Topic: Island TEFL Complaint Certificate is not VALID

[sarah]

I feel very disappointed and CHEATED. I've applied for a number of teaching positions in Thailand and have been informed that the "Island TEFL Certificate" which I've gained in "Koh Samui is not recognised and "Island TEFL" has a bad reputation!!!!! Although I've done two months volunteer work, I've been told that I'll still need to shadow an experienced teacher for a least two months because I don't have the right experience or training!!! Most schools seem to be looking for Tesol or Celta.

What more do I need to learn? I know how to make flash cards and use A.B. prompts and how to change the words in the A.B. exampled. I've had a lot of practice! Although, 30 hours a week of teaching this way, could be repetitive!

I chose the 4 week TEFL course with volunteer work so that I would gain more knowledge and practical skills but I've heard that the 4 week TESOL would have covered a lot more ground! I've since looked at other TEFL courses also who do seem to cover more than "Island TEFL". This is so disappointing!!! I feel like I have thrown away my Money and time?

I've applied for a number of jobs in Europe also and they have replied saying they have never heard of “Island TEFL” and the certificate is not accredited. I thought it was Internationally recognised! I assumed a course costing £1580 would stand for something!!!

[bomha]

Oh my, 1680 sterling thrown in the crapper!  Tsk, tsk.  My regrets to you, Sarah.  You could have spent 800 canadian dollars and gotten a four week course, then done the volunteer work gratis.

[hero]

Not much we can offer I'm afraid to say Sarah, other than to say, "Bad luck."

It's the first time that I have really heard of employers being choosy about TEFL course providers.  Perhaps try teaching in Bangkok, it is very very unlikely that many recruiters in Bangkok are aware of Island TEFL - certainly in my experience that would be the case!

Were the recruiters Thai or Farang?  Were they schools or language centres?  Were they in Bangkok or in the provinces?  Keep trying in any case - most recruiters couldn't care less where the TEFL certificate cam from in any case and Island TEFL certainly isn't the only TEFL provider in Thailand with a bad reputation

[bomha]

Some employers, and some offices of Labour and Education, do not require a TEFL certificate.

[Nemesis]

I think she is talking about jobs in Europe. And she is right about that. Island TEFL is unknown, Europeans are looking for CELTA or Trinity

[hero]

I've applied for a number of teaching positions in Thailand

That was what she said.  While I agree that European employers might be dubious about unknown TEFL courses from Thailand, I am absolutely amazed that Thai employers are differentiating between them - most don't even require a TEFL cert. at all!

[retiredstillteaching]

hero you've volunteered the info many times that you teach at a government school.

Could you say which, if any, academic and/or professional qualifications your farang colleagues have. I'd be interested in what a government school considers to be a qualified, and/or an acceptable farang teacher. At least in your experience.

I'd welcome input from others who may teach at a government school. Perhaps there's a pattern or a method to the madness of the government schools employing farang teachers or perhaps it's up to the individual school...I dunno. I'd be interested for the sake of learning about this aspect of TEFL in Thailand/Bangkok.

[hero]

In my experience, government schools don't physically require any certification to process WPs.  That is not to say that they will employ 'just anybody' - only that they could if they wanted to!  The director's signature on a letter to the local administration seems to be sufficient.

Working on an EP we were subject to more stringent requirements than the teachers on the regular program.  Although there were apparently no concrete restrictions and concessions (even on degree requirements) were made for teachers who were interviewed and deemed to be suitable/desirable applicants.

Back to what I said about TEFL.  I had my TEFL certificate in the office drawer for months and was never asked to submit it to anybody - if the program director ever looked at it, it was a very quick look!  More than 50% of my colleagues didn't have TEFL certification as far as I know.

Having said that, this school is not in the Bangkok administrative district - although very close.

Despite all that, the standard of education and the quality of the EP was infinitely superior to the private school EP I worked on previously who had 'found a way' to get around documentary requirements for some of their foreign teachers 


To get back on topic, it is my own experiences (as I've just mentionned) that make it difficult for me to believe the OP - that doesn't mean I'm saying it's not true, merely that it's interesting and I would certainly like to hear more 

[bomha]

I know a large handful of farang teachers who have taught at various govt. schools.  Some had TEFL certs, some did not.  Some schools cared, some schools did not care.  There was no rhyme nor reason to it.  They did not work in EP's.

[Topper]

And I would extend bomha's comment about TEFL certifications to basic degrees.  Some care, some don't.  EP programs are more strict....and this applies to government schools only.

[fair]

The perfect teacher has the followings: a real degree, between 25 to 45, fun, polite, from one of the 6 English speaking countries(NZ, Canada, US, Australia, UK, South Africa), criminal background check, Thai culture License.

It is not what schools want, sometimes. It depends upon the labor department.  I heard a female teacher who has all the above but until this day, her work permit is still under processing.  Why, the lady in Labor department is picky as hell. the paperwork has been rejected many times simply because the wrong wording.  Each time, Ms. Rejectionist only tells them one mistake. 

I think Sarah just had bad luck that she sent her resumes to schools which had fight with Island Tefl. 


 

[hero]

rejected many times simply because the wrong wording.  Each time, Ms. Rejectionist only tells them one mistake

The old immigration favourite IME.

I think Sarah just had bad luck that she sent her resumes to schools which had fight with Island Tefl

Or schools that have "agreements" with other TEFL providers 

[billyboy]

Sarah. That is absolute rubbish. I gained numerous jobs and am still employed in excellent schools. Maybe it is you who are unemployable?