What inspired you to go abroad?
I taught high school in California for a number of years. I decided to expand my career by teaching overseas and I found the greatest demand by far was for English teachers. I’ve been doing this for some 15 years and, among other locations, I’ve taught in China, Turkey, and Korea.
Why did you choose Vantage TEFL?
Vantage promised small class sizes--no more than 8 students per course--and I wanted as much personalized attention and help as I could get. The course did provide exactly that...a lot of individual support, which I believe went a long way to updating my skills as a professional teacher. I even got help after the course was over as I sat with their Jobs Coach and developed what they call a Power Resume in a one-to-one session. I'm not sure how much that service would have cost elsewhere, but I'm sure it wouldn't be cheap.
What was your favorite part about Bangkok?
Bangkok is a really interesting city. It’s a melting pot in that Thais from all over the Kingdom come here to work so you can see all kinds of regional cultures and eat diverse Thai cuisines. And while millions live here, the people are usually so friendly. Bangkok is probably the world’s biggest ‘small’ city. It has many characteristics of a small town…except when you count up all the bodies.
You know when you've had a successful class
What made your experience abroad unique?
Again, I have taught abroad for some 15+ years, so being abroad is not at all new to me. Having said that, I absolutely love my time in Thailand. And I use that in the present tense as I plan to stay and teach here for at least a year. It’s one of the world’s unique spots and one of the only Buddhist countries in the world.
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
I got a ton of personal help. Chris, their lead trainer, gave a lot on personalize feedback as he used the experiential approach to training. Another example of individual help was from Kevin, their Jobs Coach. I was too busy during the course doing lesson plans (and going through the course material), that I didn’t have time to get my resume in order. No problem. Kevin sat with me one-on-one after the week after the course was over and we created all my job application materials: a Power Resume, cover letter and support video. The Vantage crafted resume was miles ahead of what I came in with. These guys really want you to succeed and they’ll go the extra mile helping you do just that.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?
Hmmm…that’s a difficult question. I’ve always prided myself on my research skills so as I went through a lot of different website of various TEFL course providers, I found far too many that had a “learn & travel” theme. Or I should say too much info on what I could do at their location in terms of a holiday, but too short on TEFL methodologies and the course content.
Describe a typical day in the life of your program.
In a word—busy. You will spend mornings going through and discussing teaching methodologies and techniques and afternoon’s first peer teaching and then later teaching Thai students in live classrooms. When the practicum kicks in, you will be doing lesson plans as well. Expect to finish around 7:30, so your day can become quite full. It’s always engaging though—even fun. And you’re learning something new everyday.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time?
What free time? Reread the “typical day” answer above. Yes, on the weekends you’ll have some spare time to see Bangkok’s famous sites. There’s also a couple of world famous markets in Vantage’s neighborhood. And there are great restaurants everywhere. That’s where I tended to spend a lot of my weekend free time at.
What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?
Everyone in my class stayed at a service apartment that Vantage recommended. They offered three classes of rooms—all very large—starting at around $225 dollars per month (including internet access). They had literally everything you needed. It was also within walking distance of Vantage’s training center which minimized transportation costs and it’s a short hop to Bangkok’s mass transit trains which really opened up a lot of the city. There were also a number of teachers living there who were working in the neighborhood’s school and private language academies. One Vantage alum I met got his first job from contacts he met there.
What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?
There’s too much hype from a lot of Thai TEFL providers about some kind of exotic holiday while you study. Don’t believe it. If you’re playing volleyball on the beach or partying at night, you’re not going to succeed in learning how to teach. There’s a lot of material to cover and only four weeks to do it in. Vantage’s class is intensive and challenging. But at the same time, it’s engaging and fun. The hours will fly by. However, if you stay focused, you’ll be surprised at how good of a teacher you can be. And that competence will translate to confidence—something your future students will appreciate and your school will notice.
What surprised you most about Bangkok?
I would have to say it was a lot slower than I initially thought. I've been to Bangkok before, but I never really gave it a chance. The north of Bangkok was really pleasant and quiet.
How difficult was it to communicate with locals?
I didn't have any real difficulty communicating with the locals, the exception being cab drivers. The people are incredibly friendly and helpful.
If you could go again, where would you go?
If I went again? Probably to some of the islands down south, although I wouldn't hesitate to go to Bangkok again.
Do you have any packing tips for individuals headed to Thailand?
Go light you can find everything you need there. Unfortunately, I didn't spend any time taking pictures.
Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?
I didn’t go home. I’ve decided to stay and teach in Thailand. After that, I start thinking about my next career move.
Would you recommend Vantage to others? Why?
Absolutely. Vantage’s small class sizes guarantee a very high level of individual attention. That alone makes it stand out. But there’s more. Their trainers are highly qualified and very experienced with years in the classroom and the boardroom. And the guys really know the English teaching industry. From their role as a test center for Cambridge Exam to the own curriculum creation incorporating digital and eLearning interactives, these guys are cutting edge. I guess the best quality of this program is that these guys really care. They really want you to succeed and they’ll go the extra mile making sure that you do. If you’re working hard—they’ll work even harder—to make you into the best teacher you can be.
