Discovering a New Path

My journey to Thailand was to look for a new experience in life and it was here that I first explored the idea of being an English teacher as a way to live overseas.

So then the question became where to get the proper training. My research let me to Vantage after I discovered was the highest-rated TELF course in Thailand. I went to their training center and spoke to Kevin who explained the course and told me how they place all their graduate in good teaching positions. The other TEFL providers I went to didn’t have much advice on jobs or know how many of their students were working after they graduated.

The course teacher Chris is very experienced, so he’s able to answer every question you have on teaching in Thailand. And teaching English as a foreign language. I quickly learned that language teaching is not at all the same as teaching something like science or history.

We also had a ‘foreign language experience’ with great insight on what to expect in Thai classrooms along with useful phrases to know in Thai. For me, this was very helpful in knowing what you can and can’t do in a Thai classroom compared to say a British classroom.

It’s the practice teaching where I really learn how to teach. My first teaching practicum was in a government school and I was terrified. I didn’t go all that well. But with the observed feedback I got from the trainers, I managed to go into the school next time with confidence, so much so that by the final time teaching there I was sad to be not returning.

We also taught adults at a nurse college. In the end, I taught young primary kids, to teenagers to adults, which was great. Every session was observed and got great feedback after each class. I can now claim after all my practice sessions, that I’m confident and ready to teach anywhere.