XploreAsia Teach Thailand + In-Country TEFL / TESOL Program

I completed the October 2015 TESOL course in Chiang Mai. The course was more expensive than if I would have completed it online, but I think I got a lot more out of it doing it in person in Thailand. Not only was I taught by a TESOL instructor who had first hand experience teaching and living in Thailand, I also got the opportunity to practice teaching in front of my peers, as well as, working 2 days in an English camp. There is also a cultural element to this course. I got to go on a few excursions and learn about Thai cultural norms from people who have lived in Thailand for years and really understand the language and culture. On top of all of that, I met some great people from the program who I will be lifelong friends with. You can't really put a price tag on the benefits of having a support system of people who can relate to everything you are experiencing because they are living it too! The safety net of having a guaranteed job is also nice! Going back, I would decide to go through this company all over again.

Let me start by saying that XploreAsia runs an excellent program. The culture classes help by starting you off on the right foot in a new country with very different customs than the United States. The orientation week is full of wonderful little excursions and tours which cover everything from touristy markets to an elephant sanctuary. They also provide excellent accommodation for the duration of the program at a very reasonable cost.
The TESOL course itself varies based on your specific instructor, but in my experience it was very thorough, detailed and comprehensive. Our instructor genuinely cared about our progress through the course and presented us with challenges that we were sure to later face as teachers. I would strongly recommend paying attention. Have I used everything I learned while teaching? No. But it helped me think outside the box when coming up with lesson plans despite not actually following the methods of XploreAsia TESOL.

The team at XploreAsia is absolutely brilliant. They tick all the important boxes for creating a positive experience in Thailand by how they seamlessly guide everyone through the basics, from setting up boring stuff like phones and bank accounts to teaching language and culture and, most importantly, placing their charges in teaching positions around the country. Could I have just come to Thailand and found a job on my own? Definitely! But I wouldn't have been nearly as prepared and I doubt that I would have landed my dream job one week after arriving in the country, because of XploreAsia my past 6 months have been filled with travel and more teaching than I can handle (almost!). I highly recommend this group to anyone who is serious about having the time of their life while teaching in Thailand.

I took the TESOL course by XploreAsia in July and LOVED every second of it. We had a great, electic mix of people in our group and everyone at XploreAsia was constantly friendly, helpful, and informative for our month together. They had no trouble placing my friend and I together and I felt as prepared as possible going into my teaching job.

Now, a few months later, I feel even more fortunate that I went through XploreAsia. I've heard horror stories from people who went through other TESOL companies and weren't given any help with Thai language or culture, transportation, or banking. While none of that is necessarily the responsibility of the TESOL provider, XploreAsia did go above and beyond by providing us with all three, making the transition to a new country that much easier. And now, I still feel comfortable reaching out to someone at XploreAsia if I have any questions. What's more, there is a great Facebook group that allows teachers to share advice on teaching, traveling, work permits, etc. that is all awesome information to have access to.

For anyone looking into TESOL courses in Thailand, XploreAsia is without a doubt the best company to use. They go above and beyond and it really pays off for everyone involved.

I had a great time. Made so many new friends. Got involved with the culture and saw beautiful places. You can not ask for more than that. Great facilities, great teacher, great staff and a smooth placement.

The XploreAsia TESOL course is a brilliant program, designed to push individuals towards their full teaching potential in a safe, fun, and encouraging environment. I think I worked harder every single day and enjoyed each day more than the one before it. It's amazing what good energy you get when you place people from different countries in one room in a foreign country, all with the same crazy goal of teaching English. I can't imagine finding such a life-changing experience through any other program.

I wanted to do this 10 years ago when I finished school but I always made the safe choices in life. Now 10 years later I decided to do all the things I always wanted to. I am glad how things turned out, I dont think it would have meant the same for me 10 years ago, now that I have lived and got stuck in a rat race. There's so much purpose doing what we do. To think I have a part to play in so many young learners life it makes everyday worth while.

I have always wanted to do something different and outside of my comfort zone, but for the longest time was too afraid to do it. Once you get through the initial push of adventuring off into the unknown, the hard part is over. XploreAsia made this transition as easy as it possibly could have been. While I knew I was going to get an experience, I didn't realize just how life changing a few weeks could be. I have made friends, learned amazing things about Thai culture, and have gained a new perspective of the world that you just can't get anywhere else. Teaching in Thailand allows you to view other people, education, and yourself in an entirely new way. It's so rewarding to see how valuable your work is seen and to feel like you are actually making a difference. I can easily say this is right where I need to be and this has been the best decision of my life. Living in a small rural town has it's challenges, as does moving to a new country in general, but I really believe that I couldn't have been placed in a better situation. I love it here! Truly anyone is capable of doing something like this, and XploreAsia gives you everything you need to succeed even if you've had no prior teaching experience like me.