Alex’s suggestions are italicized:

- Form a union and go on strike, first making sure that the school can’t just sack you all and replace you with another boatload of even cheaper teachers.

For my degree I majored in tourism management and consequently spent a lot of time looking at the hospitality and tourism industry, which shares a number of key characteristics with TEFL teaching, namely there are literally a plethora of small and not so small organizations operating in the sector in practically every country of the world; the pay is generally low; staff turnover is high compared to other industries; there is little if any trade union representation; there are many transient workers trying to pick up casual work literally wherever they can find it. If that paints an unkind picture of our profession, I think you’ll agree it’s not far from the truth. The problems of having low pay and no union representation coupled with a burgeoning workforce willing to take whatever work they can find leads to a catch 22: Why improve conditions if you don’t have to? If one teacher isn’t happy, get rid of them and hire another. What we have at the language school level of the industry (I like to separate the words industry and profession and will further make the distinction as I continue) is a proliferation of poor standards brought on as much by the teachers willing to take poorly paid jobs as those running schools who offer such rates of pay.

So, how to form a union and begin the end of this? Would this union operate in one country? Would it cross international barriers and somehow overcome the myriad differences in local employment laws across the world? Which government departments would be involved in fighting for the rights of a largely foreign group of workers, many of whom have been employed illegally with unenforceable contracts? How would you get the large, transient element, who are merely looking for a little pocket money while traveling from country to country with no intention of staying in TEFL in the long run, to adhere to the policies that would help solve the problem? As with the hospitality industry, there are many barriers to overcome before a union can even be envisaged.

- Embarrass or in other ways ruin the business of schools that pay badly.

In the same way that Tony Soprano and his mafia buddies wouldn’t have taken kindly to a group of strippers trying to mess with his strip club, the undesirables that own language schools will not take kindly to such behaviour. There is an incredible amount of money to be made from teaching English and where there’s an incredible amount of money to be made you’ll have characters who like making an incredible amount of money. If you intend to take this course of action, try to find out exactly who you’re dealing with and who they’re connected to. This can be an effective short-term strategy, but do not end up as part of a motorway overpass as a result of your actions, nor assume that the authorities will back you up. Where there’s an incredible amount of money to be made, there are also people being paid to look the other way by a bunch of evil bastards.

- Cut down on the supply of TEFL teachers going to private language schools, e.g. by using TEFL forums and articles in newspapers back home to persuade as many people as possible (especially underqualified ones who will really undercut us) to think again, by refusing to be a teacher trainer for new teachers, by setting up an organisation to help TEFL teachers find other jobs, or by all becoming freelance.

I heartily agree with this one. Word of mouth is the one weapon we have at our disposal that could truly make a difference. My loathing of the Dave’s ESL café job discussion forums is well documented and stems from the fact that the bugger had the golden opportunity to use his heavily trafficked forums for the greater good of the TEFL profession. He didn’t: he censored the forums beyond belief to the point that no one can share any useful information or offer advice. I’m not alone in trying to redress the balance. As far as freelancing goes, I’ve recently written on the subject and will address it again zoon as it is the preeminent way to make big money in this profession.

- Persuade TEFL course providers to think more carefully about pay when recommending jobs to their “graduates”.

This is a point that could be immediately resolved. I was flat out told that I would be living the life of a pauper when I did my CELTA. This is basically one small but complicit link in the chain. Is it wrong to hope that course providers could offer more support in this way?

- Set up schools based on the principle of well paid teachers being worth the investment (as a partnership, cooperative etc if you prefer) in the hope that it works and puts the badly paid schools out of business or makes them try to steal your business model.

What if it doesn’t work? Whose income, future and livelihood are we ruining here? If we’re talking about teachers setting up schools, it can work and I’ve seen some very successful examples. I’ve also seen people hounded out of business and been the recipients of death threats from the mafia who don’t want a better school cutting into the profits of their cowboy operation.

- Persuade our students and prospective students that well paid teachers (usually meaning more expensive lessons) are worth it and teach them how to find the right ones, e.g. by writing newspaper articles on the topic (probably in their L1).

A lot of students would really go for this and the lessons wouldn’t have to necessarily be more expensive. It would mean language school owners, I include the big guns like Berlitz and IT here, seeing the value of guaranteeing repeat custom from satisfaction gained from having a good, motivated teacher. What I’ve seen happen too often is the introduction of a pay scale based on experience and qualifications, followed by the non-renewal of contract / firing under flimsy pretences of the most experienced teachers. Believe me, I’ve worked in places where no one in the history of the organization has come anywhere near reaching the top of the pay scale. Bloody sneaky if you ask me.

- Persuade governments or accrediting agencies to set national minimum wages for teachers in private language schools.

This sounds great in theory, but if they aren’t even able to make sure that the people working in these schools have the proper work visas, resident permits, etc., how are they going to guarantee minimum wage?

I’m not finished yet and will be adding my two-penneth worth to the rest of Alex’s suggestions in the coming days, and explaining why there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Stay tuned.

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Teaching abroad isn’t for all and sundry. Apiece program you will stumble upon will necessitate some nuts and bolts and the appropriate attitude, but will offer unique challenges and personal incentives to the right individual. Here is an impartial analysis of opportunities confronting both sides of the arguments you need to consider before deciding to teach abroad. Beyond the opportunities for those able to teach within specialized disciplines, there is an incredible demand for TEFL Teaching English as a Foreign Language or ESL English as a Second Language teachers in non-English speaking nations. This demand coupled with job placement opportunities offered by TEFL certificate programs and school groups makes finding a foreign teaching job easier than you think. On the other hand, you must consider that many of the full time teaching jobs require Bachelors degrees and TEFL certificates are a must if you are serious about making a career of teaching in foreign countries. The qualifications will obviously depend upon the employer, but a college degree and relevant experience will help you land the right job for you.

Become Skilled At The Language Of Country You Are Going To Teach:

Being capable to live in foreign country, become skilled at the language, study the culture firsthand and travel on days off is something that many dream of, but few are able to realize. You will be exposed to new food, music and customs but still have e-mail to relay your astonishing experiences back home. Yet, if you have difficulty leaving the comforts of your home or can’t live without a particular American item, this sense of awe could easily become an unbearable sense of culture shock. You must also realize that teaching is a full time job that requires incredible patience and commitment. While most positions don’t represent permanent employment, they also aren’t vacations. Though the right surroundings can make your experience worthwhile, you shouldn’t select your travel location based on sightseeing aspirations.

If you find pleasure helping people learn, then becoming qualified for teaching jobs may be in your best interest. Teaching jobs are found in a number of environments, each of which has different requirements for working in those particular teaching jobs. In some cases, you may have to obtain a two to four year degree and pass a certification exam, and in other cases your job experience may qualify you for certain teaching jobs. There are no federal requirements for teaching jobs that occur in schools, so often requirements for teaching jobs in schools are dictated by local or state laws.

If you are considering teaching jobs in schools, it is to be expected that your state requires that you obtain a four-year degree and pass a certification or licensing examination. Teaching jobs in early childhood education, though, will sometimes only require a two year degree with certification. If you do not want to take a certification exam to obtain licensure, some school districts will allow you to become substitute teacher with only a baccalaureate degree. If you are bearing in mind teaching jobs in schools, you may also need to understand that you will be subject to a background check.

When it comes time to begin applying for positions, you have a wide range of options available to you. If you’re a certified teacher, the best place to begin is with a school search. Try to narrow the field to areas where you’re interested in teaching and then does an internet search for schools or organizations in that area. Most of them will specify on their website whether or not they accept applications from foreign locales. And don’t forget to frequently check trade bank databases–perhaps the best way to stay clued-up about current job openings.

If you go through a teacher’s certification agenda, probability is good they will offer a job placement service that can connect you to the right people and places. This is why being certified really is a huge benefit- it can get your foot in the door before you’re even done with the program. If, on the other hand, you’re not certified to teach English abroad, there are still employers that may want to hire you. Consider joining the Peace Corps for a chance to teach overseas, as well as possible assistance with any continuing education of your own. Talk to your college regarding teacher exchange programs- some schools may offer you the chance to be an assistant teacher overseas for a semester or two while a foreign teacher visits your school.

Your course of study doesn’t predominantly matter; you simply must have graduated from a four-year college with a degree in some subject. As for TEFL certification, it can be earned in a number of ways. Most colleges and community schools offer TEFL programs. You may even be able to become practiced through a mail-in schooling program or over the Internet. TEFL certification gives you the skills you will need to cope with teaching English to non-native speakers in a classroom setting. Whether or not it helps you land a job, the information you learn during TEFL certification will be priceless in your classroom familiarity.

The worrying part is that some of what this cretin says is true. To maintain the spirit in which the article was written, I’m even adding a link to the muppet’s website, Teachingjobshelp.com. Frankly, if you need teaching job help from the likes of this joker, good luck to you.

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I then proceeded to forget all about the site until recently. While accidentally* looking through a British Council regional website, I was overjoyed to find it again, or at least I would have been had it not turned into a made-for-pay-per-click website.

OK, I have ads on this blog, I make no apologies for this. however, there’s a difference between having ads that people can choose to click on if they are interested in what they see and a website whose whole purpose is to fool the user into thinking there’s genuine content when there’s actually only links to advertisments.

I don’t know what the BC’s involvement is in this scheme, but I wouldn’t trust the buggers as far as I could throw them.

Another good example to avoid, while we’re on the subject, is this fake TESOL Arabia site.

*I would never purposefully do this. Anyone seeking well-researched dirt-digging on the British Council should check out David Blackie’s fabulous Language Business blog.

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‘Here in Mexico City, school owners share info with each other on select nutjobs that breeze through town. However, there’s one school in Tepic, Mexico (aka Shitsplat, Nowhere) that has gone so far as to post on their webpage the names of said teachers along with their ‘offenses’. This is laughable to say the least.’

You can visit the offending webpage here.

Now, when you’ve been in this profession a while, you stop wanting to give people second chances, especially when you have to work and maybe even live with those who need serious help in managing their lives. Being able to warn a school not to hire a nutjob may indeed be a good thing. the problem of course arises when controlling such blacklists. What I enjoy about the TEFL Blacklist blog is that there is a reasonable degree of balance; schools who have been blacklisted genuinely get the chance to argue their case and are able to respond directly on the blog. Can the same be said of these schools in Mexico? Regardles of the fact that I think it’s funny that Dave’s ESL Cafe members have been banned (how they decide you’re a ‘member’ is beyond me), I still worry about the level of accountability. Who makes it to the list? Can you ever get off such a list?

Things like this ruin people’s careers and we need to be aware that such lists exist. Schools will make use of them despite how accurately they reflect the individual inquestion.

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