Dear Laila and others,

I hope James will excuse me interpreting his post and attempting to add my own view to the debate. First, I used the word ‘query’: this was not an attack on any individual, least of all one like yourself, Laila, who posts frequently and provides hugely relevant content on many aspects of our profession. Nor, was it an attempt in any way to abuse the original post: I merely wished to save others potential frustration and selfishly to express my own.

In addition to all the previously expressed points, I’d like to add two further ones. Obviously providers within the sector are massively diverse, many with limited budgets working on relatively small scale ‘outreach work’ and sometimes using volunteers / quasi-volunteer professionals (a topic previously debated.) For them to be able to attract human resources through such a free platform seems entirely appropriate and clearly it highlights the breadth of the sector as many have now pointed out. What I queried is the use of larger organisations doing so when other job website platforms exist. It seems that many of you disagree, and that’s fine.

Finally, I have also witnessed how hard it can be for a program co-ordinator or curriculum manager in an FE college to have any close liaison with the same organization’s personnel department and how little time such managers often have to chase such matters up.

When I posted my original submission, I must say I did not see it engendering such debate.

BW, George

On Wednesday, February 22, 2017 8:56 AM, bola alli <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Dear All,

I feel compelled to respond to the recent comments about the purpose and value of this forum. I am a fairly new ESOL tutor and since joining this group, I have learnt new skills and developed a wider body of knowledge around the profession. These are not things that can be taught in a 6 month CELTA course. So for that reason I am grateful to the group.

On the issue of job adverts, I feel this is equally vital and should go hand-in-hand with discussions on research, conferences, workshops etc. I appreciate the primary aim of the forum may have evolved somewhat since its inception but surely this is in response to changes in demand. In terms of permission to post

(I am paraphrasing), is it really necessary to go through such a process of deciding what adverts to share? Surely it should be for individuals to decide what they do with the information once posted.

My personal thoughts only.

Kind regards

Bola

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On Wed, 22 Feb 2017 at 9:23, Laila El-Metoui
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Hi james ,

I am sorry if I have , on occasion in the past , posted Job adverts on this forum without seeking your permission first. They were not even for places I worked for!! I did it because after consecutive waves of cuts , I saw so few adverts that came up, that when one did , I shared it to help colleagues.

You know that I use this forum in a variety of ways, not just for my own benefit, I'll ask you when my next add come up.

I am now managing ESOL & Wellbeing for a london council and have had real problems recruiting ESOL staff. A sentiment shared by some of my colleagues in management. One of the agenda items in the last natecla london esol managers meeting was ' where are all the esol teachers?'

So as well as agreeing with previous posts regarding job / volunteer adverts reflecting the sector , I also feel that managers and colleagues are increasingly using this forum out of desperation to recruit staff

A manager colleague of mine had 1 applicant to an advert she put....

finally with BrexSHIT and the uncertain future of ESOL funding, my feeling is that some of our colleagues might be leaving the sector (or the country even!)

Thank you for enabling our sector to share ideas and resources , your forum has helped us in so many ways !!
Laila El-Metoui  
LGBT Education Consultant & Teacher Educator 
https://lelmeducation.wordpress.com
Member of Action for ESOL http://actionforesol.org/ and NATECLA London https://nateclaldn.wordpress.com
Supporter The Ruth Hayman Trust http://www.ruthhaymantrust.org.uk
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On 21 Feb 2017, at 21:08, James Simpson <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

*********************************** ESOL-Research is a forum for researchers and practitioners with an interest in research into teaching and learning ESOL. ESOL-Research is managed by James Simpson at the Centre for Language Education Research, School of Education, University of Leeds. To join or leave ESOL-Research, visit http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ESOL-RESEARCH.html To contact the list owner, send an email to [log in to unmask]