Ban Phe TEFL course

**Cyrille** · 2nd September 2007 00:02

Originally Posted by champagne charlie

Dave handles the classroom masterfully.

So much so that he's now apparently 'handling' it without even working there.

Respect!!

**Bangkok Phil** · 2nd September 2007 08:07

Originally Posted by pubba

Hello everyone (my first post - wahey!)

Is this course that you are speaking of the same one advertised on ajarn.com with the promise of 'Earn $3000 USD, Tesol Cert worth $1590 USD, and take a 5 month adventure holiday in Thailand!' ?

No, they are completely different. They both fly under the TEFl International umberella (of sorts) but the guys advertising on the jobs board and the people running the course in Ban Phe are completely seperate. I think the company advertising those short-term postions on the jobs board go under the name 'innovative solutions'.

The whole TEFL International structure is overwhelmingly complicated. I did ask Bruce to explain it to me once upon a time but even a smile came over his face. That's why when you choose to either criticize or big up TI, you have to be sure you are aiming your comments at the right division. It's never as straightforward as you think.

**russellsimpson** · 2nd September 2007 13:27

I did ask Bruce to explain it to me once upon a time but even a smile came over his face.

Damn Phil, yet another image burnt indelibely into my consciousness.

**Cyrille** · 2nd September 2007 15:10

^ Think yourself lucky - my image is of Bruce as Mary Poppins

:

Originally Posted by Bangkok Phil

They both fly under the TEFl International umberella .

**kiwiling** · 2nd September 2007 16:45

Originally Posted by Bangkok Phil

I think the company advertising those short-term postions on the jobs board go under the name 'innovative solutions'.

That might be so but TEFL International Ban Phe are also offering teachers to schools on 1 year contracts for 35,000 a month.
-----

Originally Posted by Cyrille

Think yourself lucky - my image is of Bruce as Mary Poppins

He cooks fairly mean spare ribs though.

**Nelson** · 2nd September 2007 21:06

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

Dave is a total professional ... controls the classroom ... THANK God ... I didn't pay $1600 bucks to listen to students try to debate with Dave about TESOL... or anything else.

There is no room for debate in Dave's classroom. He kicks major educational theories in seconds and considers questions impertinent and beneath him. If you want 40 hours of stern, patronizing, lectures a week then go with Dave.

**kiwiling** · 2nd September 2007 21:29

Somebody said Dave has left...where did he go?

**latm** · 2nd September 2007 21:55

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

Aw shucks ... it's friday ... 2 o'clock ... the last day of class ... I graduated from TEFL International today here in Ban Phe. Dave is a total professional ... controls the classroom ... THANK God ... I didn't pay $1600 bucks to listen to students try to debate with Dave about TESOL... or anything else.

If Storekeeper is to be believed, and I see no reason to doubt him on this, it would seem Dave is still at Ban Phe, or at least was as of the end of August.

**kiwiling** · 2nd September 2007 22:02

I thought Dave was an ok guy...but everybody has their opinions.

**Bruce** · 2nd September 2007 22:27

I guess I will comment here.

Dave is still around and there are no plans for him to leave in the future. He is still the main trainer on every four-week course.

End of course feedback is right online. alumni.teflintl.com I would agree with virtually all of the posters here. Some people do not get along with Dave but they are the minority and often the ones who thought it would be a four-week holiday or want to waste everyone elses time by talking about their opinions in class (there is simply no time for that). The course is not that difficult but there is a lot of work.

I have never been afraid of comments, both positive and negative, about TEFL International and our course. There are negative comments in this thread! But the other site that was mentioned was dominated by four people who have some legal problems with me personally and moderated by a person who never once tried to get both sides of the story. In fact, just the opposite is true as he purposely hid positive aspects of TEFL International on several occasions. That is not a professionally-run site.

**anon** · 2nd September 2007 23:29

Originally Posted by Bruce

four-week course

Originally Posted by Bruce

alumni

**Cyrille** · 2nd September 2007 23:43

Originally Posted by Bruce

Some people want to waste everyone elses time by talking about their opinions in class.

Spot the guy who's been in Thailand too long.

**stengerj1629** · 3rd September 2007 07:05

I took their course two years ago. I thought the same thing. I don't think there was one thing that I've applied since I've been teaching. Alot of BS.

**jimbo** · 3rd September 2007 07:14

Originally Posted by Bruce

the other site that was mentioned was dominated by four people who have some legal problems with me personally and moderated by a person who never once tried to get both sides of the story. In fact, just the opposite is true as he purposely hid positive aspects of TEFL International on several occasions. That is not a professionally-run site.

:smoker:

I miss Dave and Bruce a bit. Good blokes in my book.

**peelieorion** · 3rd September 2007 07:54

The guys in TEFL Ban Phue are obviously heldm in high regards by many posters. I kmow its your job to prepare teachers for your average western classroom but please could you find time to prepare potential teachers for the harsh realities of many Thai schools and strategies for choosing jobs wisely. I get the feeling that what you teach is great in the real world but in Thailaind many people are being screwed by schools and not being allowed to develop. Whilst I understand this is not really your duty, a couple of hours of how to choose a job in Thailand and the pitfalls may help change some schools attitudes and help ensure new teachers don't get treated badly.