Job Discussion Forums

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

turnn2010, I'm always reluctant to give money to any organization that doesnt allow a refund. and the treatment you got on the phone (hanging up on you) isnt an encouraging sign of things to come.

[turnn2010]

Well, the person on the phone was only answering questions. The people in charge of the program ("Alex" and "Suzy") have not directly refused a refund. They have indirectly refused. I am waiting to hear from someone who actually attended a course from these people. It seems just from what I've heard here, that no "Special Project" courses have actually taken place in either Shenzhen or Beijing.

I saw that this was a large operation, based in the U.S. Everything seemed to be honest and direct.

Since I am close to Tampa, Florida, U.S.A., I will visit American TESOL Institute to find out what is going on.

I there anyone with direct information on this organization?

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

turnn2010, is this the website of the American TESOL Institute?

If so, I see some red flags here. (The following is merely my opinion, but an opinion based on experience dealing with orgs like this).

1. the contact info is all over the place. yahoo, hotmail, alextefl at gmail.com, skype addresses, and then justtefl in the web address. really indicates a bit of a fly by night caper run from someone's living room.

2. Their accreditation is a bit shady looking. From their website:

"American TESOL Programs are accredited by AAIEP. AAIEP was established in 2005 as the pioneering accrediting agency in the USA for TESOL - ESL certification programs."

The amer. tesol site doesnt even tell you what AAIEP is, but we can find it Here. Their origins and affiliation are unclear, to me at least.

Another organization giving accreditation to American TESOL is USETTA. If you go to their website, you'll find out that USETTA currently has a total of two (2) accredited members. Not a great endorsement.

This reminds me of teachandtravel.com run by the infamous "Dr." Peter Appleton. Teachandtravel.com programs were recognized by NALATIE, which in fact was another organization set up by Appleton to give accreditation to his own programs, as I recall. I did one of those courses run by Appleton and it was a complete waste of money, but the website he had set up at the time looked very similar to the one for American TESOL. I heard from a former teachand travel student that ended up working for Appleton, that he was run out of town (under pressure from better business bureau perhaps) where he had his HQ and has since moved on to safer (offshore?) environs.

3. Almost non-existent eligibility criteria to take the course. High school. english speaker, ability to get a passport.

4. Reluctance to discuss or consider a refund. If the program is as good and beneficial as they claim, Amer. TESOL should back that up with something substantial.

teachandtravel.com also had a complete money back guarantee, but their guarantee had terms that were virtually impossible to meet. You had to send out at least ten resumes to three different countries (30 resumes in total) and show a refusal letter from all 30 schools in order to claim a refund. Anyone who's been in ESL knows that schools don't send out these letters.

5. Heavy focus on exotic destinations. That's a surefire way to lure in the candidates eager to see a new place.

There's more, but overall I put this American TESOL program in the "dodgy" category. The only thing saving it (in my opinion) from the "extremely dodgy" category is that it does seem to (on paper at least) offer some benefits that other courses don't.

Visiting American TESOL would be a very good idea if you're close enough. For the sake of those of you who've paid money to these people already I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think so.

[Beyond1984]

"Since I am close to Tampa, Florida, U.S.A., I will visit American TESOL Institute to find out what is going on." -turnn2010

Due to the Mariel Boatlift and the constant stream of immigrants from Central and South America, Florida offers a wide selection of splendid TESOL Certification programs:

http://www.sunshine-tesol.org/teslprog.htm

I chose the University of Florida, and recommend it highly. I was awarded a Graduate Teaching Assistantship in the ELI and then taught Academic Writing to international graduate students. I was also fortunate enough to secure a fellowship from the College of Education.

I was paid to study in those good ol' days; I'm not sure what may be on offer now.

http://web.lin.ufl.edu/tesl/gradtesol.html

You would have to be accepted into (any) graduate program, but could get the Certificate and leave without the degree if you are anxious to escape the US. :D

I got the Certificate and graduate degree, worked ten years for the Florida public schools, and am happy to collect a small monthly pension. 8)

Good luck!

-HDT

Don't even think about teaching ESL until you learn how to do it. Too many come who can speak grammatical English with a pleasing accent, but don't know how to teach it. They have come to be called "performing monkeys" because they can talk but can't teach. Language schools (at least in Liaoning Province) now have to write into their charters the procedures for refunding money to irate students who thought they were paying for competent ESL teachers. :roll: