Job Discussion Forums

[dmb]

the only piece of paper I know of is a BC one(and ITI) I have been involved in EFL management for a few years. 31 pointed out on another thread EFL managers are unqualified. However, I disagree. Over the years I have had to deal with things like earthquakes, gas explosions, students death, teachers death, falan falan. Is there a course that teaches these things and how to react in those situations? I think not.
Comments?

[31]

I think that I meant that largely EFL managers (DOSes) have no management qualifications. Typically DOSes are DOSes because they have been in the game a while and often have stayed a subsequent year with the organisation. Even if they have the Dip there is no EFL management in it. In an MA in ELT/applied Ling etc. there is usually a module on management but that is all. There was a couple of ELT Management ''courses'' at the BC some years ago but that was hardly much more than a taster.

You said that even if you had a real management qualification if wouldn't prepare you for the firefighting you have to do as a DOS but you could say the same about teaching qualifications. It is no excuse.

You cannot call TEFL a profession or a career and expect it to be taken seriously and get good pay and conditions if you have a blase attitude to qualifications.

[tekirdag]

You make a very good point, dmb.

Perhaps, because TEFL folks head out to countries with more...surprises... than our home countries(and because language can often be a barrier to being helped by local counsellors in a crisis situation), a course should be available. At least it should be a component of EFL management training.

It is a reality that teachers "fresh off the boat" look to their school for more than a pay check.

Regarding the educational end, I have found that foreign managers do a fine job.

Come to think of it, during the biggest crisis at the EC, the managers did a fine job, too.

[tekirdag]

31, we are not in our home countries. There aren't workers rights here. If each of us had a mountain of qualifications we still wouldn't get good pay and conditions. Turks quite often don't give that to each other. I think most schools here already get more than they would ever pay for.

[tekirdag]

And despite my lack of a "mountain of qualifications", at many schools that I worked at in Turkey I was clearly treated better than the local staff.

[31]

Fine. So why do you complain about not being paid on time?

Thanks for the tip about not being in our own countries but I suppose that depends on whether you consider Turkey as your own country or not. Some teflers who have been here a long time and are citizens do regard Turkey as their own country.

[31]

[31]

[tekirdag]

31 wrote-

[31]

But as people here have said if you had great qualifications perhaps you wouldn't have to stay in a job like that.

[tekirdag]

Most jobs are like that here.

[31]

Yeah but for me getting paid on time is a big thing. Much as I hate to say anything good about ET, they do pay on time. That crap uni was apalling but they always paid on time. Same goes for Fatih, Bigi etc. they do pay on time even though they skimp on conditions.

[tekirdag]

"crap", "skimp on conditions"...ahhh...so you'll agree with me that (singing)
a good school is hard to find,
with an insightful owner
and pay on time...

[31]

I would say impossible to find such a place.

[dmb]

I like the new signature 31