Could you please provide reasons why you feel TEFL International’s critics are not heard? If they’ve not been heard from, then what are you basing your opinion on? If they have been heard from, could you please provide links to their comments.

Could you show us some posts from former teachers of TI that indicate that working for TI as an instructor isn’t the happy little warm place we, as teachers, want?

Lastly, I would suggest you do something….really crazy! Start a poll on teachers forums asking about TI’s quality of education, its committment to its students and question how the organization takes care of its teachers. Try Ajarn.com

Bruce started off in Thailand (I think) and many of his students/instructors, etc, etc are Ajarn Forum members. Don’t trust my word…ask them. See what they say about Bruce and TI. Then get back to us and tell us what you found out.

- TEFL International makes more of an effort to make sure that critical voices are not heard than I think is acceptable. One tactic is having lots of differently named websites. Another is that whenever there is a thread about TEFL International it quickly gets cluttered up with ridiculous accusations (which makes people not take the more likely accusations seriously, gives the site owner a headache and leaves them open to threats of being sued) and stuff copied from other sites (which makes sure it slips down the Google rankings).　It seems to me that the only people who have anything to gain from that are TEFL International. I would never use any of these tactics however much I was being attacked, and I think they suggest someone or an organisation whose moral compass is a bit wonky.

- There are clearly some issues of ambiguity in its non profit making status. This is one of the commonest red lights in the world.

- The sheer size and rapid expansion of the company suggests an excess of ambition. People with that much ambition, especially in TEFL, are 90% of the time people to be avoided

Although there are many bitter and angry TEFL teachers throwing around false accusations and bile out there, I think the above three points are irrefutable. For me, personally, that is enough to give me the instinctive feeling that if I was offered a job with TEFL International, I would turn it down

I think it best if you know these individuals and work for them long-term before you pass judgement. I worked as a director and trainer under both Paul Lowe and Bruce Veldhuisen over the last 5-6 years.

I can’t vouch highly for Mr. Lowe’s character, having seen and done some questionable things under his direction and treated very poorly as well. I know most of the posters who have posted against him (former staff), and their stories as highly acceptable. I hold no grudge against Mr. Lowe, but woudl not work for him or recommend anyone to do so.

On the other hand, I can vouch very highly for Mr. Veldhuisen’s character, having worked around the world and done very honourable, charitable and good things in the industry and with teachers, under his instruction. I know hundreds of former and current staff that would rate him very highly as an employer and person. I also know many of the posters that have posted against him, and that many of their stories are questionable as they come from individuals that either: (1) could not pass a TEFL course; (2) were incompetent staff that had to be dismissed; or (3) who had business disagreements and stubbornly refused to find/ look at numerous offered solutions until legal matters had to be taken (which favoured Mr. Veldhuisen in the end). You guys know who you are.

You can knock me if you like, but I have known these individuals first-hand for years as well as some of the people who post on them. I have a great deal of integrity and respect in the industry myself and those of you that read this and know me, know what I say is true.

Email me if anyone wants more of my opinion. mike_fitzgerald@hotmail.com