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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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 Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 7:19 am Post subject: Do Japan Teaching/Job forums need a reality check? |
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I was just reading a January 5th article on ELTNews. It was written by Kevin Burns, owner of Kevin's English School. The title of the article was The Forums About Teaching English in Japan Need to Take a Reality Check.
This editorial, written by an owner of an eikaiwa, criticizes some Job-finding/teaching ESL forums as being overly negative and doing a disservice to those looking for employment in Japan. He states that much of the forum populations are disgruntled and have no life, slandering their respective places of employment "ad nauseum" and with nothing but empty rants. He further points out that much of the time the information presented on these forums is highly inaccurate and encourages people to be confrontational by fighting with employers over small details.
If anyone wants to read this, the article is here: http://www.eltnews.com/features/special/026.shtml
Edit: I just found out the original article was actually published in Japan Living vol. 35 Here: http://www.eikaiwa1.com/vol35.html. Either link will get you there -- it's the same article.
Then, when you're done reading it, ELTNews published a rebuttal to the article here: http://www.eltnews.com/features/special/index.shtml written by the webmasters of Let's Japan -- a website that was singled out and named in the original article.
My question to Dave's Cafe residents (at least in the Japan forum) is: to what degree do you agree or disagree with the article?
What do you think of the rebuttal?
Any opinions about Kevin Burns or his eikaiwa ( http://www.eikaiwa1.com/ ) here?
Any opinions about Let's Japan ( http://www.letsjapan.org/ ) here?
What are your impressions/reflections on all of this?
I'm genuinely curious what some people on Dave's think of this -- and maybe it'll make for some good discussion.  |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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bearcat
Joined: 08 May 2004
Posts: 367
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| Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 11:30 am Post subject: |
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Another FYI concerning that discussion that has come down through the grapevine is that one of the owners of Let's Japan is supposed to be friends with Kevin Burns.
I've heard he tried to excuse his printing that article due to some stress from some personal family problems, yet he has yet to then print a retraction if this is true. That just smacks to me as a lame excuse for not accepting responsibility for what he wrote. |
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Mike L.
Joined: 28 Feb 2003
Posts: 519
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| Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Personally I think he has shot himself in the foot BIG time and thoroughly discredited himself. |
Not mention, that this "furuyo" gaijin has been known as such for years! His homepage used to slag English teachers! Looks like he's changed it after being called out for it.
Talk about calling the kettle black!
Anyone have any experience working for this piece of work? I'd be interested to know what he considers "small" things? |
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Mike L.
Joined: 28 Feb 2003
Posts: 519
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| Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 12:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Prospective teachers sometimes ask to contact one or more of our current teachers to ask questions about what it's like to work at our schools. I feel uncomfortable with this, never having asked any of my prospective employers for the same privilege and because I don't want to infringe upon the privacy or free time of our teachers. Our teachers are kind though, and allow me to give out their Email addresses to prospective teachers. It's a bit sad that this is necessary, but some of the internet forums and the bitter negativity that a minority of teachers express, seem to help make it so. |
What hogwash!  He's obviously got something to hide. That's why he doens't want anyone having contact with the teachers in his schools.
Of course, Mr. Burns could show up himself here and defend his article. However, from past experience, I know that won't happen!  |
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easyasabc
Joined: 13 Jul 2003
Posts: 179
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 1:38 pm Post subject: |
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Oh my god! Now that I've stopped laughing and dragged myself up from where I fell on the floor clutching my sides..........
Check out the website for that schools that Mr Burns owns and you will see loads of typo/grammar/punctuation mistakes. Does this guy have a clue? If they are just typos then he is extremely unprofessional. If they aren't typos they must be grammatical or punctuation mistakes which is weird from someone who is supposed to be an English teacher.
I only looked at the "about us" page and the job info on the bottom of the page that the http://www.eikaiwa1.com/ link opens and I saw lots of weird English and unecessary or incorrect punctuation.
Heaven help his students! |
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easyasabc
Joined: 13 Jul 2003
Posts: 179
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 1:44 pm Post subject: |
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Oooohhh! Wait! Wait! It just got better. Check the copy of the contract they have posted on their website at http://www.eikaiwa1.com/contract.html and see if you can see the classic error in the 5th paragraph.
This is just tooooooooooooooooooo funny! |
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Mike L.
Joined: 28 Feb 2003
Posts: 519
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| Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2005 2:44 am Post subject: |
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Bump! Hi we're back!
I've just spent some time reading through that site! Absolutely the most attrocious grammar I've ever seen!
I too had difficulty containging my laughter.
Defnitely don't want to let this thread sink to the bottom.  |
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Mike L.
Joined: 28 Feb 2003
Posts: 519
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| Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2005 2:49 am Post subject: |
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| I've heard he tried to excuse his printing that article due to some stress from some personal family problems, yet he has yet to then print a retraction if this is true. That just smacks to me as a lame excuse for not accepting responsibility for what he wrote. |
Until he shows up and retracts that nonesense, or to defend himslef, I'm going to keep bumping this thread!  |
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spidey
Joined: 29 Jun 2004
Posts: 382
Location: Web-slinging over Japan...
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| Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2005 6:23 am Post subject: |
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If I may do some "bumping" at your expense, Mike L.?
Since we are razzing people for their typos...I think you should take a look at your own postings. 
S
P.S. I'm ready and waiting... |
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Rhialto
Joined: 04 Feb 2003
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2005 4:16 am Post subject: |
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I was actually on the verge of applying for a job with him. After reading that opinion of his concerning the average online teacher in Japan, I think I've changed my mind.
Congrats Kevin! You're driving away prospective employees with that rant of yours! |
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Mike L.
Joined: 28 Feb 2003
Posts: 519
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| Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2005 4:26 am Post subject: |
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| Since we are razzing people for their typos...I think you should take a look at your own postings. |
Ahh but this is not my official business site! Admittedly I could care less about my typos. Fair enough criticsm though.
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| Congrats Kevin! You're driving away prospective employees with that rant of yours! |
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peter31
Joined: 05 Feb 2005
Posts: 15
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| Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2005 7:51 am Post subject: |
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To the people out there jumping all over the "Kevin Burns" thing, I can only say that if you got your head out of your arses, you might see that there is a certain amount of truth to what he says!!!!
Don't know the guy and can't say that if his character is decent or not but, what was written in my humble opinion is fair.
I have seen so much shit on this website and some of the answers are even more ridiculous than the questions.
C'mon guys be fair and at least admit that there are decent schools out there and not everyone of them is out to do an injustice to us all!!! |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2005 8:13 am Post subject: |
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| peter31 wrote: |
To the people out there jumping all over the "Kevin Burns" thing, I can only say that if you got your head out of your arses, you might see that there is a certain amount of truth to what he says!!!!
Don't know the guy and can't say that if his character is decent or not but, what was written in my humble opinion is fair.
I have seen so much *beep* on this website and some of the answers are even more ridiculous than the questions.
C'mon guys be fair and at least admit that there are decent schools out there and not everyone of them is out to do an injustice to us all!!! |
Peter
His criticisms may be fair (or not) but its the wrong person who is pointing the fingers. He has a fair bit of negative stuff that he has written about other schools on other websites yet he is criticising others for doing the same thing.
All the while his own language school comes out smelling like roses and becuase he is the owner he feels he should stay above the fray and is beyond reproach. Several of the clauses in his own school's contract border on being illegal, yet he b--tches about people complaining about conditions at their own schools, illegal clauses etc.
the underlying message in all that is that he should practice what he preaches, and clean up his own act first before pointing the finger at others, including yours truly. |
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Mike L.
Joined: 28 Feb 2003
Posts: 519
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| Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2005 12:59 pm Post subject: |
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To the people out there jumping all over the "Kevin Burns" thing, I can only say that if you got your head out of your arses, you might see that there is a certain amount of truth to what he says!!!!
Don't know the guy and can't say that if his character is decent or not but, what was written in my humble opinion is fair. |
Well ingnorance is bliss. You clearly haven't done your research. You should follow your own advice about..........
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| C'mon guys be fair and at least admit that there are decent schools out there and not everyone of them is out to do an injustice to us all!!! |
Since when did we saythey were all bad? Numerous decent schools, not the likes Kevin's mind you, get high reviews daily here!
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| I have seen so much *beep* on this website and some of the answers are even more ridiculous than the questions. |
Wow for someone with one foolish post to his name, and a potty mouth to match, I bet you're right up there in JALT and the EFL scene in Japan.
Please advise us "Wise One."
Or, would you be Kevin in person too cowardly to defend himself?
Either way thanks for comming out!
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