Having not actually worked for this school, this message is not intended to be a moan or a complaint about what they do or how they do it...but how often as a TEFL professional do you feel like you're being pushed around by language schools and organisations who don't seem to have much respect for you, your qualifications, your experience...etc.? Leaving aside the argument as to whether TEFL teachers are really paid what they're worth (that probably would stir up a hornet's nest!), this is simply about the treatment I recently received from what I can gather is actually quite a respectable school.

I applied for a job at the Basque country branch of Komalingua advertised on TEFL.com. I heard nothing and assumed my application had been unsuccessful. Two months later I received an email from the head of studies thanking me for my application and inviting me for a Skype interview as the post would be staring the following week (regardless of the fact that I was living and working on the other side of Europe!). Although I already had one or two other offers in the pipeline, I thought it would still be worth investigating and replied. At the same time I asked for further details about the post (as anyone would) because the original advertisement had by this time expired.

The head of studies replied and told me that 'all the information I needed' was that it was a full-time position, teaching adults and young people at all levels. THAT'S ALL??! Wait, what about, the number of hours I would be teaching? What sort of courses I would be expected to teach; conversational, business, exam preparation, EAP, ESL...? And, the all-important question: how much are you paying? I may just be a lowly TEFL teacher, but I think most people would consider this to be essential information to be in possession of before charging into an interview. If nothing else, if the money turned out to be terrible (not unheard of in this sector I don't think), an interview would just be a waste of time, especially if those offers in the pipeline were well-paid enough to be worth considering.

I wrote another email and tried (politely) to get this information, but to no avail.

On the day of the scheduled interview, I had re-arranged my timetable to ensure I would be online at the specified time. I had provided my Skype name as requested and assumed that I would receive a contact request, followed by a call at the right time (punctuality is something employers look for in TEFL teachers, isn't it?). The hour passed without a call or a contact request (oh, by the way, the head of studies hadn't provided her Skype name at this point). After another half an hour of waiting, I sent an email to ask what was going on.

The head of studies for Komalingua told me she had been waiting for my call (HOW? TELEPATHY??!) and also had been unable to find me using the name I had given her (strange that two other people had been able to find me and interview me during the couple of weeks before!)(and yes, I checked I hadn't made a mistake with the name I sent her).

When I wrote back to ask her how I was supposed to contact her without her Skype details, she replied to tell me she had sent them...as I could see in the email below! Derrr, yes, that was only when I asked you why I was still waiting for you to contact ME!
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Needless to say, I decided not to pursue the job.

The reason for this post then is to make a request to all you other TEFL professionals out there. Yes, I know we all need to work and we all do what we can to make a crust, but please, let's stop allowing these schools and organisations with self-important Principals and 'heads of studies' push us around and treat us without any respect. If you come across an outfit who does something like this to you (OK, not so bad, but still leaves a sour taste), write about it, tell other people about your experiences and most of all, stand up for yourself (and others) and say NO! Maybe eventually a few of these so-called professional language training providers might actually realise who they rely on to keep the whole thing going...

...and for those of you who don't really care, good luck when you get ripped-off, pushed around or treated like 'just another TEFL teacher' rather than a self-respecting professional.

Oh, and one more thing, if you do happen to be the prospective candidate who's applied for the position at Komalingua in Spain and you come across this doing your research as you should, ask them for a bit more money and good luck!