Job Discussion Forums

[jeffyb]

Hi guys,

Does any one have any opinions, thoughts, anything, on ATI?

I'll be taking their course in Chiang Mai starting this September. They promise a 4 to 5 month job placement directly after the program that pays about $US900/month. The course is $US950. I know there are scams out there. Could this be one? Has anyone out there taken this course or heard any reports?

Let me know...

Thanks

[naturegirl321]

I'd guess that you'd be placed in their shcool. HOw much is the programme? 900 sounds low, but decent. Make contacts then when it's finished, get another job.

Just read the fine print. It might be 900 if you work 40 hours, ask about housing too.

[johnnykamikaze]

For the love of God, don't do it. I'm going to break up my experience in three parts.

First Part: Rejection given without reason, and first chat

Chat InformationPlease wait for a site operator to respond.
Chat InformationYou are now chatting with 'Admin'
Admin: hello
Admin: how may i assist you /
Me: I applied for the special Thai-Korea project
Admin: ok
Me: I was under the impression that I send in my details, and then I pay $750 U.S., and then I get certified and work
Me: but I just got an email saying that they can't accept me for the program.
Admin: ok
Admin: do you have any crc problem
Me: Now, my questions is, why was I not accepted? I did not think that this was a program that one needed to be accepted like applying to a university, I thought it was a service to get certified and work in South Korea
Me: CRC problem?
Admin: criminal record check
Me: No
Me: I sent in my picture, my resume, my passport photo, and my diploma
Me: less than a week later, I am told that they cannot accept me
Me: I have no criminal records or health problems.
Me: So I don't know as to why this has occurred
Admin: I feel you dont have a degree right /
Admin: bachelor's degree I mean
Me: I have one.
Me: I attended UCLA
Me: and I sent them a copy of that which I scanned.
Admin: you have to have a 3-4 yers full time bachelor's degree
Me: I HAVE THAT.
Admin: if you dont have that sorry we can not accept you
Me: I HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE. I GRADUATED.
Me: I HAD 5 YEARS AT UCLA.
Me: Now, what is so hard to understand about this? UCLA is an accredited university.
Me: Accredited American university, I might add.
Admin: I think Alex has already written you the reason of rejection
Admin: if he has said no
Admin: then nothing can be done
Me: Obviously, there seems to be a misunderstanding.
Me: I have completed all of my university education in the United States
Admin: ok in that case please write back to Alex once again
Me: I didn't see any clause stating that I had to attend an American high school in the United States
Me: and I have already written back stating that I have been educated in an American university. Is there anything there then you can point out to me that has led to this misunderstanding?
Admin: you please write back to Alex
Me: I just did.
Admin: he will let you know
Admin: Ok
Admin: then kindly wait for his reply
Me: I am looking at the page. There is nothing stating that I need to complete all of my education in the United States.
Me: It is only stating that I have to be a native speaker of English with a degree.
Admin: this is the criteria
Me: Besides the point, I HAVE completed all of my university education in the United States and in ENGLISH
Me: IF there are certain clauses you omit mentioning online, I highly recommend you have it available online so that there is no confusion.
Admin: Ok
Admin: Np
Me: Now, answer me
Me: please
Me: What then, is preventing me from taking part in your program? Because so far, there is nothing that disqualifies me from being "eligible" for your program
Admin: Please wait for Alex to reply you back
Admin: as he is the course coordinator
Admin: so he will be able to justify
Me: You should know the answer if you are working for the same company.
Admin: I think I have already told you the reason
Admin: there is no point in arguing
Me: As I have said already, the reason that you have told me does not even apply to me since I have gotten a bachelor's degree at University of California Los Angeles
Me: and that all of my education is here in the United States
Admin: why dont you wait for Alex'sreply then
Me: He has not replied.
Admin: he will
Admin: wait for some time
Me: very well then, thank you for taking your time.
Admin: np

Second Part: Phone calls
I called up the first time and they said because I was overseas for a foreign exchange program for one year, I am disqualified, in spite of appearing nowhere on their website. They then abruptly hung up on me, and I tried to call back asking them to clarify why this is a reason to reject me and why it's not listed on the website, and to shred my personal information. As soon as they heard my voice, they hung up. After five phone calls (I need to protect my identity from scams), they answered, yelled at me for five minutes, swore at me, THREATENED me.

Third Part: Rip-Off

I did a little research. They are not reputable. For one thing, they are enrolling you into the Korean EPIK program (look it up), which is a government-sponsored program which pays MORE than the amount advertised in that American TESOL Special Thai program, and it's a ONE-YEAR program. Furthermore, they deduct from your pay because instead of being hired directly (which you can do year-round by applying DIRECTLY TO EPIK), you are contracted through the scam company, which allows them to deduct.

And finally, they are teaching you the certification program for TESOL with the EXACT SAME COURSE you are given at EPIK during orientation training before you teach. In other words, you are given the same course twice and paying more than you should.

I rest my case.[/b]

[naturegirl321]

[naturegirl321]

[johnnykamikaze]

Actually, I studied overseas in an AMERICAN international school, so yes, they did speak English. And no, they were not native speakers, the admin that is.

[johnnykamikaze]

[naturegirl321]

Hate to say it but I think that because of your ASian looks you might have been turned down in Taiwan, Japan and Korea. I got the same in China, and I'm not even ASian, but I hae Asian eyes for some reason.

That and studying abroad might make them think that your English isn't that good. Drop the info that you studied abroad and simply say that you went to an American HS.

[Justin Trullinger]

Dear JK,

GOod luck with your continuing search.

I hate to say that NG may be right on this- some employers in Asia are extremely image conscious, and if you're of Asian heritage, this may make them worry that student's won't believe you're a "native speaker."

It tends to be the very worst employers who are *beep*ed up and racist like that, though, so it may have been a lucky escape anyway. Keep looking, and there will be more opportunities out there.


Best,
Justin