Vantage TEFL Certification 120-Hour, In-Class Course

Vantage’s TEFL course is intensive as I was advised before enrolling. Having said that, it’s not that the course is difficult to understand, it’s that there is a lot of material to get your head around. I found if I kept at it each day, it was quite manageable. Even when talking about grammar—just part of the course—the course instructors made the subject manageable and highly engaging. My observed teaching practices were where Vantage truly excelled. The feedback I got after each class was instrumental in developing the teaching skills I will need to be a successful in the classroom. Vantage was always there every step of the way to reassure me and kept building my confidence with each practice session. Vantage’s job services was also great. Their Jobs Coach showed us how to build a professional resume and cover letters and we also covered interviewing techniques to get schools interest in you. I was interviewing with multiple schools the first week out the door. In the end, I landed a fantastic job with an annual contract at a leading international school in Bangkok. Vantage was an amazing experience. I would definite recommended working with these guys for anyone looking to build a teaching career.

While doing my research I saw there were a lot of TEFL programs in Thailand but not many in Bangkok, especially not good quality ones that have an in-class training. Based on the reviews and conditions that weren't hard for me to fulfill as a non-native English speaker to join the course, I decided Vantage would be a good choice. After a visit to the school, I was convinced that Vantage was the right place to be and I wasn't wrong. TEFL training was intensive, but I've come to learn so much during the 120-hours course. Our group was small so we had the full attention of the trainers and we were able to express any doubts we had and get personalized feedback. I wasn't sure I was cut out to be a teacher but after the course and especially the practical part where we had to teach Thai students, I gained confidence and was able to improve my abilities while applying what I've learned. I would recommend this school and especially in-person classes to anyone who wishes to start a teaching career, whether they've had experience teaching or want to switch careers like me. Vantage trainers are knowledgeable and offer great support when it comes to seeking job opportunities. Plus with this school you'll have some fun while studying, which should always be a part of a great unforgettable learning experience

I quickly had to find a new career as my job as a former flight attendant was made redundant due to coronavirus crisis. Once I knew I wanted to pursue a new career teaching English. I realized that I would need excellent training to build the new skill set I would need to be successful in my new job. While still in Europe, I googled up the top-rated TEFL trainers. That research led me to Vantage. I was first surprised to learn that they were among the top-rated TEFL programs on the planet. And they were in Thailand which was a top choice of where I wanted to teach. I wanted to immediately hit the ground running post-TEFL and get some viable teaching experience so I could, in a post-Covid era, teach anywhere in the world. In Vantage, in my observed practice teaching classes, I had guidance at every step in developing six separate lesson plans/ I got fabulous feedback after each class session. And, in the end, I developed professional teaching skills. I got better with each practice class. Vantage’s trainers always were always there for me to ensure I was developing the teaching skills I needed in the classroom. My career transition went flawlessly. I’m enjoying new friendly skies here in the classroom. I can’t recommend Vantage enough. If you’re like me and thinking long term, save yourself all the research time I put in, and give Vantage a call. You’ll be glad you did.

I joined Vantage’s TEFL February course, and because of the corona virus crisis, this course was small with only one other student. The first thing I can say about this course is that I wish it was longer than just 120 hours! The content was very in-depth, and Chris, Vantage’s lead trainer, was very good at both addressing book knowledge and adding his own two and half decades of teaching experience. This was a TEFL course that was both intensive, interesting and always engaging. I’ve worked in the aviation industry for almost 10 years—a lot of the time which was a technical training instructor. I’m not new to training. So I was more than surprised that even Vantage’s first few classes opened my eyes to the various teaching techniques that are embedded within the ESA methodology and the skills I would need to be successful in the classroom. This was not an easy course that you could just do on autopilot. There was a lot of material to cover, but again I found myself always engaged—the time just flew by. I got better and more knowledgeable with each class. The small class size was really great because it allowed us to have in-depth and detailed discussions with Chris and Kevin (their Jobs Coach) about anything we learned. More than half of what I got out of the course me from those direct discussions with the trainers. The things I got from those discussions weigh heavier than any of the book content. This really can’t be replicated in an online only course, Vantage doesn’t train you to work as an English teacher: they train you to BE an English teacher. If you are looking to be successful in a teaching career, these are the people to work with.

Vantage is quite flexible. Initially enrolled in their Hybrid Combined Course, I switch gears and decided to attend In-Class TEFL program. I glad I did. While the course book is very good, Chris adds a lot more based up his two plus decades of teaching experience in Thailand--this is the stuff you can’t get online. He’s a first class coach. We had a lot to learn. He made the significant amount of material we had to go through both very interesting and highly enjoyable. He uses a workshop style which I found to be always highly engaging. The activities we went through made us thoroughly understand the methodologies we were studying and techniques we were employing. The practice teaching sessions were done with diverse types of students. At a local government school we taught primary-aged kids of 5-6 years years. Class sizes were larger here, which made teaching a more challenging experience, but one does learn when thrown in deep water. On the other side of the spectrum, we also taught college kids of 18 year olds at a nursing vocational school in smaller classes of some 12 to 16 students. Vantage also have their own dedicated Jobs Coach. Together we created my own Power Resume and Cover Letter templates. He also taught us interviewing techniques and job hunting tips Overall it was a great learning experience, but a challenging one. I’m very confident that as a new teacher I can go out into the world and confidently and deliver successful English classes.

I want to the best TEFL training possible, and in my research, one name kept coming up again and again: Vantage. But I still want more proof. So I sent many e-mails to their Course Director Kevin about their course and also my concerns about finding a teaching position after graduation in the hospitality field, where I had a lot of experience. He then gave me proper guidance on my creating a Power Resume and techniques to succeed in an interview. He was more than helpful and lined me up with interviews that fit my requirement. I also had concerns regarding an In-Class vs. an online TEFL. . After two days spent in the class with their lead trainer Chris, I immediately felt that an In-Class course was the right choice. All the techniques and methodologies I was taught by the Vantage training team was invaluable and has no price tag on it. Being able to train with real students in a live classroom--both young learner primary kids and young adults—is a big strength of Vantage. The constructive feedback I got after each of my practice class made improve and gain confidence after each training session. Vantage is the best ‘Investments’ I’ve made for myself in a long time!

I more than a little skeptical at first to whether I even needed a TEFL as I’m a native English speaker. And I wondered if Vantage’s TEFL course would be sufficiently stimulating to engage me over four weeks of full time instruction. Vantage TEFL super exceeded my expectations in all areas! Chris, Vantage’s lead trainer, has a couple of decades of teaching experience, and it shows as he gave me so many tips from his experience that you would not get on any online course. He’s a highly qualified trainer. The communicative approach to language teaching—particularly the ESA methodology…Engage, Study, Activate…was something completely new for me. But this method gave me an entire framework to engage and challenge my students—and most importantly, to get them speaking. I first learned how to formulate a viable lesson plan, which was the first step in our six observed teaching sessions. Then I used the ESA approach to deliver my classes. I found this to be highly advantages and this “class structure” made my classes highly successful—and a lot of fun. The feedback I got from Vantage’s trainers gave me both confidence in that I was doing a number of things right and challenges in areas they wanted to see improvement. The bottom line is that I got better and better every time I taught All in all, the course and the trainers at Vantage delivered a professional, world-class TEFL teacher training.

Vantage TEFL gave me the teaching skill set I needed to face a class of non-English speaking students. This course taught me how to prepare and shape my lesson planning to the needs of my students. I’ve learned how to teach both kids and adults. I now feel confident to teach English to students of any level. The Lead trainer helped me achieve a very high level of competency. I did lots of observed practice teaching—first at the college level where we taught young adults—then, teaching young 6 and 7 years old kids in a public primary school. The feedback I got after each session was invaluable and my teaching skills got better after each class. Vantage’s TEFL course also had a foreign language component and culture orientation classes. Particularly useful was how Vantage incorporated the “do’s and don’ts” when teaching in a Thai school. I had originally considered doing my TEFL in Australia and then come to Thailand to teach. However, I now realize I wouldn’t have gotten anything close to a Thai cultural grounding and acclimatization if I had stayed in an English speaking country. . Additionally, Vantage have partnerships and key relationship with great schools, so getting a job was essentially guaranteed. They also have their own dedicated jobs coach. I was taught how to create an exceptional Power Resume and cover letter. Doing my TEFL at Vantage was one of the best decisions I’ve made in terms of the instruction I received and the support I got.

In a word, ‘spectacular’ is how I would define my time spent with Vantage. The training team was more than welcoming and they always extended a hand when help was needed. The guys were supper supportive before, during and even after the course was completed. Vantage employ a workshop style in delivering their TEFL course book. You don’t sit and just listen to lectures. You’re always involved with the material in terms of discussions and activities and each student and made them feel like a team player. The observed practice teaching was probably the single most important part of the course. We taught diverse students in a range of settings. Teaching 6 and 7 years olds in a Thai government school. Teaching 18 year old college kids in a nursing college was the other side of the spectrum. The valuable feedback I got from Vantage of each observed practice class made me a better teacher each time I taught. After the program was over I still received updates from the friendly staff and information about jobs available that fit my personal goals. I want to thank Vantage all the help you provided and the long lasting friendships that I’ve made.

I’m an English teacher in Russia. While I’ve had some success in the past, I believed I could be a more effective instructor if I had a more professional approach to language teaching. So in researching which TEFL providers provided a ‘career approach,’ to thier training, Vantage really stood out. I learned the communicative approach to teaching. Before I used to present concepts in my classes, but after studying the ESA methodology (Engage, Study & Activate) of teaching English, I soon realized it was my students who should be doing most of the speaking. The engage phase keeps students interested, the study phase helps students to learn, and the activate phase they put into practice what they have studied. Under Vantage’s supervised guidance I engaged my students—rather than my old lecture style—I was surprised how I could keep the students interested, motivated and eager to learn more. The ESA approached has radically changed my teaching. I used to use a grammar heavy approach to English, which, truth be told, did not keep my old students sufficiently motivated. The Vantage training guys are an incredible team and they help a lot with everything you need during the course. They were always there, which meant for a highly personal approach. I am very excited to new ESA methodology and techniques in my teaching back home. I definitely recommend the Vantage TEFL Bangkok to anyone who want to be an effective teacher and see this as this life career.

The Vantage team put a lot of time and effort into preparing us for our teaching career. I have gained tremendous personal growth while studying at Vantage. Vantage first taught us how to formulate an effective lesson plan, which we quickly put to the test in six observed practice teaching sessions in a real Thai school The Lead Trainer is absolutely amazing. He has many years of teaching experience and is an expert in the communicative teaching methodologies. He kept me motivated and focus which really helped me as at first, I was very nervous about facing a lot of new students. The course also included a Thai foreign language experience so we could know what it feels to learn a new language and to be in the same shoes as our students. Their Jobs Coach is ever so helpful as he always provided assistance to students with accommodation, creating power resumes, cover letters, and job support and coaching us on interview techniques. Vantage is the highest-ranked TEFL program in the language industry and it shows. They’re dedicated to empowering, motivating and grooming tomorrow's teachers today. You’ll also be joining a community of great teachers that they have produced and still work with finding subsequent teaching positions. I'm super happy in my choice of Vantage for my TEFL training. It was among the best decisions I've ever made. I’m now ready to teach anyone, anywhere.

My time with Vantage TEFL was fantastic! The trainer kept the class moving at an engaging pace while we absorbed a lot of highly informative material. The observed practice teaching was the most transforming part of the course. I was given a chance to try out what I learned from the coursebook. Then I self-examined my own performance first and then I got great feedback from Vantage’s trainers and what I did well and what could be incorporated in the next session to make an even better class. We also had to observe and give feedback on what our peer trainees classes too. I know I became a better teacher each time I stepped in front of the classroom. What else can I say? The facilities are good and air-conditioned, teaching resources are very extensive, the instructors are very knowledgeable with decades of teaching experience. I’m ready to begin my new career teaching overseas.

I was a different kind of TEFL trainee as I’m Thai. My goal was to teach outside my home country, so I felt I needed an international qualification. I was also an experienced teacher as I’ve taught over seven years in Thai schools. What I needed was a TEFL course where I could further develop my skills to become a more effective language teacher. My bachelor’s degree in education was strong on theory but I wasn’t really taught the teaching skills I needed to be effective in the classroom. Vantage proved to be just what I needed. It was quite an intensive course—in terms of the material that’s covered. I learned how to formulate a very professional lesson plan and how to source needed class materials. Vantage also introduced me to the communicative approach to language teaching— in particular the ESA methodology. Coming from a Thai educational system, I was expected to teach lots of grammar in an English class. With the ESA, I used grammar within the context of a language point and not in isolation. One immediate result was that it was far easier to keep my students engaged and fully motivated. Vantage’s trainers were extremely knowledgeable as they have decades of experience in teaching and the Thai education sector. I got a lot of great training on the employment side. I learned how to create a Power Resume and supporting documentation. That even included “Thank You” notes to send after an interview. The result was that I got a great teaching job in China within a month or so after my graduation. I highly recommend this course for anyone who wants to teach around the world.

I took several actual visits to TEFL course providers as the result of my short list created by my laborious research for the right course in Bangkok. In the end, only Vantage stood out. When I arrived at Vantage, I immediately knew I was in a professional training center. The Course Director met me personally. . Vantage’s facilities are modern and clean. The training center had a lot of natural light from a wall of windows overlooking Thailand’s iconic Elephant building I had a lot of concerns and many questions. The Course Director patiently answered everything and then gave me a tour of their facilities. They even let me sit in a class in session which I did for one afternoon. The Vantage team is second to none. Their lead trainer has been teaching English in Thailand for over two decades and also has materials development experience. He has a great sense of humor that made all his class always engaging. In our observed teaching practices, I got to teach a wide variety of students. I taught primary, secondary and even college students. The feedback I got after each class was key to the development of my teaching skills. I really believe that I’m ready to teach anyone, anywhere. Vantage also has a trainer for the foreign language experience as well as the own dedicated Jobs Coach. I learned that many Thai agencies and schools specifically come and ask for Vantage’s TEFL graduates—something I think puts them in a league of their own. At any rate, they got me my first job offer midway through the course. I highly recommend these professional trainers. If you’re looking for a new career in teaching, these are the people you should be talking to.

I researched a lot of other TEFL courses both online and through directly contacting and visiting my shortlist of providers. I had nothing but a very positive experience in dealing with Vantage at this stage in the process. My appreciation grew the more I experienced the Vantage team and process. They are extremely friendly and experts in their craft. And while their TEFL programme was intense, it was always engaging and the time just flew by. For me, the observed practical teaching (OTP) was the heart and soul of the course. We taught six practice lessons at a nursing college and also to young learners at a primary and secondary school. Vantage gave me great feedback after each session as well as a new challenge to work on in my next class. This where I really developed my teaching skills. I’m now ready to teach anywhere to pretty much anyone. Their course was excellent and we were taught by extremely knowledgeable and talented staff. The job services were great. We created a resume and job support documentation such as cover letters and thank you notes and then they tapped me into their extensive education network for teaching positions. I secured a full-time position before I had completed the course! Do you want to teach at some of Thailand’s best schools? Get plugged into the Vantage network….these are the people to talk to.

The Vantage team always went the extra bit to ensure that I would have a successful start in my plan to have a teaching career. Vantage trainers are competent and super knowledgeable. They were able to deal with any of the questions that I or my fellow trainees came up with. This is an intensive course that incorporated both teaching knowledge and practice teaching lessons that we were required to do. The observed teaching practices were fundamental in giving me the key skills I need to teach. I now have the confidence to step into any classroom because I have the skills to know what I’m doing in front of my class. Overall, I am extremely happy with my experience at Vantage. This course was a very smart investment. I would recommend Vantage for those looking to gain a high-quality professional certification while embarking on a new career.

Vantage delivers the course content in a professional, easily digestible manner. The classes are well structured and the practicum was a great help. It was an invaluable opportunity to have 6 hours of observed teaching. It was here that the classroom theory learned that was learned in the course became the teaching skills I need to be successful in the classroom. It was also great that we could teach a range of students. Kids in a primary school to young adults in a nursing college. I think that Vantage’s TELF course has really prepared me for my new teaching career. The trainers have decades of experience and it shows. They provide a ton of information not found in the books—especially relating to Thai culture and customs and the dos and don’ts in a Thai classroom I have thoroughly enjoyed every part of this course. I ready to step into any classroom. I’m ready for a future career in teaching abroad.

This course far exceeded all my expectations. The Vantage Team is especially the lead trainer Chris whose persona makes the course an enjoyable experience. Yes they cover a lot of new content, but the highly engaging workshop style kept it all manageable within the one month timeframe. The practice teaching work was, for me, the heart of this course. We taught at both government school which gave us experience in how to manage a classroom full of kids. Then we switched gears and taught 18 and 19-year old at a college. After each teaching practice session, the feedback we received, was crucial in the development of my teaching skills. Learning how to create effective lesson plans was particularly beneficial because it gave me an overall framework to structure my lessons and it allowed me formulate better teaching strategies. Vantage’s jobs coach taught us how to create a resume and coached us on interview techniques, He networked us into job opportunities that offered great benefits. Vantage’s TEFL course offered everything it says it would—and much more.

Vantage delivered on everything they promised—and more. Their TEFL Course was a fantastic experience and the training team made the whole experience engaging and fun. For me, the teaching practices were the best part of the course. Not only did I have to teach six practices classes, each one on a different language topic, but I had to observe and give feedback on experienced teachers and even my peers. We gave lessons to a diverse group of students at both a Thai military primary and secondary school and also at the college level to 18 and 19-year-olds. The bottom line was that I developed the skills to become a successful teacher and that included a lot of valuable teaching techniques. I ended up learning a lot about my native language and even about myself. The lessons I gave built a lot of confidence and prepared me well for my new teaching position. The job services were great! They even found a teaching position before the course was completed. I graduated on a Friday and starting work the following Monday. I’m very happy I went with Vantage. They gave me the best possible start to becoming a teacher. They delivered on everything they promised. Thank you Vantage for getting me on the ‘teaching road.’

I took the 120 Hour onsite course in Bangkok, Thailand from January 6th to January 31st. In the January session I was the only student. My trainer was Chris Demetsopoullos. The course is taught by a very good teacher in a structured and comprehensive manner. The course goes through classroom management, parts of speech, grammar, lesson planning, special topics, and more. By the end of the course I felt confident to teach English, The 8 hours of teaching practice really helped. Basically, If Chris the instructor wasn't there to teach the course I couldn't recommend the course. The course does have some areas that need improvement specifically in job support, guidance, and administrative decorum. THE GOOD - The course is structured and you’re provided with course materials. While not an extensive course on all parts of teaching and the English language, It covers a lot of aspects of teaching the English language. - Most students do 6 hours of supervised teaching practice but since I was the only one I got to do 8 hours - Chris, the instructor, is very good at teaching the course material. His twenty five years of experience in education shows through and through. His classes were taught full substance, humor, and nuance. Classes are engaging and he makes every attempt to make the material interesting and relevant. I learned more about grammar and teaching than I thought I could, and that has a lot to do with Chris’s teaching ability. - Course work is manageable and clear from the start. You receive a trainee binder at the start of the course which contains all the work you’ll need to complete and turn in. - Resuming building portion of the course was helpful. Lots of examples and knowledge on interviewing strategy. - The course is accredited by Lamar University and you receive masters credits. - By the end of the course I felt competent and ready to teach English in a methodical and communicative approach. COULD BE / SHOULD BE IMPROVED - I wanted to teach in Korea not Thailand, I was met with discouragement and determent from the school director. It came off as rude and argumentative. It may have to do with the fact that it benefits Vantage if they can place you in a job in Thailand through their partners. - The Vantage office building is not the nicest and could some some modern updates. - On their website, it’s stated several times that vantage will put you into their ‘’Lifetime job support“, Thai and global recruitment network”, and “unique leads and vacancies of the best jobs advertised”. This is very misleading, let me be clear they offer very limited actual job support. If you don’t want to work in Thailand, they have no relationships or leads with schools besides Thailand. - The job support is not so different from what you could accomplish on your own from googling jobs. - Job support pretty much ends with resume and interview techniques. THE BAD - On the last day of the course, you are sat down with the course director and basically asked to write a review on the spot for the school. You’re also told that if you want to have them “tweak” your review with your permission they can. I refused to write a review on the spot and also felt incredibly uncomfortable that they would even ask to look at my review and make “tweaks” before I posted it. - Regardless of what the reviews are used for(marketing purposes or otherwise) I feel it is incredibly unethical to exercise any amount of control or influence over the reviews that students write about their experience with the course. - All of the reviews that Vantage currently has lists no constructive criticism of any kind. I assume this is due to Vantage seeing and somewhat influencing reviews before they are post and students thinking this is normal and agreeing. GENERAL NOTES - Vantage English is a partner school of iTTT(International TEFL & TESOL Training) and teaches iTTT’s tefl course book - If you decide to work in Thailand, Vantage has relationships with teacher placement programs. While not unheard of, Vantage receives a small compensation for placing students in Thailand with their partners.