What inspired you to go abroad?
I'm not sure this question applies to me as I grew up in Europe as I have an Austrian father and American mother, so I grew up in an old world/new world cultural setting. I did want to experience Asia and that's what eventually led to me choosing Thailand to do my TEFL course.
Why did you choose Vantage?
The individual attention promised by Vantage. They advertised no more than eight in a class--as opposed to some programs that have 16 and even 20 student teachers. This personalized 'tutoring' was invaluable to me in the development of me as a professional teacher.
What was your favorite part about Bangkok?
Bangkok is a bit of melting pot for all things Thai. A lot of Thais from every part of the Kingdom come to the capital to work. Yes, there are millions here but, but as so many Thais are so friendly, it has a small town feel. For me, this may be the world's smallest "big" city!
One of my observed teaching practices.
What made your experience abroad unique?
Again, I grew up mostly in Europe so I've been abroad most of my life so any novelty was there. Having said that, this was my first look at Thai culture and I really grew to appreciate what a unique culture this is. And how great the food is!
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
I got tremendous support during and after my course. For example, I was so busy doing lesson plans during the actual TEFL course, that I had no problem creating my resume. Their "Jobs Coach" said that was not unusual and he suggested we start the week after the course. We then sat one-on-one, crated up what he called a "Power Resume", which was miles ahead of my previous CV. Throughout the whole course, I got a lot of personalized help and guidance, which was invaluable to me.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?
Hmmm...this question is not so easy. I pride myself on my research skills and I did spend a lot of time going over a number of TEFL course provider websites. And I was more than happy with my final selection as too many other sites have too much travel and holiday information and not enough TEFL info.
Describe a typical day in the life of your program.
Busy..very busy...especially during the practicum or observed teaching practices. The mornings are an introduction to teaching theory and techniques and the afternoons are putting that into practice first through peer teaching and then through teaching Thai students in a real classroom setting. During the practicum, we would finish around 7:30 in the evening...so your days will be a quite full.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time?
What's free time? This course is intensive and during the week you don't really have many spare hours. During the weekends, I took some excursions to Bangkok's famous sites as well as spend time in the world famous markets that are in Vantage's neighborhood.
What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?
Great. All my class stayed at a serviced apartment within walking distance of Vantage's training center. Very big rooms and a great price and the service was great as well. They have virtually any service you needed and it was also close to Bangkok's mass transit trains, which opened up a lot of the city.
What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?
Don't buy the hype of "class and vacation" that a lot of TEFL programs advertise. When I researched course providers I wanted to know about TEFL and not so much about the 'sights and sounds' of its location. For most of one month, you will live and breathe teaching English. If you think you get to sit in class during the day and play volleyball late afternoons at some beach--or party in the evenings-- think again. On the plus side, you're experiencing the culture every day--particularly as you teach Thai students. The bottom line is that you need time to develop teaching skills. The vacation can come after you complete your course.
What was the hardest part about taking a TEFL certification course abroad?
For me, the hardest (and most rewarding) part of the TEFL Certification was the Practicum. We had to plan and teach 6 lessons to some Thai nurses at a Nurse's college. I don't consider myself to be much of a public speaker, so getting over how nervous standing up in front of a class made me was quite a hurdle. But if you're willing to step outside of your comfort zone and feel confident about the lesson you've prepared, it can be easier to overcome these fears than you might think.
What surprised you most about Bangkok?
Little has surprised me about living in Bangkok so far, but it has been quite an adjustment. I read quite a bit about Thailand before coming, so I felt pretty prepared and haven't had any unexpected culture shock situations. While I have spent most of my life living in foreign countries and don't have too much trouble adjusting to other cultures, I have also spent most of my life living in small, rural, or suburban towns, so coming to a mega-city like Bangkok has been a new and at times overwhelming experience. I've spent periods of a couple of weeks at a time in big cities like London, Edinburgh, and Washington D.C., and had expectations of what kind of atmosphere to expect, but have never been anywhere as chaotic as Bangkok. But I've come to appreciate it as a (mostly) benign anarchy, and enjoy how integrated the rural lifestyle is into this sprawling metropolis.
How difficult was it to communicate with locals?
Communicating with locals has been tough. I've learned a little Thai, but usually end up relying on what little English the locals know. Luckily, I have a Thai girlfriend, and she and her father have been very helpful in helping me get settled here and helping me with things like getting an apartment and helping me get the right medication when I got food poisoning. For someone coming here, I would definitely recommend learning as much Thai as you can before arriving and staying on top of it if you don't know any Thai people who can help you.
What is one thing you wish you would have known before earning your TEFL certification abroad in Thailand?
One thing I wish I had known before I came here is that it's easier to get a work permit on an American (or other English-speaking country) passport. I moved here from Austria, where I am also a citizen, and used that passport to get my visa. This advice probably doesn't apply to that many people, but if you happen to be a dual citizen with passports from an English-speaking country and a non-English speaking country, try to go to Thailand on your English-speaking passport if you want a job teaching English.
If you could go abroad again, where would you go?
I don't plan on going anywhere for the foreseeable future, and didn't really consider any other countries before leaving, so I can't really say where else I'd go.
Do you have any packing tips for individuals headed to Bangkok?
The only packing tip I have is to leave your sweaters at home. You will not need them.
Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?
I'm not home. I'm staying in Thailand for at least one year. And then I’ll review my options.
Would you recommend Vantage to others? Why?
Absolutely. Not only is Vantage's TEFL Certification program accredited by an American university, they also supplement it with additional materials based on their experience as an authorized Cambridge Exam Center and in developing customized courses and digital materials.
