Trainees

For trainees Island TEFL isn’t a complete scam.  You will almost certainly get some kind of course and a certificate at the end.  Probably a job placement too. It’s just that it won’t be anywhere near up to the standards you might have expected.  The system Island TEFL uses is first to get people to enrol and then organise the course afterwards.  Remember, Island TEFL have no permanent premises.  This invariably means the course will be makeshift in nature.  For example, Philip Dunne may hold the course in nothing more than a hotel room. Usually, he tries to rent another school’s premises and present it as a "partnership".  Sometimes it comes off well, other times it flops.  It’s very hit and miss in nature.  It’s much better for potential trainees to enrol with a school that is organised and functions properly.

That's for the main course.  But Philip Dunne also has his "placement" programmes.  And these are real scams, because if you have a TEFL certificate you can apply direct to any of the major placement agencies in Thailand and they will give you an orientation course for free.  They will probably also give a better course. Philip Dunne might even simply hand you over to them. Knowledge is power, and it's people's ignorance of this that enables Philip Dunne to exploit them.  For example, I doubt if the University of San Diego realise that they could send their TEFL graduates straight to Thailand without using Island TEFL in a middle man role.  Island TEFL is not a placement agency in its own right but has to refer students to the agency.  You could save yourself an extra $500 with this knowledge.

The Island TEFL certificate will certainly not get you a job on the international stage.  If you go to Europe, for example, or try a big name private school, they will laugh at the Island TEFL certificate.  Teaching experience and a good reference from a school you've worked at is more likely to help you progress.  The best thing is to take the plunge and go for a full CELTA or Trinity Certificate, both of which really do have international validity.  TEFL is a shady world with lots of unscrupulous people trying to make money out of you.  If all you want, however, is a short term job in a Thai school, the Island TEFL course may be sufficient. 

Another important thing trainee teachers need to know is that since the military coup, they're getting much stricter about people working without the correct visa.  That's why Russians in particular need to be careful.  As Russians are not native speakers, they will have to work illegally on Ed Visas.  They probably will not get caught, but they should at least be aware of the danger.  Also, if they have any problem with the school they are working in, their negotiating position will be weak.