Job Discussion Forums

[Mr.Engrish]

Hey guys!

I'm a newbie and just wondering about this place....

Always Education & Exchange Center: Jinan

I have read very mixed reviews on this place and was wondering if I could get some real input? If anyone has worked there or works there now I would love some advice

I just got off skype with Mr. Gao, he said he would give me emails of teachers currently working there along with a copy of the contract.

I read some negative reviews on this site:
http://esllist.com/reviews/by-location/asia/discussions/review/id:293/

Thanks in advance

[big_big_bang_theory_fan]

Mr. Gao clearly expresses how a teacher who smokes in the building or is seen by parents or students smoking outside will be fired, but then he locks you in his office in interviews and smokes in your face. He tells you if you are drunk or seen to be drunk in off-work hours you will be fired, but then has mini-kegs all over his office. He tells you that you are not allowed to have a Chinese girlfriend or wife or have sex with other employees, Chinese or not or you'll be fired, but he wife divorced him for having an affair. He had a teacher in Taian, Shandong that was drunk and smoking in the classroom, then "fired" his students by telling them not to return to class because they were stupid, but he was not fired.

Don't believe those that are "satisfied" with their current employment at Always, Jinan. He has many branches but the government has not issued Foreign Expert Hiring Licenses at all the branches for numerous reasons.

I'm happy to show you, in private messages, his attacking e-mail communications when confronted with such things - including the digitally recorded face-to-face interviews in Jinan.

The guy looks like a hippy with his drunk behavior, middle-of-the-back haircut, and so on. He can't be trusted based on all the above facts. Let alone the demand that you "call the school office" if you will go home past 9:00 PM or leave the city for anything - even for a few hours to shop in another city.

It goes on and on.

Don't forget his advertised violation of the employment age laws. China permits male workers, including foreigners to be employed until the age of 60 but he violates the law by putting a hiring freeze above the age of 52 years (as advertised). There is always room in some professions for not following such laws and allowed per law, but he doesn't have the government authorization for such an exception but cuts 8 years off the law. Criminal at that...

Also, he received warnings about a teacher that was making sexual advances, unwanted toward a female - that went ignored. The aggressor was married and wanted a 3-some and threatened the person if she didn't comply. He refused to warn the police since 'the teacher no longer works here' but took no responsibility to protect that person - in fact, she was fired from her job when he found out who it was - in violation of the law.

And yes, it goes on and on.

Stay away. Those that continue to work for this loser are clearly desperate folks that can't find a job anywhere else and will say whatever they can to protect their employment. There is a reason he won't give you the contact information for FORMER employees - only for current employees that under his hand of control.

[Mr.Engrish]

Thank you so much!

How long did you work there for?

[AliceB]

I actually work there, and it's a pretty good job. I haven't heard any of the stories detailed above, but maybe all that happened long before I came: certainly nothing dodgy has happened since I've been here. The school has expanded very quickly over the last few years, and I hear from colleagues that things were a bit chaotic two or three years ago - possibly that's when the bad reviews were written. I'm at the school now and I'm happy. I won't go into detail here, but PM me if you want information.

[Genthree]

Sorry to revive a dead thread, but has anyone had any interaction with ALWAYS recently? I'd be looking at either the Zibo or Tai'an location.

[CJD]

not sure about the school, but all of those second and third-tier cities in shandong like jinan and zibo and yantai suck pretty bad.

[hells_kitchen]

[therock]

[Genthree]

Apparently I would be in Tai'an. I don't mind being in a "smaller" city, but I don't want to have a bad experience with the school. The reviews online seem to be pretty heavily mixed. In all honesty, I'd rather have a lower paying job that I know won't screw me over than have a job that pays 16000/month but the contract changes every other week.

[RWA1981]

I noted in another thread that this school is blacklisted along with Mr. Gao although we do not know if "Jeff Gao" is the same "Mr. Gao" referred to in this thread.

See:

http://worldwolfwatch.wordpress.com

http://www.chinaforeignteachersunion.org/2012/12/china-foreign-teachers-union-posts-esl.html

http://chinascambusters.com

It appears from the web site they claim either ownership or affiliation with five schools in Shandong. It is not very clear.

[thebroformerlyknownaschou]

[coldcucumber]