TEFL Horror Story
I have recently done a TEFL class run by a private concern in Chiang Mai Thailand.
My experience was extremely unsatisfactory. Here a few of the details. I now see the importance of checking out any school you plan on enrolling in. I feel like these folks really conned me or at least let their desire to enrol ($$$) me outweigh any other concerns. Not a good feeling, trust me.
I am a teacher/tutor with 40 years of experience both in the classroom and as an entrepreneur privately tutoring students in their homes. I have excellent recommendations from the educational community.
So here goes
I just ended at TEFL experience with someone I believe was a bit of an egocentric, or perhaps just overstressed. A does have an impressive resume. My relationship with him as a tutor was abysmal. The cost of the program was $600 for two weeks of private tutoring. This is a good sum for Thailand. I was told that CELTA was the sponsor of the certificate I was to receive. – I have since found out this is not the case. *Please see the note below.
I did not have sufficient grammatical background to take this class. However there was no testing or evaluation up front to determine whether or not the class, as it was designed, was right for me. The only evaluation was as the meeting with A and B his partner a few times. They were clearly eager to get me signed up but not so vigilant in terms of making sure this would be the right class for me. They both seemed to think it would be a good experience for me. It has not been a good experience.
A exhibited several unprofessional behaviours during our sessions. The sessions were an exercise in frustration. He was rarely there on time and I got many messages indicating they would be late. There was always a good excuse. I had a great deal of trouble working with A. The sessions generally lasted a two to four hours. The course promised a five-hour session. Much of the time was spent in conversation not on task. I was told this was Thai time!
A seemed very frustrated with my inability to understand what he had to say. Several times leaving the session for a cigarette. He was teaching well above my level of understanding. I am a senior citizen and have not been in a classroom situation in years. I chose the tutoring situation so that I might get some individual attention and that my individual needs would be addressed. Although it got a bit better as time progressed there never was the enough trust developed between us for the learning to be effective. KISS was talked about but used infrequently.
During the first two days he drank beer during our tutoring session. I found this very uncomfortable and unprofessional though I did not mention it at the time. He and his girlfriend would have arguments and discussions unrelated to the tutoring in front of me. I heard too much of about the problems he was having in his work and life. I know enough that when I tutor someone I have to leave these personal matters at home. I sometimes felt I was in a dysfunctional family. He borrowed 500B and a library book from me. I am still waiting for their return. I called B and requested the materials I gave to A be returned to me along with the 500B. Apparently we both felt it was a poor fit. Maybe some clause in the contract that would allow for partial return of tuition would be appropriate.
I also feel I was not given the respect and recognition I deserved as a fellow educator. I imagine he was unhappy with my progress and feeling the pressure to have me finish the class.
I discussed this matter with B and A and let them know in clear terms what were my needs were in the matter. I explained that I was unconcerned about receiving a certificate but I would like to use the time to catch up in some of the areas in which I was weak. I also explained that I was primary interested in doing one to one tutoring not teaching is a classroom setting. I did not seem to get though to either one of them in this regard. They seemed quite inflexible in terms of the format of the class. I let them know I did not need a certificate so A would not feel he would lose credibility with Celt. If indeed this was a Celta offering. When I suggested that we complete the number of hours (25) still due me by meeting for a few hours every other day or at their convenience, A quickly nixed this idea. He stated that the course was not meant for this purpose and that we would have to end it in a few days because he had other obligations. This felt to me a bit unfair and I expressed this to A. A offered to discuss it but given the treatment I had received thus far I did not feel at this point that there was much room for discussion. As he will tell you, I left unhappy and dissatisfied and not feeling like I had been treated in a professional manner.
Clearly this all could have been avoided if there had been some sort of screening procedure in place. We both would have seen that I did not have the skills necessary to do the class as A saw it. I could have walked out of there a happy man and $600 or so to the better. I believe this to be a more professional way to do things.
Sometimes I felt that I had to live up to A’s standard rather than listen to my own needs in the matter. This caused me to feel very tense and anxious in his presence. Rarely if at all was I asked how things were going. Remember this is a one on one learning situation.
I have been involved in this activity for 35 years myself teaching mathematics. I often check in with my students (adults and kids). I often check in with them to see how the tutoring process is going with them. For example – are we going to slow? Or am I going too fast? Many times A seemed oblivious to my needs.
I know as a newbie in Thailand there were many indications I did not pick up on. It was a learning experience. Eh? I have been working with a lawyer to try and get some justice here. As one might expect A has not been available for phone calls or legal correspondence.
So be careful out there!! Hope you can get something out of my mistake.
Peace to ya
Topic: Scammed in Chiang Mai (Read 856 times)