Home / Tefl residential courses / Thailand / Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai, once the capital of the Lanna Kingdom founded in the 13th century, is one of thailand’s ancient cities and is regarded as having a cultural personality all of its own. Away from the city you will find Chiang Mai surrounded by Meadows, rivers, waterfalls, forests, mountains and valleys stemming from the base of the Himalayas. You will have a very diverse experience when you study an ITTT tefl/tesol course in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The architecture in Chiang Mai clearly highlights the influences of Lanna, Thai, Sri Lanka, Burma and Mon. The city also has a vast amount of history and is home to 300 temples, some of which Date back over 500 years. They include the wonderful Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep which was built in 1383, Wat Phra Singh which was built around 1400 and Wat Chiang Man where the oldest temple is said to date back to the founding year of the city (1292). In recent times, the city of Chiang Mai has undergone a period of regeneration but has still managed to retain its cultural identity.

Chiang Mai maintains a tropical climate with the monsoon season arriving from India in late May. The temperature around this time of year ranges from 23-32 °C or 73-90 °F. The season stays until November when the temperature ranges from 19-30 °C or 66-80 °F. During the monsoon season the rain usually falls for a couple of hours in the afternoon. During November to May Chiang Mai experiences milder weather with the cool air coming from China, temperatures during this dry season range from 13-36 °C or 55-97 °F.

The cost of living is Chiang Mai is one of the cheapest in Thailand. See below for an idea of costs in USD:

1.00 - Hot meal 1.20 - Bottle of beer 0.20 - Bottle of water 0.50 - 20-minute motorbike taxi ride

Why Chiang Mai?

Chiang Mai has over 300 temples, an appealing historical atmosphere and a stunning mountain setting. This location is a modern, welcoming and international city providing a long list of attractions for visitors. Accommodation, food and shopping are also first rate and inexpensive.

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The School

Our TEFL/TESOL training centre in Chiang Mai is located outside old Chiang Mai’s ‘Walled City’ and near the trendy Nimmanhaemin area.

The training center is well situated for a brief motorbike, bus or tuk-tuk ride into the appealing city centre, the night market and a variety of shops and restaurants.

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.

With the help of our experienced training staff, you’ll deliver lessons to real EFL students who do not speak English as their native language. Students are enthusiastic and provide a supportive environment in which to learn the skills needed to become an effective teacher. In addition to the trainers and students, our office staff are helpful, diligent and will make every effort to help you throughout your training.

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.

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 ten 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.