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Santorini is many peoples’ idea of the quintessential greece. The picture postcard island of Santorini is the last of the Cyclades islands to the South. The closests islands are Ios, Folegandros, Sikinos to the North, Anafi and Amorgos to the East and Crete to the South.

Generally referred to it as a single island, Santorini is actually a series of five islands. Santorini (Thira) is the main island and around it Thirasia and Aspronisi (parts of the ancient Stroggili) and the two volcanic islands Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni.

Until about 1645 BC, Santorini was one island named Stroggili (circle in Greek), until the volcano in the middle of the island erupted and Caldera was created. The two volcanic islands appeared much later from various eruptions starting from 157 BC until the last one in the 20th century (1950).

Jules Verne made Santorini famous with his books ""Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea"" and ""The Mysterious Island"" where captain Nemo and his crew watch the volcano erupt. He was one of the visitors and scientists that came to Thira during the eruptions of 1866 - 1870 and wrote the now famous novel soon after. It really is a mysterious island! The volcano dominates the area, and the caldera view is the most breathtaking one on the planet.

The Santorini Caldera view is famed for the 85-meter cliffs that many of the island's villages are built on top of, offering sea views for miles out. The cliff is the wall of a submerged volcano crater caused by the cataclysmic eruption of the volcano around 3000 BC. In addition to creating the best views of the Aegean Sea for present day visitors to enjoy, this eruption caused the demise of the Minoan civilization.

Steeped in history, Santorini has plenty of archaeological sites to visit, including the ruins of Ancient Thira, Akrotiri and the Venetian fortress at Pirgos.

Santorini also offers unique accommodation, inspired by the distinct Santorinian-style, and on the south side of the island there are stunning beaches with plenty of beach sports and activities available. On the highest peak of Santorini is the monastery of the Prophet Elijah (Profitis Ilias), where there is a picturesque religious feast on 20th July each year.

Why complete a TEFL course in Santorini?

The School

The TEFL International Santorini center is conveniently situated in Messaria, just two miles from the main town of Thira, within easy reach of all the amenities. Messaria is a traditional village two miles South-East of Thira, the main town of Santorini. With a mixture of white Cycladic-style houses in narrow lanes and neo-classical buildings set among vineyards, it is one of the most picturesque villages of Santorini.

The accessibility of this prime location means that you can be in Thira or on any of the island’s superb beaches within a few minutes. Supermarkets, bakeries, restaurants, car and scooter rentals, and bus stops with direct services to all parts of the island are all close to hand.

The TEFL training center is housed in a small private school of English in the main street of Messaria, and teaching practice takes place on the premises. The school has a very high standard of equipment, including a computer room and interactive whiteboards in the classrooms. Teaching practice is with classes and small groups of Greek children and teenagers, providing you with the real teaching experience you need to prepare you for your first teaching job after the course.

Why choose Santorini?

• Teaching practice with real Greek learners of English prepares you for the reality of the classroom. You’ll be teaching children and teenagers like most of the TEFL learners worldwide.
• Highly experienced trainers – we have been running this course every month since 2004.
• We have a maximum of five trainees per trainer, ensuring you get plenty of individual support and feedback.
• We are in a unique position to help you find the job you want in Greece on completion of the TEFL course in Santorini, or elsewhere.
• Extensive network of partners for employment opportunities worldwide.
• Ongoing professional support and career guidance after you graduate.
• Choice of accommodation options to match your preference and budget.

Accommodation

Santorini offers all kinds of accommodation for your TEFL course , including apartments, hotels and hostels. You can choose whether you prefer to be in the center of town or on the beach. Accommodation is much less expensive outside the summer season, so this might be a factor when you chose the date to take your TEFL course.

We recommend a wide variety of TEFL course accommodation options in Santorini, including apartments, hotels and hostels offering private rooms and shared dorms. Choices depend on individual preferences and budget, number of people travelling together and time of year.

Our top recommendation is a hotel in the Karterados area, with its traditional square, tavernas and small shops. Karterados lies between Messaria, where the TEFL training center is located, and Fira, the main town of Santorini, each about ten minutes away on foot. There is also a bus stop right outside the hotel. Rates start at 20 euros per night.

There are also accommodation options in Messaria, close to the TEFL training center. Just a short bus ride from the training center, Kamari is one of the nearest beach resorts, and offers accommodation of many types at reasonable prices. Rates start at 25 euros per night including breakfast.

There is lots of inexpensive accommodation by the beach in Perissa, about five miles away to the south-east. The single occupancy rate for 25 nights starts at 287 euros, with reduced rates for sharing a room.

Course dates

Coming soon...

Please check out our other course locations if you wish to attend a course before this one becomes available...

Course fees

The total price is divided into: deposit and balance.

The deposit may be paid via a) credit card b) Paypal c) wire transfer d) Western Union.

The balance of the course fee must be paid by cash, PayPal or bank transfer directly to the training center on the first day of the course.

Accomodation Fees

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are my payment options?

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  Course deposits must be paid to our administrative center. Credit/debit card payments are the fastest and cheapest way to pay, but we also accept payments via Western Union, Pay Pal and bank transfer. While there are no deadlines for a deposit, courses can fill up quickly and your seat will only be reserved after the deposit has been paid.

  Once you make your deposit, you will receive an email with an informational packet that provides detailed information about the course and Santorini itself.

  The balance of course fees is payable in cash or by credit/debit card. Bank transfers are also possible but funds will need to be received before the first day of the course.

  Course fees are all-inclusive so you won’t be asked to pay additional costs for course related materials or services. This also includes course moderation and accreditation fees, airport pick-ups* and lifetime job assistance.

  * Airport pick-ups are available on the Saturday before the course begins.

• What are my accommodation options?

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  We recommend a wide variety of accommodation options in Santorini, including apartments, hotels and hostels offering private rooms and shared dorms. Choices depend on individual preferences and budget, the number of people travelling together and the time of year.

  The apartments each have their own kitchen and the complexes all have swimming pools. A typical example offers private en suite rooms at very reasonable rates for most of the year, but the rates are more than double in the peak season.

  For our course dates from September to May, rooms can be found for the whole month from 300 euro per person in a twin room, or 400 euro per person in a single room.

  For June 25th to July 20th, you can expect to pay around 400 euro per person in a twin room, or 600 euro per person in a single room.

  For July 30th to August 24th, you can expect to pay around 600 euro per person in a twin room, or 1000 euro per person in a single room.

  At the time of your enrollment, we will provide an extensive list of suitable accommodation and advise you on options for sharing with other trainees on the same course.

• What travel documents will I need for greece?

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  All visitors to Greece are required to carry a passport valid for at least six months after their arrival date. EU passport holders do not need a visa for Greece. American and Canadian citizens entering Greece for a period of less than 3 months require a valid passport, not a visa. For visits exceeding 3 months, authorization must be obtained in person by applying to the Aliens Bureau at least 20 days prior to the 3-month expiration date.

  Provided that your stay in Greece or the wider Schengen area is for no more than 90 days, nationals of the following countries do not require a visa to enter or transit through Greece, as long as the passport is valid for at least 3 months from the date of return from Greece:

  Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Romania, South Korea, San Marino, Singapore, United States, Uruguay, The Vatican and Venezuela.

  Citizens of all countries not mentioned above do need a visa to enter Greece.*

  * As this information is subject to change at any time, we advise you to contact your local consulate for current travel regulations prior to planning your trip. For more information on obtaining visas please check with your local Greek consulate or embassy.

• What is the course schedule?

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  The initial orientation is on Monday, on the first day of the course.

  The first class will take place on Monday morning at 9:30 a.m. The full course schedule will also be provided on Monday morning. Sessions generally run between 9:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. with appropriate breaks.

  Monday to Thursday:

  • 0930 – 1230: Input Sessions
  • 1230 – 1330: Lunch
  • 1330 – 1700: Guided Lesson Preparation Time
  • 1700 – 2000: Teaching Practice

  Friday:

  • 0930 – 1230: Input Sessions
  • 1230 – 1330: Lunch
  • 1330 – 1430: Unknown Language
  • 1430 – 1530: Job Guidance

  There are two input sessions each morning covering grammar, phonology, teaching skills and classroom management.

• What can I expect during teaching practice?

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  Teaching practice takes place in the afternoon, generally between five and eight o’clock.

  Each trainee usually teaches once per day to make up the total of ten hours during the course. Trainers provide extensive help with planning each lesson and give written feedback which forms the basis of the feedback discussion after each lesson.

  Lessons are based upon real teaching resources found all over the world and you will have the chance to create your own materials as well. You will receive the aid of your course trainer throughout lesson planning and receive immediate feedback on your lesson after it’s been delivered. Practicum is assessed and a satisfactory assessment is required to earn your TEFL/TESOL certificate.

• Who usually attends the course?

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  Most of the participants are American, British, Canadian or Australian, although we do accept non-native speakers of English who have a high proficiency in the language.

• Is there a dress code?

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  For all input and tutorial sessions at the training location, there is only one specific dress requirement: Both men and women should have a shirt covering their shoulders. The course operates from within a school so we ask you to be mindful of this, as well as being mindful of your peers and to respect the fact that you are a visitor in another country.

  During teaching practice there are specific requirements that adhere to the local dress code. All trainees are expected to dress professionally according to the following guidelines:

  Women: Shoulders should be covered, blouses with sleeves are suggested. No low-cut necklines, very short skirts or bare midriffs. Open-toed shoes are acceptable, but not hiking or flip-flop sandals.

  Men: Long pants, slacks or trousers are required, jeans are not acceptable. Short or long-sleeved shirts with a collar are necessary, although a tie is not required. Loafers or dress shoes are both fine, sandals are not acceptable. Long hair should always be tied back.

• What should I bring for course studies?

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  Please be sure to arrive on the first day of the course with a notebook and a pen. We also encourage you to bring a laptop as we have Wi-Fi at the training center. We will provide all course materials for you so there is no need to bring anything else for the course itself.