Category Archives: TEFL scams

How’s your ultimate job and/ or life going?

Not got either, you say? Well, maybe you should try a job with is “the most exciting employment opportunity of your life” which is “not hard” and “pays well”. Apparently you can “forget the commute, over-time …missed lunches… jammed photocopiers and … Continue reading

Posted in Bruce Veldhuisen, Dodgy TEFL courses, finding good TEFL jobs, first TEFL job, links, Teacher training, Teaching English Abroad, Teaching English in Thailand, TEFL, TEFL career planning, TEFL celebs/ TEFL heroes and villains, TEFL certificate, TEFL International, TEFL qualifications, TEFL scams, TEFL working conditions, TESOL | Tagged | 2 Comments

Letter from a reader- DoSs as a sociological curiosity

“Hi Alex, I am currently researching the TEFL industry from a sociological perspective, and notice that you seem to be quite prominent in discussing the more social phenomena of the industry on blogs, etc. As someone who has been involved … Continue reading

Posted in Becoming a Director of Studies, Dodgy TEFL school owners, ELT management, Teaching English Abroad, TEFL career planning, TEFL scams | 6 Comments

A bit of TEFL justice

Paul Lowe and his former sidekick Ashley Arnold have been given fines, community service and (for Paul) a suspended sentence for the notorious time when Windsor Schools took money off students for a Trinity TESOL course knowing full well that … Continue reading

Posted in British Council accreditation, Cambridge ESOL, CELTA, Dodgy TEFL courses, Dodgy TEFL school owners, Teacher training, TEFL, TEFL certificate, TEFL in the UK, TEFL qualifications, TEFL scams, TEFL villains- Paul Lowe, Trinity, Trinity CertTESOL, Windsor Schools, Windsor TEFL | 7 Comments

How to really improve the standard of TEFL courses

The Guardian reports (uncritically, as ever when it comes to TEFL) on the setting up of yet another organisation meant to, apparently, boost the standards of TEFL in the UK- this one called The Association for the Promotion of Quality … Continue reading

Posted in British Council, British Council accreditation, Cambridge ESOL, CELTA, Dodgy TEFL courses, Guardian TEFL, links, Teacher training, TEFL, TEFL certificate, TEFL in the UK, TEFL qualifications, TEFL scams, TESOL, Trinity, Trinity CertTESOL | 6 Comments

An interview with Bruce V of TEFL International Part 5

This is pretty old now as it was part of the same interview that eventually became Parts One, Two, Three and Four. Unlike them, I couldn’t be bothered updating or sending the third set of follow up questions this time, … Continue reading

Posted in Bruce Veldhuisen, Cambridge ESOL, CELTA, Dave Sperling's ESL Cafe, Dodgy TEFL courses, Dodgy TEFL school owners, Teacher forums, Teacher training, Teaching English Abroad, Teaching English in Thailand, TEFL, TEFL celebs/ TEFL heroes and villains, TEFL certificate, TEFL chains, TEFL forums, TEFL International, TEFL qualifications, TEFL scams, TEFL School Reviews, TEFLwatch, Trinity, Trinity CertTESOL | Tagged | 9 Comments

TEFL jobs glossary

“Enthusiastic” = Will work split shifts without complaint “Energetic” = Won’t get sick just because of a lot of work and lack of holidays “Passionate” = Will act like a clown in kids’ classes to make up for a complete … Continue reading

Posted in Cambridge ESOL, CELTA, Dodgy TEFL school owners, finding good TEFL jobs, first TEFL job, TEFL career planning, TEFL certificate, TEFL qualifications, TEFL scams | 8 Comments

What to Do If You’ve Been Had by Your TEFL Course

A guest piece by “TEFLista” “No doubt about it, being ripped off sucks. And that goes double for TEFL cert courses. Putting your life on hold, flying to a foreign destination, and setting up temporary accommodation are all part of … Continue reading

Posted in Dodgy TEFL courses, Online TEFL certificate, Teaching English Abroad, TEFL, TEFL certificate, TEFL qualifications | Tagged | 4 Comments

It’s all down to us, guys

If I heard correctly, last week’s edition of Law in Action included the statistic that 43 of 44 police authorities in the UK do not investigate or prosecute fraud. There are other bodies that do, but they focus very much … Continue reading

Posted in Dave Sperling's ESL Cafe, EL Gazette, Guardian TEFL, links, Teacher forums, Teaching English Abroad, TEFL, TEFL blacklist, TEFL blogs, TEFL in the UK, TEFL scams, TEFL School Reviews, Windsor Schools | 2 Comments

Craptus TEFL and the Guardian are up to their tricks again

“It’s also worth remembering that in some places in the world your online certificate will actually be enough to get you work. These tend to be places where there is a huge demand for teachers, and where any Tefl qualification … Continue reading

Posted in Cactus TEFL, Dodgy TEFL courses, Global TESOL, Guardian TEFL, TEFL, TEFL certificate, TEFL qualifications, Trinity CertTESOL | 3 Comments

Bruce Veldhuisen of TEFL International Interview Part 4

Or do I mean part 40? Anyhow, this was basically completed months ago, but did nag Bruce into answering a couple of extra questions that had occured to me since and got his reply last week. I still think there are … Continue reading

Posted in Bruce Veldhuisen, Cambridge ESOL, Dodgy TEFL courses, Dodgy TEFL school owners, IATQUO, Teacher training, Teaching English Abroad, Teaching English in Thailand, TEFL, TEFL celebs/ TEFL heroes and villains, TEFL certificate, TEFL International, TEFL qualifications, TEFL scams | Tagged | 108 Comments