All CELTA courses are not the same
Some courses, for example, demand a non-refundable interview/ application fee for the pleasure of being asked questions about grammar. Other courses, however, just say this:
“I understand and accept that should I be offered a place on the course I have applied for, I am committing myself to completing the course, and am therefore liable for payment of the entire course fee.”
Wait a minute- you what?? Let’s move that into other areas of life and see how it sounds:
“I understand that by coming for a job interview I am agreeing to work for you, even if I don’t like any of the answers to the questions I ask you at the end or the room we have the interview in smells of pee”
“I understand that by going on this blind date I am agreeing to marry you, even if the photo turns out not to be yours, and will be liable for alimony payments if I do not”
Etc.
Luckily, it was just badly written, didn’t mean that, and they are clearing it up after having it pointed out by me, but the person writing the blog I found this quote on was seriously thinking about paying it all in advance. If you should be only 23 and so incredibly naive too, let me spell it out in big friendly letters- AVOID CELTA COURSES THAT DEMAND INTERVIEW AND OTHER NON-REFUNDABLE FEES BEFORE YOU DECIDE THAT YOU WANT TO TAKE THE COURSE. Luckily, the vast majority of courses don’t charge such fees, giving even less justification to the ones that do.
Here’s the original blog entry , in case you want to give some kind uncle advice or are interested in a TEFL trainer that takes suggestions for improvements (from me!) seriously and are considering Milan.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Well, I’m glad you laughed, as it was a joke…
July 24th, 2008 at 12:43 am
Try saying that to the fans on a phone in talk show and see the reaction. That’s what you’ve been saying here, and that’s the response you get.
What could you possibly lose by, for example, telling a member of staff to spend a couple of hours asking agents to update their information?
I notice you didn’t disclaim the word “contempt”
July 24th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Dear Alex
Thanks so much for pointing out the badly worded sentence on our application form. Just to clarify:
1. We don’t charge interview fees (many centres do)
2. We don’t ask for full payment of course fee before the start of the course (most centres do)
3. Once candidates have been interviewed and offered a place on the course, we ask for a deposit (not the entire course fees) to confirm their acceptance of a place; we also make it clear that by accepting the place, they are expected to commit to completing the course anf (therefore)paying for the entire course.
The reason for this last point is we have been “burned” in the past – I guess that’s why most centres demand full payment of fees before commencement of the course?
Once again, thanks for pointing out the poorly worded sentence. I appreciate it
Morgan
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:46 pm
on your comment that some celta providers ask you to agree to pay up if you are offered a place.
I had the same experience with a scholarship offered by a university – they offered to fly me there for the interview, but if I was offered the scholarship I had to accept it.
I didn’t go. (no thank you).
……but in hindsight, who knows what might have been. John Coates went and he is now professor at oxford or cambridge – his student proved fermat’s last theorem.