Job Discussion Forums

[banana republic]

It appears that Language Solutions and their local sponsor are not quite ready to begin the contract. None of the contract teachers employed by Imtiaz/Griffith is working, and no word from Language Solutions about a contract for us, but from the ad for teachers it looks like another cheap deal on offer - one bed apartment, bus to work etc. Conditions getting worse instead of better.

Big mess all round.

Is there anybody on here who worked for Language Solutions before and can give some insight into what sort of employer they are?

I'm sticking around to get my pay from Imtiaz and see what sort of contract is on offer, but if it is as bad as I suspect then I'm off.

[misterkodak]

They play these games and then wonder why people refer to their so-called firm as "empty *ss". Rumor has it that they didn't want to negotiate with Language Solutions or QP. This is just another feeble attempt for their greedy paws to hang onto the contract. It was nice of them to give us notice that we had to "clear QP" and less than a day's notice to move out of the mushareib ghetto. After all the shenanigans of these idiots, do you think Language Solutions could be worse?

[banana republic]

Forget Imtiaz - we know they are bad, but at least they are a bad employer we have some information about. What I want to know now is about this new contractor. We know nothing about them and it looks like they want to make conditions worse for us IF they manage to sort out some kind of deal with Imtiaz. I mean, come on, do you really want to travel to work by bus like we were workers on a construction site? This is the latest info I have about the conditions offered.
If that is their attitude to people who have experience of the set up at QP and who could help them get this contract started smoothly, what is it going to be like in future when they are established? Pay cuts all round when they don't need us any more cause there's always someone hungrier and cheaper out there?

Some info please from those who have worked for Language Solutions. My research here is not very positive, but I want to be sure.

[WanderingD]

Looks like I am being considered for a position at QP through Language Solutions. Have no details on the terms yet. After reading these posts, however, I'm already reconsidering! Just what kind of place is QP anyway? What kind of students do they have? Has the accommodation provided up until now really been that bad? More importantly, has reliable Internet service been provided in these flats? (Important for me.) I know that things are in transition there with contractors coming and going, teachers getting jacked around, etc., but any input on these particulars would be appreciated. I'll provide updates on any information I get on my end as well.

[millie18]

It's not just labourers who ride a bus to and from their employer. Many of the CNA-Q faculty do that daily - a lot of it due to the fact they prefer the bus driver to take the increasingly dangerous job of navigating Doha traffic which is steadily getting worse.

Until and unless the government/municipality/road traffic authority actually finishes any road projects they start (and many have come to a complete standstill) traffic is often paralyzed and painfully crowded and slow between 630 am until 2100 hrs at night. Worse if there's any "special event"

[misterkodak]

I think transportation is the last thing to worry about. I heard today that the clowns in IMTIAZ are asking 8000 Riyals /month if you live in one of the 2 bedroom caves and 5500 a month if you live in one of the single rooms. The excuse was "Rent is going up." I find it quite interesting that rents are going down everywhere else in Doha, but in the world of emptyass they're increasing.
WanderingD: I don't know what Language Sols. has offered you. Drop me a private message and I'm willing to discuss QP with you. QP itself isn't a bad job. It's the contract that can make all the difference.

[banana republic]

I'm not so concerned about transport per se, but about the message that being transported by bus sends. It smacks of cheap and nasty, and makes me wonder what else they might "offer" in a contract.

Millie18 - I can see why people at CNA-Q might be happy to be driven to work by bus, but with the salaries they earn, they can afford to buy a car for after work use, not to mention the fact that the campus is quite a pleasant place to hang out in during the working day. On the other hand, if all we are offered is a bus service to and from work and we have to pay for our own private transport to get such luxuries as food and stand around waiting for the elusive Karwa taxi to appear and perhaps stop -it doesn't look like this is an employer who cares much about the teachers.

Somebody care to prove me wrong? Oh and I'd love to see what contract is offered, cause they haven't bothered to let us poor footsoldiers know what they would offer us if they arrange a deal with Imtiaz.

[halfirish]

Lang Sols was founded in the early 1990's by two young entrpreneurs in London. Originally trading as a broking service, they acted as intermediaries between companies requiring language training and language training providers. Changing their business model after mastering this, they realised they could make more money by providing the trainers themselves. With no TEFL or lang training background they hired in teachers. A brilliant business decision or a crafty switch - you decide. Lang Sols former business partners - the language schools in London were, to say the least, bitterly disappointed at losing most of their contracts to a new competitor with total knowledge of the London market!
The two partners in the company expanded quickly in the UK, Europe, Asia, the ME and North Africa. Splitting the world between themselves suited them as their personal relationship deteriorated when one of them attracted the others fiancee and married her.
In Baku, Azerbaijan in the early 2000's the teachers withdrew their services en masse in a dispute over worsening pay and conditions. One of those teachers is now employed as the Azerbaijan country manager.
A previous thread reports another of their country managers, Barry (MOD edit for names), as alcoholic. Such an accusation I cannot verify. But I did know Barry - 6 years ago - and at that time he was always an honourable, hard working manager with a strong background in TEFL, and certainly not alcoholic.
My assessment on Lang Sols is that they are a company run for profit by two businessmen with no TEFL background. They will employ a country manager in Doha who will be a TEFLer and could be good or bad - but will have to be a hard worker.
Transport by bus would fit in with their aims to keep costs down - speak to them about it and that may change. You need to negotiate as you have the expertise in country that they need.

MOD edit - do not post full names

[doner]

I worked for langsols in Baku and have friends who worked briefly in Saudi with them and know a bit more about their background:

Do not believe their website-their locations are part fantasy-they employed a teacher in Aberdeen for a month and hey presto they have a location in Aberdeen. Bark (MOD edit) one of the two inherited some money and went into the language business with Greasepin and in the words of the Baku ADOS "gets off on the thrill of getting business" and will do and say anything to get business and then its up to the teachers to cope. Bark has an idea and it happens-there were 6 versions of the contract and you can imagine the fights over them. Marry is an alkie who sucks up to Bark and Bark is only interested in keeping costs down. Marry used to literally count toilet rolls. They had a brief affair with a low cost outfit in Jubail. Anywhere they go pay and conditions plummet. They win and lose contracts at a frightening rate and teachers are expendable. Bark said `if you dont like it you can f off` at a meeting in Baku.

MOD edit for names

[halfirish]

Doner - nice one - much more humourous and succinct than my posting. Still surprised though by the drinking stat on "Marry Longen". He was always a bean counting sycophant but that really does surprise me.

[doner]

Notice the red, sweaty face and the cowardliness.

Lang sols also has a weird obsession with titles. Marry went from DOS to country manager in a day. The secretary metamorphosised into the office manager overnight. The driver became transport manager and Marry was then operations manager. Perhaps he is an Admiral now.