Usit Teach in Thailand

ruuuuth

I was thinking of doing it for the summer. Has anyone already done this with usit and would you recommend it? Thanks

frankiebaby

if money is not an issue, ive heard good things bout it. personally, cash is king at the moment with me so south korea is where we're off to. seems to be a much better structure their financially. no programme fees, only country you dont need a TEFL qualification for, flights paid before u leave and job sorted before you leave! highest wages to boot in korea too! (plus the skiing in the winter). if ur set on thailand then go for it, my mate went there and loved it, but expensive to get everything setup. especially with usit.;)

mac123

ruuuuth wrote: »

I was thinking of doing it for the summer. Has anyone already done this with usit and would you recommend it? Thanks

havnt done it but iv been to thailand a few times and i always see jobs advertised in the guesthouses around bkk. i wouldnt go with usit, just book a flight over and look for work, you should get some quick enough.

ado05

I've looked into this program too, apparently its state sponsored so the jobs are in state schools, plus you get free accommodation, seams like a good deal,

Wilko121

frankiebaby wrote: »

if money is not an issue, ive heard good things bout it. personally, cash is king at the moment with me so south korea is where we're off to. seems to be a much better structure their financially. no programme fees, only country you dont need a TEFL qualification for, flights paid before u leave and job sorted before you leave! highest wages to boot in korea too! (plus the skiing in the winter). if ur set on thailand then go for it, my mate went there and loved it, but expensive to get everything setup. especially with usit.;)

****, where did you find this?

frankiebaby

http://www.tigerenglish.com/ is a good site and there irish but theres loads of other sites aswell, just google it and you'll get loads of good links

petethebrick

The best sites for jobs in Korea are:

www.eslcafe.com
www.worknplay.co.kr
www.englishspectrum.com

I've worked in Korea for a few years in the past and will be heading there again later this year.
My advice is to fly out to Korea and find a job once you're there. You just need to bring all the necessary documents with you. Being there in person means you'll be able to check out different schools before signing a contract. You'll generally be able to find a position with less hours and with a better location. The after schools programs are great jobs - work 12-5 instead of the usual 8 hours per day.
If you prefer to get a job sorted before you go then use the sites above and try to deal with schools directly rather than through recruiters - DONT find a job using any of the Irish companies - its a joke paying them a fee when you can just find a job yourself.
Also Irish recruitment agancies for Korea will generally deal with schools that have poor locations and bad terms of employment - these schools find it difficult to get teachers and that's why they need to use agencies.

It's important to remember that once you are tied into a contract in Korea it's difficult to get out of it - so if you sign for a school through an agency and it turns out to be a ****hole when you arrive in Korea it's very difficult to get out of the contract. Contact scholls that are advertising on the above sites yourself - a good school will have no problem giving you the email etc of other foreigners working at the school so you can ask them what the school is like etc
There are loads of great school in Korea but some bad ones as well. There have been a lot of cases of teachers not getting paid etc
PM me if u need any info and have a blast in Korea!

caro1

Heya!

I'm just back from Thailand after doing the USIT teach in thailand programme. It was absolutely brill! Thailand is such a beautiful country and I really loved teaching the kids over there. It worked out really well, I didnt have to do a TEFL course instead you just do a one week orientation out there so you learn how to teach english properly and you also get tours around Bangkok etc and get do some of the touristy stuff which was really good fun and you meet other people over teaching english too. Then you go to wherever you're teaching (I was in Chang mai-such a cool spot!). Accommodation was free and it was totally grand and I got paid enough to live out there, socialise and do some travelling-I spent time in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and the islands in Southern Thailand. I would definitely recommend the programme and USIT as they were really friendly and nice to book through and they set everythnig up for you-accommodation, work etc. And I cant stress how amazing South East Asia is its so amazing, you'll love it!

evaW15

hi,
I've done this program, too, it was great, I really enjoyed teaching English, the Thai kids are so eager to learn and so much fun to be around, I also traveled all over it and went to Cambodia and Laos, missed Vietnam tho the program was great, housing and food were provided so all my wages were my own to spend, I found usit great, changed my flights a few times as I just kept extending my trip and there were no problems getting it done,


you should deff try to travel in the north of Thailand if you get a change, I’d really recommend it, we went up to chaing mai and chaing rai, and then stayed with some of the hill tribes for a few nights, great experience, went hiking and found an incredible waterfall, we just threw caution to the wind and jumped right in, amazing!

eire2009

caro1 wrote: »

Heya!

I'm just back from Thailand after doing the USIT teach in thailand programme. It was absolutely brill! Thailand is such a beautiful country and I really loved teaching the kids over there. It worked out really well, I didnt have to do a TEFL course instead you just do a one week orientation out there so you learn how to teach english properly and you also get tours around Bangkok etc and get do some of the touristy stuff which was really good fun and you meet other people over teaching english too. Then you go to wherever you're teaching (I was in Chang mai-such a cool spot!). Accommodation was free and it was totally grand and I got paid enough to live out there, socialise and do some travelling-I spent time in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and the islands in Southern Thailand. I would definitely recommend the programme and USIT as they were really friendly and nice to book through and they set everythnig up for you-accommodation, work etc. And I cant stress how amazing South East Asia is its so amazing, you'll love it!

I hate when people who work for usit and never been to Thailand make up posts for false advertisement.. Usit is a rip off you don't need them, you`ll save a grand without them..

It was caro`s only post = false so was the other one following it ...

Four of a kind

I presume www.teflireland.com is a good option for getting certified?

dory

Four of a kind wrote: »

I presume www.teflireland.com is a good option for getting certified?

Just check who accredits it. There's no point in having a cert from some group no one in any other country will have heard of. Make sure it's CELTA or ACELS or something like that. It generally takes 4 weeks to do the main TEFL cert. Others are shorter and may be accepted by some employers.

eire2009

Four of a kind wrote: »

I presume www.teflireland.com is a good option for getting certified?

Waste of money, Its not needed for teaching in asia some countries do require a degree for the visa tho .. If your thinking about teaching here then it is a good idea or just want some experience .. You can buy TEFL certs on the Koh San road for a fiver if you just want the pice of paper..

Four of a kind

Ok, what organisation is the best recognised outfit in Ireland? Would like to take a TEFL course for my own interests, but want to go with a reputable source.

eire2009

Four of a kind wrote: »

Ok, what organisation is the best recognised outfit in Ireland? Would like to take a TEFL course for my own interests, but want to go with a reputable source.

CELTA if you want to teach it here. Expensive tho..

Four of a kind

eire2009 wrote: »

CELTA if you want to teach it here. Expensive tho..

Can CELTA not be used to teach abroad then? Or does it matter?

eire2009

Four of a kind wrote: »

Can CELTA not be used to teach abroad then? Or does it matter?

USIT advertise the need for TEFL and TESOL abroad although its not needed and preference is given to experience and females for younger students as they preform better with the rugrats.. If your going abroad to teach your better off looking for work first and building up your experience .. If you feel better with a course behind you for about $1000 you`ll get a TEFL/TESOL cert + teaching experience and a placement over in ASIA it takes 2-4 weeks.. If the cert is done online the schools over there are less familiar with the actual cert than the one done in a institution that they know in their country..

A good paying Teaching job in Korea or Japan you need a Degree for the visa ..

As for CELTA its advertised for jobs here sometimes..

Jenna

caro1 wrote: »

Heya!

I'm just back from Thailand after doing the USIT teach in thailand programme. It was absolutely brill! Thailand is such a beautiful country and I really loved teaching the kids over there. It worked out really well, I didnt have to do a TEFL course instead you just do a one week orientation out there so you learn how to teach english properly and you also get tours around Bangkok etc and get do some of the touristy stuff which was really good fun and you meet other people over teaching english too. Then you go to wherever you're teaching (I was in Chang mai-such a cool spot!). Accommodation was free and it was totally grand and I got paid enough to live out there, socialise and do some travelling-I spent time in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and the islands in Southern Thailand. I would definitely recommend the programme and USIT as they were really friendly and nice to book through and they set everythnig up for you-accommodation, work etc. And I cant stress how amazing South East Asia is its so amazing, you'll love it!

this is one of the worst attempts to conceal an advertisement that i have seen on this website!

Four of a kind

Jenna wrote: »

this is one of the worst attempts to conceal an advertisement that i have seen on this website!

+1

RATM

Jenna wrote: »

this is one of the worst attempts to conceal an advertisement that i have seen on this website!

It made me laugh too- it wasn't the fact they said the programme was god, it was that they said it was the most fantastic thing since sliced bread and that USIT are just amazing.

If thats the calibre of staff working for USIT these days :rolleyes:

james 181

Was thinking of going to Thailand with USIT.

Are you allowed to choose which placement you get?Me and a friend are going to apply and we were wondering would we be placed in the same city?

Is this what you're thinking of doing? I can't see another page so I assume it is.

http://www.usit.ie/paid-teaching/project/paid-teaching-in-thailand-for-degree-holders

If it is and you work the minimum of 5 months, then your average salary after dropping the first e1000 will be e550/month or $675.. $8 an hour if working the minimum 20 hours/week. This might be enough to survive in Hat Yai but it would be a stretch in Chiang Mai.. Especially if accommodation is only included during the orientation. Then there's flights and vaccinations bringing the average wage even lower.


Instead of getting a 2 week orientation for e1000, it could be a good idea to get a 4 week Celta/Tesol in Chiang Mai for a little bit more and then you can go anywhere and make more money.. Depends on your teaching intentions but that 2 week orientation will be fairly worthless outside of Usit.

firstofficerp

hi guys, seriously considering doing this but usit just seemed to want to me to sign up straight away instead of answering any of my questions.

would be grateful if anyone who has done it could give me any info? i know the fee is steep but if it could guarantee a good enough school then i could just about stomach paying it!

thanks!

marryn2

Hey guys,

The USIT program & other programs like i-t-i seem really steep. I'm heading off on my own and I feel like I'd be paying them 1000e plus just to meet people when I get there.

How difficult is it to find an apartment in thailand or vietnam? I want to go out with a TEFL course done but don't know if I'm taking too much of a leap of faith to book a hostel for a week & go on a job search when I get there? I see a lot of jobs advertised include a room to stay but how trust worthy are they? I have no teaching experience but do have a degree so how good of school could I hope to get into?

Any feedback would be fantastic