Job Discussion Forums

JMD · Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 17 Location: Beijing

I've been talking to ALTEC, which has training centres in several cities, about a possible position. They seem very professional and they've given me a lot of detailled information, so I feel pretty confident about them. However, I'd still like to hear from anyone who's dealt with them before.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

It is true they have been around for quite some time. Which often translates into having a cosy relationship with the powers-that-be.
In ALTEC's case, I have not heard any disagreeable news yet. But they are in business, not into philanthropy.
I once inquired and felt the offer made to me was not very enticing.
Over the last two years or so, they have been involved in recruiting teachers for middle schools in a Guangzhou district, Dongshan. Now I don't know why the Guangzhou authorities can't find these people themselves. Besides I question the wisdom of putting a native English person in front of a 40-strong class of 15-year olds!

JMD · Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 17 Location: Beijing

Roger,

I usually just lurk on these boards but after 3 enjoyable years in Harbin I've decided to look for something new. That's why I've posted a couple requests for information here. I'll probably continue to do so until I start a new position.

You've obviously got a lot of experience and I've found many of your posts to be extremely informative and/or thought provoking. However, this is the second time you've answered one of my requests for information and both times I can't help wondering why since you just give general opinions but no real information...

I mean: "In ALTEC's case, I have not heard any disagreeable news yet."??!

That's either an incredibly cynical statement or thinking that you're so important that nothing happens in the ESL world in China without you learning about it?! Perhaps I'm reading it wrong, but you also seem to be implying that the fact that they've been in business for a long time has a sinister connotation? Huh?!

And gosh, thanks for informing me that they're trying to make money! Gee willikers, people do that now?

I also don't see why them acting as a recruiting agent is a problem. Unlike you, I don't see anything wrong with being a recruiter. I'm very cautious about them, but surely they�re not all inherently evil? At any rate, I'm more interested in their Beijing branch.

Again, I've valued your insight on other topics, but it often seems like you're just posting for the sake of posting...

Now you said that you actually talked to them before but weren�t impressed with their offer. That's something I'd like to know more details about since something that's not enticing to you might be exactly what I'm looking for...

Regards,

J.-M. Duguay

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

I must add more arrogance and say that even within the last twenty-four hours, no bad news have come my way from or about ALTEC!
What inspired me to this arrogant sentence is the fact that someone else had, perhaps a year ago, posted a similar question on Dave's board, and no reply was offered! So, while they have been in business longer than many others they haven't caused any waves so far.
On a more reliable plane, you can try to get a back issue of GUANGZHOU DAILY in English, and you will come across the CEO of ALTEC as a contributor to that newspaper. This way, you can perhaps glean some insight on their philosophy. Don't ask me for my opinion on this as you and I might disagree again. In my view, it is rather wishy-washy.

And, the offer made to me a few years ago was 2500 RMB for a full-time job (don't remember the exact number of weekly hours though, but even for only 12 hours this is a bit on the low side!).

THey also operate a GUESTHOUSE in Yangshuo. This they often advertise for in the media - why not their English programmes?

Perhaps because as agents they don't need to advertise English lessons. They place YOU in one of their clients' classes. Then you are the responsibility not of ALTEC but of a local employer.

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

Usually if a company does nasty stuff, someone will write and complain about it. So "I haven't heard anything bad about them" is not sinister. Just the way it is

chinaboytian · Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Posts: 132 Location: Tianjin

I worked for ALTEC in a major city, teaching business English to workers at an American major corporation. Their Chinese managers' salaries was more than the average Chinese worker, probably three times more. They did not cheat us, we had a brand new apartment with all the amenities, they were reputable as far as I could see. I would not hesitate to work there again, although I would probably opt for a higher-paying the next time around.

Their emphasis is on getting the higher hourly fees from the major joint-venture companies, and then pay a percentage of that fee to the foreign teacher. I believe at the time the name of the manager was John Pate.