Job Discussion Forums

[Conquense54]

Hi, does anyone know anything about this school, or Badajoz in general, cost of living, weather, etc? Many thanks.

[Conquense54]

Well, I can answer my own question, having worked there for around 3 weeks only before getting the elbow from the callous and very hypocritical director, Ian deans. Having recruited me from Bolivia, which in itself was hell on earth, I arrived back in Spain expecting to work alongside a director who had persuaded me to withdraw from other posts to take up the position of senior teacher. After a very smooth and friendly welcome, I soon felt like I was back in Bolivia!! As an exam specialist for Cambridge Main Suite, I was given a timetable of 50% YLs, had to walk everywhere, including to Company Classes. But the biggest shock was when the director informed me he would not be giving me a key to his precious academy as he didn't trust me or know me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Unbelievable, having created this new post and wanting to get access to use the internet and printer to benefit all students and colleagues. He obviously felt threatened because after just 16 days he dismissed me, officially for not passing my probation period; I am know taking him to court for unfair dismissal. 30 years in this work and the guy treats me (and other colleagues) as his personal slave with education taking a back seat in his quest to make as much money as possible out of all students, whilst not providing any transport or even drink facilities in his academy. No wonder his first two teachers who were offered posts never turned up, and now the students are so restless with so many changes of teachers. Beware all ye who enter there-you've been warned!!!!

[oxford]

Well I would like to add some comments along with the ones that have already been made. This is most definately not a school where any experienced or serious teacher would like to work.
I was made a lot of promises which were not kept, initially the pay which was agreed upon wasn't paid to me and when I left the director didn't pay me what I was due!. The director is extremely egocentric and some of his teaching methods, which must be followed are very out of date.
I was treated in a very chauvenistic way and other female colleagues actually felt uncomfortable in his company. The director is not a reasonable man and if any objections are brought up with him you will quite simply be told that he doesn't care, he is the school and the only person that matters is him. If your not happy go and he'll find another teacher, because the success of his school has nothing to do with the staff, it is solely down to him.
You will stagnate in this envoironment as any ideas that you may have will be rejected because his way is the only way!
A very poor teaching envoironment with a very poor pay, I wouldn't if I were you!
He started this term with two new teachers both os whom have already been replaced, don't believe any adverts that say due to expansion, the real reason is due to poor management and pay!!!!!

[Conquense54]

Well said, Oxford, I wish I knew who you were, we owe it to our colleagues in this profession to expose this "Director" for the self-centred avaricious and insensitive bully he really is. I couldn't believe it when he dismissed me with no notice, no verbal or written warning, I had done nothing wrong except, as you rightly point out, come to the school direct from Bolivia with a fresh pair of eyes and fresh ideas, and he didn't like that at all. And, of course, to see the nerve of the man re advertising for my replacement "due to expansion" was just a joke. I wrote and complained to the website which carried his ad, but they never wrote back, nor did they cancel it. I believe he has shelved the idea of having a "Senior Teacher", which was in theory the post I had taken on. Instead, he has recruited all young kids straight out of a CELTA course to be his "yesmen/women" and thus his empire continues to flourish. He has even made a formal "denuncia" against me, which will be very interesting, I've found out a lot about his Company and how he has been running his business (illegally) before he finally registered as "aut�nomo extranjero". Stay away from this school and this joke of a "director" who, like so many others, sadly brings this profession into disrepute and seemingly gets away with it. Time will tell.

[Insubordination]

I don't know the whole story but I would like to play devil's advocate on some of the complaints. I would not expect a key to the academy. I worked in my academy in office hours only (so did the senior teacher). I also wouldn't expect 'drink facilities' (except for a bathroom and sink to wash hands). I brought my own water in a bottle and bought tea or coffee outside.

50% YL's in Spain is typical. Unless he told you otherwise, being a Cambridge Exam expert wouldn't necessarily exclude you from other types of classes on a f/t contract. I don't think he expected/wanted you to give suggestions as a senior teacher either, especially as you had only just arrived. More likely he wanted you to do his bidding and admin work.

It sounds like you walked in and started to criticise with your 'fresh eyes'. This would be annoying for any owner. Of course he wants to make money and you can hardly expect him to fess up that he bullied, fired and denounced you in a job ad.

I got off on the wrong foot with my Director by printing a lesson in her office (I had a class in 5 minutes, she was teaching and had said that I could, but she wasn't in the room when I did it). She got really angry and always locked her office after that. I could not make my own copies as the photocopier was always locked in there. I had to compromise and mark out the pages and leave the books on the desk the day before for someone else to copy.

I realised that I was used to having a staff computer and access to printers/internet/photocopier to prep and an air-con in summer. We had no internet for months and I had to find other ways to work around not having creature comforts.

I did not expect to be ferried to all my classes because I didn't have a car. I walked for 50 mins in the snow for one class because I couldn't find a taxi. I had to choose to dishonour my contract or accept that I had to waste many hours each week walking to various companies (public transport was frequently not available in a small town) and abide by her system and work within it. I ended up having a pleasant time, but I worked with really nice students and the director turned out to be lovely too, which made up for the rest.

I'm not trying to antagonise you and I believe what you wrote. If the conditions were not as promised and there is sexism and bullying in the workplace, then it's good that you didn't remain that toxic environment. I also think it was unprofessional for him to fire you without notice when, presumably, you didn't do anything to breach your contract.

However, when I read the initial post, I thought that complaints about inconveniences and a job website not taking down an ad just because you request it, might mean your expectations are unrealistically high for Spain. Not all language schools are slick and well-run.

It must be terribly disappointing to come from Bolivia and have it not work out, but there are plenty of great employers in Spain. I presume you know that because you've worked there before. This ain't one of them, so your warning is heeded. Hopefully you'll find/have found another position soon. I also hope the unfair dismissal case doesn't cost you to much financially or otherwise.

[jonniboy]

[jonniboy]

[Conquense54]

In reply to Insubordination, I can assure you I most certainly did not start criticising from day one. On the contrary, I did everything possible to work with the guy and support him, publicly at least, and when he made it clear I would not be given a key to his empire I spent the weekends dragging my tired feet around Badajoz looking for an Internet caf� with a printer, to use at my own expense to prepare materials for all the school, not just my lessons. (7 weeks later, I've found one such caf� in the city, with a very poor printer). Indeed, such was my commitment, in the end I bought my own printer but got little use out of it as I had no internet access. Nor did I expect to be ferried around everywhere, but can you show me any other job position in Spain that does not provide transport or subsidised travel to off-site Company Classes? I think not. And no tea or coffee facilities, or water, with back-to-back classes from 4-8pm every afternoon??? Come on, I'd just left a "third world" country to return to civilisation! I can also tell you that my initial degree and PGCE were in Spanish/French, which I taught for 13 years in UK, then did my CELTA in Madrid in 1994, having first lived in Spain in 1976, so yes, I do know a lot about Spain, and many of the private language academies. This guy has been running his centre for some 13 years, he claimed, and, spelling mistakes apart, Oxford was spot on with her description of how he rules. Finally, to Jonniboy?, yes, of course websites carry ads to make money, but they constantly ask for feedback from the teachers, do they not, eg, cost of living expenses, and for someone who has received a daily vacancy list from them for around 16 years why shouldn't they at least have the courtesy to acknowledge a teacher's complaint, they even carry warnings suggesting teachers should check out thoroughly any school they apply to, so they can't have it all ways. And with some 36 years knowledge of Spain and all things Spanish I'd like to know where these "good" academies are, I'm still looking.....Cheers.

[IanN]

[Isla Guapa]

[Conquense54]

So allow me to ask the question again then, where are these good academies? It all sounds terribly negative, doesn't it?

[mozzar]

The travel is part of the job and in Madrid it's fairly cheap (�50 a month for a metro pass). If you need water then bring a bottle of water with you, plan ahead. Back to back classes are seen as a plus point anyway: I'd rather back to back than classes spread throughout the day.

You're old academy may have been bad but I think there are many good academies around. Just don't expect them to pay you anything more than your hourly rate (which is generally pretty good for Spain anyway).

[jonniboy]

[Conquense54]

Maybe things are better in Latvia, Jonniboy? And when I mentioned the 4-8pm back-to-back classes, do you really think they were the only classes of the day????? We also had 8.30-10pm to round the day off, plus Company classes most lunchtimes, (1-3pm in my case), plus morning classes, starting at 9am, or 08.30 for me. So for the first few weeks as so-called senior teacher I was working 34 hours a week contact hours-the most out of all the teachers-and was expected to carry out the other duties of senior teacher as well. I wish I had puked over his photocopier! I also worked in Madrid for over 10 years and know all about being 14 hours in the street to deliver 5 or 6 contact hours during that time, that's why I thought I would have life a wee bit more comfortable by choosing a place like Badajoz!! In summary, all which had been agreed with mr Deans during my inteview via skype whilst still in Bolivia was never even discussed upon my arrival, he clearly had not thought through what he wanted from a "senior teacher", and it was my misfortune to believe the guy and accept to join his flock little realising he never had any intention of letting anyone else into his world.

[jonniboy]