Job Discussion Forums

Bookworm · Joined: 28 Oct 2003 Posts: 36

See:

http://www.englishfirst.com/partnersinfo/what.asp

for the connection between MacDonalds and EF!

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Is anyone else here as mystified as I am concerning the problem here? Are franchises evil? From a business standpoint, the McDonalds franchise system is one of the best. So, are you suggesting that it is somehow evil that a person wants to make money if they start a language school?

We all know the stories about language schools and their placing of the bottom line over teacher treatment and student achievement. Are we to blame McDonalds for that too?? Smile

I don't think EF has any branches in the Middle East, do they? Personally I have always avoided language schools anyway - bad pay, long hours, few benefits --- you might as well be teaching ESL in the US. (actually a job at McDonalds in the US would probably be a better bet - similar pay and better benefits)

VS

Jim Bigelow · Joined: 23 Oct 2003 Posts: 175 Location: KSA

As for EF then they do have centres here in Saudi but it seems that for the most part the managment (like many other language schools) ride on horses with 10 gallon hats and spiked boots! Cowboys would be an understatement.! Confused

Be very carefull about accepting any contract with this centre!

Bookworm · Joined: 28 Oct 2003 Posts: 36

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Well, Saudi is the one place that I have avoided as a single woman. So, OK, but what is so bad about franchises? I think they are a very good business form myself - allowing someone with little business knowledge to go into a business with assistance of experts. Since most people in education are not terribly good at business, it would seem a good idea in theory.

I don't think it makes a for-profit language school any better or worse. If EF is bad, it isn't because they are a franchise.

I can't remember ever hearing good things about any language school on this board come to think of it---- or maybe we just hear about the bad ones. Smile

VS

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Like the "ladette" vs I have always avoided private language schools.
From B*****z onwards they have been bad news for teachers.

Franchise operations are just another variation on the language school.
Very often they maximise their take by minimising teachers' salaries.

Go for a job in a proper school, college or university. That is my advice !
SAnd for learners it is better to have a teacher on a one-to-one basis -maybe for a couple of hours a week than go to one of those places.