Topic: English Solutions

[the horse]

I am back in bangkok now for some research and had a thai friend of mine call up ES on Friday inquiring about their "test preparation skills" for the TOEFEL. Guess what, they guaranteed him a score of perfect or 1 point below perfect. When he asked how this is possible (he stated he has no true expertise or proper handling of english), an offer was made to have somebody take the exam for them for a small fee of 20,000Bt. This is crazy, are these guys serious? Call them yourself if you can speak thai.
I know almost anything goes regarding english teaching in thailand, but paying somebody to take a test for you, that is too much!!!

[the horse]

Sorry mean to say "TOEFL" test. 

[Bangkok Phil]

I am back in bangkok now for some research and had a thai friend of mine call up ES on Friday inquiring about their "test preparation skills" for the TOEFEL. Guess what, they guaranteed him a score of perfect or 1 point below perfect. When he asked how this is possible (he stated he has no true expertise or proper handling of english), an offer was made to have somebody take the exam for them for a small fee of 20,000Bt. This is crazy, are these guys serious? Call them yourself if you can speak thai.
I know almost anything goes regarding english teaching in thailand, but paying somebody to take a test for you, that is too much!!!

This is a VERY serious allegation you are making here. I can't believe any company would be as stupid to make that kind of offer over the telephone to a stranger. However, the benefit of the doubt lies with......

[the horse]

skepticism is understood...
That said, i again recommend having a thai call them and ask in what way they can "assist" them in achieving a high or perfect score. The Thai individual who called also stressed that they would be willing to do anything, and i mean anything to achieve the desired results. It appears an open offer was made but if ES would actually do that, that is the true question, i agree it is doubtful, but it was put on the table at a point in the conversation as relayed back to me.I would be interested to hear their response knowing that the word is out.

[admin]

Knowing that ES reads this forum, I highly doubt that they would actually say anything of the sort if prompted. Because they read this forum, any Thai person calling would be suspect in their mind.

Speaking now not as admin, I used to be in the test prep business. This claim, while incredulous, is hardly surprising.

[blackpanther]

The two boys in ES both defected from Princeton Review. They revel in taking their customers and are willing to promise "extravagant" results at times.

That said, I never heard them directly say that they would complete the tests for a non-native speaker but it would not surprise me at all if they do. Educational ethics and standards are not held in high regard at ES. They make their real money from the test-prep, the corporate training is just a sideshow they send clowns to

[Ronaldo]

The boy's are back advertising on Ajarn.com for fresh meat, their advertisement is sweet and dandy, but one small thing that they have omitted to tell you was the fact that they are and probably will remain fully paid up 'HALL OF SHAME' members having reached the dizzying heights of mediocrity and sharp practice in the Thai educational world.

So, before you call or get to excited... read all about it.

To be fair though, I'll even put their advertisement here for you all to read and will not give in to the temptation of changing it or providing slanderous comment. The thread itself tells the story well enough for you to make an educated decision. Toodle Pip, Ronaldo.

We are looking for native-English speakers for freelance positions as Corporate & Test Preparation Trainers. The hourly rate is 500 to 800 Baht with programs held at our office on Sukhumvit Soi 1 (BTS Ploenchit) and at client locations during the daytime, evenings and weekends. Applicants should possess a dynamic and interactive training style. Masters degrees from reputable institutions and relevant professional backgrounds are a plus for Corporate Trainers. Experience teaching standardized tests, such as the TOEFL, GMAT and SAT, is a plus for Test Preparation Trainers. Please send a resume/CV and a brief cover letter highlighting your experience relevant to the position to iwannawork@english-solutions.com. Interviews will be required for candidates with suitable qualifications.

[Ronaldo]

Well, the boy's are taking advantage of their free once a month post on ajarn again and once again I'm here to warn to you to stay away from this outfit...

Their advertisement is sweet and dandy, but one small thing that they have omitted to tell you was the fact that they are and probably will remain fully paid up 'HALL OF SHAME' members having reached the dizzying heights of mediocrity and sharp practice in the Thai educational world.

So, before you call or get to excited... read all about it in the thread above.

To be fair though, I'll even put their advertisement here for you all to read and will not give in to the temptation of changing it or providing slanderous comment. The thread itself tells the story well enough for you to make an educated decision. Toodle Pip, Ronaldo.

English pollution says -

We are looking for native-English speakers for freelance positions as Corporate & Test Preparation Trainers. The hourly rate is 500 to 800 Baht with programs held at our office on Sukhumvit Soi 1 (BTS Ploenchit) and at client locations during the daytime, evenings and weekends. Applicants should possess a dynamic and interactive training style. Masters degrees from reputable institutions and relevant professional backgrounds are a plus for Corporate Trainers. Experience teaching standardized tests, such as the TOEFL, GMAT and SAT, is a plus for Test Preparation Trainers. Please send a resume/CV and a brief cover letter highlighting your experience relevant to the position to iwannawork@english-solutions.com. Interviews will be required for candidates with suitable qualifications.
 

[Uncle Che]

I thought this might be an interesting read. I guess we aren't the only ones who think firing by text message is not the best method. Maybe Big and Little Enos are starting a new trend?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060807/ap_on_hi_te/britain_fired_by_text;_ylt=Au6WSXGg0oGH5P5JiG6WNlqs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3cjE0b2MwBHNlYwM3Mzg-

LONDON - Katy Tanner's cell phone beeped with a startling message — you're fired. The 21-year-old had a migraine headache and took a sick day last week from her job at Blue Banana, a chain body-piercing studio in Cardiff, Wales, she said Monday. She turned on her cell phone the next day to discover she'd been terminated from her sales position.

"We've reviewed your sales figures and they're not really up to the level we need," shop manager Alex Barlett wrote in the message. "As a result, we will not require your services any more. Thank you for your time with us."

Ian Bisbie, a Blue Banana director said the company does not usually fire employees by text message, but had no other alternative after phoning Tanner five or six times and calling her boyfriend.

The company also defended the sacking-by-text message as a way to keep modern.

"We are a youth business and our staff are all part of the youth culture that uses (text) messaging as a major means of communication," Bisbie said in a statement e-mailed to the South Wales Echo newspaper. "Therefore as we wished to spare Miss Tanner the embarrassment and expense of coming into the store only to be sent straight home again, it was decided this was the best course of action to take."

Tanner said the text firing was unfair and it should have been done face-to-face.

"It was totally out of the blue," she said. "I don't think you can count it as official by text."

[Ronaldo]

I doubt that this would happen in Thailand, particularly since English Solution's doesn't hire teacher's legally, no WP, tax, etc. but some workers sought grievance against a company in England back in 2003, and won compensation for being fired by text message.

Workers at the Accident Group, the no win, no fee personal injury claims outfit that went titsup with debts of more than £30 million in 2003, have won a compensation claim after they were sacked by text message.

There was outrage in May when some 3,000 staff received text messages telling them that they had been given the boot by the Manchester-based company.

Owed thousands of pounds in pay, the plight of those workers was made even worse after Accident Group boss, Mark Langford, was pictured sunning himself at his luxury villa in Spain while workers in the UK fretted over how they would pay the bills.

21 of the company's 3,000 workforce took their compensation case to an employment tribunal in Ashford, Kent.

The tribunal ruled in their favour adding that staff had been "cynically manipulated".

But since the company has no cash, the compensation claim will be covered by the Government using taxpayers' money, the British newspaper the Daily Telegraph reports.

Following the decision, other former workers are now expected to seek compensation.

Mind you when countries behave like total assholes, what are the companies to do but to follow, ... suit, tie, and cufflinks?

Welcome to the American Idol Century! 

[the horse]

I wonder if any members of friends of members on this web board are involved in the american chamber of commerce. i had a friend a couple years a go in their "ranks" who said that among other companies in the city, ES was been comlained about a great deal by individuals and companies angry at their unsolicited ads, claims of success, etc. it would be interesting if their illegal and unethical practices wre ever officially brought to the attention of AmCham and its board members. It would also be interesting if a claim of illegal business practcies, as was just done in koh samui, was made to the thai authorities. that would at least draw some official and necessary attention to the bad boyz of professional test-taking. Can't the Ministry of Education as well as the Ministry of Labour be notified of these guys as well as all the other illegitimate so-called language schools? 

[brewsterbudgen]

I've been doing freelance corporate work for ES since July I've been very satisfied.  Good pay (600 THB an hour) and always paid on time, good materials (minimal preparation suits me fine), good corporate students and no problems from the management.  If you're looking to supplement your teaching hours and don't need a WP etc. I would recommend them.  I was nearly put off by the criticism on this thread but I'm glad I took the job!

[blackpanther]

Good to hear you enjoy working there.

Maybe "management" have taken on board some of the criticism. I still wouldn't piss on them if they were on fire though 

Be careful with the WP stuff buddy. Your ass will be outta here if you're caught or if ES gets raided.

[Ronaldo]

And there you have it in a nutshell from reply No. 71... Freelance, No Work Permit and No tax.

Hence no management responsibility.

As blackpanther has said "Your ass will be outta here if you're caught or if ES gets raided."

[Uncle Che]

On this thread, we heard about a worker fired by text message. It looks like Britney Spears soon to be ex husband got the same treatment.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061110/people_nm/life_text_dc
"People in their teens and 20s feel more comfortable using a text message to communicate something serious than having to confront someone," said Delly Tamer, chief executive of online wireless retailer LetsTalk.com, which researches phone use.