Topic: APEC English Co

[anyonefortennis]

Anybody got any info on these guys?

I was reading this ad (http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/intl/index.pl?read=7707) which seemed pretty run of the mill, until I came across this;

No Degree? APEC University will award suitable Native English Speakers a verified Bachelor of Arts (major in English). Apply for details. Please send your resume/ CV or please feel free to contact us for further information.

What's that all about? APEC University? suitable native English Speakers? Verified BA?

Anyone got the low down on these guys?

[freedom fighter]

It seems diploma mills are now contracting staff out to Thai schools?  Buy their degree and then pay them a cut of your salary for finding you a job.  I wonder if APEC are contacting the Thai schools or if it's the other way around?  I'll wager than when the authorities come calling demanding to see a REAL degree they will be nowhere to be found and the school will deny all knowledge of it whilst you're marched off to room without a view.

One word is written all over this... CON!

Arrange the following sentence for your free piece of advice: 'the... plague... like... avoid...'

Maybe someone can show me how this is not a con?

[hero]

Just checked out their website - http://www.apecenglish.com/ - they aren't a university and don't offer any degree courses.

They have a link entitled "Master of TESOL" but click it and you get details for an ordinary sounding TESOL course.  They also claim...

To teach English with APEC overseas your degree will usually have little direct relevance to teaching English. However, it ensures that your relatded knowledge and understanding of English is sound enough for you to be able to teach it.

Also...

If you are a qualified teacher you may consider teaching: -
– Art and design
– Chinese
– English
– Geography
– History
– Information and communications technology (ICT)
– Japanese
– Mathematics
– Music
– Science
– Physical education (PE)

Which is nice

[hero]

Oh and they offer jobs, with NO TESOL COURSE INCLUDED, but you do get lesson plans and materials - and you only have to pay 140 pounds to get them.

What a con indeed!

http://www.apecenglish.com/html/cost.htm

[paulmcd]

I saw that ad too.  I thought that anyplace that would "provide" you with a degree was a place best avoided.

Paul

[anyonefortennis]

It would seem that the Chancellor of Apec University (http://www.apecuniversity.com/about/about_later.htm) is the same guy doing the recruiting for APEC English................who'd have thought it...........oh and he's also the founder of Apec University

[samvimes]

APEC certainly does seem to make some very dubious claims on their website, IMO I wouldn't touch them with someone else's bargepole let alone my own one!

[dwwin]

I'm sure that it won't surprise anyone that they run a featured add on http://www.teflasia.com/ajarn/browse_jobs/Thailand/85606.html

Although, all the jobs are in LOS, all the phone numbers are somewhere else.

Strange indeed. 

[chesterford]

I belive APEC actually had their Ajarn ad pulled for being too shady.

[dwwin]

I belive APEC actually had their Ajarn ad pulled for being too shady.

That's very well possible. It was there when I looked but it's not that I go there every day.

[anyonefortennis]

They still appear on the featured job slot of the jobs page, with an ad dated 30th April and another 5th May.........clearly they are not considered too shady to be able to continue to recruit unsuspecting teachers 

So if they've had their banner pulled for being shady........why are they allowed to continue to use the recruitment resources? Give em a refund and tell them to bugger off 

[Bangkok Phil]

APEC decided to discontinue their banner advertising on ajarn.com and go down the featured job ad route.
Their banner was not pulled from ajarn.com for being shady. Glad that's cleared that up.

[Mods-Rockers]

Its good to hear that ads will not be wothdrawn due to their shadiness. Glad that's cleared up!

[Ronaldo]

Its good to hear that ads will not be wothdrawn due to their shadiness. Glad that's cleared up!

That is highly interesting mod-rockers that advertisements of a shady nature will not be pulled or withdrawn from this particular website, probably because so many of them would have to be pulled it might affect the bottom line. Ah well.

[los_teacher]

The other site is about equal opportunity.  Good and bad teachers, good and bad employers - all can use the site.  Their mission isn't the same as the one here so I have no problem with it personally.

[hero]

Just different objectives - that's all.

[Nemesis]

Yeah, make as much money as you can off the ignorant or uninformed. Mr. Ajarn doesn't allow dissenting opionions about schools because those schools pay him. Fair enough.

[freedom fighter]

There was a time when I worked for a business magazine.  My editor and I pulled an advertising campaign and refunded the money when a company appeared in the local press for fraud. 

Having overtly bad advertisers is not good business.  Keep an eye on the 'overtly' bad ones Mr Ajarn or they will destroy your goodwill.  If your site gets a bad name there won't be any more advertisers.

Consider the advice it's from an experienced source.

FF.