Job Discussion Forums

[AbeCross]

What international language chains(Berlitz, Wall Street, ELS, etc.) are the best? By best, I mean good for students and instructors alike. What places are professionally-managed and have solid curricula?

[spiral78]

All of the above are subject to significant variations given local management and staff.

On one's CV, of those you name, Berlitz would be the least desirable. It's one of the 'method' schools, and its method is thoroughly outdated. Teachers coming from such schools are sometimes viewed with suspicion by employers who want their teachers to employ a range of more modern approaches and methods.

[nomad soul]

Ditto Spiral's comments about Berlitz. It's fine for earning a little extra cash on the side. However, it's best to leave Berlitz off one's CV; it can be the kiss of death for a serious career in TEFL.

[AbeCross]

James Joyce taught at Berlitz more than a century ago. I guess its history belies its current, dubious reputation.

[spiral78]

Yes- a century ago the Berlitz method was cutting-edge.

[Sashadroogie]

I have long suspected that Joyce was heavily influenced by his exam classes' essays. Compare this excerpt from Finnigans Wake to your average TOEFL effort : )

riverrun, past Eve and Adam’s, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs. Sir Tristram, violer d’amores, fr’over the short sea, had passencore rearrived from North Armorica on this side the scraggy isthmus of Europe Minor to wielderfight his penisolate war: nor had topsawyer’s rocks by the stream Oconee exaggerated themselse to Laurens County’s gorgios while they went doublin their mumper all the time: nor avoice from afire bellowsed mishe mishe totauftauf thuartpeatrick: not yet, though venissoon after, had a kidscad buttended a bland old isaac: not yet, though all’s fair in vanessy, were sosie sesthers wroth with twone nathandjoe. Rot a peck of pa’s malt had Jhem or Shen brewed by arclight and rory end to the regginbrow was to be seen ringsome on the aquaface.

[Professional TEFLer]

[santi84]

I have a friend (yes, a friend - not me) who worked at a certain well-known language chain here. She ended up leaving because she felt terrible about using a certain method with her students when clearly their situation demanded a different strategy. You might even get students trying to set-up privates with you because their company is making them go to ABC company, but they know they are not getting the service they need.

If you want to work for an international chain with their own method of language teaching, then it is worth considering how you would deal with such a situation (deal - or get out).