Job Discussion Forums

[samanraufi]

I searched the forums and can only find outdated posts regarding WECL. I've seen the blog posts about WECL Xiamen posted on the other thread, but again they are outdated and it's one persons experience which I want to take with a grain of salt. I want to give this school chance as since previous experience tells me one persons opinion is not always the full story.

Does anyone have recent knowledge/experience with WECL in Xiamen or Guangzhou? I am in touch with a Canadian couple who is recruiting on behalf of Belinda from WECL.

My background: Canadian native speaker, B.a. in Health Science, TESL certified and 3+ years teaching experience but none abroad.

All comments and suggestions are welcomed!

[spiral78]

I'd send you a pm, but you need to have at least 5 posts before your pm function will operate. I have recently heard some fairly negative things about this school from sources I would personally trust, for what that's worth, and I suggest that you might want to be wary.

[samanraufi]

Thanks, I only have one more post needed after this. Please PM when you have the chance. TIA!

[Non Sequitur]

I had experience of WECL in Qingdao. They recruit for their own schools and also for colleges in the public sector. Make sure you understand clearly where you will be teaching as whereas you may think you're going to a nice little language school downtown but end up in a college in the 'burbs.
If you don't come up to standard in the language school, or there is insufficient work there you may be lent or permanently posted to another location.
WECL seem to have a particular connection with Canada and help set up partnership arrangements - particularly at vocational college level.

[L00kingforwork]

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but does anyone have any information about WECL's Guangzhou locations? There seems to be a pretty negative vibe with the Xiamen campus. I am wondering about the Guangzhou campus because it is a relatively new expansion. The couple who I've been in contact with worked for the school about a year ago. They gave me a pretty good impression of the school. For example, the students are motivated, and the administration is supportive of the teachers.

Thanks in advance.

[Non Sequitur]

Guangzhou eh?
They are spreading their wings!
I only have experience of them and their owner in Shandong Prov.

[Opiate]

There was a school named WECL in Qingdao on Fuzhou lu but they have changed their name to WELL. Not sure if it is the same school. if it is, there was never any real connection I was aware of with other locations or Canada.

[L00kingforwork]

How would you compare them with other language schools in China? To whom are they most similar?

I think I would prefer working for a lesser well-known language school than the more popular ones like New Oriental, Wallstreet, etc. The hours are not as intense (up to 20/wk).

EDIT: There Guangzhou school is called "WELL". The parent company/school is still WECL.

[Non Sequitur]

They are certainly in Qingdao and I think their headquarters is in another 3rd level Shandong city the name of which I can't recall.
They introduced one (at least) Qingdao public college to a Canadian partner and student/staff exchanges are taking place.
I recall hearing that both the Qingdao and Canadian sides were trying to edge WECL out.
If there has been some negativity around it wouldn't surprise me to hear of a name change.
That doesn't help re Guangzhou but if you want my view WECL will be OK if you are a bog standard FT, mature, have an active teaching style and keep hands off students. Teaching to please parents is also important.
The owner whom I've met, seems to me to be no worse or better than your average language school owner.

[Non Sequitur]

I posted mine before I saw yours OP.
I would rate them ahead of the chains like the ones you mention.
My experience is 18m old now, so maybe not as indicative of current vibe as it could be.
There are no big red flags though.

[L00kingforwork]

I will be teaching university aged students not children, so I probably will not need to deal with parents frequently, if at all.

As with the name change, the couple with whom I am in contact told me that there were some issues with using the same name as the Xiamen school. So the company decided to change it to WELL. It does not really bother me, as long as they are providing a legitimate service to students and treating the teachers fairly.

Thanks for your input Non Sequitur.

[Non Sequitur]

The search feature is working for the mo so go here and compare your offer:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=91394&highlight=checklist
Your ace in the hole is the people who have worked for WECL and give it the OK. That is particularly if they're not beholden to the owner anymore.
Make sure there is A/C in the classrooms, this being Guangzhou and all
Best

[fred13331]

Well and WECL are indeed the same thing. I have seen this Belinda person in GZ and know she spends most of her time in Xiamen. The reason for the name change is they are illegal in GZ. Your visa will be from Xiamen, but, wrong province so you will be working illegally. friend of mine worked there - he lived in a student dorm with no AC for 2 years. He was supposedly DOS and full time teacher for a mere 6500. He did endless free recruiting. The Canadian couple referenced above were desperately scrabbling for parttime teachers last year, as they were covering all the classes after other teachers quit in disgust. They got no takers because of the terrible local reputation, the paltry salary, and the illegality. If these conditions appeal to you - go ahead, otherwise avoid like the plague.

Further - they have/had very few students while i was in the loop - I guess that may have changed, but the quality was low. They had no problem mixing adults with 12 year olds. The turnover in Chinese staff was staggering - another sign of a rudderless ship - it is a bad, bad place to work

[Non Sequitur]

Mmmm..
The renewer of this thread says the Canadian couple worked (past tense) for WELL/WECL so they presumably have no reason to be coy about the situation.
The best that can be said in the light of this latest is that WELL/WECL Guangzhou is an uncertain proposition.
For your first gig here take the least risk option even if the salary is lower than optimal.
There's still time to pick up work at a uni or provincial level vocational college.

[fred13331]