Hey everyone,

I was doing a little research on the TEFL Institute based in Chicago, Illinois (www.teflinstitute.com) because they're one of the few places I've seen that offers an English-teaching course in Brazil - which is where I'm planning on going!

One thing that bothered me was the following blog entry:
http://www.teachers-international.com/wordpress/?p=165
And also:
http://www.teflwatch.org/244/the-tefl-institute-threatens-teflwatch/

So my questions are:

- Does anyone here have any experience with the TEFL Institute or any of their programs?

- How should I go about finding out if an organization is legit? It's something I'd rather like to know before I send in any deposits for the program fee. I plan on asking them if I can contact graduates of their Brazil program, as well as the language school in Brazil where their course takes place.

- Is it kosher to confront the TEFL Institute directly about the unfavorable rumors posted in the blog above, and explain that I'm wary of signing on to their program because of it?

- Finally, does anyone know of or recommend any other similar programs in Brazil (where you study in-country to get your TEFL certification)? Bridge Linguatec also seems to have a TEFL program in Rio. Anyone have any experience with them?

I've lived in Brazil for a year and a half, just never as an English teacher. I realize that it's not one of the easier countries to land a teaching job in, because of the work visa issue... but I'd like to try.

Thanks in advance!

- Shayna

I have a friend who is doing the Bridge Linguatec program right now in Buenos Aires. So far she is VERY HAPPY with the program. She left the first of January, loved her "host family," and just moved to her own apartment. She loves Buenos Aires and finds she makes enough money to live comfortably (she calls it "shabby chic") there. She had hoped to meet a wide spectrum of people of different classes, but Bridge Linguatec aims her at the upwardly mobile business class. There are "volunteer" opportunities, and she enjoyed what she did, but it changed from working in the boodocks with people on the edge to working in Buenos Aires with middle class learners who couldn't afford the usual fees. Overall, though, she thinks Bridge Linguatec is terrific.