Job Discussion Forums

melisssssa · Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 8:08 pm Post subject: Oxford placement

I realize I'm getting on this thread late, and also realize it would have really helped me as I was in this position myself. I agree with what everyone has found about Oxford and Latin America. I also chose to do my certification with Oxford because of their placement service. In fact, i had called their service number before signing up with them to inquire about the placement service, do they place in the countries I am interested in, mentioning several in South America, and the representative of course replied, yes, you can discuss that with your advisor further, just tell them what countries you'd like, Chile and other South American countries also come up on their country profiles on their website (I had the same choices as you rrooseve). The catch being, of course, you can only talk to an advisor after paying, doing the course, and sending a CV. So while the phone representative can tell me South America is a huge market, he really has no idea that Oxford has contacts with 1 school in Mexico, 1 in Chile and 1 in Ecuador, so I find this misrepresented. I realize this is not Oxford's fault; it's the nature of the market; I just wish they would be clear upfront that they specialize in placements in Asia, and have few contacts in South America.

So I spent a full month in front of my computer! emailing every school in Chile. There is a lot of information to be had out there about TESL. And it was nice to be able to communicate with someone who can answer your questions about the job search and look at contracts. And i will mention that i have a friend doing a job search in ASia with Oxford and is quite pleased, feels that they work only with reputable good schools and are listening to his needs.

Naturegirl's thread is amazing! and the people on this site are really helpful and generous. I just want to point out to Oxford teachers that the Jeff Mohammed book has a directory of schools listed by country, a good list to pound the (virtual) pavement with.

Good luck to you all, and thank you for your help too. Smile

Melissa

(Sabine, despite all of this, I think it's amazing you made it to Argentina!!)

melisssssa · Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 8:12 pm Post subject: Oxford placement

Oh yeah and I want to add that the end of the story is that I will be in Quito, Ecuador in a month or so, with the 1 contact that Oxford provided me with. I did have some other offers in other places so it wasn't because it was Oxford and because it was the only opportunity, I just realized my plans were more malleable and I wanted to be in Ecuador. So maybe see some of you guys soon!

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 4:15 pm Post subject:

melisssssa · Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 6:48 pm Post subject: re:

Hi Justin,
Believe me I spent enough time being pissed off and upset at how unprofessional it is to say 'we place everywhere in the world' when in reality that is not the case.

My reference to the nature of the market: well, I am just starting out in this market and don't know it like you do Justin, I'm gauging it as I go, nor do I work for Oxford so I have no idea what is involved in making contacts with schools to place graduates in South America. Who knows why they don't have more contacts. Frustrating, yes. A half assed job? Maybe. Necessary to place blame? Rather, lots of room for improvement. What is certain is that they are responsible for their phone representatives knowing, or in this case not knowing, what country placements they specialize in. We don't like schools to make disguised, read the fine print later promises; the same goes for training schools and placement services. At the very least, I do think they should be honest and not misrepresent that. Many teachers would probably still do their training with Oxford.

all the best,
Melissa

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 9:40 pm Post subject:

Very true!

I guess it's the same as and market- they want your money; they will do anything they can without consequences to get it. And if that includes "exagerating" their placement capabilities in some parts of the world, i suppose we shouldn't be surprised...

It's just that you're not the first person I've run into who was told by them that they can help in Ecuador, and then found out they really couldn't...

Best,
Justin

shannoneast

Hello there,

I came to Brazil this last August in hopes to find a job. Oxford wasn't any help with placement for me in South America nor for my friend who's teaching in Taiwan. However, it is a teaching credential to have and even though I am stuggling getting a work visa I finally have found a school that will legally except me to work there under a student visa.

Keep looking girl. I was on foot for 5 weeks strait all over Rio de Janeiro applying to schools and trying to get interviews. But be strong and keep looking. Something will come about as it always does.

I'm in Peru now, but I'm going back to teach in December. The new season starts in February and most schools train in January there, which might be a good time for you to come down and search for schools.

Good Luck!