ESL Teaching - Jobs, lesson plans - View Single Post - Warning: Hartford Institute/Raffles University

lmbeharry · Sat 05-Apr-08, 08:09 PM

My issue is that Hartford Institute is misleading its students and the parents of the students. I acknowledge your comments regarding the education system in developing countries in Asia, that the education is "substandard" from the point of view of an American "educational elitist" like me.

I did not complain about my pay. I complained that the school is charging over $7,000 for an allegedly "quality," "innovative" program - their words, not mine. Have you seen the income statement of this company?

5 Nov 2007

Hartford Net Profit Jumps 30% to S$0.54 million
What the hell do I care for money (besides that I have a young family).

And regarding the time I personally spent preparing my classes - try between 50 and 70 hours a week on average. A few weeks, I peaked at over 90 hours. I even worked through Christmas Day (and the prior weekend) and New Years' Day (and the prior weekend) - grading tests, reading material, and seeking ancillary study aids to complement the school's pathetic attempt to provide legitimate materials...

I have been a volunteer with VISTA (sister organization of the Peace Corps). I spent the last twenty years of my U.S. experience volunteering in soup kitchens and working with kids on weeknights and weekends while I worked full-time (and went on to earn my MBA at night).

Regarding Mongolia salaries and teacher status. Mongolia is corrupt, maybe moreso than Hartford/Raffles. A country that does not value education enough to reward teachers and stimulate learning and innovation is doomed. Basically, another country will assimilate them (either because Mongolia will be forced to hire technology from outside, or outside MNC's will gain too much influence over a population that never earned an "elitist education" or a level of international sophistication).

What do I care? When I came here I tried to teach within the UB university system: University of Humanities and Institute of Finance. AND GET THIS STRAIGHT, I DID NOT TAKE THE HARTFORS GIG FOR THE MONEY, I TOOK THE GIG TO TEACH, BECAUSE I AM A DAMN GOOD TEACHER. When I was at Hartford, I told my students (who all complained about the school and the other teachers, by the way) that they should go and support their local universities.

DO NOT GET BITCHY AT ME!!! I am simply stating that this company is providing little (if any) value to society at all - WHILE EXTORTING A HEAVY BURDEN UPON THE LOCALS' POCKETBOOKS!!!!!

Sat 05-Apr-08, 08:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
lmbeharry Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Occupation: Professor/Businessman Location: Posts: 7	Re: Warning: Hartford Institute/Raffles University My issue is that Hartford Institute is misleading its students and the parents of the students. I acknowledge your comments regarding the education system in developing countries in Asia, that the education is "substandard" from the point of view of an American "educational elitist" like me. I did not complain about my pay. I complained that the school is charging over $7,000 for an allegedly "quality," "innovative" program - their words, not mine. Have you seen the income statement of this company? 5 Nov 2007 Hartford Net Profit Jumps 30% to S$0.54 million What the hell do I care for money (besides that I have a young family). And regarding the time I personally spent preparing my classes - try between 50 and 70 hours a week on average. A few weeks, I peaked at over 90 hours. I even worked through Christmas Day (and the prior weekend) and New Years' Day (and the prior weekend) - grading tests, reading material, and seeking ancillary study aids to complement the school's pathetic attempt to provide legitimate materials... I have been a volunteer with VISTA (sister organization of the Peace Corps). I spent the last twenty years of my U.S. experience volunteering in soup kitchens and working with kids on weeknights and weekends while I worked full-time (and went on to earn my MBA at night). Regarding Mongolia salaries and teacher status. Mongolia is corrupt, maybe moreso than Hartford/Raffles. A country that does not value education enough to reward teachers and stimulate learning and innovation is doomed. Basically, another country will assimilate them (either because Mongolia will be forced to hire technology from outside, or outside MNC's will gain too much influence over a population that never earned an "elitist education" or a level of international sophistication). What do I care? When I came here I tried to teach within the UB university system: University of Humanities and Institute of Finance. AND GET THIS STRAIGHT, I DID NOT TAKE THE HARTFORS GIG FOR THE MONEY, I TOOK THE GIG TO TEACH, BECAUSE I AM A DAMN GOOD TEACHER. When I was at Hartford, I told my students (who all complained about the school and the other teachers, by the way) that they should go and support their local universities. DO NOT GET BITCHY AT ME!!! I am simply stating that this company is providing little (if any) value to society at all - WHILE EXTORTING A HEAVY BURDEN UPON THE LOCALS' POCKETBOOKS!!!!!