Job Discussion Forums

[United TESOL]

It has come to our attention that at least two of our graduates and five other teachers not connected to our college have been approached by an individual calling himself Dr. Alan Hamilton. I believe he is contacting teachers who have posted themselves on different ESL websites. Once he has contacted female teachers and obtained their phone numbers he conducts a telephone interview and a line of questioning that is inappropriate and we believe, sexually motivated. These questions are asked under the assumption that the teachers would be working with disabled children and they would need to understand how these children would feel. The questioning often focuses on the interviewee's throat and her ability to make 'choking' and 'swallowing' sounds. This man then asks the women to send him inappropriate photos of themselves under the pretense of assessing their health.

Dr. Hamilton claims to represent a school called Bopinesl Inc. in various countries such as Kuwait, Greece and Costa Rica, China and the Czech Republic. He claims to be either in the country he is recruiting for or in England but he has an American accent. His e-mail address is [email protected]. When asked for information about the school or a website on the BOPINESL organization he declines to give any citing security and/or privacy issues. We encourage teachers not to deal with or contact this individual and not to give your telephone number to him. We also encourage people who have been contacted by Dr. Hamilton to report the incident to their local authorities. Should you have any questions or concerns about this I can be contacted at [email protected].

Ray O'Connell
United TESOL
Teacher Trainer / Alumni Coordinator
[email protected]