Job Discussion Forums

firesign90 · Joined: 01 Mar 2008 Posts: 9

Hello, I was wondering if there was anyone out there that has info. on the TEFL institute in Guadalajara. Positive/Negative experiences, I realize it's different for everyone, housing, etc..
Thanks in advance!

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

Did you do a forum search? There have been various discussions here on the subject.

mapache · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 202 Location: Villahermosa

I've met several teachers who completed this school. They were very good English teachers - well trained. The problem is the school's referral system.
The school gets paid from private schools who refer teacher to work for them. These teachers need to look before they leap into a private school solely based on TEFL's recommendation. Teachers should personally checked out these referral schools as evidenced by numerous miserable experiences posted in this forum.

mapache · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 202 Location: Villahermosa

sorry - this should have said private schools pay TEFL for referring teachers to work for them

firesign90 · Joined: 01 Mar 2008 Posts: 9

Thanks for your reply. That's good to know and something I will be wary of. I do not want to be bulliied into a crap job becasue I am new.

mapache · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 202 Location: Villahermosa

Your welcome. Research posts on The Canadian Center in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, for an example of this. TEFL often sends teachers to this school.

hlamb · Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Posts: 431 Location: Canada

I liked my experience with ITTO, overall, but did feel like I was being pressured into accepting a bad job just because it was on the table. I was also told that for teachers who refuse to accept jobs, the guaranteed job placement is no longer valid. I consider myself lucky. The school that I was pressured into teaching at didn't end up offering me the job, I found one on my own and while it wasn't a great job, at least if was my own fault for not looking closely enough into it. I am now at a great school, which I found on the internet, and have been very happy. So, the message is to be careful and make your own decisions.

sarliz · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 198 Location: Jalisco

I'll echo the sentiment. The most valuable part of ITTO for me was the practice lesson planning and the actual practice teaching that I needed to feel confident going out on my own. I found I had to be very persistent and specific with the man in charge of job placement, who had the tendency to shove a phone in my face and say "Here, there's a job in Xalapa, talk to them." I ended up landing a job in Oaxaca that I enjoyed a lot, but was a out-of-the-gate-type job.

On my return to Guadalajara a year later, I found a new man handling job placement for ITTO (this was in September, so he might still be there now), who, after several visits, got me an interview with a place offering like 6 hours a week for $40/hour (yep, that's pesos), and a contact with a woman who specifically would not help teachers get an FM3. I imagine I could have pressured him for more help (Seriously, be persistent. In an irritating yet incredibly friendly way.), but I ended up figuring out that teaching independently in a town outside of Guadalajara was a better option for me.

So, shorter version of the same answer, they'll help you get a decent first job, but maybe not so much beyond that. And for someone who wants to get a little confidence and teaching under their belt, it's a good training experience.

Good luck!

firesign90 · Joined: 01 Mar 2008 Posts: 9

Thanks for the replies. Despite the wonderful assurance from the school over the phone and blah, blah, blah...I assumed the job offered to me would be frightening considering they are telling me that I will already accept a job before I take the course. I am to take the course in July and in May supposed to be securing a job. Oh, I did not mention, I will not be working in Mexico, I am only taking the course there then headed back to Cali. for a month until the diploma arrives, then off to Thailand, where securing a job prior to departure is not a wise decision, so I have been told.
This is surely a dumb question but is ITTO the same thing as TEFL Institute? What am I missing here?
Also, if someone has any info as far as the housing went, that would be greatly appreciated. I have tried to get some info and prices and location of school, but they tell me that in the coming months they will send me more info. Kinda would like to start looking at options.

Linda T. · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 49 Location: California

I also went to ITTO in old town Guadalajara (I think it stands for International Teacher Training Organization and they have TEFL programs in various locations around the world).

I imagine your TEFL Institute operates pretty much the same way. ITTO offered to make housing arrangements for us. Many of us stayed at posadas within walking distance of the school (large old houses with shared kitchen and separate rooms with or without private baths). Others had home stays . . . some great and some not so great.

Before I went, I asked ITTO if there was any way they could put me in contact with former graduates. They gave me an incredibly long list of e-mail contacts (I think 20 names or so). I wrote to each and every one and many wrote back with invaluable information.

You might try asking TEFL Institute to provide you with such a list. If they won't or can't . . . well . . . I suppose that might tell you something.

Hopes this helps.

Linda

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

firesign90 · Joined: 01 Mar 2008 Posts: 9

Oh yeah, the list idea is terrific. I am definitley asking for one.
I was planning on staying at a hostel and obtainig a private room, cannot risk sleep deprivation that sharing often involves.
Since I can find nothing on TEFL Instittute, I had a feeling they were going to pass me off to another comapny, no matter, as long as I get the TEFL and the course is useful. Being a complete virgin, as far as teaching goes, I imagine it will be so.
Thank you for the relpies.

Linda T. · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 49 Location: California

Guy,

If I might be so bold . . . I'd like to ask a question on Firesign's behalf (since you'll be meeting with the TEFL Director this week). If TEFL Institute is actually contracting with ITTO program in Guadalajara in order to offer a TEFL Institute program there, what would be the advantage to Firesign to taking the program through them as opposed to taking it directly through ITTO?

Do ITTO students and TEFL Institute students take classes side-by-side? Would the cost be the same to both?

When I tried to look up the TEFL Institute program on the internet, although they DID list a Guadalajara program, there was no direct link to a website. When I looked up ITTO . . . their site was still active, but mentioned nothing about TEFL Institute (I had thought that maybe the 2 had merged somehow).

The reason I ask is that, if ITTO is still run the way it was back when I took my course there (in 2006), Firesign could have all her questions answered right now (regarding housing arrangements, prices, getting e-mail contact info for former graduates etc.) instead of having to wait for TEFL Institute to get linked up with them (assuming that they ARE planning on using the existing ITTO program to offer classes rather than starting up their own school in GDL).

Linda

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

You may find this useful:

http://www.teflwatch.org/the-tefl-institute-threatens-teflwatch-2007244.html

and part two:

http://www.teflwatch.org/the-tefl-institute-and-teflwatch-part-2-2007245.html

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Linda, I'm not completely up on the details of the two organizations' connections, but from my earlier experience with the owner of TEFL Institute, I'd say that the only difference in going through one program or the other is a small difference in price. I believe it's $1400 usd through ITTO and $1,499 through TEFL Institute.

Students from either program go side-by-side I assume, as it is the exact same program. It's really only the way and the where the programs are marketed.

I say I assume here based on a relationship the group I work for had with the owner of TEFL Institute when he ran the now defunct Global Education Corporation. I wouldn't have mentioned that relationship, but Samantha put the link up to TEFL Watch, so you'll see the conversation anyway. I do plan to bring all this up in the meeting on Thursday and will be able to comment more succinctly.

I don't think the TEFL Institute should mar ITTO's image or course delivery in any way. I think it's a mistake on ITTO's part to have this partnership, but, hey, that's business. If asked, I would tell people to go straight through ITTO and save themselves a bit of money.