There is really very little or no difference between TEFL, TESL and TESOL.

• TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language
• TESL stands for Teaching English as a Second Language
• TESOL stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

TEFL is best known in the UK while TESL and TESOL are more common in the US, Canada and Australasia. TEFL is traditionally associated with teaching students within their own country where English is not the first language. TESOL is more commonly associated with teaching students who have migrated to an English speaking country. Training is essentially the same regardless of the certificate.

The important fact here is that overseas jobs will happily accept a TEFL, TESL or TESOL qualification.

TEFLPLus Phuket is accredited by the Thai Ministry of Education, as are all approved teacher training courses in Thailand (although many more don’t have MoE approval to operate). The school, trainers and materials undergo an annual inspection to ensure standards are upheld. TEFLPlus is the teacher training product of Patong Language School. PLS was granted private school approval in 1983 and is now the leading language school in Thailand. Approval was sought and given in 2003 to conduct TEFL teacher training in Phuket.

Everything – there is nothing more to pay! Many TEFL course providers will ask you to pay extra for materials, English grammar classes, photocopies, Thai lessons, etc. Some have even got the cheek to ask you to pay extra for your TEFL certificate! We include all study materials, a smart attache case, notepad, pens and pencils, so all you have to do is turn up. TEFLPlus is proud to offer the best value teacher training courses available in Thailand. We regularly check other providers’ prices to ensure we are the best value for money you can find. Check for yourself – we are sure you will agree!

No, our TEFL courses are designed to make an English teacher of you, irrespective of the nationality or mother-tongue of your students. We are offering an international certificate, not just training for local employment.

You should beware of location-specific courses – the teaching method you learn may be particular to that country and of little use elsewhere.

Online courses can provide the basic theory of English teaching, but they obviously lack any practical content. Our on-site courses provide a high level of in-class tuition, interaction, practice classes and feedback sessions. The confidence you gain from studying an on-site course cannot be matched by self-study at home.

If you don’t have the time for a 4-week on-site course in Phuket, consider doing an on-line course then joining our 1-week intro TEFL to get some practical experience in a controlled, supportive environment.

Please send us an email or complete the enquiry form to ask about our Phuket TEFL courses.

If you send us a call-back request we will telephone you at a time convenient to you. Please have your questions ready!

Have a good read through each of the TEFL course details and then check the prices and dates. Choose the course you think will best serve your post-course plans.

If you can’t make up your mind, just request a call-back or send us an email for some impartial advice.

Click on ‘price list’ on the ‘FAQ’s and info’ menu for a full current TEFL course price list with accommodation options.

TEFLPlus aims to be the first choice in terms of price and quality in Thailand. We believe our course prices are unbeatable if compared with other providers packages.

Our goal is to provide the highest quality of training in a world-class location at the most affordable price possible.The ever-increasing number of trainees enrolling on our courses proves we have got it right!

Simply complete the online enrolment form. No payment is required to apply for a place on a course, and you are under no obligation to proceed to make a deposit if you change your mind. Once you have submitted your enrolment, we will process your application within 24 hours. We will confirm your acceptance on your chosen course date by email. Assuming your application is accepted and you choose to go ahead, you then have to pay a deposit to confirm your place on the course.

The easiest way is to pay online by credit card. It is secure and simple. We will notify you when payment has been accepted.

You can also pay by PayPal or bank transfer if you prefer. Bank transfer takes longer and is quite expensive. Our bank account details are listed on the payment page.

Once we have received your deposit payment we will send you a Booking Confirmation.

The balance is payable prior to course commencement. If you wish to pay before travelling to Thailand, you can do so by credit card or bank transfer. It is also possible to pay on the first day of the TEFL course, either by credit card or cash. If you have not paid in full before the course commences you will not be able to participate.

We are happy to assist trainees in obtaining a visa in their home country before travelling to Phuket. TEFLPlus will provide a letter confirming enrolment to support the visa application, along with copies of our school and TEFL course licences. You should read the ‘visa requirements’ page to see which kind of visa is most suitable for you.

We’ve heard exactly the same thing! Thankfully it is not true of ours. All TEFLPlus courses are designed to be challenging but fun, demanding but achievable. A well-managed course does not need to push paying trainees beyond reasonable limits. Turn up with an open mind, a willingness to work, a sense of humour, and you will do just fine!

Yes, all our courses have a number of practice classes observed by experienced teachers and/or your trainers. These classes are with real students in real classrooms. Other providers only offer peer-to-peer sessions or none at all.

Your classroom supervisor will complete a feedback form for each class you teach, enabling you to see your progress and identify areas that need improvement.

Spending so much time in the classroom practicing will ensure you have the confidence to teach a room full of strangers when you start your first job as an English teacher.

None at all. It is best to arrive in Phuket with an open mind and no pre-conceived ideas of what to expect. All course materials are included in the price, so we don’t recommend any pre-course reading.

Not all courses include it, but we do! A very thorough English grammar module is included in all TEFLPlus courses. Regardless of your current level, you can be sure that by the time you complete our course you will feel like an English expert.

We conduct intermediate tests at the end of each week to ensure that trainees have grasped all English grammar taught so far. This gives us an opportunity to address any weaknesses highlighted by the test.

No previous qualifications are necessary, but you should have a good standard of written and spoken English. Non-native speakers should have no noticeable accent.

Our Phuket TEFL courses are demanding but not backbreakingly intensive, so you should be prepared to work hard, have no distractions, and be emotionally and physically fit, including having no outside worries.

All our trainees pass the course – we will not let you fail, even if it means taking the course all over again! Our trainers will spend extra time with you as necessary and coach you in any areas that you are weak. Our goal is that you succeed.e

Whichever Phuket TEFL course you choose, we recommend you book it as a Premium Package. This includes hotel accommodation and airport collection at attractive rates.

If you prefer to stay elsewhere we offer some suggestions on the ‘accommodation’ page but are unable to book for you.

There are excellent hospitals in Phuket and around Thailand, but they all cost money! Buy an annual travel insurance policy before departing and have peace of mind during your time abroad. Check carefully the length of trip covered by the policy – some only cover you for 30 days in a 90 day period.

You can buy accident insurance in Thailand for around 1,500 Baht per year.

TEFLPlus does not accept trainees on our TEFL courses under the age of 18, but there is no upper age limit.

To work as a teacher, the answer is Yes and No. It depends very much on the country, the culture, the school, and the type of students the school may have, and legal requirements. It can work both ways. Some schools prefer more mature teachers, especially if their clientele are mainly business people. Others believe younger teachers are more dynamic. Some countries are so desperate for teachers that age is irrelevant. EFL teachers can be any age from 18 to 80, though it is harder to find employment under 21 and over 60. Don’t let the question of age put you off. With a good TEFL certificate, you will always find employment somewhere.

Trainees are a very mixed group. In the past we have had a policeman, a musician, a golf professional, an author, and even a high school teacher from the USA doing the course as a top-up.

Most Phuket courses also have at least one or two non-native speakers taking part. Many trainees undertake the course to make a career change, others to give themselves a means of travelling overseas.

Perhaps you need a refresher? Then consider our Phuket intro TEFL to go over the basics in a one-week intensive course combined with some practice classes. Likewise, if you have completed an on-line course and are looking for some practical experience before finding work, then our intro TEFL or advanced TEFL could be ideal.

Nothing! Seriously though, everything you need for a TEFLPlus course in Phuket is provided and included in the price.

Being a tropical country, the temperature in Thailand stays at a high 28 to 35 degrees all year round, so you will not need any heavy or outer clothing. By all means bring lightweight clothing and beachwear with you, but you will find that it is very cheap in Thailand. Just bring a selection of light summer clothing and some smarter clothes for your teaching practice.

After completing the course you will be looking for work, so remember to bring along copies of all academic certificates and diplomas. Try to also get two or three written character references as well as the Police Clearance Certificate. Don’t worry about the photographs that you will need to attach to all your applications, as these are easily and cheaply available all over Thailand.

Yes, for sure. There are many opportunities for long-term or permanent positions, or for advancement to Director of Studies or other administrative positions. Other possibilities are teacher training and materials writing. But a real career in EFL requires at least a TEFL certificate to get you started, then a TEFL Diploma for more senior positions.

The first class on the first day begins at 10 am, so you should arrive at the TEFL training centre no later than 9.30 am to pay your balance (if you haven’t already done so) and collect your study pack. The study pack contains a schedule for the entire course. Most days begin at either 9 am or 10 am and finish at 4 pm or 5 pm. Some days may be later depending on student availability for practice classes. An example of an advanced TEFL course schedule is available at the bottom of the ‘advancedTEFL’ page.

TEFLPlus has a great location in the heart of Patong Beach, Phuket. We are just a couple of minutes walk from the beach, and banks, post office, restaurants and shops are all nearby. A location map is available on our ‘contact’ page. Please call our office on 076-340373 if you need directions

TEFL certificates are awarded in the afternoon of the final day of the course. Be prepared to have your photo taken!

We do not have a strict dress code for trainees, although we encourage you to dress casually but tastefully. For observation and teaching practice, men should wear dark blue or black trousers and pale blue shirts, whilst ladies should wear pale blue blouses and dark blue or black skirts or trousers. Both men and ladies should wear black shoes – sandals and flip-flops are not acceptable.

We only ask trainees to keep in mind that students will see you on a daily basis in the school and they should not be shocked or surprised by your appearance.

Attendance and punctuality are essential to ensure you successfully complete the course. If your absence is unavoidable, for example through sickness, then our trainers will make every effort to assist you in catching up with any missed classes. This will be at no extra charge unless costs are incurred by us.

Bear in mind that a valuable trait in a teacher is to arrive on time, every time!

You must attend at least 90% of the total classes to qualify for completion of the course.

Our Phuket TEFL courses are limited to a maximum of twelve trainees, but we will conduct the course with only one if necessary as we do not need a classroom full of students for interaction.

Many other providers require a minimum of 4 or 5 trainees before they will commence a course – planned start dates are often put back while they try to find more trainees. Be careful your courses doesn’t get cancelled or postponed! We never do that.

As a professional training establishment, our approved Phuket TEFL courses run consistently and regularly, which means they are not prone to cancellation – very important if you are on a schedule. You can book with the confidence that we won’t cancel a course from under you due to lack of trainees!

Certainly not! Our Direct Method approach to teaching English requires the teacher to speak only English, so speaking a foreign language is of no value at all. Imagine you are in a class of 5 different nationalities with a number of different mother-tongues – which language would you speak?

The ability to speak a foreign language is not a requirement for teaching English, but the experience of having learned a foreign language will help you understand language in general and how we learn it – this is why the advanced TEFL course includes 10 Thai language lessons. Also, if you intend to remain to teach in Thailand, then some knowledge of the language and culture will make your life easier and enrich your EFL experience.

If you have a TEFL certificate, not being a native speaker should not be a problem. One of the entrance requirements for any serious TEFL course is the ability to speak (and write) English fluently. Therefore anyone – native or non-native speaker – with a TEFL certificate will be on a level footing when it comes to finding work. Our trainers will tell you that some of our best trainees have been non-native speakers.

Your trainers are available at all times to answer your questions.

Our administration staff and manager are on hand to assist if you have any requests or difficulties.

Our Course Director is always available if you have a problem or complaint.

No, your Phuket TEFL certificate demonstrates completion of a training course and is valid indefinitely.

Duplicate TEFL certificates can be obtained by contacting our office. These cost 500 Baht plus postage.

Sure, you are very welcome. Good teachers continue to study and develop their skills throughout their career. This enables them to provide better teaching and to secure senior teaching positions. Completing another course will help you increase your ability and range as a teacher, but it will also increase your employability. Most employers are looking for teachers who are committed to continual development and additional courses help to show that you are just such a person.

If you have completed our intro TEFL and want to improve your skills further, then you are welcome to join our advanced TEFL course at a discounted rate. Please contact us for details.

This is very unlikely, unless you have missed too many classes to make the time up. If you do fail, you have the option to retake any course for only 5,000 Baht, subject to a space being available on your chosen date.

Yes – graduates of our Phuket TEFL courses are teaching and earning money all over the world. However, a TEFLPlus certificate isn’t the only thing that your future employer will be looking at. To secure a job abroad you need to make sure your CV and cover letter are well put together and that you’re well prepared for the interviews you will have to attend.

TEFLPLus is the teacher training brand of Patong Language School, Thailand’s leading language training provider. Patong Language School employs many foreign teachers and they are all graduates of the TEFLPLus course – you may be offered a job even before the end of your training!

Please click on ‘Terms & Conditions’ at the bottom right of any page.

• We offer Thailand’s best value TEFL courses in Phuket
• We are fully certified and accredited by the Ministry of Education
• We provide more practice classes than any other provider
• Our TEFL courses are limited to only twelve trainees
• We have more than 25 years experience in language training
• Internationally accepted TEFL/TESL/TESOL certificate – teach anywhere around the world!
• We work harder to make sure you succeed
• Our practice classes are with real students
• Our numbered certificates ensure validity
• There’s no better location than Phuket, Thailand
• And many more reasons that we can’t fit here!