Job Discussion Forums

curio_butterfly · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 5

anyone here know anything about this outfit? Are they worth working for? They seem pretty sound.

forest1979 · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 507 Location: SE Asia

They are a big, big organisation with three or four main centres throughout Paris. Don't they have about 100 teachers? They do lots of company work, and in-house stuff as well. I had friends who worked for them and their biggest complaint was the changing (weekly) timetable and inflexibility of it. They found the company ok to work for and the teaching challenging, as every so many weeks they would be given new classes which ranged from absolute beginners to advanced levels. Lots of the stuff they had was intensive teaching - four hour classes in some cases each day - and lots of travel too. This made working days extremely long in some instances. As much though as my friends griped they knew there were far worse places to work for. Their biggest complaint was that they were hardly ever praised for good teaching, but always pulled aside when a poor student evaluation came up.

Check them out!

curio_butterfly · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 5

thanks, sounds like a lot of big companies, and sure, there are worse places. Just out of curiosity, how long did your friends last there and when they quit was it because of the reasons you mentioned? If it's too personal, you don't have to answer, just wondering as I'd heard of them and was thinking of sending them my CV. It's either that or a stint in Berlin for private lessons (where the work is pretty much assured and praise is given for good teaching) so decisions, decisions, decisions. Insurance, a certain amount of hours guaranteed and some transport paid vs. no insurance, less money as less guaranteed hours but better work atmosphere. Considering that, every bit of info is priceless.

forest1979 · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 507 Location: SE Asia

Some people lasted months, some years, and some teachers have been there for more than 20 years. However I do know that some people, what maybe 2-3 years ago, who were very good teachers left because they were fed up of the salary, amongst other things, and I assume felt career ambitions could be better met elsewhere. However regarding staff turnover, most of the short-term leavers worked for a UK agency who provided large numbers of staff to IFG. Most IFG paid staff seemed pretty settled.

I'd certainly send out a CV.

curio_butterfly · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 5

thanks. Sounds very familiar.

Let's see what the future brings.