Category Archives: TEFL chains

China Radio International investigation of EF

Posted on 30/11/2013 by alexcase

Some of the criticism is a bit random, but the reports of refusing refunds and Western-looking but non-native teachers seem genuine: Behind the Foreign Brand Name (radio programme and transcript) – LINK DEAD

Posted in EF, Teaching English in China | 5 Comments

Criticism of outsourcing to British Council in Punjab and Malaysia

Posted on 23/10/2013 by alexcase

I’m not sure how seriously the criticism can be taken, seeing as it comes from a local teaching union and an opposition party, probably the two kinds of people who are most likely to protest all changes. Still, that of … Continue reading →

Posted in British Council | Leave a comment

How would Scottish independence affect the British Council?

Posted on 23/09/2013 by alexcase

The only thing I could think of is that the rump British Council might start skipping that Headway unit about Hamish McSporran the man with twelve jobs. Sure there must be more serious possible consequences though, and the BC page … Continue reading →

Posted in British Council | 3 Comments

Launch of British Council Aptis test today

Posted on 14/09/2012 by alexcase

… making it, I imagine, the biggest example of the British Council both supporting and competing with other British-owned ELT organisations, for better or worse, but not much info online in English yet: A very short announcement on The Times … Continue reading →

Posted in British Council, EFL exams | 3 Comments

British Council to fund 50% of 100 TEFL course places

Posted on 19/06/2012 by alexcase

Restricted to unemployed people (in the last three years, whatever that means) and UK-based CELTA and Trinity CertTESOL courses: English teaching graduate scheme – LINK DISAPPEARED My first reactions are: – Why? – If you are so skint you can’t … Continue reading →

Posted in British Council, Teacher training | Leave a comment

Should International House and the British Council get out of Syria?

Posted on 20/04/2012 by alexcase

Quite apart from whatever risk there might be of teachers being trapped there if things really blow up (as very nearly happened in Libya), there must be some point at which the positive impact organisations can make by leaving as a protest … Continue reading →

Posted in British Council, International House | 3 Comments

Is a TEFL diploma worth more than a relevant MA?

Posted on 04/01/2012 by alexcase

EF in China and most British Council branches think so (though they are both involved in running diploma courses), whereas I don’t know of a single university which would agree (though they are all involved in peddling MAs). I have … Continue reading →

Posted in British Council, Cambridge Delta, Diploma in TESOL, EF, MA TESOL | 32 Comments

Can performance-related pay work in TEFL?

Posted on 02/01/2012 by alexcase

EF think so. The way they do it with young learner teachers in China is explained here: Kids performance management system – LINK DISAPPEARED What do you think of the concept?

Posted in EF, TEFL pay | 10 Comments

Substandard TEFL tied to another international sporting event

Posted on 29/10/2011 by alexcase

That’s right, EF (“EF English Frenchfries – the world’s most notorious ‘educational’ group”) have proven that they are indeed the Macdonalds of TEFL by being signed up to teach the entire population of Tatarstan before the Sochi Winter Olympic Games … Continue reading →

Posted in EF, Teaching English in Russia | Leave a comment

Reading between the lines of the British Council corporate plan

Posted on 29/09/2011 by alexcase

I don’t envy the British Council management, what with having to cope with a 26% percent cut (in real terms) in government funding and no government guidance on what they are supposed to be for. However, given their influence on the … Continue reading →

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