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Chiang Mai is the capital city of northern Thailand and it was once the center of the ancient Lanna Kingdom. It was founded in the 13th century and is one of the oldest cities in Thailand. The Lanna Kingdom might not exist in the 21st century, but shadows of its rich culture can still be seen today. The outskirts of Chiang Mai are full of small mountains, meandering rivers, gentle waterfalls and countless Buddhist monasteries. If you’re looking for a great experience while conducting your teacher training, Chiang Mai is a great choice for your TEFL International course.

Chiang Mai is an essential destination for anyone visiting Thailand. It sits roughly 350 miles northwest of Bangkok and offers countless temples to visit—more than 120 are within city limits. The Old Town is surrounded by ancient walls and a man-made moat marking where the old city stops and the new city begins. Chiang Mai is one of the few cities in Thailand that has successfully held on to its old culture and heritage while still modernizing and offering plenty of Western amenities.

While peaceful, quaint and often times quiet, Chiang Mai also offers loads of handicraft shops, delicious eateries and many other natural treasures. As well, many boutique hotels and hostels are beginning to pop up. The Nimmanhaemin neighborhood, with its modern shops and restaurants, is a particularly good example of how the new world has complimented Chiang Mai’s ancient past.

Some of Chiang Mai’s temples date back 500 years. They reflect the skilled work and imagination of the local craftsman as well as an obvious influence from ancient Burmese and Sri Lankan styles. One of the best and most loved temples is that of Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep. Constructed in the late 14th century, it’s elevated nearly a mile up off of Chiang Mai’s valley and overlooks the entire city. Other great temples such as Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chiang Mun were also constructed in the same period and offer some of the most beautiful craftsmanship in the entire kingdom of Thailand.

The city itself covers and area of about 600,000 square feet and sits about 300 meters above sea level. It still has a tropical climate and does see a monsoon season from late may to early November. Rains during this time are typically restricted to the late afternoons so you’ll never be rained in to too long. Temps during this time of year range from 75-900 F. From December to April, cooler air from China comes in and rain subsides. Temps during this time are a bit cooler and can even get chilly at night during December and January.

Why Chiang Mai

• Whether you’re here for the ancient culture or the modern development, Chiang Mai has something for you.
• Food, accommodation and sites all offer top-quality service at an incredibly reasonable price.
• Doi Suthep is one of Thailand’s most famous temples and offers a scenic backdrop to any already beautiful city.

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The School

While completing your TEFL International course in Chiang Mai, you’ll enjoy our modern facility near the heart of Chiang Mai. Our center is designed to be environmentally friendly and includes all the tools you’ll need to successfully complete your training.

The center is just a short distance from the local schools at which you’ll conduct your teaching practice. These schools are linked with local temples and are geared towards the community’s underprivileged children. Students are very receptive to Western teachers and our long-term commitment to these schools and the surrounding community means you’ll get a chance to see a side of Chiang Mai that average travelers will never be able to see.

Our trainers are terrific. They’re some of the most experienced teachers in the business and they’ll impart their decades of experience onto you during the course. They’ll offer you great insight into teaching as well as Chiang Mai. With their help, you’ll be better prepared to deliver meaningful and exciting lessons. You’ll learn a variety of methods, classroom management skills and even some Thai language. Most importantly, upon successful completion of the course, you’ll be a certified TEFL teacher.

Accommodation

Chiang Mai benefits from a wide choice of accommodation to suit all price ranges. Budget hostels can be found for as little as $150 per month and more comfortable hotels, guesthouses and small condos are available from $ 200 to $300 per month.

Some sample accommodation options, with pricing in Thai baht:

Suite: (56 sq m): 18,000 baht / month

• Air conditioning with remote control
• King size bed
• Working desk and chair
• Dining table with two chairs
• Wardrobe
• Hot water heater
• Pantry
• Fridge
• Cable TV
• All modern style furniture

Superior deluxe: (35 sq m): 7,500 baht / month

• Air conditioning with remote control
• One 5 foot bed or two 3.5 foot beds
• Working desk and chair
• Wardrobe
• Hot water heater
• Pantry
• Fridge
• Cable TV
• Rooftop Swimming Pool

VIP (30 sq m): 6,500 baht / month

• Air con with remote control
• One 5 foot bed or two 3.5 foot beds
• Working desk with chair
• Cable TV
• Fridge
• Wardrobe
• Hot water heater
• Swimming Pool

Standard (25 sq m): 5,500 baht / month

• Air con
• One 5 feet or two 3.5 feet bed
• Cable TV
• Wardrobe
• Hot water heater

Course dates

Coming soon...

Please check out our other course locations if you wish to attend a course before this one becomes available...

Course fees

The total price is divided into: deposit and balance.

The deposit may be paid via a) credit card b) Paypal c) wire transfer d) Western Union.

The balance of the course fee must be paid by cash, PayPal or bank transfer directly to the training center on the first day of the course.

 

Deposit
US$ 600

to be paid in advance

+

Balance
US$ 990

to be paid on arrival

Accomodation Fees

The accommodation fees are not part of the course price and you are free to choose whichever accommodation option you prefer.

You are not obliged to use the accommodation provided by the school and you are welcome to make your own accommodation arrangements. If you choose to use our accommodation, it should be paid for either by cash, PayPal or bank transfer directly to the school at the start of the course.

And up
US$ 150

(to be paid on arrival)

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are my payment options?

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  Course deposits must be paid to our administrative center. Credit/debit card payments are the fastest and cheapest way to pay, but we also accept payments via Western Union, Pay Pal and bank transfer. While there are no deadlines for a deposit, courses can fill up quickly and your seat will only be reserved after the deposit has been paid.

  Once you make your deposit, you will receive an email with an informational packet that provides detailed information about the course and Chiang Mai itself.

  The balance of course fees is payable via credit card before, or on the first day of the course. Bank transfers are also accepted but must be completed at least two weeks before the first day of the course. Participants with checking accounts in the US may pay by personal check, but payments must be cleared within two weeks of the course’s start date.

  Course fees are all-inclusive so you won’t be asked to pay additional costs for course related materials or services. This also includes course moderation, accreditation fees and lifetime assistance finding jobs.

• What are my accommodation options?

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  Chiang Mai benefits from a wide choice of accommodation to suit all price ranges. Budget hostels can be found for as little as US$ 150 per month and more comfortable hotels, guesthouses and small condos are available from US$ 200-300 per month.

  Your accommodation is available from 1:00 p.m. on the Saturday before the course begins through to 5:00 p.m. on the Friday of the final week. We hope you will plan to arrive in Chiang Mai by Saturday as this will give you a chance to relax and get accustomed to your surroundings before the course begins.

• What travel documents will I need for thailand?

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  All visitors to Thailand are required to carry a passport valid for at least six months after their arrival date. Visitors to Thailand from the United Kingdom, North America, Australia and New Zealand can stay in Thailand for a maximum of 30 days without a visa. Citizens from all other countries should contact their local consulate to obtain current travel regulations.

  If you plan to arrive the day before the course begins and leave a day or two after the course finishes, then the standard 30 days would be perfect. However, most people prefer to arrive a few days early so they can settle in before the course starts and also like to relax for a while on completion of their studies. If this is the case, then you can get an extension on your original 30 days by either visiting a local immigration office or by going to the nearest border. The other alternative is to apply for a 60 or 90 day tourist visa at a Thai embassy or consulate before you leave your home country, or in any country outside Thailand (recommended).

  * As this information is subject to change at any time, we advise you to contact your local consulate for current travel regulations prior to planning your trip. For more information on obtaining visas please check with your local Thai consulate or embassy.

• What is the course schedule?

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  From Monday to Friday, class begins at 9:30 a.m. each day with a three hour input session. This is where you are taught how to teach, we cover topics such as grammar, teaching skills, classroom management and many other areas. There is a one hour lunch break at 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. From 1.30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. is guided lesson planning which is when you plan the lesson that you will teach to local students in a real Thai school. The observed teaching practice will be in the morning from 8:30 a.m. when you will teach the lesson that you have planned. After each lesson you will have a feedback session with the trainer who has observed your lesson. We finish at 2:30 p.m. on Fridays and weekends are free, although you will have some homework to complete for the following Monday.

• What can I expect during teaching practice?

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  We use local Thai students for the trainees’ teaching practice. Thai students are very keen and enthusiastic and because we don’t charge them to attend, all students come to classes purely because they want to.

  Lessons are based upon real teaching resources found all over the world and you will have the chance to create your own materials as well. You will also receive the aid of your course trainer throughout lesson planning and receive immediate feedback on your lesson after it’s been delivered. Practicum is assessed and a satisfactory assessment is required to earn your TEFL/TESOL certificate.

• Who usually attends the course?

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  Normally we would expect around twenty trainees per course. Most of the participants are American, British, Canadian or Australian, although we do accept non-native speakers of English who have a high proficiency in the language.

• Is there a dress code?

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  For all input and tutorial sessions at the training location, there is only one specific dress requirement: Both men and women should have a shirt covering their shoulders. The course operates from within a school so we ask you to be mindful of this, as well as being mindful of your peers and to respect the fact that you are a visitor in another country.

  During teaching practice there are specific requirements that adhere to the local dress code. All trainees are expected to dress professionally according to the following guidelines:

  Women: Shoulders should be covered, blouses with sleeves are suggested. No low-cut necklines, very short skirts or bare midriffs. Open-toed shoes are acceptable, but not hiking or flip-flop sandals.

  Men: Long pants, slacks or trousers are required, jeans are not acceptable. Short or long-sleeved shirts with a collar are necessary, although a tie is not required. Loafers or dress shoes are both fine, sandals are not acceptable. Long hair should always be tied back.

• What should I bring for course studies?

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  Please bring a pen and a notebook for taking notes during class. All relevant forms and instructions will be provided, as well as notes from the input sessions.

  We encourage you to bring a laptop as we have Wi-Fi at the training center. We will provide all course materials for you so there is no need to bring anything else for the course itself.

• What documents do I need for finding employment after the course?

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  If you plan to work in Thailand without returning home before you do so, you will need to bring your original degree (if you have one) and any other teaching qualifications that you might have. While not required by all schools, it’s advisable to obtain a local criminal background check and sealed university transcripts as some schools will want to see one, or both of these documents.

• Do I need a degree to teach in thailand?

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  The short answer is no. Thailand’s Ministry of Education (MoE) does require foreign teachers to have degrees, but not all schools fall under the MoE’s jurisdiction. Primary and secondary schools, both public and private, will require degrees as your teacher’s license will need to be approved by the MoE. However, university and corporate work will not require a degree. Teaching in one of Thailand’s thousands of language schools also does not necessarily require a degree. So while some sources fail to truly explore this issue and say degrees are required, you can rest assured, they are not required for all teaching positions around the Kingdom.