TEFL Teaching

Poland

2006-08-24T23:37:00.000-07:00

AplusEnglish has an advertisement in ESLemployment, look at: http://www.eslemployment.com/dcforum/DCForumID1/727.html#It has been said that, the promises made by Mr. Patrick Harrison will not be kept by him. You should not try to get employment with this Company.
It has also been said that Mr. Patrick Harrison, Director of studies, is really Patryck Michal Hewelt. He is using a false name and the reason is obvious. He is not the Director of studies but the owner of this company. Any foreign teacher who was employed within this school did not get a contract or health insurance. He did not get a working visa. He had to work illegal. Accommodation will not be provided as promised you have to pay yourself for it. If you complain you will be fired instantly.

ITALY - NORTH

2006-08-24T23:33:00.000-07:00

The situation with the BRITISH INSTITUTES in BUSTO ARSIZIO and NOVARA, Italy, is dreadful. They have lost so many professional teachers. Teachers who are hard working, highly qualified, highly motivated and with years of business experience outside the TEFL industry and CARE about what they are doing. But eventually they leave. It's not surprising given that they are expected to work like dogs, and are treated as such.
The owner does not care if the teacher is qualified or not, and doesn’t care what the students are taught, he is only concerned that there is a ‘body’ in the classroom and he gets his money. The teachers are underpaid, when you consider how much the students are being charged, especially for business English and private one-on-one lessons, but also when compared to the current EU rates. By skimming, scamming, and lying to you, they will do whatever they can to make as much money out of you, be you teacher or student.
The owner’s smile is as fake as his Armani suits. There is no professional or logistical support whatsoever. They will not freely offer information, whether be it for visas, contracts, housing, or anything else a teacher in a new country would need.
Complaints from English students stating they learned more Spanish than English in the last few years (from prior teachers) or after three years of lessons they feel there has been no improvement and still can’t understand their teachers’ accent.
For any of those who look at this as a profession and not a ‘back packing’ opportunity, should avoid the BRITISH INSTITUTES BUSTO ARSIZIO and NOVARA (the same owner). There are many great schools in the Milan area and Italy for that matter but this school should go on the “Grey List”

Japan

2006-08-24T23:30:00.000-07:00

Here's a school to stay away from.
Read the testimonials
http://bohmereality.tripod.com
and
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=22310

THUMBS DOWN

2006-08-21T22:29:00.000-07:00

COUNTRY: Italy
PROVINCE: Piedmonte
SCHOOL: British Institutes
LOCATION: Busto Arsizio and Novara