Job Discussion Forums

crispintp · Joined: 24 Oct 2003 Posts: 21 Location: Kyrgyzstan

I have an offer to teach at the Chongqing United Foreign Language Institute (CUFLI) in Chongqing (Chongqing City).

Has anybody heard of this place? They are advertising themselves on various websites.

The contract states that there are 92 teaching hours a month, saying that a teaching hour is either 45 minutes or an hour. Is it typical of Chinese teaching contracts not to state the length of a teaching hour?

Thanks.

randyj · Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 7:49 pm Post subject:

CUFLI has recently received strongly worded criticism from a foreign teacher on the TEFLChina Jobs Forum in YAHOO!. Presently at the end of his contract, he accuses CUFLI of stiffing him and supplying an invalid visa.

crispintp · Joined: 24 Oct 2003 Posts: 21 Location: Kyrgyzstan

Randy,

Many thanks for the link.

The "Bent as a nine bob note" comment just about sums up the mood of the disgruntled author of that post. I think it may be best to give CUFLI a miss.

millie · Joined: 29 Oct 2003 Posts: 413 Location: HK

Before that series of posts, the same author pointed out his insoluble problems there.
i.e. huge unruly classes and that admin. was not interested in his concerns.
He noted that he was merely a marketing tool for these crooks.

Sounds like a real horror show. Beware!
M

NateM · Joined: 19 Apr 2004 Posts: 358

There's a link to a review he put up on my site below here:

http://p082.ezboard.com/fteachingenglishinchinafrm49.showMessage?topicID=51.topic

Feel free to check it out.

Nathan.
http://www.ChinaSchoolReview.com

rugbykiwi · Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 8 Location: China

I have an offer from them too. And did go their office yesterday. They people there are very nice to me. I had a wonderful chat with them. They don't look like very bad?! Anyone has actually worked for them? Or anyone know people there?

Stephen A Jenkins · Joined: 07 Jul 2004 Posts: 3 Location: Chongqing

I am Steve Jenkins. I am one of the people that CUFLI have cheated last year. I am the one who is taking them to court.
If you have seen the little offices you will know how pokey it is. They had a big office in the centre of Chongqing last year but had to "downsize".
Fat Eric is a consumate liar and will tell you aything you want to hear.
Ask some Questions:
Can they give you a Foreign Experts book so you can work legally in Chongqing? The PSB require it for teachers.
Can they show you the school? - no it doesn't exist.
Will they pay round trip airfare?
What are the real names of the people working there?
Can you have e-mail addresses of last year's teachers?

The answer to all of these questions and many more is no. This company does not have the right to employ foreigners. I was lucky not to be deported by the PSB when I went to them with my complaints.
They have Deans and Headmasters, but no school. This imaginary school as moved around Chongqing as I have become more familiar with the city.
They will say you have not had a contract for a calendar year, so they will not pay airfare.
The employees and owners refuse to give their real names and positions. They hide when I try to take their photographs. The part owner "Logan" has at least four names and is a very shady character.
No chance will you get the real mail addresses as four of us out of five have not been paid.
Deal with these people at your own risk. I am doing my best to close them down and get me and my friends paid. They are thieves and liars plain and simple.
Stephen A Jenkins

rugbykiwi · Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 8 Location: China

Kia ora! Steve, Thanks for your information. I got the contract. It sounds pretty reasonable to me. I don't know what kind of problem you have with them. But you should not have tried to take a photo without permission. You did try to break the law, and we can say you know nothing about the law, otherwise you wouldn't have tried to do such thing. You may get yourself into a big trouble in New Zealand . I found out you don't know how to respect people. You may have your own way to treat people. I still feel you shouldn't act like that. I am very sad, because I am an English native speaker too. I am personally a religious. I always respect others first. I show people my religion and what a Kiwi looks like. I keep this in my mind, everyone is equal in this world. We should always respect people no matter they are good or bad. Everyone is born to be good. We should remember. I don't know where you are from, you may not care about the law in your country. But we, Kiwis, do follow the law. I can't just listen to what you say, I will mention about you when I see them again.

Giantbudwiser · Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2004 10:47 am Post subject:

If you want to work in Chongqing you should check out Wancheng International, from what I heard of they pay ok and dont screw people as much as CUFLI, www.wanchengschool.com

millie · Joined: 29 Oct 2003 Posts: 413 Location: HK

Hello RugbyKiwi

I note that you just joined this list on 8th July...

and you are a native speaker ... er ...?

from China?.. and working for that school?

Oh that sort of native speaker! Rolling Eyes

yeh, we know the type...

M

rugbykiwi · Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 8 Location: China

Kia ora! Millie

I am from New Zealand. I just joined in coz I got in China about 2 weeks ago. I had never thought I would teach here before I arrived in China. I am not working for any schools. I am just saying what I saw and what I heard. I don't mean to offend anyone.

millie · Joined: 29 Oct 2003 Posts: 413 Location: HK

Hello RugbyKiwi,

Yeh, OK, no offense meant but for a native speaker, you have so many shortcomings in your written English - it is almost impossible to believe that you are a NS.
In fact many Chinese English teachers have better English than you.
M

rugbykiwi · Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 8 Location: China

Kiwi_in_china · Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Posts: 1

A reply from a real kiwi! I've only been away from NZ for 5 years, but I don't remember NZ English being that bad Question

I worked briefly for CULFI last year, and I strongly urge people NOT to work for them. They go back on their word and change the contract whenever they please without you knowing. I left one day having agreed to cancel my full-time contract and to discuss a part-time one the next week (all at their suggestion, which I thought was great). I returned the next week to find that the full-time contract was still in force and they wanted to send me off to a number of school and add further classes to my schedule, starting that day.

They still owe me 3000 RMB.

Don't expect any support from the Education Commission either. The Commission even told me that at the time CULFI was not authorised to employ foreigners yet they had 6-8 working for them and the Commission still chose not to do anything. CULFI also seems to be licking butt with someone in the PSB as well.

And don't believe their advertising that you'll be teaching in Chongqing city, as most of the schools they act as agents for are nowhere near the city.

As there are plenty of schools to choose to teach English at, there's no reason to work for this very dodgy one.

Peter Moorfield

rugbykiwi · Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 8 Location: China

Sorry to you guys again! I never notice my written english is that bad. Thankyou for telling me that. And I am a real Kiwi too. I am a Wellingtonian. If you are from Auckland, you will know what we call you guys! Sweet azzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!