Job Discussion Forums

casualkay · Joined: 29 Jun 2012 Posts: 1

Hello all,

I'm graduating with my B.A. in English Lit next month, and just got a job offer from EF Swara. I've read good experiences and bad experiences, and I'm just looking for anyone with some more info or personal experiences in any EF Jakarta schools. I just received my contract and I'm not sure if I'm going to take the job yet. I'll preface this by stating I really am not in it for the money (obviously) and am perfectly okay with working my butt off. I don't care about working overtime etc. and don't have high expectations with regards to accommodations. I just want an experience unlike any other. I've been to India before, and I really want to be out of my element and truly do want to connect with the kids I'll be teaching. I'm just so ready to get out of the States.

The horror stories I've read (I think on here actually) came from people suing for lost wages and defamation of character, which is scary as this will be my first ESL job so I don't have any reputation yet and don't want to risk it. My biggest concern is lost wages. If anyone on here can speak about that it'd be really helpful. I'd just like to know if the company didn't stay true to the contract you signed, etc. Obviously there are going to be downsides, and I'm a fairly easy going person. I just don't want to be stranded if they're saying they'll pay for my plane ticket home and don't, or something really drastic like that. Thanks in advance for any advice!

Tudor · Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 215

If you have a BA in English Literature do not waste your time working for EF. Wall Street Institute or TBI would snap you up, and they pay considerably more than EF - approx. 15 million a month. There's several threads on these two schools elsewhere. They may want you to do a CELTA, but I believe TBI sponsor teachers to do it now.

Sure, there are horror stories about EF Swara (as there is other schools), but I know plenty of people who work there or have worked there and have emerged unscathed. EF is fine for people with no qualifications (or the wrong ones) and I can understand the attraction of them as everything is sorted out for you (flights, met at the airport, accomodation) but you can get a much better-paid job with that English degree. You may not be in it for the money, but surely earning 15 million a month against 8 million month is a no-brainer?

Atoms for Peace · Joined: 06 Feb 2006 Posts: 128 Location: NKRI

I'll second that. Get on to TBI right now... They'll snap you up, and I believe CELTA sponsorships are available

voltaire · Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 9:33 am Post subject:

If you must work for EF in Jakarta or Indonesia, it is still advisable to give the Swara Group a miss. You can disbelieve the stories, or suppose they are from disgruntled past employees, but why take the risk when there are far better places to work.

travelinhobo · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 35 Location: U.S.

You should care about working overtime and not recieving pay for it as well as being exploited! This has nothing to do with the specific school in question, but rather your own self worth. I agree with you that it's about the experience, not the money. But when you realize how you're being exploited simply due to ignorance, you'll understand that you shouldn't have had such a laid-back attitude towards it. The owners of these schools make enough money (and in some countries save enough by not paying the local staff anything) to pay you the going rate. You only make it worse for the next teacher in line when you accept lower than acceptable conditions or salaries. If you really don't care about giving away your skills and labor, work for a non-profit.

mr fred · Joined: 30 Oct 2012 Posts: 62

princesss · Joined: 28 Mar 2007 Posts: 24 Location: japan/indo/aust

EF Swara does require you to work 8 months of Saturdays or more a year. That's what they said to me. Why would anyone accept this? The best reason to be in Jakarta for a young ESL teacher is surely to have some sort of social life and do some travel.
Sure, maybe somepeople didn't mind it so much, but that doesn't mean that the people who couldn't stand it are lying. There is no doubt that working there was a horrible and infuriating experience for a fair percentage of people who worked there. We shouldn't invalidate other teachers' experiences. It was clearly intolerable for many.[/b]