Home / Nepal / Kathmandu

nepal, birthplace of the Buddha, truly is a special place. Nestled along the uniquely impressive and world-renowned Himalayan mountain range, Nepal is a mystical country of warm-hearted people, time-worn temples and an incredibly diverse geography. Its landscape is incredible, boasting some of the best walking trails on the planet. Although Nepal isn’t particularly well-off in financial terms, the country’s welcoming and friendly people, landscape, traditions, religions and culture all culminate; for many, one visit is simply not enough.

From the awe-inspiring Himalayas to the lush green national parks, the countless temples and pagodas to the bustling markets, street sellers, and clubs and bars of Kathmandu, Nepal has something for everyone, and for most visitors to Nepal, something about its scenery, people, traditions or culture lingers with them long after they've moved on.

Eight out of ten of the world's highest peaks are found in Nepal, including the world's highest - Mount Everest, at 8850 meters. Nepal is the top of the world!

The tefl international TEFL course in Nepal is in Kathmandu. With a population of half a million people, Kathmandu is Nepal's biggest and most cosmopolitan city, a meeting place of a dozen ethnic groups, and the home town of the Newars, Nepal's master craftsmen and traders extraordinaire. It was trade that created Kathmandu, and for at least a thousand years it controlled the most important caravan route between Tibet and india. No wonder perhaps, that Kathmandu has so completely embraced the tourist business.

Tradition says that old Kathmandu was laid out in the shape of a khukuri knife. Positioned at what would be the hilt of the knife is Durbar Square - a relentless carnival set amidst temples, monuments and the Fonner royal palace while the city's oldest neighborhoods stretch northeast and southwest. New Road, the city's best-known shopping street, runs east from the square. Kathmandu's budget hotels are concentrated in two areas: Thamel, north of Durbar Square in a new part of town, and Jhochhen, (better known as Freak Street!), immediately south of the square.

Suburban Kathmandu sprawls mainly east of Kantipath, the main north-south thoroughfare, and is dominated by two landmarks, the Royal Palace and the Tundikhel (parade ground) .Most of the expensive hotels, restaurants and airline offices huddle together along Durbar Marg, the broad boulevard running south from the palace gate. West of the Bishnumati River is not, strictly speaking, part of Kathmandu, but the hilltop temple of Swayambhu is close enough to be reached easily on foot.

You certainly won’t be short of ideas for weekend activities, or onward travel, either before, during or after your TEFL course in Nepal:

• Kayaking, rafting, canyoning, climbing, mountain biking, or trekking
• Visit the world's largest stupa in Bouddha, the religious centre of Tibetan exiles living in Nepal, and Nepal's most important Hindu temple, Pashupatina
• Head for the hills and enjoy mountain views at Nagarkote or Dhulikheal
• Take a mountain flight and get a spectacular view of the Himalayas
• Village home stay: Visit the village, spend time with the villagers, have lunch and dinner, stay in a traditional village home, visit a school the next day
• Patan - wander the streets and stumble across some of Patan's 600 stupas and 185 bahals (Buddhist monasteries), watch handicrafts being made, visit Durbar Square, the Royal Palace, Patan Museum or the zoo
• Kathmandu - explore the Old City, markets, Durbar Square, the Royal Palace, the National Museum, Swayambhunath (monkey temple), see Tibetan carpets being made
• Kirtipur - enjoy a traditional Newari food and music experience and mountain views
• Bhaktapur - wander the cobble-stoned streets of this timeless, traffic free town and peruse the many handicrafts on offer
• Take a yoga or meditation class, or learn about Tibetan Buddhism

The School

The TEFL training centre in Nepal is situated in Central Kathmandu. The TEFL school is complete with classrooms and all the facilities that you will need during your TEFL course, with hot and cold water on hand for drinks. There's a little tea-shop downstairs that makes simple Nepali meals, plus a wide range of local shops and restaurants nearby.

Accommodation

We can book accommodation for you in our preferred hotels in Kathmandu. You are, of course, more than welcome to make your own accommodation arrangements.

Accommodation is available at a range of prices, according to the standard of hotel and the type of room you prefer. Prices for a Basic Option hotel start at around $407 per month (for a single, non-AC room). Prices for a Standard Option hotel start at $559 per month (for a single, non-AC room). Please note that these prices exclude government taxes and service charges.

Typically, a room in either a Basic or Standard Option hotel will have single, double or twin beds, a wardrobe, a small desk, and a private bathroom with shower. Some rooms may have a TV. All rooms have hot water. The difference between the Basic and Standard options is predominantly the facilities the hotel offers, and the general standard of the hotel, although we are happy with the cleanliness and standard of all hotels we accommodate you in.

All hotels have a restaurant, room service, laundry, room cleaning, and all have at least one outside space area (a garden, balcony, or roof terrace). Some have internet services and Wi-Fi. Your Course Administrator will send you all these details.

Some of the accommodation is a 15 minute walk from the centre. Some hotels are a little further away - about a 30 minute walk. Book early to get the hotel of your choice!

Course dates

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

The accommodation fees are not part of the course price and you are free to choose whichever accommodation option you prefer.

If you choose to use our accommodation, it should be paid for either by cash, PayPal or bank transfer directly to the school at the start of the course.

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 Kathmandu itself.

  The balance of the course fees must be paid in cash in USD or Nepali currency in Kathmandu. All payments must be received by the end of lunch on the first day of the 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.

  * All the hotels we use for your accommodation provide free airport pick-up services. You will therefore be met by a driver at the airport and be taken directly to your hotel.

• What are my accommodation options?

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  We can book accommodation for you in our preferred hotels in Kathmandu. You are, of course, more than welcome to make your own accommodation arrangements. After you have secured your place on the course we will provide full accommodation details and ask you to fill in an accommodation preference form. All payments are made directly to the hotel by cash or credit card either on arrival or on departure.

  We can offer you a range of prices according to the standard of hotel and the type of room you would like to book. Prices for a basic hotel start at US$ 407 per month (for a single, non-AC room). Prices for a standard hotel start at US$ 559 per month (for a single, non-AC room).

  Typically, a room in either a basic or standard option hotel will have single, double or twin beds, a wardrobe, a small desk and a private bathroom with shower. Some rooms may have a TV. All rooms have hot water. The difference between the basic and standard options is predominantly the facilities the hotel offers and the general standard of the hotel; although we are happy with the cleanliness and standard of all hotels we accommodate you in.

• What is the course schedule?

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  We hold an orientation session at 9:00 a.m. on the first day of the course. We recommend that you arrive in Kathmandu at least one day before in order to familiarize yourself with your surroundings and at least un-pack your bags before orientation.

  Class-time is generally from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. five days a week (Monday to Friday) with breaks in between classes. A typical day in the classroom consists of four 1.5 hour ‘inputs’. Approximately six-eight days will be spent preparing and undertaking your teaching practice sessions. Course timetables will be distributed during the first input session on the first day of the course.

• What can I expect during teaching practice?

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  Your teaching practice will be conducted in a range of local governmental and private, primary and secondary schools and in some instances we may be teaching at orphanages, colleges and other institutions.

  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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  We average eight trainees on each course. The majority of trainees are British or American, while many others come from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, South Africa and the Philippines. Occasionally, we do get fluent non-native English speakers from Western Europe, Scandinavia, India, China, Thailand, etc. Trainees must be 18 years of age or older and the age range varies greatly depending on the course.

• Is there a dress code?

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  There are no specific dress requirements for the input sessions held at the training centre. We do, however, ask you to be respectful of the country that you are in and ask you to dress in a modest fashion (no miniskirts, short shorts, low-cut tops etc.).

  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 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.