(no subject)

[arisha]

Really quick entry because I have to leave for work in twenty minutes, but:

So when I was volunteering at my university's ESL classes and in the process of applying for JET, I decided I wanted to learn more about ESL and the teaching of it, and I started looking for an online class on the subject. Obvious Mistake #1 here is that I even thought of signing up for an overpriced online course with a fairly useless certificate at the end of it, but the reviews on this review site convinced me to sign up for the 100 hour course offered by Ontesol. I did the first two modules, wasn't really enjoying it, figured that with school coming up I'm unlikely to finish it, thought, "eh, sucks that I spent that money but oh well, everyone makes stupid mistakes," and withdrew from the course. I also left a review of the course at the aforementioned review site; you can see that under the clever penname of "Student" at the bottom of this page. I wouldn't even say that's a bad review, just a so-so one, but I woke up this morning to find an e-mail from Ontesol in my inbox:

Considering that you were the only person in the past 3 months who asked to
withdraw form the course (The only people who ever ask for a refund are
those whose deadline is approaching and haven't done anything, everyone else
is very happy with our courses) and the reference you stated on the
enrollment form [I honestly don't even know what he's referring to here], we would like to say that we don't think it's fair leaving
such reviews when you haven't completed the course because of your lack of
commitment and, more precisely, your opinion is flawed considering that you
haven't done anything for the lesson planning stage, which is the core of a
TESOL course.

Unlike other schools, we offer an advanced 250-hour TESOL program (More
advanced than our Trinity and a CELTA) for people who really care about
teaching so they make a slight effort to study more and invest the extra
funds necessary to be a professional teacher.

Our 100-hour course still provides the basics for those who want to start
their teaching career while other online schools do not offer any training
on lesson planning whatsoever. In fact, we started offering the 100-hour
course 4 years after Ontesol was launched because those who had taken a
course at another school were not ready to take our on-site Trinity or
online 250-hour program as they made horrendous mistakes that they had to
unlearn.

Ontesol would like to kindly request that you contact the website and
withdraw your comment.

Happy holidays,
Lucas

A-FRACKING-MAZING.

Considering I didn't leave my name with my review, is it not mondo creepy that he even decided to contact me about it? And never mentions the reviews site by name? That alone just weirds me out.

Also I love how he INSULTS ME and says MY OPINION IS FLAWED and then goes on about a course I never even registered in and all this other stuff and then is all "Please remove your review and happy holidays!" UM WHAT. Because this kind of e-mail is totally going to convince me to change my opinion about your company??

UGH I was going to write a big long rant here but after rereading this e-mail I can't even be coherent right now. Just ... what a joke. What the heck kind of customer service is this even supposed to be. I am hoping that if I just don't reply this will be the last I hear of them, because I am not inclined to remove that review but nor am I inclined to get into a fight with them about it. I mean ... seriously???

UGH I DON'T KNOW GUYS

THIS WHOLE SITUATION IS SO STUPID

WHERE'S MY TIME MACHINE SO I CAN NEVER REGISTER FOR THIS COURSE IN THE FIRST PLACE

OH THAT'S RIGHT I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH COMMITMENT TO DO THAT

THANKS FOR HELPING ME SEE THE LIGHT, GUY I'VE ONLY COMMUNICATED WITH TWICE THROUGH E-MAIL