Unitefl - Thailand TEFL courses
Thailand TEFL courses
Those interesting in a career teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL), can study a four week at Unitefl in Chiang Mai. Even those wishing to take a gap year or spend time in Thailand will benefit from taking this course, since teaching jobs are common.
Unitefl has three years experience in training teachers, using instructors who have plenty of experience in teaching English in Asia. A typical four-week course comprises of modules covering everything from lesson preparation and teaching aides, through to practical ‘classroom time’.
There are several other institutions in Chiang Mai offering TEFL courses, including CELTA and shorter courses as refreshers. Others are found in Bangkok and elsewhere in Thailand, however the Unitefl staff has the longest track record in training teachers, having certified more than 500 TEFL instructors.
TEFL is a generic term for a course in teaching English as foreign language, but accreditation from TEFL International is a widely recognised benchmark. The most respected TEFL course is that run by Cambridge University (CELTA) and offered by approved schools worldwide, though they are typically much more expensive and difficult to pass.
Those wishing to teach English in Asia, perhaps only for a few years, favour the cheaper and more practical TEFL courses. They are widely recognised by schools in Thailand, having been approved by the Ministry of Education, and they usually help secure jobs elsewhere in Asia.
The TEFL offered by Unitefl has been certified by both TEFL International and the MoE in Thailand and is recognised by most employers. Web forum feedback rates this course highly, and it is competitively priced compared to similar TEFL courses.
It should be noted however that this institute was recently independently established after parting company with Chiang Mai University, where the programme ran successfully for several years. A poorly managed change in policy from the university management forced the Language Institute there to discontinue the TEFL course at short notice in September 2010, causing a great deal of ire among the students (including those studying Thai).
While the situation was beyond the control of the course directors, mis-communication from the Thai management and refusal by them to refund monies, resulted in some unfair damage to the reputation of the staff. Unitefl has continued the programmes with the same professional staff but is not associated with the university and its liabilities.
More information on the Unitefl TEFL courses.
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