Job Discussion Forums

[roywebcafe]

Can anyone give me any info working for this outfit? Do they have a dress code that fails to match the climate for instance? Alot do.

I have five years experience and a CELTA and have not found any teaching work since i got my CELTA last MArch!!! and yes i had prior experience. Also have a degree so i do realise Wall St is a step down but there is no work in Europe anymore. I went to poland and visited schools without success in April and don't want to risk beating the pavements in Europe and find myself broke without a job.

So second question Is finding work in Thailand by visiting and looking around easier?? I think so because its cheaper i look for longer than a week or two.

[sheikxhoni]

I often saw the signs for Wall Street Institute in the SkyTrain and I would go past their office in BKK from time to time. Last week when I changed planes with a two day layover in Dusseldorf Germany I was surprised to see the same Wall Street Institute, same logo, same ad style in downtown Dusseldorf. It was a very nice, professional facility. I think, as a result of their impression on me, that this Wall Street Institute has some serious management and financial backing. I'm impressed.

One problem in Bangkok is that there are too many schools in a reduced economy. Classes that might have had 6 or 7 students a few years ago have two or three now. Smaller. locally organized schools with energy and good intensions are watering down the already weak market for schools like ECC, IH, and Wall Street Institute. I suspect we will see some serious weeding out of schools in Bangkok and elsewhere around the world. I suspect it will be the larger and better financed schools that will still be in business in a few years.

When you read this blog you see lots of grips about how horrible the Thai schools are and generally I agree. Trust me when I say that working for a place like Wall Street Institute is not going to look like a "step down" as the person who started this thread said. That's my opinion.

[Pauleddy]

Wall Street is a global set of franchises or sub-franchises.

They have a formula--the kids get something like 20% time (not sure of exact %) with a teacher, 40% on internet and 40% in a language lab with headphones plus other odds and ends. It is NOT a traditional setting where teachers give sweet little grammar classes to beaming young adults (like the billboards).

This method means that they hire less teachers while still charging large amounts, and paying for lots of billboards.

The owners or franchisees are businessmen and have no interest in academic rigour. The DOSs may be OK.

When I taught in Spain a few years back, there was a huge scandal. The tycoon who owned the WS spanish branches went broke, and "kept" the money which kids had paid or borrowed from banks for a course at WS. One kid committed suicide because he had borrowed from bank and parents, and couldn't face either again. This epitomised the rip-off which this type of franchise outfit can be. I would never send a kid to WS.

Eddy

[sheikxhoni]

Howdy Paul, It's sad to hear that point of view because I apprciate a good, professional marketing presentation too. And if there is a weeding out in the near future when some of the less effective schools go away then this Wall Street Institute might be one that lasts due to their effective presentation, even if their product is not what we teachers would want.

Again, sad.

[Pauleddy]

I agree.

I can only speak for Spain, but the formula is a "slick" one all over. It is modern, and I am old school. Sorry to all. I like grammar and value-for-money. Old dinosaur in a techno age.

Evidently, it works for some students--but we all know from BTS travel in BKK that Thai kids carry Wall St folders, books on particle physics and all sorts because they "believe" that they are carrying some kind of magic books which make them "better". It's all fluff and part of the phoney Thai presentation culture (--looking the part), which is one of the weaker points about Thighland. IMO.

P