TEFL Certification Course
Length of training: 4 weeks
Tuition: $2,095 (housing costs are not included)
With its beautiful landscapes and beaches, picturesque ports and villages, as well as its historical, archaeological and mythological heritage, beautiful Greece stuns visitors at every turn. From the smoggy city of Athens to the blindingly bright islands where ancient fragments abound to the "belly button of the cosmos" at Delphi, Greece is truly a modern-day paradise offering numerous aspects of its amazing history. With echoes of the past in the form of fallen columns on the sacred island of Delos and the famed, frescoed Minoan palaces on Crete - Greece boasts unrivalled opportunities for travel, exploration and cultural-exchanges. TEFL Institute's TEFL/TESOL program in Greece will be your passport to not just an exciting experience, but also a chance to add some international flare to both your professional, academic and personal life - offering world-recognized training/certification on the magical island of Crete.
The School
The TEFL Training school in Crete is located in the heart of the city of Hania on the North West coast of the island. Hania is Crete's second largest and most beautiful city and the island's capital until 1970. The 14th century Venetian harbor and maze of twisting streets in the old city are the most attractive and fascinating features of the town. With a population of around 70,000, Hania is large enough to boast year-round life and interest (and over 80 EFL language schools) whilst still retaining the charm of a relatively small Greek provincial town.
The school is about a five minute walk from the old harbor in the very heart of the city. Facilities include fully air-conditioned classrooms and workrooms, an extensive resource library, photocopier and computer facilities with free internet access for all students. In addition, the school is fully wireless so you may use your laptop to connect to the internet anywhere on the premises. There are also numerous plug-in points for your laptop computer if you don't have wireless capabilities. The school also has a well-equipped kitchen and laundry facility which are always free for your use at any time. Additionally, there is a large outdoor terrace with tables and chairs where you may have lunch, prepare your lessons or just relax and get some sunshine and fresh air throughout the day.
Tuition does cover:
- TEFL course fee
- Job Placement Assistance
Tuition does not cover:
- Food
- Personal Expenses
- International Flights
- Visa (must obtain in advance)
- Immunization
- Accommodation for the four weeks of the course (shared room)
- Airport pick-up
Room/Food
We offer fully furnished apartments with kitchenettes for your stay during the course. The apartments have a sea view and are located just 100 meters from a beautiful beach. Accommodation is normally available from the Sunday before the start until the Saturday after the completion of your TEFL course. If you are arriving earlier than this or wish to stay longer, please just let us know and this can normally be arranged for a small extra fee of 10 euros per night.
We can normally arrange either private or shared accommodation. Please specify your preference on your application; every attempt will be made to honor your request, but places are allotted on a first-come, first-served basis. If you elect to live in a shared-bedroom apartment, you will always be matched with a room-mate of the same gender, and usually of a similar age to yourself. Smoking preferences are taken into account as much as possible.
If you are attending the course with a friend or partner and wish to share accommodation, just let us know in advance and it can be arranged.
* Single rooms available with 100-euro supplement
The apartments offer:
- Fully equipped kitchenette
- Private bathroom
- Large balconies with patio furniture
- Sea view Pool and garden with sun lounges
- Central lounge with TV and telephone
Please note that during the summer months of July, August and September, when demand for beachfront accommodation is at its height, it's important to book early to reserve your room and a spot on the course!
Greek cuisine comes in many shapes, forms, and varieties to keep even the most demanding traveler satisfied. Popular Greek foods include: Greek salad, fresh fish (of almost any kind), calamari squid (fried or sautéed with onions and red wine), gyros (gee'ros), octopus grilled on charcoal with lemon, spinach pie (spanakopita), and cheese pie (tyropita). NOTE: food is the responsibility of the participant.
About Crete
Wherever you decide to do your TEFL course, you are unlikely to find a more charming and beautiful location than Crete. From the life and vitality of the old town of Iraklion to the medieval mountain villages, from the sun-drenched sandy beaches with their all-year-round sunshine to the Minoan ruins of Knossos - Crete seems to offer everything. The wild landscapes of the interior and the majestically unspoiled trekking opportunities of the nearby Samaria Gorge make you forget sometimes that you are never more than a few miles from a palm-fringed beach.
The largest of the Greek islands is cheaply and easily reachable by ferry from Athens. Just book a ferry in Athens and you'll be cruising across the Aegean en route to Chania's old port, where you'll be met on arrival and taken to your accommodation. Alternatively, there are a wide range of package deals available during the summer months which will take you to the island directly by air via Athens or other European cities, which is the fastest and easiest way to reach Chania. We also arrange a pickup in Athens on the Saturday prior to each course start date for anyone who finds it easier to simply fly into Athens. One of our staff will then escort you across to Crete on the boat.
Greece today is also the centre of the one of the largest TEFL-teaching markets in the world. With over 6,000 language schools (including many on Crete itself), the massive demand for qualified native-speaking teachers can allow a wonderful wealth of teaching opportunities. The network of boat services connecting the Aegean islands means that such other exotic locations as Rhodes, Santorini and Kos are all within cheap and easy reach.
Weekends are free except for the course project and we run a variety of social programs to some of the most fascinating parts of the island of Crete. These include (but are not necessary limited to) a trek down the Samaria Gorge, visits to the beaches of Elafonisi, Falasarna and Gramvousa, trips to the Minoan ruins of Knossos (home of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur) and stays is one or more of the small villages on the South coast of the island where you can experience some more traditional Greek life, music, food and ambience is a relaxed and beautiful setting. All elements of the social program are of course optional.
Arrival Information
All participants should arrive at the Chania International airport or Chania Ferry Port (Souda). Participants are encouraged to arrive a couple of days prior to their designated start date to ensure their familiarization of the wondrous city of Chania as well as become acquainted with their fellow colleagues as they attempt to settle in.
Transfer from Airport to Accommodations
Getting here is not quite as straightforward as, say, to Prague or Barcelona. However, we've done everything we can to make it as simple and inexpensive for you as possible and we think you'll agree on arriving that it's worth the effort!
We recommend that you book a flight into Athens International Airport (E. Venizelos) on either the Friday or the Saturday before the course start date (always a Monday). Our office in Greece can then arrange hostel (or hotel if preferred) accommodation near the centre of Athens (in Plaka, under the Akropolis) on the Friday/Saturday night. Our office in Crete can arrange to meet you in Athens on the Saturday prior to each course start date and arrange to escort you across to Crete: transport is normally by Ferry from Piraeus on the Saturday (Ferry leaves 4pm and arrives in Hania about 10pm), and you'd then be taken directly to your accommodation on arrival here. If you prefer to fly directly into Hania (recommended if you don't enjoy sea travel or if you have a large amount of luggage to carry) then we can of course meet you on arrival at Hania airport at any time.
During the summer months there are a wide range of charter flight companies flying directly into Hania from most European destinations. If you need any help in book a flight or in arranging somewhere to stay in Athens for a night or two (if you're arriving there early) please just let us know.
Internet/Telephone/Medical Facilities
TEFL Institute's TEFL school is located in the heart of Chania - offering such modern amenities including internet, telephone, and medical facilities located throughout the city. This particular institution is very close to some of the biggest travel agencies as well as banks, post offices, pharmacies, shops, restaurants and bars. In the TEFL school, the computers offer high-speed internet around the clock.
Climate
Greece is ideal for individuals who enjoy basking in the sun - more than 2/3 of the year, the blue-filled skies are clear and sunny. Winters are somewhat cold and rainy, yielding colder temperatures.
Crete stays warm the longest - you can swim off its southern coast from mid-April to November. Mid-October is when the rainy seasons starts in most areas, and the weather stays cold and wet until February, although there are also occasional winter days with clear blue skies and sunshine.
Chania - and its 300 days of sunshine - enjoys one of the healthiest climates in Europe. The temperate Mediterranean climate prevails in most regions of the island, while in winter months there is substantial snowfall in the highest mountainous regions. Rainfall is also quite substantial. Quite often during summer months, a hot wind (know as 'livas') blows across the city. In summation, the climate is relatively mild.
During the fall and winter months, north and northwest winds dominate - while in the summer the ill winds make it enjoyable. But the divine gift of the eternal sunshine allows one to start their vacation from March and end it at the end of October. Chania has the largest amount of water in Crete (65%), and for this there is rich vegetation of plants and fruitful trees (citrus trees, olives, vines etc.) as well as semitropical. The always-pristine and clean beaches of Chania - which are awarded the "Blue Flag" nearly every year (a reward given to maritime resorts befitting the highest qualities set forth by the Foundation for Environmental Education) - are accessible for all ages throughout the year.
What is the cost of living in Chania?
In Crete, the cost of living is approximately the same as in any other European country.
Greece Crete TEFL certificationHere are some typical prices listed in Euros (€1 approx $1.30):
- One month rent in a single or shared hotel apartment, €400 or €350
- Lunch (in a restaurant): €6.50
- One in-city bus ticket: €0.65
- Beer (in a bar): €1.25
- Sandwich : €1.80
- Cigarettes: €2.50
How much work is involved with the course?
The course is very intensive and requires a strong commitment by the student. One can expect to be in class for about eight hours a day along with a few hours of work at home. We recommend that trainees have no other personal or professional commitments outside the course during the four (4) weeks of training.
Who are the practice students?
The students are usually Greek speakers that attend these free English classes with complete awareness that they will be taught by novice teachers. The class sizes vary, but will never exceed 14.
From the life and vitality of the old town of Hania to the medieval mountain villages, from the sun-drenched sandy beaches with their all-year-round sunshine to the Minoan ruins of Knossos - Crete seems to offer everything. The wild landscapes of the interior and the majestically unspoiled trekking opportunities of the nearby Samaria Gorge make you forget sometimes that you are never more than a few miles from a palm-fringed beach.
The largest of the Greek islands is cheaply and easily reachable by flight or ferry from Athens. Flights from Athens to Chania (airport code: CHQ) are reasonably priced, leave several times a day and take just 40 minutes. Fast and slow ferries are also available if you would prefer to take your time and cruise across the Aegean to Chania's local port. Upon arriving in Chania, you will be met by a member of our staff at the airport or ferry port and transferred to your beachfront accommodation. We will have everything arranged to welcome you to Crete and ensure a stress-free arrival.
Greece today is also the centre of the largest TEFL-teaching market in the world. With over 6,000 language schools (including many on Crete itself), the massive demand for qualified native-speaking teachers can allow a wonderful wealth of teaching opportunities. The network of boat services connecting the Aegean islands means that such other exotic locations as Rhodes, Santorini and Kos are all within cheap and easy reach
Visitor information:
http://www.chaniacrete.gr