Job Discussion Forums

[James Brown]

Is it supposed to be the creme de la creme of the tefl "industry"?

I went for an interview (Budapest HQ, guy called MOD EDIT and it was like an nkvd interrogation in the 1930s Soviet Union.

[spiral78]

[Colombo]

I would hardly consider the British Council as la creme de la creme of the TEFL industry. They consider themselves to be though. An organisation straight from.the Cold War, they seem out of place in the second decade of the 21st century. It's a cult & I can't understand the 'brand association' attached to them. I met some of their 'people' years ago in Libya & later in Malaysia & all I can say is they seemed to fit into a certain mould; no real qualifications apart from maybe a BA and the CELTA to which BC is a stakeholder in & complete allegiance to the brand. Many of them I met didn't even know what the English infinitive was & one English lady BC devotee even argued with me when I said the past continuous is often used in the present if we want to be very polite.e.g ' I was wondering if'.....or ' I was hoping to' or 'I was looking for....'

No definitely not la creme de la creme of TEFL & certainly do not deserve to be placed at the apex of the TEFL pyramid.

[James Brown]

Ah, good to know, thanks.

[bograt]

Just to add something from someone who actually knows what they're talking about (I worked for the BC in 6 different countries over 20 years)

1) They're not a francise
2) They are centrally run (too centrally in a lot of people's opinions)
3) They accept all TEFL certificates with practical components not just CELTA
4) They accept all nationalities (where the local conditions allow)
5) In most countries they offer the best working conditions for TEFL jobs, outside universities and are therefore considered the creme de la creme in this area.
6) They are not a cult (obviously)
7) Most teachers who work for them have very little allegiance to the brand and complain a lot - like all teachers.
Top management obviously talk the brand up just like top managers in all companies
9) They offer better opportunities than any other organisation for diversifying into different TEFL fields.
10) People who slag them off are usually those who've never worked for them or the type of person who can't deal with authority.
11) Their interview techniques are pretty easy to find online and are standard all over the world.

[Dave Rochester]

Yeah, all of that rings true. Everything's standardised, they pay well, the teachers know their stuff yet do their fair share of whinging.

I've worked for them for five years in two locations (almost three - the Berlin branch didn't follow through on their work offer) and there are differences in the size of the operations, of course, which means you get IWBs, kitchens, staffrooms and large reception areas in some offices, whereas others hardly have anything more than a couple of classrooms.

I have to say that before I started working for them I used to regard them as elitist, cult-like, all the rest. At the very least you're going to get looked after as far as salaries and conditions go. That counts for something.

[HLJHLJ]

If you stick with them, they are also big on CPD and will contribute to the cost of the DELTA and then an MA.

[James Brown]

I'm sorry guys, I take it all back. Your amazing list is just too convincing. BC is a good company, BC is a good company, BC is a good company, ohmhmmhmmmmmm...........yes.... yes!.....I can feel it!

[bograt]

Yeah well I guess if you flunked the interview it's a bit more ego soothing to believe in the negative convictions of people who have never actually worked there.

[James Brown]

Oouch! Ow, you got me there! My plan to soothe my ego has bee exposed!!!

I have to face it.... I'm............powerless......... against...........the awesomeness of ............. BC employees..... must...........not.........resist............ their.....moral and intellectual.......authority..........

[bograt]

Actually if you look at my list again you can see that it contains positive, and negative observations in equal measures plus a few points that are just basic facts. Not really cult like at all and anyway I don't work for the BC any more, so maybe time to knock your unfunny and rather childish attempt at satire on the head eh?

[James Brown]

I'm so sorry you don't like my jokes. It makes me.... very sad.

[scot47]

The BC displays everything that is GHAST:LY about the British Establishment. "Upstairs, Downstiars" and "Downton Abbey" all in one

[slapntickle]

The BC is an anachronism and is not fit for purpose in this modern age.

[spiral78]

Actually, as English language learners prioritize UK or US English less and less, the BC is likely to die a natural death in the foreseeable future.

I think