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mejms
Joined: 04 Jan 2010
Posts: 390
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 Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 10:10 pm Post subject: |
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It is true that a bad reputation is hard to counter. However, when that reputation is built on a bed of hot air, spread by supposed professionals, and repeated as gospel ad naseum, it gets a little frustrating. Seriously, I see people bringing up "facts" about Harmon Hall that predate my arrival with the company, over 11 years ago.
Cambridge chose us for a reason. Maybe some of those who work on hearsay and rumors ought to do a little more research before they speak. We weren't chosen because our uniforms are spiffy |
Touchy. |
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PlayadelSoul
Joined: 29 Jun 2005
Posts: 346
Location: Playa del Carmen
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| Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Or, maybe, presenting facts to rebut ignorance. |
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mejms
Joined: 04 Jan 2010
Posts: 390
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| Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 9:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Or, maybe, presenting facts to rebut ignorance. |
No. Really. Just touchy.  |
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TeresaLopez
Joined: 18 Apr 2010
Posts: 601
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 11:47 pm Post subject: |
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| PlayadelSoul wrote: |
| Or, maybe, presenting facts to rebut ignorance. |
I have an overall favorable impression of Harmon Hall based on a friend who works there, just like I had - at one time - a favorable impression of Interlengua. But let's not kid ourselves, all schools have bad teachers, and mediocre teachers who often aren't replaced quickly enough and students suffer. I don't know what it's like where you are, maybe every single teacher is excellent, but there are a lot of Harmon Hall locations here in Mexico City, and some have a better reputation than others. There may well be improvements at HH, but to say that there are never any problems is also showing ignorance, of the burying the head in the sand kind. |
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Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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| Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 8:08 am Post subject: |
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| TeresaLopez wrote: |
| PlayadelSoul wrote: |
| Or, maybe, presenting facts to rebut ignorance. |
I have an overall favorable impression of Harmon Hall based on a friend who works there, just like I had - at one time - a favorable impression of Interlengua. But let's not kid ourselves, all schools have bad teachers, and mediocre teachers who often aren't replaced quickly enough and students suffer. I don't know what it's like where you are, maybe every single teacher is excellent, but there are a lot of Harmon Hall locations here in Mexico City, and some have a better reputation than others. There may well be improvements at HH, but to say that there are never any problems is also showing ignorance, of the burying the head in the sand kind. |
What do you expect? All of these schools are out to make money and not much else.
I did interview at one school which had a nifty test to see if you could actually use the English language. It was easy to see who could pass and who couldn't. Either native or near native level speakers passed without any issues. But most of the Mexicans (many of which had years of teaching English on paper) simply couldn't pass. They sat down, and just sat there. Unable to complete even the first exercises. And of course these folks thought they had a chance at a job... |
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mejms
Joined: 04 Jan 2010
Posts: 390
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| Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 1:56 pm Post subject: |
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| I did interview at one school which had a nifty test to see if you could actually use the English language. |
What was the layout of the test like? I had to take the TOEFL in order to take on some classes at TEC Milenio. Of course, any native or near-native speaker with a good head on his shoulders can pass this with flying colors. I think the exam would serve to eliminate dummies.
Other exams that I've seen are just grammar-based computer tests that don't evaluate real ability with the language. And then of course there's the 5 minute talk with a teacher, which funny enough usually does the trick. |
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Enchilada Potosina
Joined: 03 Aug 2010
Posts: 344
Location: Mexico
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| Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 4:09 pm Post subject: |
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| At the end of the day I don't think I've ever seen or worked in a school here where education was the driving force. Bums on seats yes, education no. |
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