Vantage | 120-Hour TEFL/TESOL Certification | Hybrid Option

About

Vantage is an American accredited, internationally recognized, and validated by Lamar University (Texas, USA).

Thailand’s highest-rated TEFL program, established in 2007, offers two TEFL certification programs.

The in-Class Course is given onsite over four weeks. This includes six hours of observed teaching practices (OTP).

The Combined Hybrid Course is where you study teaching methodologies online first and then complete your OTPs in a real school.

All Vantage courses include a full practicum of six observed teaching practices with non-English speaking students in real classrooms.

Vantage provides lifetime job support. They will craft your own Power Resume, formulate a personal job search strategy, and coach you on interviewing techniques. Vantage alumni are working in Thailand, throughout Asia, and around the world.

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Highlights

  • Vantage won #1 in Instruction, Support & Job Assistance in the worldwide 2022 Community Choice Awards.
  • 4-Week, 120-hour, In-Class TEFL Training Course in Bangkok - Visa Assistance - 6 Job Support – Six Observed Teaching Practices in Real Schools -
  • Provide lifelong job support. They have partnerships with leading Thai English education providers that place hundreds of teachers in prestigious Thai schools every year.
  • Vantage’s Hybrid Combined Course—a blend of online study + observed teaching practice in real classrooms—was named #1 in “The 9 Best Online TEFL Courses.”
  • A TEFL Treasure Trove of information.

Related Programs

Questions & Answers

Reviews

4.99 Rating
based on 182 reviews
  • 5 rating 99.45%
  • 4 rating 0.55%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Instruction 5
  • Support 5
  • Value 5
  • Academic Rigor 4.9
  • Job Assistance 5
Showing 41 - 48 of 182 reviews
Default avatar
Ramesh
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Vantage has it All!

When I first began considering TEFL graining, I first researched the need for even doing a TEFL and then spent a lot of time comparing the various programmes.

I've contacted Vantage’s course director, and he gave me invaluable support. Initially, I was unable to obtain a visa, so I asked Vantage and they sent all the paperwork I needed to get my visa in hand.

Chris, the lead TEFL instructor, has decades of teaching experience. He displays the methods he uses when instructing others on how to teach. Even the grammar lessons were engaging and surprising quite interesting. His teaching method, which is a workshop-based approach, is an excellent example of how to be a great teacher.

The course was more intensive and challenging than I expected, but Vantage motivated and supported me every step of the way. Especially in our observed practice teaching sessions. Throughout the course, we were always engaged and motivated by the camaraderie and energy in the classroom.

We also learned about Thai culture and language from Ryan. We also discussed what you can and can't do in a Thai classroom, which I found very beneficial.

In the last week of the program, I got a lot of help in job support and interview coaching. Vantage went above and beyond to help students with resumes, cover letters, and other job-related needs.

Vantage had it all—in one highly professional package.

112 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Maria
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Completely Supportive TEFL Training

I read a lot of TEFL program renews to learn who was truly good at training new teachers
In my initial conversations with Vantage, I was given a full run down of the course as well as important information on where to stay and what I could expect during the one month course.

Throughout the course, Vantage was completely supportive. Their lead trainer is very competent and professional. I learned new techniques like the ESA teaching approach. Other things like grammar (not one of my favorite subjects) were explained in a completely new way that I could easily understand.

What I liked best about Vantage were the observed teaching practices. The feedback and guidance I got really gave me the teaching skills I now have. I felt more confident after each teaching session. I was also more motivated to prepare even better lessons.

Vantage also gave me an overview of Thai culture and what I should do—and shouldn’t do—when teaching Thais. It was very useful for me during my teaching sessions and I’m sure during my teaching career.

If you are looking for a professional class TEFL course, Vantage will teach you how to teach, and they will support you every step of the way.

117 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Sandy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Truly Professional Class Training

I firmly recommend Vantage TEFL Thailand. It’s a top-ranked program, and it showed as they always went the extra mile for me.

Their In-Class course is a 4-week intensive program and it’s very detailed and carefully directed by the lead trainer Chris.

It is a bit of work. Having said that, the classes were always engaging and the time just flew by. Our observed teaching practices were the most intensive part of the course—especially the first few lessons. But I was amazed by how well I knew how to manage my way around a classroom by the end.

I’m now confident to teach anyone anywhere!

Vantage also provides a great orientation for those new to Thailand's cultural settings and language.

Vantage also offered me great job services. I worked with them in creating my own Power Resume and I had a number of job offers within two weeks of graduation before choosing my current school.

Vantage truly is an efficient, world-class program for anyone dreaming about starting a teaching career in Thailand. I can recommend Vantage without hesitation and I can say that it would be one of the best decisions you ever made.

Pros
  • Truly a personalized approach to training
  • They work with you until you are ready for the classroom.
  • The make parts of teaching that I thought were boring--like grammar--interesting.
104 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Chai
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A Teacher is Born

While doing research for Thai-based TEFL course providers, I came across Vantage. What immediately caught my attention was the number of awards that they have won, In particular, I was very impressed by their recognition for being the best global TEFL provider in 2018 and 2021.

Diving deeper, I got in touch with them to understand what makes them tick. All my questions were handled promptly and I learned how the course would be conducted and the type of teaching practices I would do to get real-life hands-on teaching experience to non-English speaking students.

Apart from their teaching training lessons, Vantage also includes their ‘foreign language experience’ where they explain local Thai culture in basic Thai language lessons.
Vantage’s 1-month course was intensive. Nevertheless, I was always engaged and motivated to be able to put the things that were taught—and I was coached on—into my observed teaching practice sessions.

The post-course follow-up by Vantage—much of it focusing on job service skills such as resume creation and interview skills—is something you won’t get with other providers. Vantage is very detailed in helping you prepare for a career in teaching.
I would highly recommend Vantage to anyone who is looking to teach in Thailand.

104 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
G.
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My Highest Recommendation

I strongly recommend Vantage to anyone interested in getting a TEFL certification.
I just completed my In-Class training and I am extremely satisfied with the outcome.

I now have the teaching skillset—and importantly the confidence—to teach English as a foreign language to anyone anywhere.

Lead trainer Chris is an excellent teacher with a couple of decades of experience teaching overseas. His comments of my lesson plans help me do a better job at preparing for my classes and improving my teaching skills.

Our subsequent observed teaching practices were a key factor in us learning what we needed to do to be a good teacher. The feedback that we got after each of our teaching sessions was instrumental in making the next class even better.

Vantage’s Jobs Coach sat with me in developing my Power Resume that was specifically targeted to the teaching profession. We were also coached in job interviewing techniques and we formulated a personalized strategy to approach the Thai education market.

The entire team at Vantage was fully supportive and was always willing to accommodate me—even after the actual course had finished.

If you’re looking to start a new career in the teaching profession, these are the people you should be talking to.

101 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Adnan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Simply the best

While there are many TEFL training schools out there, it wasn’t easy to find the right fit and a reputable course that met all my needs. My goal was to find a program that would guide me on to become a successful English language teacher.

My research let me to Vantage and I dove deeper after I discovered they were the highest rated TEFL provider in Thailand. I then communicated with course director Kevin. He was very accommodating, and answered every question I had about TEFL, Thailand, and career opportunities the certification could bring me.

During the month long course, the lead trainer Chris introduced the ESA teaching method. He did a fantastic job in presenting a lot of new teaching theories and techniques in a manner that was always engaging and even fun. Although the course was four weeks, it felt a lot quicker because of how exciting each and every lesson was. And after each class, I felt more prepared to get out in the world and make my teaching dream a reality.

Vantage didn’t stop with just making me into the effective teacher I am today. After I received my TEFL Certificate, Kevin worked with me one on one to formulate my Power Resume so that I could stand out in a crowd of applicants within seconds. In addition to being coached on job techniques, they networked me through the agencies Vantage works with and the numerous schools that contact them for newly minted teachers. The Vantage TEFL certificate opened up a lot of doors and opportunities. What’s great in my case is that certificate will be a key tool I can use both overseas and in my home country (USA). Vantage’s TEFL program is truly world class, and it has allowed me to land great paying teaching jobs worldwide.

104 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Iliyan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Unforgettable

The online course was the best option for me to complete the first step in becoming a teacher due to the pandemic. It was the best career changing decision so far in my life. I was met with the professionalism of and after a couple of interviews and emails I got the confidence and signed up. I have to say the guys over there are unique, each with their own special skills and character who ultimately build up a marvelous team that produces quality.
The course itself is intense, demanding yet very rewarding. Even though I committed all my time for about a month I had a smile on my face every single day and never felt any stress. The energy of the students combined with the professionalism of the Vantage staff played a key role for that. They introduce the content in an easy to understand manner and reinforce it with practice.
One thing that’s worth noting is that all questions are addressed and answered properly! I should also mention that there are special days (fun days as I like to call them) when we talk about Thailand, its culture, people and even language was also something special. You won’t find a better place that will introduce you to Thailand and even teach you some Thai.
The practice teaching environment is very accommodating especially for first time teachers. I was lucky to teach Thai nurses who were the loveliest students one could wish for. Thanks to Chris’s training I was able to feel appreciated by my students. That was a feeling I will never forget!
Finally I want to once again emphasize the positive attitude of all the Vantage TEFL staff. The guys work with their hearts and really care about what they’re doing. It’s no wonder that they are one of the best in the world.
So, to anybody who’s still wondering after this I say – if teaching is what you want to do, be brave and just go for it.

What was your funniest moment?
When one of my students loved my classes so much that at the end said she loved me in front of the whole class.
94 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Ellen
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Loving My Time

I recently completed Vantage’s TEFL program and I was amazed by the whole experience!

Kevin, Chris and Ryan are great trainers and really know what they are talking about. You cover literally everything that you would ever need to know to be successful in the classroom. I learned how to craft lesson plans and manage a classroom.

The trainers are super approachable, and most importantly, patient! They are more than happy to help you in any way possible. This was very true in my observed teaching practices. I got great feedback after each teaching session and I gained more and more confidence with each class I taught.

Vantage is super flexible as well. I fell ill whilst on the course and they supported me on completing the course even after I had to temporarily return home.

I absolutely loved my time on the course.

If you are like me and want to embark on a new career as an English teacher, I could not recommend Vantage enough.

131 people found this review helpful.

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I decided to do my TEFL when I was stuck in a dead end job with zero ambition. I looked at various way of traveling the world while earning some money and came across TEFL, and decided that I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I love children and that is a main reason why I decided to do the TEFL.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

I sent an email asking about the course and what it would entail. The institution (Vantage TEFL) I worked with had fast responses and answers to all my questions. They made it very easy to understand the requirements with constant feedback. I never had any doubt that I could do this through the confidence they gave me. A truly professional approach and I really enjoyed the journey of doing my TEFL.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I moved to Thailand without doing any research about my surroundings and the cultural differences were the most challenging when I moved here, but people are so polite and friendly (it is contagious) that you adapt easily. I wish I knew about this earlier, as I would have loved to do this earlier in my life. Last piece of advice is to not underestimate the course as it was intense but enjoyable, and I truly believe, after this course I can teach English as a second language to anyone willing to learn.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

My course was a 9:00 to 17:00 on weekdays for a month long. It is long days and sometimes you had to get the the facility at 07:00 to do practice teaching. On an average day, you are guided through the English language and it is not to teach you English it is to help you to teach English. You also get exposed to practice teaching, which really helps you gain confidence as an English teacher and removes all doubt you would have (I also had a lot of doubt and anxiety, but the practice teachings ensured that I gained confidence and became comfortable in teaching).

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

Biggest fear I had was that I never left my hometown for more than 6 weeks before. I always thought how would I adapt to a place I do not know and people that I do not understand? To answer that question, the answer lies within yourself. You need to decide that you want to do this. Once you open yourself up to the idea, it is strange how things just fall into place through meeting amazing people and experiencing unique cultures.

I have no doubt this is one of the biggest changes I made in my life and I have no regrets that I did it. Sometimes fear dictates our decision making, but just think of all the amazing experiences you will have and be able to share with your friends and family when they come visit.

What do I think prospective travelers would like to know?

My answer will be based on Thailand, as this is where I am currently.

Firstly, food is absolutely amazing. I have gained so much weight just by indulging in Thai cuisine.

Secondly, make sure that, if you want to work here, that your employer can speak English where both parties understand to avoid unnecessary confusion.

What would I change or do differently?

I have not been here to long and I would say there is currently nothing I would change, as the experience has been challenging and breathtaking at the same time.

Last thing that I would say: do not run from you fears. Embrace them and just do it; you will not regret it.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Chris Demetsopoullos

Job Title
Lead TEFL Trainer
Headshot of staff

Chris, tell us about yourself.

Originally from the UK, I started my teaching career in the early 1990s where I taught a diverse range of Thai students. I then moved up to positions of corporate English assignments, which led to work as a developer of customized curriculums -- increasingly in digital eLearning materials -- for business skills courses and workshops.

Today, I specialize in one-on-one Executive Coaching for personal development programs and Leadership Coaching for Thailand’s blue chip corporations as well as being the Lead Trainer for Vantage’s TEFL program.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I have many years of business English teaching and corporate training with previous companies, along with training materials development.

However, I’ve really honed that skill with Vantage, as we offer customized corporate training programs — business English and management and corporate skills on an exclusive basis.

We specialize in blended learning programs, so a new and important skill I’ve developed is eLearning instructional design.

I’ve also become a teacher trainer since working at Vantage Siam, for which my experience and varied roles have been invaluable. Vantage has given me the opportunity to grow and develop professionally, and I’m sure there’s more to come.

What is the best story you’ve heard from a return student?

We had a recent trainee who had had a rather troubled past. He decided to essentially “grow up” and better himself by getting himself a respectable career.

He contacted us and, after meeting with him, we were pretty sure he could become a good English teacher. However, he had very little confidence that he could make it.

We soon discovered he was very good at drawing out language from the students by use of questions, prompts and cueing during the first phase of the ESA methodology (Engage, Study, and Activate).

With subsequent training in the Study and Activate phases -- along with observed teaching practices -- he became highly effective in delivering a class to non-English speaking students in a live classroom. In short, this ‘raw recruit” became a highly skilled teacher. The surprise was that we had no idea in the beginning how good he would turn out to be.

We then helped get him a good teaching position at a prestigious school that is very appreciative of the way he motivates his students into successful English language acquisition.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

Vantage has always embraced the cutting edge in educational technology. We were among the first to offer customized courses in English for Special Purposes. We embraced eLearning and blended instruction in our classrooms in Thailand over fifteen years ago. We have been advocating computer-adaptive proficiency testing. Later this year, we will be educating the market in the first speaking and writing tests to be scored by AI technology.

And while we teach an American accredited TFFL course, we do supplement the curriculum with an introduction to both assessment methodology and emerging teaching technologies.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

I think one of the key factors in being successful is the ability to re-invent yourself -- or at least being open to change. And to change yourself effectively, you need to be able to hear what’s going on in the world around.

We like to think we’re good listeners. We listen to a couple of key voices to help point the company into head winds that we lead us to future successes.

We listen what the market is telling us in terms of what skills schools need for successful teachers.

We also hear what our TEFL candidates tell us during our time with us. We look at what skills they bring on day one --
what we do throughout the course -- and what the final product turned out to be. In other words, how well can they teach in a real classroom at the end of their training.

And finally, we follow key thought leaders in the education field. People that are talking today about what may be mainstream in learning tomorrow.

About Vantage TEFL Certification

American Accreditation | Internationally Recognized | Earn 3 College Credits Established in 2007, and Thailand’s highest-rated TEFL program, Bangkok-based Vantage TEFL offers two separate TEFL certification programs. Our award-winning program is a 120-hour In-Class Course that’s given over four weeks. This includes six hours of OTP (Observed...

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