Job Discussion Forums

[ColdRodear]

Hi, I have searched here at the cafe back till 2004 related to teaching at Language Link under their Intern programme but still have not found much on this subject.

I was wondering what others think about their Intern Programme that they are offering for people that want to teach but have no experience or certificate.

There is a three week full time teaching course without pay or cost to the new teacher before they throw you into the deep end. The rest of the nine month contract is full time teaching plus teaching workshops and seminars. Of course the pay is pretty low but it includes a flat and visa etc.
At the end of the nine months you receive an EFL cetificate. I don't know what kind.....my guess is that it is an in house LL certificate.

I wonder if that certificate is recognized at any other place besides LL!
Also I wonder if there will be any time left over at the end of the day for picking up the Russian language, which is one of my goals. (I would like to become almost fluent) I am an Intermediate speaker of Russian at present.

[november_project]

seems like a good deal, except it only looks like they'll place you in some dreary suburb of Moscow. Someone, prove me wrong?

[sebastienupper]

Actually, it doesnt seem like a fantastic deal to me but...

It seems to be that the general consensus on this board is that working for the big schools like BKC or LL is a waste of time anyway, but a necessary evil for those of us born without the gift of Anastasia-like self-confidence.

So, if you're not actually chock full of confidence and have no experience and are generally anxious at the thought of living and working in a place like Russia--like me--it doesn't seem totally outrageous to take the internship option, and a slight paycut to begin with, in order to get into the country, get your TEFL certificate, get your confidence, get your experience, then get a proper job. If you are going to get 'ripped off' (and it is part of the general agreement that the wages offered by the big3 are a rip-off) then get ripped-off properly while having someone hold your hand for a while before you have to confront a classroom.

I have no experience or confidence and am seriously considering, lest someone feels they want to talk me out of it, of taking the internship option.

As for the value of LL's certificate, I would not worry about it. Once you have the confidence and experience you can just lie your way into a job, especially I am led to understand, in Russia.

As far as I'm concerned, a person asking to see your resume (CV) is just asking to be lied to--like your girlfriend asking you if her bum looks big in those pants--she actually wants you to lie to her, but you have to do it well so she can't tell.

[rusmeister]

I think it is absolutely essential to get experience in the classroom BEFORE going through a teacher prep program for a certificate or credential. It certainly helps you see how full of baloney the prep programs are.