Somalia: Islamic radicals raid private English school killing 4 teachers

Sunday, April 13, Hakab Private English School was raided by Islamic insurgents...
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View full article here:
http://blog.esldaily.org/2008/04/14/somalia--islamic-radicals-raid-private-english-school-killing-4-teachers.aspx

ESL Scams Part 2: Exotic Locations

In Part 1 of this series, we examined the "The Money Up Front" scam. In this scam, a school asks the potential teacher for 'commitment' or 'processing' fees before the commencement date of employment. In part 2, we explore the use of Exotic Locations in explaining the attraction and success of teaching scams through the example of my own personal experience with a scam two years ago in Valencia, Spain. Scams that use exotic locations such as Valencia, which is not a popular city for English as Second Language, convolute the first kind of scam by offering these "money up front" fees as refundable. They also locate their scams in exotic locations, by which I mean a city or a country with small ESL markets and in a location where research into the school or their offers is difficult to ascertain.

To read full article please see:
http://blog.esldaily.org/2008/03/15/esl-scams-part-2-exotic-locations.aspx

ESL Scams Part 1: Money Up Front

The global ESL industry is ripe with scams, schemes and frauds. As an industry that primarily relies on long-distance communication via the Internet and telephone to conduct its business, verifying the authenticity of employment opportunities is extremely important. If you have questions an employer can't or won't answer, that's usually the first sign something is wrong. If a job looks to good to be true, i.e. an outrageous salary and great benefits, then it probably is. If an employer asks you for something you shouldn't have to provide, like money for processing papers or an airfare through their company, then you may have stumbled upon a scam.

Full article can now be seen on the new website:
http://blog.esldaily.org/2008/02/25/esl-scams-part-1-money-up-front.aspx

More stories at: www.esldaily.org

English Teacher Murdered in Ghana

A High School English teacher in the Dzodze Township of the Volta Region in the Republic of Ghana was found comatose in his apartment on January 19th under suspicious circumstances. The Daily Guide reported the teacher was found in a pool of blood on his apartment floor and was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at hospital. Many in the township, including police, suspect foul play, but no suspects have been named and no arrests have yet been made. The police have not commented on whether they suspect students or teachers at the school.

The West African country’s official language is English. The Volta Region of Ghana lies Southeast, bordering Togo and is comprised of 15 districts, the capital of which is named Ho.

For further information refer to: http://www.dailyguideghana.com/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3017

By Spencer McCall

Kenya Anyone?

Hey ESL teachers, vacation is coming soon and it’s time to choose a vacation destination. Some of you might have only a week or two for vacation, while others may have over a month. Perhaps some people will even be completing their contracts. Before you book your flight, have you ever thought of volunteering during your break? If you’re an English teacher and experienced traveler, you might consider a different sort of vacation this year. Alison Lowndes, the founder and trustee of AVIF, is inviting teachers to volunteer for summer school in Kenya.

Following is a brief ad for AVIF:

AVIF is an innovative online charity, with a promise to Invest in our Volunteers. We assist with sustainable development via online & onsite volunteering in rural Kenya, East Africa. Being virtual means negligible administration costs for worldwide impact. We believe in efficiency, honesty and transparency. AVIF doesn’t do bureaucracy or charge fees. If you have the commitment to travel to Kenya, we’ll take care of you & provide access to extensive details. We encourage you to do further Internet research to ensure you are fully informed. Orientation is available in Nairobi & is recommended.

You’ll be fully immersed into rural communities. If you’re looking for a tourist’s view of the country then this is not for you. You may need to wash your hair in a river or cook over open fires. You will be living traditionally, in no less comfort than your hosts who wake at 4/5am to light fires to boil water. The children will surround you with enthusiasm and an eagerness to learn ~ you can repay them by helping to provide a range of simple but effective concepts such as solar cooking & power, disease prevention, empowerment to women. After your visit, we use NABUUR to action specific projects, an entirely online system allowing anyone, anywhere to simply log on to contribute to the project.

At the end of each program we organize an optional group safari from a base camp in Oropile, Maasai Mara. The Maasai people are the perfect example of how to live in symbiosis with nature, not Land Cruisers !

[Itinerary available on the website].

http://www.avif.org.uk/

http://avifvolunteers.blogspot.com/

British English teacher faces deportation or lashing in Sudan

A British woman, Gillian Gibbons, was arrested this Monday, November 27 in Khartoum, Sudan for insulting the prophet Mohammed. Her students named a stuffed animal after their profit, Muhammad. The act may result in the teacher’s deportation or worse, 40 lashes. The instructor has been given legal support from her Christian High School; however, the majority of parents who send their children to the school are actually Muslim and they are taking this matter very seriously. For the full story please read: SUDAN

The majority of countries that support ESL schools are safe. However, every country has some laws that may conflict with our beliefs or are perhaps unanticipated. Customs may also come into play that may make your job more difficult. Singapore used to have a law against gum chewing, Tylenol is illegal in some countries, blowing one’s nose is rude in Korea, women smoking in public is illegal in many countries… the list goes on. It is best to do research prior to your journey. Regardless, sometimes your best intentions can have serious consequences. Hold your ground, but remember you are in a different country with different laws.