Category Archives: TEFL chains

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

Who is the world's premier provider of English language instruction for adults?

Posted on 04/04/2012 by alexcase

It isn’t Wall Street “Stick Students In Front of a Computer So We Can Save On Even the Low Wages We Pay Our Teachers” Institute, is it? Or is it??

Posted in Wall Street | Comments Off on Who is the world's premier provider of English language instruction for adults?

Over 99% CELTA pass rate at St Giles International schools

Posted on 24/02/2012 by alexcase

(2011 figures, here) That’ll be another nail in the coffin of the ridiculous “I failed the CELTA because they have to fail a certain number on each course” online moans then…

Posted in CELTA, St Giles | 4 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 What do you think of the concept? You can also see all their videos here if you are thinking … Continue reading →

Posted in EF, TEFL pay | 10 Comments

Applications to EF up 30%

Posted on 08/12/2011 by alexcase

Oh dear, young Americans (and the American economy) really must be in a desperate position… Data from this bit of PR fluff pretending to be an article: Americans travel across the world for jobs

Posted in EF | Tagged | Comments Off on Applications to EF up 30%

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 | Comments Off on Substandard TEFL tied to another international sporting event

Berlitz stats

Posted on 08/10/2011 by alexcase

“The key growing markets for language training are Brazil, China and Mexico, and people in these markets are learning English,” said Rita Pauls, director of global marketing for language tuition company Berlitz, which has roughly doubled its number of students … Continue reading →

Posted in Berlitz | 2 Comments

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 →

Posted in British Council | Comments Off on Reading between the lines of the British Council corporate plan

No staff injured in British Council Kabul attack

Posted on 21/08/2011 by alexcase

My newspaper said there were doubts on the matter, but according to the British Council’s statement only security forces were affected.

Posted in British Council | Tagged | 7 Comments