Comments on: Golly gosh, not Geos too??!

By: cf

cf — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:06:25 +0000

TODAY’s NEW …

All GEOS schools in Australia have just closed down!!!!

It looks like it won’t be long to the mother ship in Japan also crash and burns…..

By: My TEFL Journey

My TEFL Journey — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:01:02 +0000

[...] recently asked if there was no alternative to Eikaiwa work in Japan. Freelancing is most certainly an option if you’re willing to put in the work to [...]

By: Japanese eikaiwas, like 19th century banks, rely on the trust of the customers « Hoofin to You!

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:03:40 +0000

[...] An EFL teachers who blogs had casually mentioned the point about bank runs in a post last month, concerning another Eikaiwa chain that became the subject of internet rumors earlier in October. I wanted to expand on the point because I think it’s a great insight. [...]

By: Alex Case

Alex Case — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:43:30 +0000

Very vaguely connected, interesting article on changes in the Japanese language:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/books/review/EParker-t.html?_r=1

By: Darren Elliott

Darren Elliott — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:21:11 +0000

Rumour is, GEOS staff were all paid on time today.

By: Alex Case

Alex Case — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:09:51 +0000

It’s funny how a lot of chains of schools run that way. Shane and EF schools in London had quite good academic reputations when I taught there, despite the international chains being quite the opposite

By: Tara Benwell

Tara Benwell — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:57:28 +0000

This one hit home. I still have friends in Canada working at GEOS. Despite being a chain, this school treated me very well and welcomed my creativity, especially in the writing class.

By: Darren Elliott

Darren Elliott — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:32:32 +0000

That’s the rumour, but I can’t vouch for it’s veracity.

I think students are wising up to the fact that not just any random foreigner can teach them English. Some of the Eikaiwa staff are great, some are an absolute disgrace, and it’s a pretty expensive gamble. Nova hit confidence in the big chains hard, and I think the ‘mom and pop’ school is the future.

http://www.eltnews.com/news/archives/2009/09/the_number_of_s.html

I’ve taught the odd private lesson myself. I charged quite a lot of money, and was always slightly surprised to get it. But by cutting out the middle men, the students were actually paying less for an experienced and qualified teacher to come to their home than they would have paid to visit a 22 year old media studies graduate fresh off the boat. (I know, I was once that callow moron myself, and I was a big fat rip off).
More students get that now, they got savvy. The days of the “blue-eyed, blonde haired” qualification are through, I think.

But surely Alex, there…..