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The TEFL Industry: A Rotting, Putrid, Stinking Corpse.
....I also remember one particular class of mine which you observed. You excoriated me afterwards, telling me that I didn't use my students' names often enough. I went home and cried, John. I cried for days.
Steve Schertzer is back, commenting about the latest thing to happen in EFL in Bangkok.
Source: otter channel.
Enjoy this emotion roller-coaster of a tirade.
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A huge question remains: What should we do with this rotten, putrid, stinking corpse that is the TEFL industry?
If by some cosmic fluke or Divine intervention, tens of thousands of Asians took to the streets and demanded that their respective governments round us EFL'ers up and throw us out for professional incompetence, wasting taxpayer's money, and perpetrating heinous crimes against their children, it would be very difficult to disagree with them. "Throw the bums out!", they can shout in unison. "Shut this whole industry down." Hardly anyone is learning anything from a bunch of young drunks, middle-aged Bible thumpers, and old perverts anyway. Maybe it's time to shut this sucker down. Too many people are getting hurt.
TEFL'ers are supposed to come here and make a positive difference in the lives of their students. They are supposed to come here and help their students become better people.
I've got an idea, Stevie.
You can pack your bags, go back home, and live with mum and dad. Maybe get a job at a car wash or drive a cab. :3rd:
I can just picture him now, pounding away at the key board, beads of sweat on his forehead, frothing at the mouth.
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If reform is ever to happen, it must start with the teachers.
It must begin at the grassroots level, where all social change has its most humblest of beginings.
The few brave and determined teachers that remain in this industry must lead the way by asking, where do we go from here?
Those usless good-for-nothing backpackers, drunks, and perverts posing as English teachers must stop shouting at the world.
They must stop congragating on TEFL/expat websites under aliases and spreading their vile lies, illnesses, racism, bigotry, and hatred. They must stop playing the victim card. That's getting old and very stale
quite cathartic, no doubt but not without merit and he writes well. nice addition to the topic, imo.
how can one possibly be defensive of thai tefldom?
nice work steve -- hope you come by here and hang out as bit.
Is he saying that being a teacher and being a pervert are mutually exclusive? :(
only on rare occasions.
I do like Steve's writings. I like the fella (never met him).Quote:
Originally Posted by 0bsidian
I just took a few snippets of this catharsis.
Schertzers has fair points in the above article. And I respect him for putting his name on the stuff he writes.
Keep it up, Steve, and yes, I hope you visit TD.
Here, Here -- Steve!
You put your name to your work and lay it out for folks to peruse and piss over. You effectively state your bias (if such exists) and the cathartic nature of the piece.
Anyone with more than 8 hours experience here knows the field is ripe with greed, ineptitude and idiocy.
Nicely written. F anyone that gets defensive and is unable to make a case.
The field is ripe with greed, ineptitude and idiocy.
Sounds like something I may be able to master tell me more!!
LOl!!
Looking at stevie-boy's archived articles, it seems he runs into troubles and problems, problems, problems where ever he goes. You know the type.
It goes with the industry - but I'm not being negative.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bexar County Stud
I still like EFL, and I'm glad I've met the characters I've met over the years, in addition to being able to live overseas.
This said, I do the best job I can in the classroom, and I take it very seriously.
what a crap piece of writing, I rather poke my eyeballs out than read those first 2-3 paragraphs again.
surely you jest?Quote:
Originally Posted by 0bsidian
In terms of running across blowhard fuckups such as steve, yeah I agree. He comes from a certain segment of the market that attracts losers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Milkman
But he is not representative of the industry as a whole.
As opposed to what, building? Auto repair?Quote:
Originally Posted by 0bsidian
I enjoy a good cackle at the "field," but you're merely going to extremes. I wonder if those who make the biggest noise on either end of the spectrum have had much life experience. If you think TEFL is such a montrous abberation you haven't lived much.
Steve is blaming the EFL field, and tarring everyone with the same brush.
He may have some valid points. Criminal record checks should be enforced for people like his 'mentor' to not be able to teach young kids.
At least he speaks out, unlike others.
Where is this posted? The 'otter' channel?
(pm if it's not allowed to be mentioned her)
The TEFL Industry
And I don't think it's against the rules to post about otter channels, seems to be encouraged like some kind of sport on TD.
True.Quote:
Originally Posted by phuketbound
But yes, there are a lot of misfits, frauds, and degenerates.
Also, true. When he writes stuff I read it. Good on him.Quote:
At least he speaks out, unlike others.
I may be completely wrong about this, but Steve Schertzer, what a fucking windbag. Splatter gun verbal diarrhoea, mostly.
He seems to be a bit emotionally driven, and at times, histrionic.Quote:
Originally Posted by benbaaa
Here's his post from Sperling's site in 2006:
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This is my side. I came to San Juan del Rio two weeks ago with the best of intentions. After seven plus years teaching in Asia, I wanted to come to Mexico to make a positive difference in the lives of my students. I still do.
I applied for a teaching job with Global International Institute. After four days of observing classes and teaching two others--- for no money---
I was not offered a position. Fair enough. No problem. That's part of the business. I accept that.
Then something terrible happened. On Monday, February 19th, I went to the internet to check my email. I received a letter from both my sisters and my father informing me that my stepmother had passed away.
She had been suffering from lung cancer. My first thought was to go home, even though I was just home last month. After speaking with my father and sisters, I was assured that things were fine and to stay in Mexico. They insisted that I continue looking for work and that things would be okay. I took that to heart and I'm still here.
The teachers in this beautiful colonial town have been very supportive. I'm proud to call them friends. They have been king and gracious enough to let me use their computer and call messenger service to keep in touch with my family during this difficult time. In fact, I was suppose to move into Peter and Ann's house to continue to be in contact with my family. They have two extra rooms.
Now here's the problem: I was supposed to move in on Tuesday, February 20th. Laurie Roberts, who runs the school with her Mexican husband Mario, confronted Peter to let him know that, since I was not working for her, I was not to live there. I then confronted Ms. Roberts to let her know that this was an agreement between myself, Peter and Ann.
Then I was told that this house was reserved for, in the words of Ms. Roberts, "our teachers." Peter and Ann signed the lease while Ms. Roberts and Mario are the co-signers. Again, fair enough. Or is it?
A day after my father buried his second wife, a day after my sisters buried our stepmother, Laurie Roberts and her husband Mario, the owners of the school, would not let me move into a place where I could be in constant contact with my grieving family! Not once did Ms. Robers call me to offer her condolences about my stepmother. (She did, however, only after I called her. Then she said that she wanted to speak to me about the "living arrangements.")
To say this is insensitive is a huge understatement. Withing this horrible tragedy, there was a wonderful opportunity for Ms. Roberts to say,
"I'm sorry about your stepmother, Steve. Even though we decided not to work together, I will put you in the teacher's residence so that you can call your family whenever you like. I realize you're going through a hard time right now, so let's put any differences aside. Take a week or two and make sure everything's all right. After all, we are all teachers."
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This insensitive, inhumane and shocking response came three days after my stepmother's death from lung cancer. Is it too much to ask these people to treat teachers with more compassion? This is not about teaching anymore. This is not about managing. This is not even about teacher/management relations--- or whatever is left of it after this experience. This is about common human decency. It's about showing compassion towards a teacher--- any teacher, it doesn't have to be your teacher--- who just lost a family member to cancer. Is it possible for Ms. Roberts and Mario to put aside their mistrust of teachers for one second to comfort someone in need?
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Thanks a lot for everyone's reply. I'm feeling a bit better now since I'm out of San Juan del Rio. And, by the way, my family is doing better as well. Of course, this will all take time. A week in another city might be just what I need. This is no time to think of teaching or managing, which was exactly my point in my original post. It was all about being human.
I know the TEFL business very well. I've been in it for eight years.
While I was writing my original post yesterday I was feeling so many different emotions. The tears filling my eyes were tears of hurt, rage, and disappointment.
It's only "business" for a loser-industry, which EFL is, Steve.Quote:
I understand that many of us teachers get ripped off hours and money. I understand that we are lied to, whether over the internet or in person. I understand all that. It's business.
What jobs did you do before embarking on your TEFL crusade to "help" your students and "make them better people?"
Learning and using English is a skill. Period.
Many people in the world need this skill. It's necessary. Your job is to assist and help them with this skill.
Save the Morals, caring, and making people better for the students' families, parents, and native teachers, as they go through life.
I feel your pain, Steve.Quote:
I would gladly take back everything I said if I was just shown some compassion and sympathy.
Link for the quotes above: Job Discussion Forums :: View topic - Global International Institute, San Juan del Rio. Beware!
^Right! Steve seems to have very high expectations of the TEFL industry, and expects that things will go his way all the time. Unfortunately, it isn't like that. Trust me on that. After you've been burned a few times, like Steve seems to have been, he should realize that nothing is as it seems in the industry. There comes a point where you have to fight tooth with nail for everything. Not every person will be a 'nice' person. A business is a business, looking out for number one. His negativity, and 'martyr' complex is apparent.
It was very interesting for me to read that articles he wrote about Korea.
Just the title irritates me, "Dopey Foreigners and Mentally Deficient Koreans."
Mental illness? While I agree that there are a lot of foreigners who are teaching that have never taught before, there are some that actually care about the job, and take it very seriously like myself. Some of the younger teachers with inexperience that I've met, are open and willing to learn. There are some that just get by. Koreans don't often care about the quality of what the students are learning anyway.Quote:
EPIK has been in operation since 1995 in some form or another, and since 1995 it has gone about hiring foreign English speakers, many of whom can barely teach a camel to piss on sand! In fact, many schools in this intellectually and morally bankrupt organization actually go out of their way and request a young, inexperienced, and nubile lad or lass to perform important functions--- like educating young people--- when the job clearly calls for someone with at least a modicum of intelligence, wisdom, educational acumen, morality, and life experience. The Korean, Japanese--- and, by extension, Asian--- fetish for young, inexperienced, and foolish native English speakers to fill the classrooms of their nation is stupid, irresponsible, and akin to a mental illness.
Woah! Koreans don't know they are hiring marijuana monkey boys when they hire them. If you have a BA, then you can get a job teaching English plain and simple. Not all of those people will be qualified teachers with experience.Quote:
So Korea, go ahead and continue to hire unqualified native English teachers. You know exactly what you're doing. You're hardly walking and talking testaments to your own good judgement. So Ministry of Education and EPIK, go ahead and continue to hire more marijuana monkey-boys. And make yourself feel good when they fail in their duties. Go ahead. Hire more degenerates. More foreign losers. More Western morons. And at the end of each year, wonder why your country is becoming less competitive in the world. Wonder why your students still can't speak English after all these years. Wonder why they, (and you), still haven't learned a damn thing!
A lot of my students have improved from where they started. I don't know why he goes on about how Korea is not competitive in the EFL market, because it is booming right now, and has been for many years.
Since when is he a psychologist? Not all Korean co-teachers are insecure, and unwilling to help in the classroom. I have been best friends with my last two co-teachers one in a language school, and one in a public school. It really is luck of the draw on what kind of co-teacher you will have.Quote:
The real problem here is twofold: Newbie John really does have no idea what to do; and an insecure Korean co-teacher with serious issues of confidence and self-esteem does not want to look any worse than she already feels. She is more than content to let newbie John fall all over himself in his attempt to teach. She is not the least bit interested in helping the foreign English teacher succeed, (in her classroom and country, remember), when she is obviously having a problem seeing herself as a success. This is a problem many foreign teachers are having, and this is a problem that EPIK and many of the schools falling under her umbrella are not able and/or willing to solve.
However, I do think that there should be a certain standard on what is expected from the foreigner-co-teacher relationship in the classroom.
Maybe it is time for Steve to move on. I think he has blamed the system both in Thailand, Mexico, Taiwan, and Korea. The system is so far from perfect. That is the truth. It can be frustrating as hell, I agree with him there, but don't go blaming everyone, and think you are better than the rest. If you are, then why don't you just get out of the TEFL industry completely, or better yet, implement changes, and talk about the positive experiences.Quote:
Here's a universal truth: Those who are happy in their work; those who are making a positive difference in the classroom; those who are successful in the job, tend not to leave them. Successful teachers find a way to succeed--against the odds. Successful teachers succeed not because of the system, they find a way to succeed in spite of the system. Successful teachers neither blame the system for their failures, nor do they rely upon it for their success and for the success of their students. Successful teachers don't need the system. They wake up every morning knowing exactly what to do and how to do it. They have a vision. They have a mission. And they're not afraid to teach in accordance with their mission. Do successful teachers often fail? Of course. But they pick themselves up, learn from their mistakes, and move on. That's what makes a successful teacher.
He has an arrogant and self-righteous attitude.Quote:
Originally Posted by phuketbound
How many schools has been fired from AUA Rajdamri eventually fired him because of so many students complaints when he tried - and failed - teach writing.
Yet Schertzer cites incompetence and a lack of experience by other teachers.
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many schools in this intellectually and morally bankrupt organization actually go out of their way and request a young, inexperienced, and nubile lad or lass to perform important functions--- like educating young people--- when the job clearly calls for someone with at least a modicum of intelligence, wisdom, educational acumen, morality, and life experience. The Korean, Japanese--- and, by extension, Asian--- fetish for young, inexperienced, and foolish native English speakers to fill the classrooms of their nation is stupid, irresponsible, and akin to a mental illness.
Steve, you started EFL at the age of 40.
This is a possible sign of someone who was alienated in the home-country, and/or could not find gainful employment at home.
Steve, you're a misfit, in an industry of misfits.Quote:
So Korea, go ahead and continue to hire unqualified native English teachers. You know exactly what you're doing. You're hardly walking and talking testaments to your own good judgement. So Ministry of Education and EPIK, go ahead and continue to hire more marijuana monkey-boys. And make yourself feel good when they fail in their duties. Go ahead. Hire more degenerates. More foreign losers. More Western morons. And at the end of each year, wonder why your country is becoming less competitive in the world. Wonder why your students still can't speak English after all these years. Wonder why they, (and you), still haven't learned a damn thing!
You just haven't figured out they YOU, are....one of these misfits.
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The real problem here is twofold: Newbie John really does have no idea what to do
Steve,
What was your job back home in Canada?
How many schools have you been fired from?
sensitive chap isn't he..Quote:
I also remember one particular class of mine which you observed. You excoriated me afterwards, telling me that I didn't use my students' names often enough. I went home and cried, John. I cried for days.
i'm confused, why does he think he is entitled to stay at a teacher residence if he is not working at the school.
and why would the head/owner know or care about his dying mother?