No shortage of nominations but for which category?
In no particular order of importance the following questions raise their ugly heads.
1. Smith is clearly a shyster of the first order but to whom? The most useless worthless franchises seems to be the appropriate category.
2. What to do about Wall Street Institute? Not nice people - sure - but as bad as some of the breathtakingly bad Chinese schools? No they can't be that bad, because they have to obey French labour law or face the guillotine. In China complain and you'll find you'll be shot at dawn and your body parts flogged on the open market by midday ready for a lucrative transplant.
3. Worst DOS? No nominations. Why? I suspect that a bad school and a bad DOS often go hand in hand. This however doesn't seem to apply to slimy Shane where there is clearly the odd good DOS amongst the many megalomaniac inefficient crap ones.
4. Worst building? Clearly there are loads of candidates for that in China but building regulations elsewhere are designed to stop your classroom literally falling down around you.
5. What about the shafted students? There should be a nomination for the poor sods who have lost money on fly by night "schools".
Let's get back to basics with revised categories.
OVERALL OSCAR WINNER WORST SCHOOL 2007
ASTA Kids Club in Incheon, Korea. This dump epitomises all that is bad in TEFL. Not the biggest rubbish TEFL tip but clearly a horrid place in which to work.
WORST OWNER
A close call, but Shane has to win because of the sheer number of teachers ripped off either through Shane schools or through the totally crap Saxoncourt Recruitment.
WORST DOS
ASTA Kids Club in Incheon, Korea wins a second award. An endless supply of creepy crawleys for your nightmares.
WORST PAID
Considering that England is so expensive - "East London School of English" wins by a cucumber. Salaries elsewhere in the world are lower but try living in London on what they pay you!
WORST LOCATION
China. Can be good if you're lucky but may God have mercy on you if you get it wrong!
WORST FRANCHISE (for people daft enough to buy one)
Smith's School of English, Japan. Shame on International House London as well and worthy of a special mention.
WORST JOB BULLETIN BOARD
TEFL.com. No attempt at all to inform the unsuspecting teacher of crap outfits. At least Saint Dave Sperling has a forum (albeit heavily neutered).
WORST TEFL COURSE PROVIDER
A no brainer. The odious prat Paul Lowe of Windsor TEFL Courses should be erased from the TEFL map and if a certain Wally Windsor gets his way he will receive the global publicity he deserves.
WORST SHYSTERS FOR STUDENTS
Wall Street Institute for being bankruptcy bandits.
As you have probably gathered The Inspector is not in a good mood. Just thinking about some of these "schools" brings out boils on his bum and he can't sit down.
Inspector McHammered of the Lard
FOR THE MOST RECENT POSTING CLICK HERE
FOR BLACKLIST NOMINATIONS CLICK HERE
Some clips of Flight of the Conchords. "Business Time" and "Jenny" are partcularly great. Two very talented and funny Kiwis!
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Bluniverse, Hefei China
QUOTE FROM THE BLACKLIST NOMINATIONS SECTION
"Branches in Anhui province.
60 hour work weeks. Teaching hours and office hours are not counted equally. Yes, the contract says teaching hours are limited to 24 a week, but you got to be in the office for more time than that.
Yellow, the boss, is a control freak who manipulates everyone.
He changes the schedule on the whims of parents.
Class times are random at best, at often depend on the schedules of the bratty kid whose parents have the most money or influense.
Accommodation is crap.
Most days you got to teach mornings at some offsite god awful middle school, then get the afternoon off, then work evenings teaching clawing high-school students and middle school students.
Salary is based on teaching hours, not on a monthly basis. If no one wants classes in January, you don't get paid because you didn't teach. Meanwhile, you're still expected to be in the office for 40 hours a week.
IF kiddies want lessons everyday during their spring holiday. you work up to 200 hours that month, but will be told that your get a monthly salary of less than you expect.
stay away"
Inspector McHammered of the Lard
FOR THE MOST RECENT POSTING CLICK HERE
FOR BLACKLIST NOMINATIONS CLICK HERE
"Branches in Anhui province.
60 hour work weeks. Teaching hours and office hours are not counted equally. Yes, the contract says teaching hours are limited to 24 a week, but you got to be in the office for more time than that.
Yellow, the boss, is a control freak who manipulates everyone.
He changes the schedule on the whims of parents.
Class times are random at best, at often depend on the schedules of the bratty kid whose parents have the most money or influense.
Accommodation is crap.
Most days you got to teach mornings at some offsite god awful middle school, then get the afternoon off, then work evenings teaching clawing high-school students and middle school students.
Salary is based on teaching hours, not on a monthly basis. If no one wants classes in January, you don't get paid because you didn't teach. Meanwhile, you're still expected to be in the office for 40 hours a week.
IF kiddies want lessons everyday during their spring holiday. you work up to 200 hours that month, but will be told that your get a monthly salary of less than you expect.
stay away"
Inspector McHammered of the Lard
FOR THE MOST RECENT POSTING CLICK HERE
FOR BLACKLIST NOMINATIONS CLICK HERE
Thursday, February 22, 2007
International House Kuala Lumpur
QUOTE FROM THE BLACKLIST NOMINATIONS SECTION
International House Kuala Lumpur.
The whole place is an utter shambles with awful pay, pathetic holidays, 6 day weeks, a corrupt owner and what must be the biggest turnover in staff anywhere. Still, IH London don't mind...they get the affiliation money and can say they are in Malaysia!
Inspector McHammered of the Lard
FOR THE MOST RECENT POSTING CLICK HERE
FOR BLACKLIST NOMINATIONS CLICK HERE
International House Kuala Lumpur.
The whole place is an utter shambles with awful pay, pathetic holidays, 6 day weeks, a corrupt owner and what must be the biggest turnover in staff anywhere. Still, IH London don't mind...they get the affiliation money and can say they are in Malaysia!
Inspector McHammered of the Lard
FOR THE MOST RECENT POSTING CLICK HERE
FOR BLACKLIST NOMINATIONS CLICK HERE
AAC in Helsinki Finland
QUOTE FROM THE BLACKLIST NOMINATIONS SECTION
AAC in Helsinki are the biggest bunch of w**k***s on the earth. Low pay for teachers and lots of lovely interfering, the micromanaging c**ts. More later!
NB. As Granny is convinced that the innocent youth of today simply wouldn't understand some of the eloquence used above, I've had to humour her. So here you are Blacklisters - Granny's first word quiz!
Clue: the first word rhymes with thankers and the second with punts.
Answers on a postcard please to:
AAC Global
Tammasaarenkatu 5
00180 HELSINKI
Post address:
PO. BOX 206, 00201 HELSINKI
Tel. +358 (0)9 4766 7800
fax +358 (0)9 4766 7810
Inspector McHammered of the Lard
FOR THE MOST RECENT POSTING CLICK HERE
FOR BLACKLIST NOMINATIONS CLICK HERE
AAC in Helsinki are the biggest bunch of w**k***s on the earth. Low pay for teachers and lots of lovely interfering, the micromanaging c**ts. More later!
NB. As Granny is convinced that the innocent youth of today simply wouldn't understand some of the eloquence used above, I've had to humour her. So here you are Blacklisters - Granny's first word quiz!
Clue: the first word rhymes with thankers and the second with punts.
Answers on a postcard please to:
AAC Global
Tammasaarenkatu 5
00180 HELSINKI
Post address:
PO. BOX 206, 00201 HELSINKI
Tel. +358 (0)9 4766 7800
fax +358 (0)9 4766 7810
Inspector McHammered of the Lard
FOR THE MOST RECENT POSTING CLICK HERE
FOR BLACKLIST NOMINATIONS CLICK HERE
TEFL Worldwide Prague
A RECOMMENDED SCHOOL
TEFL Worldwide Prague is a very good place to learn to teach English as a Foreign Language. Check out Alicia's (Alicat) blog which is a good read, being both very funny, refreshingly honest and obligatory reading for anyone wanting to teach in Prague. I hope the Management at TEFL Worldwide Prague give her one or all of the following:
He was to be seen taking notes whilst reading the September archive on her blog and was reminded of the song by Tom Lehrer "The Masochism Tango", given the recent spate of sado-masochism/bondage postings on The TEFL Blacklist (apparently known as BDSM in the trade)
"Alicat's" blog can be found by clicking HERE
The Masochism Tango (Tom Lehrer)
_______________________________________________________________
Inspector McHammered of the Lard in Val Ferret, Switzerland
TEFL Worldwide Prague is a very good place to learn to teach English as a Foreign Language. Check out Alicia's (Alicat) blog which is a good read, being both very funny, refreshingly honest and obligatory reading for anyone wanting to teach in Prague. I hope the Management at TEFL Worldwide Prague give her one or all of the following:
- a nice envelope stuffed full of cash
- a new set of latex underwear
- an all expenses paid evening out at Dog's Bollocks (a bar - I checked it's real!)
- a nice hunky boyfriend (she may already be fixed up by the time you read this)
He was to be seen taking notes whilst reading the September archive on her blog and was reminded of the song by Tom Lehrer "The Masochism Tango", given the recent spate of sado-masochism/bondage postings on The TEFL Blacklist (apparently known as BDSM in the trade)
"Alicat's" blog can be found by clicking HERE
The Masochism Tango (Tom Lehrer)
I ache for the touch of your lips, dear,
But much more for the touch of your whips dear,
You can raise welts, like nobody else,
As we dance to the Masochism Tango.
Let our love be a flame, not an ember,
Say it's me that you want to dismember.
Blacken my eye, set fire to my tie,
As we dance to the Masochism Tango.
Your eyes cast a spell that bewitches,
The last time I needed twenty stitches,
To sew up the gash, that you made with your lash,
As we danced to the Masochism Tango.
Bash in my brain, and make me scream with pain,
Then kick me once again, and say we'll never part.
Take your cigarette from its holder,
And burn your initials in my shoulder,
Fracture my spine, and swear that you're mine,
As we dance to the Masochism Tango.
_______________________________________________________________
Labels:
Czech Republic
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
The OSCARS (TEFL) 2007
Only four more days to go. Now's your last chance to cast your vote.
Inspector McHammered of the Lard
FOR BLACKLIST NOMINATIONS CLICK HERE
Labels:
Inspector Mchammered of the Lard
Homage to SandyM - doyen of The Cucumber Industry
Just a brief word to acknowledge the enormous efforts made by Sandy in exposing Shysters and also in his efforts to support the Cucumber Industry.
Well done Sandy. Keep it up!
Inspector McHammered of the Lard
FOR THE MOST RECENT POSTING CLICK HERE
FOR BLACKLIST NOMINATIONS CLICK HERE
Labels:
Sandy McManus
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf
As you can imagine The Inspector gets quite a few postings of a somewhat ehrrm, uncharitable type. I would now like to set the record straight:
- I like buses but have no desire to throw myself under one.
- I have no desire to get to know "the boys" down a dim alleyway at night!
- My sexual preferences are none of your business and in any case I would need to do a fair bit of yoga to have a sexual relationship with myself so comments of that type are sheer wishful fantasy.
- "Go forth and multiply" was how it was put in the Bible. Please don't reduce it to two short words.
- Why should any professional have trained for at least three years Graduate study and then be expected to get some Mickey Mouse overpriced diploma to......
- Teach for less than you pay a toilet cleaner, a dishwasher or any job in McDonald's. No offence to people working in those industries but you didn't have to spend a lot of time, energy and money to end up being exploited.
- Megalomaniac, egocentric school owners and petty DOS' are often the norm, especially in China and Korea.
- What sets TEFL/ESL apart, is that too many schools hide behind a fictitious facade of corporate professionalism, when in reality far too many bully, overwork and underpay their teachers and do not deliver what they promise, Shane Schools is a fine example.
- EFL teachers have no union with any teeth.
- EFL teachers are often cheated by schools running outrageously expensive TEFL Cert. courses.
- TEFL career prospects are worse than a turkey's at Christmas
That dear readers is why this blog exists. To inform and enlighten the innocent TEFL lambs and warn them of the Big Bad Wolf.
Inspector McHammered of the Lard
FOR THE MOST RECENT POSTING CLICK HERE
FOR BLACKLIST NOMINATIONS CLICK HERE
International House
What! International House I imagine you're thinking. This time The Inspector has gone too far. Calm down, relax. I'm not blacklisting International House London, whose courses (albeit expensive)I have no gripe with (for the moment). I'm blacklisting the International House franchise project which lets any old Tom Dick Harry or Carlos, Pierre or Norbert start up and use, or rather abuse, the International House name. Shame on you International House. If you want to expand, do it honourably and manage the overseas scam "International House" schools to the same standard you would expect in London.
How many teachers have signed up for one of your overseas courses with one of your franchise schools without knowing that they were not the real thing. And don't waste your time replying that the courses are underwritten, supervised by International House London. It all looks nice in print but IT ISN'T HONEST.
_______________________________________________________________
Inspector McHammered of the Lard in Val Ferret, Switzerland
How many teachers have signed up for one of your overseas courses with one of your franchise schools without knowing that they were not the real thing. And don't waste your time replying that the courses are underwritten, supervised by International House London. It all looks nice in print but IT ISN'T HONEST.
_______________________________________________________________
Labels:
Teacher Training Courses
TEFL Italy ESL Jobs in Italy
The Mad Hatter's Tea (T for TEFL) Party
A country of contrasts. From Potenza to Pasta and Milan to Mafia. It's dangerous to generalise, but the Italians can be the most charming people you have ever met and at the same time the most devious. Girls do take warning, the Inspector has heard of randy Italians so desperate for a quick fix that they have been know to lie down and look up your skirts! Amazing but true.
Even back in Roman times you could see sophistication and savagery together in the same society. The porn paintings in the brothels in Pompei take some beating.....
....now they just throw the TEFL teachers to the lions.
Expect to be a bit schizo when it comes to teaching English in Italy. You'll meet some wonderful people, but the whole country can be a bit like the Mad Hatter's Tea Party or should I say TEFL Party.
I'll be returning to this posting a lot over the next few days. Just to link everything together for starters here's a list of schools in Italy to avoid:
British Institutes Italy
The British Schools Italy
Anderson House, Bergamo
Inlingua Naples
Angloschool, Potenza
Update March 4 2007
AVOID
Living languages, Reggio di Calabria, Italy
Inlingua Avellino
Unless, that is, your a masochist!
Inspector McHammered of the Lard
FOR BLACKLIST NOMINATIONS CLICK HERE
A country of contrasts. From Potenza to Pasta and Milan to Mafia. It's dangerous to generalise, but the Italians can be the most charming people you have ever met and at the same time the most devious. Girls do take warning, the Inspector has heard of randy Italians so desperate for a quick fix that they have been know to lie down and look up your skirts! Amazing but true.
Even back in Roman times you could see sophistication and savagery together in the same society. The porn paintings in the brothels in Pompei take some beating.....
....now they just throw the TEFL teachers to the lions.
Expect to be a bit schizo when it comes to teaching English in Italy. You'll meet some wonderful people, but the whole country can be a bit like the Mad Hatter's Tea Party or should I say TEFL Party.
I'll be returning to this posting a lot over the next few days. Just to link everything together for starters here's a list of schools in Italy to avoid:
British Institutes Italy
The British Schools Italy
Anderson House, Bergamo
Inlingua Naples
Angloschool, Potenza
Update March 4 2007
AVOID
Living languages, Reggio di Calabria, Italy
Inlingua Avellino
Unless, that is, your a masochist!
Inspector McHammered of the Lard
FOR BLACKLIST NOMINATIONS CLICK HERE
Labels:
Inspector Mchammered of the Lard
Executive Language Services ELS Paris
The owner of this outfit is a Dorothy Polley, otherwise known in the Trade as "Mad Dorothy". The Inspector rests his case Millud.
Her madhouse can be found at the following address:
Executive Language Services
20, rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie
75004 PARIS
Inspector McHammered of the Lard
FOR THE MOST RECENT POSTING CLICK HERE
FOR BLACKLIST NOMINATIONS CLICK HERE
Her madhouse can be found at the following address:
Executive Language Services
20, rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie
75004 PARIS
Inspector McHammered of the Lard
FOR THE MOST RECENT POSTING CLICK HERE
FOR BLACKLIST NOMINATIONS CLICK HERE
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Inlingua Paris
Very much an organisation to avoid. One little scam they operate is to force you to learn their useless method, which in The Inspector's opinion has less value than parrot droppings.
If you decide you want to leave during your contract they make you pay for your so called training and deduct a hefty sum from your salary.
Sharp practice from a Great White, or rather, Black Shark.
Smooth talking businessmen in flash suits, snotty receptionists and admin staff. All that glitters here is definitely not gold. Don't go near them or you'll lose an arm and a leg!
Want to see Paris? See it on vacation not with this bunch of shysters. They are always advertising. It doesn't take a degree in rocket science to work out why.
The Inspector will return to the theme of franchising often. It's a racket, even operated by the Mother Theresa of language schools, International House. Another rogue outfit, hiding behind slick marketing, is of course Wall Street Institute whose franchisees have gone bankrupt again and again only to reappear like phoenix from the ashes with a new company fronting the name who naturally disown the debt of the previous lame duck. The franchisee pays megabucks for the right to use the name, other than that they pay lip service to the owner of the franchise.
Inlingua Paris can be found at the following addresses:
Inlingua Paris la Défense
CNIT Center
2, Place de la Défense
F-92053 Paris la Défense
Inlingua Paris La Plaine Saint Denis
ZAC des Cornillons
11, rue des Gazométres
F-93210 Saint Denis La Plaine
Inlingua Paris Levallois Perret
22-24, rue du Président Wilson
F-92300 Levallois Perret
Inlingua Paris Rive Gauche
109, rue de l'Université
F-75007 Paris
Inlingua Paris Roissy
Batiment Le Gaugin - Paris Nord 2
47 Allée des Impressionnistes, BP 50408 Villepinte
F-95944 Roissy Charles de Gaulle cedex
Inlingua Paris Versailles
3, rue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny
F-78150 Le Chesnay
Here's a list of all the other Inlinguas in France. Remember they are all owned by different people but are all probably tarred with the same brush. Ask questions before signing anything. If you don't get clear unambiguous answers get that barge pole out.
Here are the other Inlingua centres in France. Message to all Inlingua owners - I personally think that your organisation sucks. If any of you charming bunch of businessmen, who pretend that you are experts in language teaching, think that you have been unfairly tarred and targeted, The Inspector would like to hear from you. However please don't bother sending me the usual threats to break my legs or sue me. How sad that The Inspector sees through your slick marketing and thinks that your organisation is rotten to the core, but life's a bitch.
Inlingua Aix-en-Provence
Hemiris Bât A
115, rue Claude Nicolas Ledoux
F-13854 Aix-en-Provence/CX03
Inlingua Amiens
Rue des Jacobins
F-80000 Amiens
Inlingua Arcachon
Villa Tosca
11 boulevard du Général Leclerc
F-33120 Arcachon
Inlingua Belfort
ZAC de la Justice
rue Gustave Lang
F-90000 Belfort
Inlingua Besançon
MBR Services, Le Master's 21
Espace Valentin
F-25048 Besançon Cédex
Inlingua Bordeaux-Mérignac
Parc d'activité Kennedy
5 rue Henri Becquerel, Batiment F RC
F-33700 Bordeaux-Mérignac
Inlingua Boulogne sur Mer
1, blvd. de la Liane
F-62200 Boulogne sur Mer
Inlingua Caen
Parc d'Activités de la
10, rue Colonel Rémy, Bt.M18
F-14000 Caen
Inlingua Chalon Sur Saône
75 Grande Rue St Côme
F-71100 Chalon Sur Saône
Inlingua Clermont Ferrand
18, allée Evariste Galois
F-63170 Aubière
Inlingua Colmar
MBR Services Colmar
4, rue de la Houblonnière
F-68000 Colmar
Inlingua Compiègne
Les Tertiales Bât. A
ZAC de Mercières 1
F-60200 Compiègne
Tel: +33 3 44 97 05 05
Fax: +33 3 44 97 05 06
Inlingua Dijon
8, allée A. Bourland / BP 176
F-21005 Dijon Cedex
Inlingua Dunkerque
16, rue Georges Clémenceau
F-59760 Grande Synthe
Inlingua Epinal
7 bis, avenue de la Loge Blanche
F-88000 Epinal
Inlingua Evreux
13, rue de la Mairie
F-27000 Evreux
Inlingua Inlingua Haguenau
44, blvd. de Lattre de Tassigny
F-67500 Haguenau
Inlingua Hazebrouck
41, avenue du Maréchal Delattre de Tassigny
F-59190 Hazebrouck
Inlingua La Rochelle
Z.A les Minimes
6 Rue d'Artimon
F-17000 La Rochelle
Inlingua Le Havre
16, rue Pierre Brossolette
F-76600 Le Havre
Inlingua Lens
Ecoparc du Bord des Eaux
Boulevard F. de Magellan
F-62100 Hénin-Beaumont
Inlingua Lille
12 rue de Cannes, 3e étage
F-59000 Lille
Inlingua Lyon
74, rue de Bonnel
F-69003 Lyon
Inlingua Lyon Chassieu
20, avenue des Frères Montgolfier
F-69680 Chassieu
Inlingua Marcq-En-Baroeul
Château Rouge, BP 5051
278, Avenue de la Marne
F-59705 Marcq-En-Baroeul
Inlingua Marseille
33 Boulevard de la Liberté
F-13001 Marseille
Inlingua Metz
Espace Serpenoise
19, en Nouvellerue
F-57000 Metz
Inlingua Mulhouse
MBR Services Mulhouse
65, rue Jean Monnet
F-68200 Mulhouse
Inlingua Nancy
10, rue Mazagran
F-54000 Nancy
Inlingua Nantes
CAP OUEST Sat du Perray
2 bis rue Robert Le Ricolais
F-44300 Nantes cedex 04
Inlingua Orléans
2, rue de Patay
F-45000 Orléans
Inlingua Pau
86 Boulevard de la Paix
F-64000 Pau
Inlingua Rouen
8, rue Jean Rostand, BP 156
F-76144 Le Petit Quevilly CX
Inlingua Saint Jean-de-Luz
Espace Olano P.A. Jalday
F-64500 Saint Jean-de-Luz
Inlingua Saverne
Parc d'Activité La Licorne
10 rue d'Otterswiller
F-67700 Saverne
Inlingua Strasbourg
8, rue Hannong
F-67380 Lingolsheim
Inlingua Toulouse
Technoparc Basso Cambo
13, rue Paulin Talabot
F-31100 Toulouse
Inlingua Tours
Centre d'Affaires Axe
8, rue Honoré de Balzac
F-37000 Tours
Inlingua Valenciennes
Parc d'Activités de l'Aérodrome Ouest
rue Louis Duvant
F-59328 Valenciennes cedex
Inspector McHammered of the Lard
FOR THE MOST RECENT POSTING CLICK HERE
FOR BLACKLIST NOMINATIONS CLICK HERE
If you decide you want to leave during your contract they make you pay for your so called training and deduct a hefty sum from your salary.
Sharp practice from a Great White, or rather, Black Shark.
Smooth talking businessmen in flash suits, snotty receptionists and admin staff. All that glitters here is definitely not gold. Don't go near them or you'll lose an arm and a leg!
Want to see Paris? See it on vacation not with this bunch of shysters. They are always advertising. It doesn't take a degree in rocket science to work out why.
The Inspector will return to the theme of franchising often. It's a racket, even operated by the Mother Theresa of language schools, International House. Another rogue outfit, hiding behind slick marketing, is of course Wall Street Institute whose franchisees have gone bankrupt again and again only to reappear like phoenix from the ashes with a new company fronting the name who naturally disown the debt of the previous lame duck. The franchisee pays megabucks for the right to use the name, other than that they pay lip service to the owner of the franchise.
Inlingua Paris can be found at the following addresses:
Inlingua Paris la Défense
CNIT Center
2, Place de la Défense
F-92053 Paris la Défense
Inlingua Paris La Plaine Saint Denis
ZAC des Cornillons
11, rue des Gazométres
F-93210 Saint Denis La Plaine
Inlingua Paris Levallois Perret
22-24, rue du Président Wilson
F-92300 Levallois Perret
Inlingua Paris Rive Gauche
109, rue de l'Université
F-75007 Paris
Inlingua Paris Roissy
Batiment Le Gaugin - Paris Nord 2
47 Allée des Impressionnistes, BP 50408 Villepinte
F-95944 Roissy Charles de Gaulle cedex
Inlingua Paris Versailles
3, rue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny
F-78150 Le Chesnay
Here's a list of all the other Inlinguas in France. Remember they are all owned by different people but are all probably tarred with the same brush. Ask questions before signing anything. If you don't get clear unambiguous answers get that barge pole out.
Here are the other Inlingua centres in France. Message to all Inlingua owners - I personally think that your organisation sucks. If any of you charming bunch of businessmen, who pretend that you are experts in language teaching, think that you have been unfairly tarred and targeted, The Inspector would like to hear from you. However please don't bother sending me the usual threats to break my legs or sue me. How sad that The Inspector sees through your slick marketing and thinks that your organisation is rotten to the core, but life's a bitch.
Inlingua Aix-en-Provence
Hemiris Bât A
115, rue Claude Nicolas Ledoux
F-13854 Aix-en-Provence/CX03
Inlingua Amiens
Rue des Jacobins
F-80000 Amiens
Inlingua Arcachon
Villa Tosca
11 boulevard du Général Leclerc
F-33120 Arcachon
Inlingua Belfort
ZAC de la Justice
rue Gustave Lang
F-90000 Belfort
Inlingua Besançon
MBR Services, Le Master's 21
Espace Valentin
F-25048 Besançon Cédex
Inlingua Bordeaux-Mérignac
Parc d'activité Kennedy
5 rue Henri Becquerel, Batiment F RC
F-33700 Bordeaux-Mérignac
Inlingua Boulogne sur Mer
1, blvd. de la Liane
F-62200 Boulogne sur Mer
Inlingua Caen
Parc d'Activités de la
10, rue Colonel Rémy, Bt.M18
F-14000 Caen
Inlingua Chalon Sur Saône
75 Grande Rue St Côme
F-71100 Chalon Sur Saône
Inlingua Clermont Ferrand
18, allée Evariste Galois
F-63170 Aubière
Inlingua Colmar
MBR Services Colmar
4, rue de la Houblonnière
F-68000 Colmar
Inlingua Compiègne
Les Tertiales Bât. A
ZAC de Mercières 1
F-60200 Compiègne
Tel: +33 3 44 97 05 05
Fax: +33 3 44 97 05 06
Inlingua Dijon
8, allée A. Bourland / BP 176
F-21005 Dijon Cedex
Inlingua Dunkerque
16, rue Georges Clémenceau
F-59760 Grande Synthe
Inlingua Epinal
7 bis, avenue de la Loge Blanche
F-88000 Epinal
Inlingua Evreux
13, rue de la Mairie
F-27000 Evreux
Inlingua Inlingua Haguenau
44, blvd. de Lattre de Tassigny
F-67500 Haguenau
Inlingua Hazebrouck
41, avenue du Maréchal Delattre de Tassigny
F-59190 Hazebrouck
Inlingua La Rochelle
Z.A les Minimes
6 Rue d'Artimon
F-17000 La Rochelle
Inlingua Le Havre
16, rue Pierre Brossolette
F-76600 Le Havre
Inlingua Lens
Ecoparc du Bord des Eaux
Boulevard F. de Magellan
F-62100 Hénin-Beaumont
Inlingua Lille
12 rue de Cannes, 3e étage
F-59000 Lille
Inlingua Lyon
74, rue de Bonnel
F-69003 Lyon
Inlingua Lyon Chassieu
20, avenue des Frères Montgolfier
F-69680 Chassieu
Inlingua Marcq-En-Baroeul
Château Rouge, BP 5051
278, Avenue de la Marne
F-59705 Marcq-En-Baroeul
Inlingua Marseille
33 Boulevard de la Liberté
F-13001 Marseille
Inlingua Metz
Espace Serpenoise
19, en Nouvellerue
F-57000 Metz
Inlingua Mulhouse
MBR Services Mulhouse
65, rue Jean Monnet
F-68200 Mulhouse
Inlingua Nancy
10, rue Mazagran
F-54000 Nancy
Inlingua Nantes
CAP OUEST Sat du Perray
2 bis rue Robert Le Ricolais
F-44300 Nantes cedex 04
Inlingua Orléans
2, rue de Patay
F-45000 Orléans
Inlingua Pau
86 Boulevard de la Paix
F-64000 Pau
Inlingua Rouen
8, rue Jean Rostand, BP 156
F-76144 Le Petit Quevilly CX
Inlingua Saint Jean-de-Luz
Espace Olano P.A. Jalday
F-64500 Saint Jean-de-Luz
Inlingua Saverne
Parc d'Activité La Licorne
10 rue d'Otterswiller
F-67700 Saverne
Inlingua Strasbourg
8, rue Hannong
F-67380 Lingolsheim
Inlingua Toulouse
Technoparc Basso Cambo
13, rue Paulin Talabot
F-31100 Toulouse
Inlingua Tours
Centre d'Affaires Axe
8, rue Honoré de Balzac
F-37000 Tours
Inlingua Valenciennes
Parc d'Activités de l'Aérodrome Ouest
rue Louis Duvant
F-59328 Valenciennes cedex
Inspector McHammered of the Lard
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Friday, February 16, 2007
TEFL France, ESL Jobs in France
"I don't want to join a club that will accept me as a member"
Groucho Marx.
If any of these blacklisted schools offer you a job, get that bargepole out "tout de suite"!
TEFL in France seems to have slumped in the last five years. As a consequence there are fewer jobs around and the ones that you'll see advertised on places like TEL.com will probably have low staff morale, high staff turnover and not be nice places to work.
In and around Paris avoid:
Inspector McHammered of the Lard
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Groucho Marx.
If any of these blacklisted schools offer you a job, get that bargepole out "tout de suite"!
TEFL in France seems to have slumped in the last five years. As a consequence there are fewer jobs around and the ones that you'll see advertised on places like TEL.com will probably have low staff morale, high staff turnover and not be nice places to work.
In and around Paris avoid:
- Inlingua Paris
- Wall Street Institute Paris
- I.A.L (Institute Of Applied Languages) Paris
- Transfer Paris
- Formalangues Paris
- Le Comptoir des Langues Paris
- Ecole Berlitz Paris
- Executive Language Services Paris
- Fontainebleau Langues et Communications
Inspector McHammered of the Lard
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Thursday, February 15, 2007
The Inspector reaches Italy's private parts
The Inspector or l'inspecteur as he is known in France decided yesterday to drive through the Mont Noir tunnel to Italy thus continuing his intrepid journey around the world in eighty days.
He found a wonderful lakeside hotel in the famous Italian alpine resort of Cognito. Pressed for time he will simply post the names of the schools in France awarded a black star for the moment and give you the juicy details later.
Things are hotting up for the OSCARS 2007 on 25 February. Front runner clearly is Smith's School of English in Japan, a good cucumber's length ahead of Paul Lowe.
Do check out Sandy's blog as he seems to have got the sh*t between the teeth, as the saying goes - regarding Windsor TEFL!
Inspector McHammered of the Lard, in Cognito, Italy
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He found a wonderful lakeside hotel in the famous Italian alpine resort of Cognito. Pressed for time he will simply post the names of the schools in France awarded a black star for the moment and give you the juicy details later.
Things are hotting up for the OSCARS 2007 on 25 February. Front runner clearly is Smith's School of English in Japan, a good cucumber's length ahead of Paul Lowe.
Do check out Sandy's blog as he seems to have got the sh*t between the teeth, as the saying goes - regarding Windsor TEFL!
Inspector McHammered of the Lard, in Cognito, Italy
FOR THE MOST RECENT POSTING CLICK HERE
FOR BLACKLIST NOMINATIONS CLICK HERE
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Wall Street Institute, France
A few comments from happy employees of Wall Street, safely archived from the web for openers:
“You should clear about 11 euros an hour. That might hold you over till you find a real teaching job.”“So they only pay 11 euros an hour, but you get to have "encounters" with the students? Shocked on company time or your own? Wink”
”Wall Street in my experience are just slick businessmen in suits and beneath all the clever marketing are basically cowboys. They regularly go bust around Europe (many recently in Spain and a few in France - Lyon, Paris, Rouen). Avoid them like the plague. ”
”Although I've never worked in one myself, I've yet to meet a former WS employee with a good word to say about them. I love their marketing on the metro: "98% pass rate" i.e. our own internal test. ”
”Calling Wall Street an 'Institute' is like calling McDonalds a 'RESTAURANT.'
”I see from their ads on the metro that you can take their diagnostic test absolutely FREE and without committing to a course. Now that's what I call a special offer!!! ”
”Does this mean WSI are now borrowing marketing techniques from the Scientologists and the Hare Krishnas? ”
”No, they are way better then Scientologists or 'would you like a free book' Krishnas. They don't call student's limited time with a teacher a lesson - it's an 'encounter.' Really. ”
Inspector McHammered of the Lard
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The Inspector finally departs!
I had been informed that the Dutch ski slopes were high up and that Interpol was in Holland. As I have previously reported, I was wrong on both counts. High? Well I was certainly high as a kite on what I had innocently believed was a Marlboro light and had a very nasty moment at Heathrow as I looked a bit of a wreck and not my usual dapper self . Luckily I pulled rank with my connections at Scotland Lard, exited the airport, a bit sharpish shall we say, and decided to return the next day to fly to Lyon, where I was assured Interpol were based, and do a bit of proper skiing and begin my "Round the TEFL World in Eighty Days" journey in France.
The only problem with France, in the Inpector's view is the French. Great scenery, shaggable women, great weather down south but.... and it's a big but, The Inspector takes a dim view of any country whose staple diet is basically slugs (with shells), frogs, brains, bollocks and ehrm........ well you get my drift. The police look like some of those on the streets in China, with their big clubs and not a lot going on upstairs! Not so unlike some of the seedy strip joints in Amsterdam I researched, but I digress.....
After the experience of the Banana Club in Amsterdam I'm right off fresh fruit and dodgy foreign cigarettes and the Inspector is now on a strict diet of purified yaks milk (organic), the healing properties of this medicine are legendary, and it has been prescribed for me by my English GP. I couldn't take the risk of seeing a doctor in France as I had been tipped off that no sooner have they shaken your hand then they stick something up your behind. Why is it that everything medical in France has to be taken up the "exit" end, rather than nature's natural "entrance" orifice, the mouth, and stuck up your derriere as suppositories? I always knew the French talked through their arses but they seem to use them for a lot of other purposes than which they were intended by the good Lord. Perhaps Paul Lowe of Windsor TEFL courses can enlighten the Inspector, as he can expect a rather large cucumber in the post on Monday, and will undoubtedly be eager to follow the instructions as to what to do with it! I digress again.
I'll be spending some time in this strange land and will kick off with some of the biggest bunch of shysters ever to walk this planet - Wall Street Institute.
Inspector McHammered of the Lard
FOR BLACKLIST NOMINATIONS CLICK HERE
The only problem with France, in the Inpector's view is the French. Great scenery, shaggable women, great weather down south but.... and it's a big but, The Inspector takes a dim view of any country whose staple diet is basically slugs (with shells), frogs, brains, bollocks and ehrm........ well you get my drift. The police look like some of those on the streets in China, with their big clubs and not a lot going on upstairs! Not so unlike some of the seedy strip joints in Amsterdam I researched, but I digress.....
After the experience of the Banana Club in Amsterdam I'm right off fresh fruit and dodgy foreign cigarettes and the Inspector is now on a strict diet of purified yaks milk (organic), the healing properties of this medicine are legendary, and it has been prescribed for me by my English GP. I couldn't take the risk of seeing a doctor in France as I had been tipped off that no sooner have they shaken your hand then they stick something up your behind. Why is it that everything medical in France has to be taken up the "exit" end, rather than nature's natural "entrance" orifice, the mouth, and stuck up your derriere as suppositories? I always knew the French talked through their arses but they seem to use them for a lot of other purposes than which they were intended by the good Lord. Perhaps Paul Lowe of Windsor TEFL courses can enlighten the Inspector, as he can expect a rather large cucumber in the post on Monday, and will undoubtedly be eager to follow the instructions as to what to do with it! I digress again.
I'll be spending some time in this strange land and will kick off with some of the biggest bunch of shysters ever to walk this planet - Wall Street Institute.
Inspector McHammered of the Lard
FOR BLACKLIST NOMINATIONS CLICK HERE
Labels:
Inspector Mchammered of the Lard
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Around The World in Eighty Days!
The TEFL world that is.
The Inspector has decided to take a skiing holiday in Holland for a week and such will not be his usual vigilant self (for most of time away from the internet) and the Blacklist will therefore be quiet and all language school owners can sleep soundly in their beds. Following that will follow a country by country 80 day world tour, by yak, exposing TEFL malpractice.
TEFL from Amsterdam
With a heart thats black, I'll give a smack
TEFL from Amsterdam
I can't wait until the day you fill
These eager arms of mine
TEFL treadmill keeps on turning
That's why this blog keeps on burning
For the day I know we can't resist, to blacklist from Amsterdam
When it's Spring again, I'll bring again
TEFL from Amsterdam
With a heart thats blue, I'll take the piss out of you
TEFL from Amsterdam
I can't wait until the day you fill
These eager arms of mine
TEFL treadmill keeps on turning
That's cause your job has no earning
For the day I know we can't resist, to blacklist from Amsterdam
Inspector McHammered of the Lard
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The Inspector has decided to take a skiing holiday in Holland for a week and such will not be his usual vigilant self (for most of time away from the internet) and the Blacklist will therefore be quiet and all language school owners can sleep soundly in their beds. Following that will follow a country by country 80 day world tour, by yak, exposing TEFL malpractice.
TULIPS FROM AMSTERDAM
Inspector McHammered
TEFL from Amsterdam
With a heart thats black, I'll give a smack
TEFL from Amsterdam
I can't wait until the day you fill
These eager arms of mine
TEFL treadmill keeps on turning
That's why this blog keeps on burning
For the day I know we can't resist, to blacklist from Amsterdam
When it's Spring again, I'll bring again
TEFL from Amsterdam
With a heart thats blue, I'll take the piss out of you
TEFL from Amsterdam
I can't wait until the day you fill
These eager arms of mine
TEFL treadmill keeps on turning
That's cause your job has no earning
For the day I know we can't resist, to blacklist from Amsterdam
Inspector McHammered of the Lard
FOR THE MOST RECENT POSTING CLICK HERE
FOR BLACKLIST NOMINATIONS CLICK HERE
Labels:
Inspector Mchammered of the Lard
Friday, February 02, 2007
Windsor TEFL Courses
Paul Lowe, the owner of Windsor TEFL Courses seems to have incurred the wrath of a number of people who have nominated Windsor for a TEFL Blacklisting. Your devoted Inspector, as always, has responded to your reasonable requests and named and shamed the organisation.
Let's all find out the depths to which Paul "Lowe" can sink. As demonstrated with Cicero, a reasonable defence, will result in the plug being pulled but, oh dear you do seem to have made a lot of enemies Mr. Lowe. The Inspector and his readers look forward to hearing from you before the thread becomes unstoppable. The comments originally posted on the "Nominations" page have been removed and reposted here.
P.S. I'm afraid dear old Grandad couldn't restrain himself and clicked on Sandy's link before I could stop him! Would you believe it he keeled right over in shock, fell heavily backwards and did himself a mischief on the poker which was pointing sharp end up by the fireplace. The Paramedics had to be called. They tried everything to bring him round and even tried mouth to mouth until we had a nasty incident involving his false teeth and the cat.
Finally we tried the TEFL equivalent of Epsom Salts. We flashed him a photo of Paul Lowe and he immediately sat bolt upright and he settled down with a 15 year old single malt fermented yaks milk in one hand, a packet of cheese and onion crisps in the other and a very grumpy look on his face which had gone a worrying shade of purple.
The official diagnosis is severe TEFL trauma and although he's starting to recover from the deep shock he received, I have to say that he has disturbingly just started oiling his samurai sword (which was his retirement present from Honda UK). Granny is very upset as her pussy has bolted out of the house with its hair standing on end and the old boy has had the cheek to ask the wife to book a cheap day return to Windsor for Monday.
He claims he wants to visit Windsor Castle but I have my doubts.
I'd better keep the address of Windsor TEFL from him just in case.
_______________________________________________________________
Inspector McHammered of the Lard
Let's all find out the depths to which Paul "Lowe" can sink. As demonstrated with Cicero, a reasonable defence, will result in the plug being pulled but, oh dear you do seem to have made a lot of enemies Mr. Lowe. The Inspector and his readers look forward to hearing from you before the thread becomes unstoppable. The comments originally posted on the "Nominations" page have been removed and reposted here.
P.S. I'm afraid dear old Grandad couldn't restrain himself and clicked on Sandy's link before I could stop him! Would you believe it he keeled right over in shock, fell heavily backwards and did himself a mischief on the poker which was pointing sharp end up by the fireplace. The Paramedics had to be called. They tried everything to bring him round and even tried mouth to mouth until we had a nasty incident involving his false teeth and the cat.
Finally we tried the TEFL equivalent of Epsom Salts. We flashed him a photo of Paul Lowe and he immediately sat bolt upright and he settled down with a 15 year old single malt fermented yaks milk in one hand, a packet of cheese and onion crisps in the other and a very grumpy look on his face which had gone a worrying shade of purple.
The official diagnosis is severe TEFL trauma and although he's starting to recover from the deep shock he received, I have to say that he has disturbingly just started oiling his samurai sword (which was his retirement present from Honda UK). Granny is very upset as her pussy has bolted out of the house with its hair standing on end and the old boy has had the cheek to ask the wife to book a cheap day return to Windsor for Monday.
He claims he wants to visit Windsor Castle but I have my doubts.
I'd better keep the address of Windsor TEFL from him just in case.
_______________________________________________________________
Labels:
Teacher Training Courses
Cicero R.I.P
The plug has been pulled on Cicero. Those of the Inspector's regular readers will know the story so buried in the deepest and darkest reaches of the TEFL Blacklist is a corner for you to pay your respects to Cicero.
Inspector McHammered of the Lard
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Inspector McHammered of the Lard
FOR THE MOST RECENT POSTING CLICK HERE
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Thursday, February 01, 2007
Ian Holden, Saxoncourt Recruitment (Director)
A posting on the Saxoncourt Recruitment entry* confirms what the Inspector's suspicious mind had already suspected. The unthinkable had happened. I'd nailed a sprat instead of a Prat. Apologies to Paul Mitchell as he is only a bit fishy and welcome to Ian Holden who I now know for certain is the real culprit and a genuine 100% man-eating (why not woman-eating? perhaps the ladies aren't interested) TEFL shark. Enough confirmations have been received through diplomatic channels and, shall we just say, eerhm not so diplomatic channels, for positive ID to be made. Paul Mitchell's smarmy grin will be replaced by Paul Douglas' and the big Prat of them all Ian Holden is now named and shamed and where he belongs - on the good or rather bad old TEFL Blacklist. Thanks to the many undercover detectives burrowing busily and discreetly away in the underwold that is misleadlingly known as TEFL.
Does anyone have a picture of Shrek (sorry Shane) that can be uploaded somewhere discreetly as I'm sure he'd like a mention. Oh and one of Paul Douglas is now urgently required.
* The anonymous posting may actually be from Paul Mitchell himself, but who cares "truth will out".
Inspector McHammered of the Lard
FOR THE MOST RECENT POSTING CLICK HERE
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Does anyone have a picture of Shrek (sorry Shane) that can be uploaded somewhere discreetly as I'm sure he'd like a mention. Oh and one of Paul Douglas is now urgently required.
* The anonymous posting may actually be from Paul Mitchell himself, but who cares "truth will out".
Inspector McHammered of the Lard
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