in-person classes

Asia’s Center for TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) conducts intensive, five-week courses leading to a TESOL certificate.  This certificate is supported by Cornerstone University of Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.  For the first three weeks the classes are Monday-Friday, 8-4.  For the last two weeks, the classes are 8-12, followed by a two-hour practicum in the afternoon or evening.  This totals 120 hours in class and 20 hours of practicum (10 hours observing and 10 hours teaching).

Qualifications:  Course participants whose first language is not English must pass a two-hour English proficiency exam administered by ACT and score 550 or higher. (500-550 = probation, 480-500 = audit).  The exam schedule is arranged on a case-by-case basis.  “Native speakers” are exempted from the exam.  Participants must be at least high school graduates (some grade 11 students have been accepted) .  Applicants are also screened for goals that are compatible with Asia’s Center for TESOL goals.  

Dates: July-August each year

Location: Chiang Mai

English Test: Provided free of charge for those who don't have a formal English test score and whose first language is not English. 

Application Deadline: Up to one week before the class starts, or when the class fills up. 

*If enrollment for any particular class is less than 6 people, we reserve the right to postpone the class to the following class date. We will let students know prior to booking tickets if they are flying in to take the course, or up to two weeks before class begins.

*Do not book your return flight on Friday, the last day of class. Saturday the following day is acceptable.

Also, do not book your flight to arrive more than one month before the class begins without confirmation from this school. There are sometimes circumstances beyond our control where classes need to be postponed.

* Tuition:  In Thailand of 19,000B per student (15,000 for developing nations), or 34,000 for couples sharing textbooks.

Once a student is accepted into the course, a deposit of 1500B ($50) can be paid in person, or wired to the ACT bank: Bangkok Bank, Account name: Mrs. Melody Fern Kuka, Branch: Big C Hang Dong, Chiang Mai, Swift Code: B-KKBTHBK, Account number: 748-0-25947-7

The first textbook for the pre-class reading assignments can be either given in person or mailed directly to the student for the cost of the postage. The postage will need to be paid in advance. 1000B is requested to mail internationally, and the balance will be settled when class begins.

Textbooks: The following textbooks are included in your tuition. If you choose to buy eBooks or purchase the hard copy yourself, we will deduct our cost from your tuition.

http://anyflip.com/iltiq/fyoc/basic On this link you can flip through the pages to look at it.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14321760-the-heinle-picture-dictionary This link is to order it or look for a library that loans it out.

https://www.amazon.ca/Heinle-Picture-Dictionary-Interactive-CD-ROM/dp/0838444105 This one is to order it from Amazon either a hard copy or a CD ROM.

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/William_J_Bennett_The_Book_of_Virtues?id=9TPH7BRde7wC

https://www.amazon.ca/Book-Virtues-William-J-Bennett-ebook/dp/B003L77VHO

https://www.overdrive.com/media/144194/the-book-of-virtues Borrow it from your local library on Overdrive

https://www.christianbook.com/the-book-of-virtues-ebook/william-bennett/9781439126257/pd/9293EB

https://jonturnerhct.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/learning-teaching-by-james-scrivener.pdf is the second edition. There only hard copies for sale online.

Learning Teaching, by James Scrivener (PDF)

Contact: If you need to talk to us you can message on LINE or WhatsApp +6683 577 0082

Address and a map to the school: 209/5 Muu 3, San Pacwan, Hang Dong, Chiang Mai, on the 121 highway. Click here to see on Google Maps.

Room and board and transportation fees to and from practicums are the personal responsibility of each participant. See below for some housing options. Some possibilities for accommodation are listed below. Incidental costs such as photocopying or select teaching supplies purchase could amount up to 1000-2000B. Teachers will find a laptop computer VERY useful for their teaching preparation and research. You will also use permanent markers, and lots of poster paper. There is a printer in the classroom you can use. Scissors. There is a laminator and laminating sheets you can purchase at the school if you want to laminate your flashcards for teaching.

Class times: Class runs from 8am-4pm Monday through Friday. Students are encouraged to have no other obligations on the weekends or evenings to have time for a LOT of homework.

Supplies for class: Notebook, pen, laptop will help you a lot. Markers for making posters. Scissors. Masking tape. Highlighter if you like to use them.

Information for taxi from airport: Taxis can be booked from the airport to wherever you are staying. Just give them the address of the hotel you are staying at.

For further information please contact ACTESOL staff: infoThai@actesol.org or see our website: www.actesol.org

*Changes may occur in the schedule and fees.

Visas: Make sure to apply for your tourist visa in your country of residence. We do not supply student visas.

Please try to get a 60–90-day visa before you arrive if you are coming from outside of Thailand. If you cannot and you fly into Thailand you will be given a 30-day tourist visa. If this is the case you will need to go to the Thai immigration office during your stay to apply for an extension. The cost is (currently) 1900Bht and is now available at the Immigration office in Chiang Mai. Bring your passport, photocopy of the passport, 4x6cm photo, and fill out the form once at the immigration office. Please do not overstay your tourist visa. A fine of 500 Baht per day you overstay will need to be paid before you leave the country.

Dress Code: All students need to be aware that as “teachers” in Asia, they will need to wear dress pants and collared shirts for their teaching practicum. Blouses are fine but should not reveal cleavage or be transparent. Basically, no T-shirts. It is important to respect the culture and to dress well when in a role of responsibility such as teaching. During class they should dress nicely, not gym clothes, modest length shorts and skirts (not your Saturday kick around the house clothes). The classroom is only air-conditioned in the afternoons if the weather heats up. Otherwise, there are just ceiling fans to cool you off.

Housing Possibilities:

Please email us if you need help finding housing. Our new school is on the 121 road about 2 km from Hang Dong Road. 298/3 is the building number.

*(Recommended) GMMI Place: In World Club. 5 minutes by car to the school. Dorm style rooms. 7000B for 5 weeks including electricity and water and Wi-Fi. 15B/hour for air conditioning. The price is lower if the room is shared with another person. This would equal 120b per day, which would be about 4,000b for your stay. You can run the air conditioning for a few hours to cool the room and then use your fan. We cover the cost of the fan, but not air conditioning. If you have a roommate, you will split the cost of the air conditioning because we only charge per unit, not per person.

2nd floor = sleeps 2-4 people (2 beds in the room but 2 more beds can be added). One bathroom for several rooms.

3rd floor = rooms have 4 beds in them and can add more beds. LARGE rooms. One bathroom per room.

Each floor has a shared kitchen. You can cook your own meals, or order for delivery, or go to the local restaurants for meals. Shared bathroom. Shared laundry facilities. Sheets and towels supplied. Wi-Fi included.

Address for taxi:178/78-79 World Club Land, Moo 7, Nong Khwai, Hang Dong, Chiang Mai 50230

Please contact Kelly Shaw. Kelly's email is kshaw199568@gmail.com. It is important that you tell them that you are studying with the ASEAN Center for TESOL and that we sent you to them.

Call to All: 5 minutes by car to the school. Dorm style rooms. Contact through their office.

Cost: We charge the fee based on how many people will stay in the room and depending on their country. In this case, we will give 10% off evenly. If we said 4 people’s in the room, it will be 300Baht per person & night (For a room per night is 1200 baht)

Availability: Currently we are hosting the training, so only 2 rooms will be available on April 1- May 3. For July 1-Aug 3, you can reserve up to 6 rooms.

Meal: Because of our training, we can offer dinner only for a limited number like up to 10. FYI: There is no meal during the weekend (Sat-Sun) (Meal cost will be 70 baht)

Better Home Curtains: Has a room or two for rent. Might come down to 250/person/day for 5 weeks. (Was asking 500/day) Contact Wee at 089-8517578. I would rate it as a 1-2 star place.

Includes air conditioner, fridge, washing machine internet, water. Can order breakfast any time of day for 100B.

Baan of Dreams. พักเมืองฝัง Just down the road 50 meters from Better Home Curtains. Basic double bedroom. 1 star place.

Rooms with fan: 3500B/month. No TV or fridge?

Rooms with aircon:​9500/​5 weeks​, includes a TV and fridge​, electricity, internet, air conditioning. ​

Contact 089-4333-987 Kuhn Peem. Owner.

084-616-9805 Baa, caretaker.

Here is some more information based on questions posted by students:

What do we mean by “nice clothes” for classes: nice jeans are fine. Not raggedy, holy ones. Nice t-shirts are ok too. Collared is better.

Food: there are no facilities to cook in any of the hotels. The SVM2 has kitchen facilities. There is sometimes a small refrigerator you can keep yogurt and milk and stuff in for breakfast. Everybody just buys from the local restaurants in the area. And it is cheap.

Washing clothes: there are sometimes washing machines in your hotel, and you can rent clothes drying racks as far as I know.

Your practice teaching will not be to Christians.

Churches

There are many international churches in Chiang Mai. You can google search for them. Night Safari church is closest to the school area. House of Praise or COC (same church, 2 names) is good too. There are many.