Student Blogs - 6th August 2009

Taking a TEFL course in Bangkok from a student's perspective

Anna shares her experiences from training to starting work in Thailand

This is how I felt a few months ago before I took the Chichester TESOL course in Bangkok. So, hopefully you'll find the following first-hand information useful! I'm not going to tell you to get yourself signed up to the Chichester course, but I'll certainly share my very positive experience with you to help you make a decision either way.

The TESOL will prepare you in as broad a sense as possible for teaching English to non-native speakers. In a technical sense, it incorporates both TESL and TEFL aspects (or in layman's terms, you can teach English in any country in the world including places where English is the main language, such as to immigrants). Secondly, unlike the CELTA, which is geared towards teaching adults in particular, the TESOL trains you to teach all ages. In other words, the TESOL is a well-rounded package that will set you up for a career in teaching English.

As for Chichester College itself, it's a great place to study. Most importantly, the trainers really know their stuff and the place has a great learning environment: supportive, stimulating, challenging, fun, and fairly laid back. The centre is well equipped with computers and teaching aids, and it's in a great location near the Sutthisan Metro station. I had a great four weeks and would recommend doing the course just for the experience itself even if I wasn't going into teaching! You might be wondering what the course involves. Well, day to day you usually have a class for five hours per day, Monday to Friday. There were eight of us doing my course, I think it's normally about the same. On top of this you are expected to keep a daily journal of your training experiences, complete various assignments, and prepare for your evening teaching practice sessions. This may sound daunting but it really is the most useful aspect of the course - you get to put your learning into practice while you've still got the 'in training' badge on (metaphorically!). Also, there are some excursions to different types of school which I found fascinating and fun. So, the course is doable but you do have to keep on top of the work.

I'd never been to Thailand before I did the TEFL course in Bangkok in April. But now that I've spent the last two months teaching in a city where I'm the only non-Thai woman, I feel quite settled in! So, the taking the TESOL course in Thailand was a great foundation stone for me in more ways than one. Now I'm familiar with the essentials of lesson planning and teaching different language skills I am able to continue my development as a teacher independently. I draw on what I learned at Chichester every day in my work. My Thai co-teachers and fellow foreign teachers alike are now trying to emulate the 'communicative' style of teaching that I have brought to the school. It is flattering that teachers who have been in the profession for forty odd years feel they can learn from a newly qualified 22 year old, but I only have the Chichester course to thank for this.

25th June 2009

Rowan's first experience of this amazing "Respect Teacher Day" in Thailand's idyllic southern province of Surat Thani

20th June 2009

Charlie looks back over the last three years and reflects on how dramatically his life has changed. From leaving England, to taking the course in Thailand and now teaching in Tanzania

1st April 2006

Francois and Sanru Jansen van Rensburg, a young couple from South Africa, joined Chichester College's TESOL course in Bangkok in February 2007

1st March 2006

Lindsay looks at how her life has changed over the 2 years since she took the course in September 2004

1st January 2006

Darren, a participant on the TESOL course in August 2005, looks back at the the past few months