Found the resume below at:"http://tinyurl.com/3dnkxk"
That’s Michael Sean Fitzgerald.
I know this guy better than I wish. He was my teacher when I took the Media Kids course sponsored by TEFL international. He was a miserable teacher. Anything questioned was twisted to blame the student who asked.
He lost half of my work submitted during the course. My classmates had the same problem with Mike.
Now he’s looking for work in Korea. I feel sorry for his next students.
I did my best to reason with Mike and with administration of TEFL international. It can't be done, they took my money and now Mike tells me not to contact him or anyone at the school.I and some other teachers who have had bad experiences with TEFL International are kind of networking together there to share info.
It’s a scam where you pay $500. You teach for three months where your salary is discounted directly to the pockets of Tefl International. Supposed to get a TESOL certificate at the end of this time.
Every student in my class was failed and recommended to take more courses for more money.
I didn’t know until after I was at risk of being jailed for teaching in Thailand with no work permit.
Tefl International straight out lied on that point. They told all of us no permit was required.
TEFL international uses all these sites:
www.isolutions-th.com
www.esl-teachers.net
www.teflcourse.net
www.teflcorp.com
www.bestonlineteflcourse.com
www.tesolonline.com
www.teflcourse.net
www.bestteflcourse.com
www.teflinternational.com
They look different but all link to the same schools.
Strange how TEFL international is listed as a Not for Profit Organazation and the above sites all link to schools which specifically say “for profit”.
Is this legal? It’s for sure not honest.
Before you throw away money do a few google searches.
Try “bruce + bribery charges + Thailand” or “TEFL + scam”…
I couldn’t believe how many times TEFL international came back.
Below Mikes resume, he looks great on paper. You don’t want this guy for a teacher.
W O R K H I S T O R Y
TEFL International (France, UK, Thailand, China)
Dir. of Public Relations & External Affairs / Lead Trainer May 2005 - Present
Hired to assist the CEO and Academic Director, duties included but not limited to: Writing news articles; designing & writing websites; setting up and running new teacher training operations; oversaw an international board of ELT experts; organized international teacher training conferences; met and did training demos for audiences of government bodies with hundreds of teachers; wrote phonological chapter in training handbook; worked behind the scenes at the executive management level; created and implemented, alone, a very successful 4-week training program for Chinese Primary/Secondary teachers and delivered it many times. Developed and implemented international and local marketing strategies for EFL classes, camps and TESOL Cert courses. Trained staff and developed a 3-week summer camp for 284 Chinese secondary students. Designed and managed teacher training programs for 150 native-speakers; set up and ran Thai teacher training programs; wrote/edit on-line training courses (young learners); interviewed and hired international staff (trainers and directors); took on duties of General Manager, Academic Director and Marketing Director when needed.
Windsor TEFL (Trinity College London) (Barcelona/ Madrid, Spain)
Head of Teacher Training (Full-time) May 2003 – May 2005
Responsible for staff of 6 teacher trainers, regular teachers & training 12-20 teachers per month to top international (Trinity) standards. Duties included those with ITC as well as: opening new centre; curriculum design & development for trainees & teachers (all levels); reducing staff & supply budgets; job search; maintaining relations with proprietor, Trinity & teacher employers; level testing; designing resources, inputs & TESOL course; and much more.
International TEFL Certificate (ITC) (Prague, Czech Republic. & Spain) Lead Teacher Trainer (Full-time) February 2002 – May 2003
Trained & certified over 150 teachers. Included over 150 hours of teacher observation & feedback; inputs on phonology, teaching foreign languages (Czech, Inuit & Russian) in alternate methodologies, grammar, Business English, young learners, course books, class management; marking 1-2-1 projects; creating new inputs; giving demo lessons, etc. Left to accept Head of TESOL Position at Windsor.
King’s College International, S.A. (Tres Cantos, Spain)
Assistant Director (Full-time seasonal) Summer 2000 & 2001
Co-responsible for the hands-on day-to-day management of over 200 children and 20 staff members at intensive 24-hour children’s ESL summer camp. Duties included: observing & training teachers; hiring & firing teachers; planning all social & classroom activities; dealing with stressful situations (disease outbreak, city-wide fire evacuation, inappropriate staff behaviour, medical emergencies, etc.)
Berlitz Language Centres of Canada. (Vancouver, Toronto & Miss., Canada)
English Teacher (Full & part-time) June 1995 – Oct.1999
Included in-company work, Business English & Presentations, and specialty classes in pronunciation, writing and young learners. Left to enroll in Cambridge Diploma.
Chilliwack Community Services (Chilliwack B.C., Canada)
Program Co-coordinator (Full-time) Feb. 1998 – Sept. 1999
Responsible for staff & government –sponsored ESL/settlement program (LINC) for 50 immigrants per day. Duties included: budget control; ordering supplies; organizing activities (events, trips, speakers); attending conferences & teaching. Left to enroll in Cambridge Diploma in Spain. Used my people/creative skills to leave behind an improved program with: better community image; volunteer literacy program; and an ESL computer lab.
Language Link International (Zelenograd, Russia)
English Teacher (Full-time) Oct. 1994 – May 1995
In-company & adult classes. Had a high success rate and carried many students from beginners to upper-intermediates. Left due to contract expiry, returned to Canada.
Carleton University (Residence Association) (Ottawa, Canada)
Director of Entertainment (1 year appointed) May 1992 –May. 1993
Responsible for all social & extra-curricular educational activities for 1700 residential students. Duties included organizing licensed/unlicensed events, sporting activities, educational seminars; chairing committees; initiating advertising /marketing campaigns; meeting with agents; entertainers & corporate sponsors. Also taught a university course in bartending.
E D U C A T I O N
Cambridge RSA Diploma in TESOL (DELTA)
British Language Centre – Madrid, Spain Oct. 99 – Dec. 2000
Received the Cambridge Dip. Which included teaching observation of new methodologies, materials development, testing and language awareness.
Post-Graduate in Corporate Communications
Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology – Toronto, Canada
Jan. 96 – Jan.97
Received a post-university degree in Corporate Public Relations. Course included classes in: public speaking, advanced writing/editing, seminar planning, internal/external business communications and media relations.
RELSA Certificate in TEFL
Galway Language Centre – Galway, Ireland April94 – May 94
Received a certificate in teaching English from RELSA (Ireland governing body of TESOL) which included observation and hands-on teaching practice.
Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in Philosophy
Carleton University – Ottawa, Canada
1989 - 1993
Received a four-year university degree with a major in philosophy and elected courses in religion, psychology and Russian.
O T H E R S K I L L S
§ Youngest member of the Board of Directors for TESOL Spain. My post in 2004 was Special Projects Officer.
§ Hosted “Ask The Expert” Website (in Spanish) on ESL & Business English at Monster.com, world’s largest Job Search Website (HTTP://FOROS.MONSTER.ES/FORUM.ASP?FORUM=2661)
§ Familiar and up-to-date with most ESL Materials & Microsoft Office.
§ Hold a valid Int´l Driver’s License.
§ Hobbies: writing, cooking, exercising, photography, studying languages.
§ Second Languages include Spanish and some French.
R E F E R E N C E S
§ PAUL MCCONOCHIE (LECTURER & TRAINER W/ BURLINGTON BOOKS, FORMER HEAD OF TRAINING AT ADVANCED INSTITUTE) Madrid, Spain (tel: 34 652283764 email: paulm_7@excite.com)
§ GREG GOBEL (HEAD OF TEACHER TRAINING, INTERNATIONAL TEFL CERTIFICATES) Prague, Czech (email: gobelgj@hotmail.com)
§ MARTIN GUILEFOYLE (LECTURER AT COMPUTENSE UNIVERSITY / TRINITY COLLEGE LONDON TRAINER ) Madrid, Spain (tel: 34 91 528 9821 email: martingu@ceu.es)
