Thread: American TESOL Institute

I'm heading out to Chiang Mai next week with ATI, I have no idea if they really exist or not but thought as the course isn't expensive I'd risk it any way. I plan to blog my experiences out in Thailand, be they good or bad. If you want to see how I get on and my experience of the course and placement feel free to check out my blog Julies Jaunts (julieamaycock on wordpress)

Hi from NZ

I have been applying for teaching jobs in Thailand over the internet with no replies.

I completed a TEFL internetional course in Thailand which was very good and subsequently enrolled for a correspondence diploma course through the same company which was rubbish and I withdrew.

On my next visit to Thailand I looked up my cert. course supervisor regarding jobs and he hardly gave me the time of day!

I am considering the American TESOL Instute Special Thailand course as a way of getting some paid work whilst looking for a Uni teaching job.
Has anyone out there completed this programme and how do you rate it?

I would be pleased to get feedback as it is hopeless emailing training companies for details - I have never had a reply.

Cheers Peter

I applied to the Special Thai Project in Phuket and was accepted. Anyone else?

Well,

I did the Special Project, not saying where as this may come back to haunt me!

The course is what I expected tbh, you do get what you pay for!

Having said that the accomodation was great, I shared a hotel room with a dude from the states (i'm british, one of the few)

I was lucky in that the course tutor I had was great, very passionate and committed, but not all the tutors are like that (we had to correct one tutor about her subject, verb object etc). The course entails 3 weeks of classes, most of which finish about 3pm and a few teaching practises at local schools, orphanges, a delinquent centre and even a football camp.

The course content is sufficent for the job and has stood me in good stead, this is where ATI's involvement seems to come to an end. What seems to happen is that they hand over your details to various employment agencies, some of which are great, some are bad, very bad. For instance a good one will organise a stay over if your not due to start for a while, taking you for dinner and showing you around etc. Whereas some will literally tell you to be at the school on a certain day and when you get to the school they know nothing about you. This is what happened to me. I turned up at my school on the day i was asked to, being told the agents representative will be there to meet me, she was, and took me to an apartment building where I signed a contract for an apartment, I was so overwelmed at the time, it didnt even occur to me to wait until i'd spoken to the school! I asked the rep when I said I should go to the school, she said 'I dont know'. Great. I used my inicitive and went the following morning suited and booted and had an interview (even though I was supposed to already have the job). The school told me to come back and start the next day where I signed a contract without being shown around etc. Luckily the schools ok, its not great and I wont stay after my contract because I know I can get a better school and for more money (ATI or whoever take a MASSIVE cut). I've been one of the lucky ones, some people have been sent to middle of nowhere but have liked it, but most have had problems, all of which are ATI's main agent. Put it this way, if this agent places you be prepared not to know any details as to where you're going until literally the day before (most of the time because they haven't found you anywhere yet). This agent will not return your calls, try ask a question on google chat and they'll log off.

On the otherhand, get one of the other agents and you'll be great, still only on a basic salary but you'll be looked after and put in nice accom etc (some people have pools etc)

If your nervous about taking the plunge and coming out here on your own, its a great way to do it, the course is good enough and they WILL place you somewhere you want if you hound them enough, and i've met some awesome people in the process, all the teachers meet up at weekends and usually end up doing something pretty cool!

rjwebster,

I have a few questions for you. You seem to be one of the few people I've found that has completed the special Thai project. I'm leaving for Phuket in October. You say that the course was sufficient, and that puts my mind at ease somewhat. As for job placement after the certification, what is your recommendation for going about getting the best placement? I want to make sure my placement isn't somewhere rural -- preferably in Bangkok or another large city. How can I put myself in a position to do this once I get over there?

Originally Posted by Spitzer01

rjwebster,

I have a few questions for you. You seem to be one of the few people I've found that has completed the special Thai project. I'm leaving for Phuket in October. You say that the course was sufficient, and that puts my mind at ease somewhat. As for job placement after the certification, what is your recommendation for going about getting the best placement? I want to make sure my placement isn't somewhere rural -- preferably in Bangkok or another large city. How can I put myself in a position to do this once I get over there?

Hi Spitzer01

I have signed up for the Special Thai Project in Phuket in Oct 09 as well, I have done a lot of research into it and there seem to be quite a few positive feedbacks on it.
Where abouts are you from?

The majority of jobs are obviously in and around Bangkok, usually about an hour from the centre.

We found out our placement 2 days before we were due to depart, which didn't really give me much time to look into the place to decide if I actually wanted to go there. Some people found out sooner either because they had to leave early or the school wanted to meet them / speak to them first.

My advice is to look into the placement and the area and if you don't want to go simply pester them into making them change it. They'll tell you all kinds of stories about how they've had good feedback from previous teachers when they've never even sent people there and all kinds of crap. Just google the palce, find out the transport links and if you're not happy, ring, call and email them every moment of the day and they'll change it. At the end of the day, you're a paying customer and thats what you should remember.

I imagine alot of the placements you guys get will be the ones that are fillled by us now as term finishes the end of september, you got it lucky, the second semester is far easier going!

Originally Posted by Bubba

Just do a CELTA or a Trinty TESOL, whichever is easiest and cheapest whereever you are (USA ?). TEFL International is a sound program, but has attract a lot of freaks who are a bit jelaous of the owner's success.

Or have perhaps done a course with them...

Originally Posted by gotmypassport

I've been digging like crazy to get some perspective on the American TESOL Institute; most of what I have found were other people looking for the same thing. Maybe that's a good thing, as I've seen LOTS of specific info on bad programs; maybe it's a bad thing. I'm not sure but I figured this may be a good resource. They also have a "Special Thai Program" but I have not seen evidence of it being associated with or similar to TEFL International, which in my research has almost universally been panned to death.

If someone, anyone, knows anything about American TESOL Institute...please please PLEASE let me know!!!

Thank you!

I realize this is a thailand site but this post is very relative to the question above.

My Experience Dealing with the Company known as American TESOL Institute

I would first of all say Beware of possible scam or fraud.

I signed up to go to China on the special China Project.

I thought it was strange they were the only company willing to place me in a Major city without a degree given that all other programs said I would need one. But of course, wanting the experience, I turned a blind eye to my gut feeling.

I was accepted with no qualifications whatsoever. I had a brief phone interview with someone who called themselves Alex.

I was told I would be given the proper visa etc, housing and 5,000RMB (which isn't much)
I started the course in which I was told I only needed to complete half before coming and half during my teaching and I would receive the Certificate at the end.

The red flag came when my placement person "Suzy" advised me she was sending me an application for an F Visa....... It just didn't sound right. So I did some googling and found this on the Beijing Embassy Site


"Employment Visas
Working legally in China requires a “Z” Visa from a Chinese embassy or consulate. The Z visa is the only valid work visa. Sponsorship from an employer is needed in order to obtain a Z visa. There have recent restrictions on visa issuance and renewals in China. See xxxurl can be found by searching chinese embassy esl teacher xxx for more information about visa types and what information is required to obtain one.
*Prospective teachers should also be aware that working in China on any type of visa other than the Z visa, such as a tourist “L” visa or student “F” or “X” visa, is illegal and can result in large fines or even detention"

I'm not a lawyer so I will leave everyone to draw their own conclusion.

At this point I challenged "suzy" for a "z" visa. They said they had 200 teachers in China on the F visa and it was no problem.

I told them I didn't feel comfortable and I wanted a refund. They explained there is no refund due since they can employ me by sending me on an F visa and then filling "the necessary paperwork". I asked if that was an Z visa and they said no. That I would be working at different schools in rotation under someone's company. I said that I appreciated the explanation, but that I know all I would need is a landing permit in that instance and a change in residence status but what about the working Z visa?

They told me they would refund me but to call them. They told me they had Mr Jean from the Chinese Embassy there to speak to me at 2 am...how they got him so quickly I do not know...
I call.

IT IS THE SAME PERSON THAT INTERVIEWED AS ALEX PRETENDING TO BE SOMEONE ELSE.

he explains to me that the situation is not illegal....basically the whole phone call and back and forth email was to get me to either understand or not say the word "illegal" even though I was only quoting the embassy site.
he eventually Hung up on me.
I called back and got a girl that again wanted to assure me that the situation wasn't illegal and that they would give me a full refund. I told her I would appreciate it because it this point I wanted nothing to do with their company as I didn't want any trouble in a foreign country, and I'm sure many people get by with working illegal statuses and never get caught but I wasn't taking the risk.

American TESOL Institute refunded my money less 20 dollars and change. They sent a paypal payment instead of refunding the card.

My best advice is that if no one has ever heard of the company, there is a reason. It's like having no credit. It may be good it may be bad, you don't know but be cautious. You are going to another country. You are not protected by the laws of your homeland if you are in an illegal situation.
My own personal opinion is that American Tesol institute was going to place me in a dangerous and possibly illegal situation.

Thanks for the information.