, so I was more than interested to see how learning to be a language teacher could all be boiled down to a one month course.

The course is broken up into bite-sized pieces that are easy to digest. Functional pieces such as grammar and vocabulary are broken up into easy to understand parts that give the student a refresher—and a new appreciation—in proper English grammar.

The classes that teach functional teaching techniques are also broken up into small, easy to digest, portions that provide the students with a format that is easy to learn, reproduce, and perform.
However, the heart of the program—at least in terms of me becoming a professional teacher—are the observed teaching practices. What I learned in Vantage’s classes, I now had to apply to a real classroom of non-English speaking students. The feedback I got from each class was invaluable and really contributed to the development of my confidence as a teacher. It doesn’t hurt that the Thai students we had were a great to work with and a joy to teach.

The last important pieces to the course are the preparation given to help get students settled in Bangkok by providing practical and specific information as to where to stay, how to get to class, where to shop and to do the everyday.

Lastly, the faculty and staff are a wealth of knowledge in helping students understand the many job opportunities available in Thailand and in Southeast Asia. I highly recommend this course for those serious about a career in the English training industry.

I had over ten years of experience as a trainer in the medical industry where I delivered customized training for doctors in clinical applications. I’m also a native English speaker, so I was really questioning what a TEFL program could offer me.

In short, I learned how to teach a language. While my background made me very comfortable presenting to just about anyone and how to work a room. I soon realized there are some key differences between presenting a product than getting someone to successfully acquire a second language.

At Vantage, we learned about the different teaching mythologies and then put a key method into practice into our observed teaching practices. I soon realized to get someone else to reproduce the communications skills inherent in a language we’re really different than to teach someone facts and figures.

I first learned how to develop a guided lesson plan—which I got great feedback on—then deliver it in front of a live classroom of non-English speaking students.

After each observed teaching session, I got extremely valuable coaching from the Vantage trainers. They would also present me a new challenge to tackle for the next teaching practice They wanted to see more than just a single good teacher performance. We were being coached for overall growth in each and every individual session as the practicum went on. More than anything else, this made me into the teacher that I became by the end of the course.

Doing my TEFL training at Vantage in Bangkok was a fantastic experience. The trainers have a ton of experience so I learned so much more than what I read in the textbook. This program is highly professional and just the ticket for those starting a career as a language teacher.

I didn’t have much clue as to what a TEFL course would require before I started. Before, all my training had been based in sciences and not the arts which is where I would have previously classified languages.

What I found both theory and methodologies of teaching languages were much more evidence-based than I originally thought. But during the observed practice teaching sessions of my training, I got to try all my newly learned techniques out on non-English speaking students. This is where art met science. I got a ton of great feedback which I incorporated into my next teaching session. I surprisingly found this to be the part I liked best.

I found this course to be a very satisfying experience. The trainers are incredibly friendly and eager to help you succeed. They are quite knowledgeable, but have a levity which facilitates your learning.

The emphasis is on the practical—what works in the classroom. They do not bog you down with theoretical diatribes, but keep things simple and palatable. They also have a local knowledge which will help in particular if you are looking for work in Thailand. They have a specialized job coach who will both plug you into their extensive network of schools, but also develop your Power Resume and supporting job documentation materials.