Category Archives: TEFL working conditions

23 Experiences of Language Teaching

Posted on 22/11/2008 by alexcase

Finished reading the Experience of Language Teaching a week or two ago, and here are some of my favourite quotes: on continuous enrollment “like teaching on a moving bus, or in the middle of a railway station, with people coming … Continue reading →

Posted in CELTA, Cultural differences/ cultural training, Experience of Language Teaching, Grammar, Lesson planning, MA TESOL, Problem students, Teacher training, Teaching young learners, TEFL, TEFL games, TEFL in the UK, TEFL qualifications, TEFL working conditions, textbooks | Tagged | 6 Comments

TEFL scabs

Posted on 05/10/2008 by alexcase

Seems that there is an interesting TEFL strike story going on right on my doorstep that I hadn’t even heard about, including loads of juicy controversy. You can see the recent open letter by the leader of the Berlitz strike … Continue reading →

Posted in Berlitz, David English House, Eikaiwa, English Teachers in Japan, JALT, Job security, links, Teacher associations, Teaching English Abroad, Teaching English in Asia, Teaching English in Japan, TEFL, TEFL chains, TEFL conferences, TEFL strikes, TEFL unions, TEFL working conditions | 3 Comments

Do you want the temporary buzz of moving on and/ or up too?

Posted on 21/09/2008 by alexcase

Doesn’t last of course, especially the initial thrill of being in the chaos of a third world city or in the chaos left for you by the last person who had that DoS job, but if having some kind of … Continue reading →

Posted in Becoming a Director of Studies, becoming a teacher trainer, Business English and ESP, CPD, EFL exams, ELT management, ELT publishing, finding good TEFL jobs, getting into ELT publishing, Lesson observations, links, Materials, Peer observations, Teacher training, Teaching English in Asia, TEFL, TEFL career planning, TEFL CV/ TESOL resume, TEFL qualifications, TEFL reviews, TEFL working conditions, TEFL workshops, TESOL, Usingenglish | Tagged | 2 Comments

Another 25 quotes from advertising for schools with a quality disability

Posted on 21/09/2008 by alexcase

70. “If you want to chatter away in your own language, what the hell- you’re paying!” 71. “We’ve found the dead rat under classroom 7B” 72. “We will keep your teacher’s passport until you pass the FCE” 73. “You just never know what will … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgy TEFL school owners, Teaching English Abroad, TEFL, TEFL chains, TEFL in the UK, TEFL working conditions | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The dream dictionary for TEFL teachers

Posted on 15/09/2008 by alexcase

What elements of your dreams tell you about your TEFLing future: Suddenly realising you have no clothes on – you will realise halfway through your next improvised grammar explanation that it doesn’t make any sense   Water – You will … Continue reading →

Posted in Grammar, Teaching English Abroad, Teaching English in Spain, TEFL working conditions, Warmers | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Another 25 extracts from the brochures of crappy English schools

Posted on 10/09/2008 by alexcase

45. “Our incompetent teachers will make you feel better about yourself” 46. “Certificate of achievement for all students who are actually still around at the end of the course” 47. “Guaranteed students who are a much higher level in each class to explain … Continue reading →

Posted in Job security, Teaching English Abroad, TEFL, TEFL chains, TEFL scams, TEFL working conditions, TESOL | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Slogans for crap English schools

Posted on 07/09/2008 by alexcase

1. “Officially the blondest teachers of any school in Japan/ China/ Taiwan etc” 2. “We’ve never changed because we are perfect” 3. “Come and see the new batch of teachers, fresh off the plane” 4. “The youth of our teachers … Continue reading →

Posted in Humanistic language teaching, Job security, Teaching English Abroad, Teaching English in Asia, Teaching English in Europe, TEFL, TEFL working conditions, TESOL | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Confucius's lessons for English teachers

Posted on 19/08/2008 by alexcase

…from the Analects’ very opening lines: “Isn’t it a pleasure when you can make practical use of the things you have studied? Isn’t it a pleasure to have an old friend visit from afar? Isn’t it the sure sign of … Continue reading →

Posted in Business English and ESP, Cultural differences/ cultural training, ELT management, IELTS, Teacher training, Teaching English in Asia, Technical English, TEFL, TEFL career planning, TEFL working conditions | Tagged | Leave a comment

Poor TEFL teachers (it’s official!)

Posted on 08/06/2008 by alexcase

Yup, according to the EL Gazette (which everyone now has the opportunity to sign up to read for free here), some TEFL teaching jobs in the UK are now under the official British poverty line. There is some hope, though- if … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching English in the Middle East, TEFL working conditions | Tagged | Leave a comment

TEFLing quote of the day

Posted on 29/05/2008 by alexcase

“Our profession is notorious for exploiting its most valuable asset – language teachers – for financial gain. I remember a teacher recalling taking a summer job where he and his fellow teachers struggled to teach competently in a school with … Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative teaching techniques, Cambridge University Press, Class-centred teaching, Classroom dynamics, Classroom management, Dodgy TEFL school owners, ELT publishing, Humanistic language teaching, Job security, links, TEFL, TEFL celebs/ TEFL heroes and villains, TEFL heroes- Rose M Senior, TEFL in the UK, TEFL working conditions, UK summer schools | Tagged | 1 Comment