Job Discussion Forums

Tara2117 · Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 89 Location: Gunma, Japan

Hi guys,

I'm pretty new to this whole TESL thing. I stumbled across this program on the net...

http://reachtoteachrecruiting.com/

According to the site, they help place teachers in China, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. Are any of you presently employed via this program, or have you been in the past? I'd like to know whether it's a good program to apply for, and what your personal experience has been like. (I don't have my heart set on any particular country. I'm interested in teaching in Asia in general.) I can't seem to find much first-hand information on it. Thanks in advance!

Smile

saint57 · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 11:36 am Post subject:

Welcome to hell!

Enjoi

Tara2117 · Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 89 Location: Gunma, Japan

Really? Care to elaborate?

saint57 · Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 11:33 pm Post subject:

I have no personal experience with the company. However, they are recruiters which means nothing but trouble. There is no need to use a recruiter for China. Most Korean hogwans hire using recruiters but it's part of the scam. You're much better off dealing with the schools directly. I don't personally know about the situation in Taiwan but most people seem to fly there and find employment on their own.

The problem with recruiters is that they don't represent the company they are hiring for and what they tell/assure you will cause problems once you learn the way things really work.

SandyMcIvor · Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 7:08 am Post subject:

Recruiters are the pimps of the EFL world. They will tell you ANYTHING to get you into bed with the employer, they take their cut, and its YOUR BUTT that gets all the abuse.

Under no circumstances *beep* yourself out with a recruiter. There are plenty of postings here on Daves, at Tefl.com and tesol.org and other sites.

You've got to sell that ass, at least make it on YOUR own terms.

Smile

Tara2117 · Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 89 Location: Gunma, Japan

Thanks for the input. I just thought it might be easier to find a job through a company. In any case, I'm not planning to go anywhere until late next year, so I've got plenty of time to research. I appreciate the advice. Smile

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

I can't speak for any country except Japan (curiously absent from Reach to Teach's list of major Asian players; I wonder why?), so here is my take.

Aside from a few spelling errors and other types of errors in the way the site is written, I am immediately suspicious of a place that says:

Tara2117 · Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 89 Location: Gunma, Japan

Thanks Glenski. I admit it does sound a little too good to be true. I found a guy on myspace who's just left to teach in Taiwan with R2T, and he's going to let me know how it goes. He did say that of the three schools R2T put him in contact with, two were school's he'd already found through his own research. All he had to do was interview with R2T, didn't have to interview with the school itself as far as I understand. Kind of shady. Anyway, if it's a total scam I'm sure he'll find out soon.

I think it is a relatively new program, that's why I've had a hard time finding anyone who's gotten a job through them. In any case, I'll see what the myspace guy has to say as his job progresses.