Category Archives: EF

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

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

Host family horror stories

Posted on 30/07/2009 by alexcase

Actually, this very nice article on EF and Kaplan in California  is far more fair than my scandal raking post title (note to The Guardian- real journalism on TEFL is possible!), but thought it might be a good chance to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural differences/ cultural training, EF, Kaplan, links, Teaching English Abroad, TEFL chains, TESOL in the US | 1 Comment

Maybe British host families aren't the worst

Posted on 20/05/2009 by alexcase

This American family borrowed 1000 dollars off their Norweigan exchange student and then he got booted out of the country! Still, I still think host families in London win the prize. One Brazilian student told a hilarious story of rushing … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural differences/ cultural training, EF, links, TEFL, TEFL chains, TEFL in the UK | Tagged | 2 Comments

How to spot a bad TEFL job Part One

Posted on 05/05/2009 by alexcase

– Job ads that start with descriptions of the place instead of the school. Here is a particularly extreme example: “You may have heard of the world-famous Bogor Botanic Garden in Java, Indonesia. This is Indonesia’s first and foremost botanic … Continue reading →

Posted in EF, first TEFL job, Teaching English in Asia, Teaching English in Indonesia, Technology, TEFL, TEFL career planning, TEFL chains, TEFL working conditions | 4 Comments

7 things you probably didn’t know about me

Posted on 01/02/2009 by alexcase

1. Dave Sperling still owes me ten Euros he borrowed off me at the TESOL Spain conference 2. The EF school in Eastbourne had the alternative word for the “F” part of its sign that me and my friends graffitied … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge Delta, EF, EFL geek, IATEFL, Teacher forums, TEFL blogs, TEFL chains, TEFL heroes- Jeremy Harmer, TEFL heroes- Michael Swan, TEFL heroes- Sandy McManus, TEFL heroes- Scott Thornbury, TEFL Tradesman, TEFL villains- Jennifer Jenkins | Tagged | 23 Comments