Job Discussion Forums

Adventurer · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 17 Location: Los Angeles

Any current or recent Disney ESL Teachers out there ??? Care to share your experience with us ?

I have read some of the previous posts lamenting it's corporate culture. Could it be any worse than the typical American conglomerate ? I am hoping that it is an ethical place to work.

I have been offered a gig in Beijing beginning October, and right off the bat, the benefits seem to outweigh any major Con's:

-Paid training including a TEFL-C Certification.
-First 3 weeks in hotel upon arrival.
-Prepaid flight to China + monthly travel stipend toward return trip.
-Start up loan if needed.
-They DO NOT franchise!
-20 plus PAID days off + paid sick days.
-10K rmb and change salary per month (20-25 contact hours)
-4K rmb and change monthly apartment stipend.
-Medical and Dental
-Rosetta Stone Mandarin license.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

GeminiTiger · Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 4:30 am Post subject: Re: Disney English in Beijing

I think you better dig a little deeper. The benefits you posted are three words or so each, but the contract will have the real details.

For example, dental and medical, is that full coverage?

10k+4k a month is a great salary for starting in China, but you have to be prepared for what your getting into. Teaching kids full time (it will be full time after get started) by acting like Mickey or Minnie Mouse might get old very fast.

ecubyrd · Joined: 09 May 2009 Posts: 172

weigookin74 · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 265

choudoufu · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 3325 Location: Mao-berry, PRC

Adventurer · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 17 Location: Los Angeles

Thanks y'all for chiming in !

I imagine that no matter how you slice it, one can expect to be there 40 hours per week.

I believe 20-25 contact hours = 20-25 classes. Class lengths vary depending on the age group, 50 minutes to 75 minutes. I have not seen the contract yet, just the offer letter, but having worked for another chain school (teaching adults) in SH with a similar structure - I'd assume that Disney's structure is similar in terms of workload.

Outside of those "contact hours" I expect that I'll prepare for lessons, do the occasional demo lesson to help the sales department get new students, plus some parent conferencing.

WSI pays 17,000rmb for a 30 contact hour work week, but I haven't heard of them booking flights upfront, and putting new arrivals up for 21 days, etc...

Do jobs actually exist in China (in any reasonable number) that pay over 15,000rmb in which a teacher can just teach 20-25 classes a week and then go home ??? (that include paid holidays and medical insurance). If so, I await your PM's Smile

Turbotroll · Joined: 20 Oct 2011 Posts: 2

Currently a Disney English'er, though not in Beijing.

Classes are 45 min-1 hour if you do bi-weekly ones, while the weekend classes are 1.5-2 hours each. You'll have a mix of both; I currently have 8 classes, so I teach around 16 hours before demos and the rest.

Yes, you're there for 40 hours and you'll have plenty of things to do. Student assessments, tests, report cards, voice recordings, end of term perfomances, behavior issue forms, staff trainings, productivity meetings, parent conferences...Is it worse than the typical American conglomerate? No...But it IS very corporate so be aware going in that it's very much American business model. Polish your shoes, shave and be "in-costume" or your LLD will be on you. Being a scruffy, outdoorsy type (last job involved jeans and chainsaws), this grates on me, as does the lack of sunshine, but I suck it up and put on my best Disney smile.

The benefits are indeed excellent and the salary quite nice. You get compensated excellently for your time. You will work your butt off, but you will get paid very well in compensation. Though...20+ paid days off? Eh?...I got 7. Unless they're counting in vacation time you'd normally get.

I'm not sure what you mean by an "ethical" place. Do your work and you'll get paid. Pretty ethical, I think, though office drama is pretty standard, so try to keep your nose clean. And I do feel DE's students have a superior grasp of English learning thanks to the constant monitoring.

Everything else is true, though, even being flown to China (major plus!). Also they're generally quite organized and efficient, responsive to employee needs, excellent promotion opportunities and there are several benefits to being an employee of Disney as well. Like free entry tickets into Disney World to give family and such! So, yeah, hope this helps!

Mr.Engrish · Joined: 22 Oct 2009 Posts: 57 Location: China

Just wondering....

do you actually have to put on a Micky Mouse costume and dance around all day? or do your teaching assistants do that?

Adventurer · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 17 Location: Los Angeles

Dear Turbotroll,

A sincere THANK YOU for taking a minute to give me an actual "Disney English'er" perspective - You Rock!!!

Wow, it sounds like there IS a lot to do - not to mention learning how to teach kids. I think that I will be able to learn the teaching part, but I hope I don't end up spending 50 hours a week doing all the rest of it.

Yup, I am preparing myself for the lack of sunshine as well as Beijing's infamous air quality.

On the other hand, looking forward to exploring Beijing's music scene, contemporary art galleries, and meeting like-minded expats and Chinese locals.

Thanks again.