Job Discussion Forums

[Bertrand]

(This came up in another post and I was wondering what TEFLers in China thought. I'd be particulary interested in hearing from current EF staff.)

One problem EF English Farce are currently facing at the moment is what is known as the 10% scam, taken to great heights by many a diverse EF franchise.

The situation is as follows: for every student that enrolls on a course at an EF school, that school must - as part of its franchise agreement - pay 10% of all such fees to head office.

They have a system called EFACS onto which all students must be placed upon registration (this allows head office to tally income with students).

HOWEVER, many schools simply don't place students on the system thereby avoiding having to pay this commission to head office. Instead, they either put the students on the register (what EF call the 'attendence sheet') in pencil (or they simply don't bother doing anything).

The problem is, however, that as a teacher you are responsible for ensuring that ALL and ONLY EF students are in the classroom (it states this in the contract and job description where it refers to "EF clients"; if they are not on the system, they are not a client). It even states in your contract that, at the start of the first lesson, you are to check to see that everyone in the class has a validated receipt. If they are not on the EFACS system they will not have a (validated) receipt.

So what do you do? Tell head office and get sacked by your immediate employer (the school that is running the scam) or not tell head office thereby making yourself party to the fraud (that head office may well prosecute)?

Also, if the students are not on the EFACS system, no book will be sent from head office. Accordingly, you will find many EF students around China who have got a discount on their course for not insisting on a book. (And there are many, many schools that 'help each other out' in this regard by stockpiling books for other schools for for when they themselves may need them.)

You will find that at many schools, most meetings and training sessions are not about TEFL matters but, rather, are about finding ways of keeping more and more students off the EF EFACS system.

What do you as a TEFLer in China think of this? How should TEFLers cope/react, etc.?

[Hamish]

I am told you are a disgruntled ex-employee of EF and that you are trying to discredit them in revenge.
Is that a possibility?
Have you worked for EF?
Have you been fired by EF?
Please deal with this question before posting further about EF.
Regards,

[AKA]

An interesting issue. I believe that "sharp" practice in our business should be open for discussion, whether the school / institution is a Dave's advertiser or not. A lot of people new to EFL teaching in China look to the forum for advice.
On the other hand, the grinding of personal axes is not appropriate. I have heard the same stories as Hamish, but retain an open mind, and would like to hear Anthony Solaway's side of the story - he who was once Bertrand.

[NumberOneSon]

[Roger]

I certainly don't endorse this duplicity, but I wonder if these franchises are any worse than the rest of the also-rans?

Here, it would seem that the key players can get along with each other:
- EF headquarters: Get princely royalties from Chinese partners;
anyone doing business in China knows that the odds are always
stacked against them;
- Chinese partners, that is franchise takers, can offer a service that's
perceived to be 'above average' because it originates outside of
China; for them to cheat is normal, and I suppose, EF is in the know!
- Students: There are always truly dedicated ones, and there always
are slackers and parasites; here, the cheaters get a 'rebate', and
thus, they hopefully won't expect to get the 'real thing'. Surprisingly,
only a minority opts for the discounted courses!
- Teachers that work for an outfit like EF in the first place must be
open-minded for all sorts of pitfalls. If they consent to working
up to 40 hours for a typical salary, then where is the rub? They
need a job, their boss needs face, and the students need placebo
English lessons.

It is a perfect world of make-believe!

[Minhang Oz]

Number 6, I suggest you book in for a nice rest somewhere. I'm scared of WHO? Who's Matt? Where's Huizhou for that matter? This is a public forum, you're in Disneyland, and wouldn't know if someone was up you with an armful of chairs. Bertrand's identity and history are quite well known here. You've even made him into a her! Go back through the archives until you've got some idea what you're talking about.

[Minhang Oz]

OK No.6 [jeez, I love these code names], roger wilko. Will PM you the latest lot of supergrass rumors my bosom buddy minhang has revealed. This PM facility is so cool.......how come no one's ever cracked it? I hope I'm using it properly. AKA

[Cobra]

#6 and Bertrand the two of you should go on line and find a legal dictionary. Look up hearsay and double hearsay.

What you have posted is worse than worthless dirty baby bath water.

[Peter]

This is another case where Money In China is spelled S*H*I*T.