Job Discussion Forums

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Is there some question you want to ask or is this an advertisement?

I think the school is in Takatsuki, by the way, which is halfway between Osaka and Kyoto.

Just thought you might like to know.

ESLteacher · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 82

No! This is not an advertisement.

This school has two locations in Takatsuki (Makami and Manami). To start let me say the hiring process is a scam.

ESLteacher · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 82

SCAM
PLAIN ENGLISH ACADEMY hiring process is a scam. Heads up on these con artists. Their process is to drag you to their office three times for interviews. They cant tell you why it is a three interview process and can barely explain what you will be doing upon each visit to their school. What they will do though, is have you spend time with the existing foreign teacher who will try to pick your brain for ideas.

The foreign teacher gave the worst lesson for adults and kids i had ever seen. Im surprised anyone would pay for lessons from this guy. Upon your third visit to their office they will make an excuse like, you didnt call before you came to the interview. Based on this they will not give you the position.

The other foreign teacher at the second location was rude and ignorant to the children students. But he was good looking so i guess that makes it OK.The Japanese female running that location seemed content to be able to fantasize with him, eventhough he was a terrible english teacher.

I wonder if the owner of the school is aware of how it is being run.

PLAIN ENGLISH ACADEMY Bad teaching! Scam! Dont go there.

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

ESLteacher · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 82

TokyoLiz,
I think i got you name right. Are you in Tokyo as your name suggests?

"Usually in a good interview session, you're given an opportunity to demonstrate your teaching skills and experience. You have to show 'em the goods. Are you a qualified teacher (B.Ed. or TESOL or CELTA)? "

The person running the school advised that it was the teacher`s lesson and I was mainly observing. We would discuss the lessons afterward. I would agree with you, `In a good interview session` which this wasn`t. By the way, my input to the lesson was received by surprise by the foreign teacher.

"Where you made aware of the objectives of the lesson and the style of the school? What qualifications do you have to judge the quality of the instruction and materials? "

It was explained to me that the objective was to have the students practice oral english. The response from the students to my input was different, in the level of response, to that of the existing teacher. This alone supports the comment of it being a severly sub-standard lesson.

"Do you know of any other applicants treated this way? Based on merely your own experience, to say that they'll brush everybody off is silly. After all, the school has got to hire somebody."

In fact, i have spoken with other teachers who have been given the `you didn`t call beforehand` line.
I would agree it is silly. This is why i say not to go to this school, and students shouldn`t wast their money taking lessons at this school.

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

ESLteacher · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 82

PLAIN ENGLISH ACADEMY

"This is nothing to be surprised about in Japan. So many people come over with zipola teacher training or experience"

To my point of the poor teaching offered at the school.

"Your standards may be very different from other so-called teachers in Japan, depending on your experience and qualifications"

Outside of my qualifications and experience i believe this incident shows within itself a problem at this school.

I suppose we all deal with our situations in our own ways.