Job Discussion Forums

Instana · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 7

Hello everyone!
This message is to warn you of ABC Foreign Language Training School in Beijing. I currently (frustrated sigh) am working for them. I am not going to go on and on with all the details, however if you want the details drop me your address and I will email you with them.....but to save those who don't want to hear it, Ill spare the boards the info. Just know that it is VERY COMMON for this school to breech the contract, many times! I am not alone, and it is rare that a foreign teacher renew their contract with ABC (though it does occassionally happen). Teachers often stay in Beijing, but happily say goodbye to ABC. Suggestions have been made to the Administration about how to treat foreign teachers better, but this has gone "in one ear and out the other". I am not surprised being that the headmaster does not speak to, introduce himself or otherwise care to even know the foreign teachers. He is only interested in money, which is probably why the school often finds ways to take money from the foreign teachers pay. I am not alone, other teachers will back me on this, we are all awaiting the day we can leave there. This is too long, if you want to know more just let me know. The actual list of grievances is much longer than this.

There are good schools in Beijing, however this is not one of them!

Instana

YearOfTheDog · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 4:29 am Post subject:

If you are taking the time to post a complaint about a company, then post the complaint.

Tell us what they did wrong. None of this smoke and mirrors crap. Why should we take your word for it?

Besides the numerous spelling errors. If you are not alone, why is this just comming to attention now?

If you come here to inform us, inform us, but don't waste our time.

Babala · Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 1303 Location: Henan

I agree with YearOfTheDog, state your complaint. I am quite interested as I have friends who work the ABC school in Wuxi and have nothing but good things to say about them.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Maybe ABC just gets the worst teachers and so feels entitled to treating them as they deem them deserving.

Instana · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 7

sigh....this is gonna be long, and there are going to be spelling errors as this is simply an internet forum, not a formal essay/thesis/etc.....and I do not type well, sorry.

I would also like to mention that this ABC school has branches in Shanghai, Beijing, and Harbin. There is not one in Wuxi that I am aware of so that must be a different school with a similar name.

Breaches of contract:

1. New teachers will receive comprehensive training.

I was told to come into the school for this training. I arrived, and then sat in the office for several hours. I was allowed to use the internet while I waited for the training to begin. Several hours later I was told I could leave. This apparently is their idea of training. A few days later I was told to observe a children's class for a half an hour. So I did, and then asked if I would be teaching children. They told me that I would not be teaching children. I was told to come in again for training, and it was a repeat of my sitting in the office surfing the web and then being told that I could go home. There was no further training.

2. New teachers will be given information pertaining to their legal status and rights as teachers/workers in China.

This was never received.

3. 40% of the 1st months pay will be kept until completion of the contract.

They kept this as they were supposed to, but then they decided to take money from my 2nd months pay as well! The 2nd month is not mentioned in the contract anywhere.

Promises broken that were not in the contract and other annoyances:

I was told I would receive free meals on the days that I work. When I arrived there were no free meals. This was a lie.

I was told that I would live in an apartment that is 20 minutes by bus/subway away from the school.....my apartment is actually an hour away from the school by bus and subway.

I was promised a fully furnished apartment (this too was in the contract) but my roommate and I had to fight with the school to get a table and couch. They finally brought one to the apartment after we began telling people about our cardboard box table and piece of styrofoam as a couch.

Communication problems are huge. It is common to not be told about a new class you have to teach, until ten minutes before. This may not be a problem for a seasoned teacher, but when one is new to this one needs a little preparation time. My colleague was thrown into a classroom in this manner. After the class ended they had the nerve to say to her "you seemed unprepared."

I have been at the school just 3 months and 3 foreign teachers have left my branch in that time, opting for other schools in Beijing due to mistreatment, non-appreciation, and non-professionalism.

I was sent to an interview at a large advertising company, with no knowledge that I was going to an important interview. They are lucky I was dressed appropriately. They also changed my resume and sent it to that company!!!!!!! They wanted it to look like I had worked at the shcool longer than I had and then asked me to lie about it if asked!!!!!!!

I was told to lie to the police about my living situation! They said I was to say I was a friend of a landlord I had never even met! Luckily no one asked me.

For anyone thinking about working here, be forwarned that they will take 100rmb from your pay for every minute that you are late. I was late one day because of a serious traffic jam. They kept 1,800 rmb even though the events of the day were beyond my control. I should not have to leave 2 hours before my working time. I already leave home one and a half hours before work.

If you are sick, they will keep your pay for the day plus another 2 days of pay. A colleague of mine lost 2,000 rmb for one day....this number is much higher than 3 days of work. She made her complaints. She never saw the money.

The supervisor, who is quite fluent in English has pretended to not speak English when problems have arisen.

The students purchase their own books. Any learning materials other than black markers for the whiteboards in the classrooms are bought by the teachers.

There is more, but this is really long and I do have to get back to my day. The school has great, motivated students and really great teachers (Chinese and foreign). However the good teachers do not stay and this affects the students. The school has potential, but the administration needs serious improvement. I hope this helps others avoid a school that will not treat them well. Like I said, there are good schools here, but ABC is not one of them. Good luck to all of you job hunters!

Instana

Jizzo T. Clown · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 6:15 am Post subject:

Instana, there's something very suspicious about your post(s). Are you really American? Are you a native speaker? Or are you from a rival school of ABC? Just curious. Confused

Pepsi-Bones · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 33

You have my sympathies Instana. The School sounds decidedly dodgy. I for one won't be applying!!!

YearOfTheDog · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 9:39 am Post subject:

See that wasn't so hard was it..... Question

thepreferrednomenclature · Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 80 Location: Beijing, Chaoyang

Instana · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 7

Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!
I haven't laughed this hard in a long while! I know my typing/spelling suck and all, but damn!

I actually never said I was American, but that I am 100%!

I am gonna forward this to my family and friends..... I am never gonna live it down but it's too funny not to share!

Jizzo, I hope your not this suspicious of the whole world because overall it is a pretty wonderful place!

Instana

Instana · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 7

Your right dog! It wasn't too bad!
I wrote this because I searched for info. on this school before I signed with them. The only information I found were some complaints about the Shanghai school, none about Beijing. I figured no news was good news, but I was wrong. I just want to help someone else dodge a bullet, as I wish would have been done for me. You can believe me or not that is freedom of your mind. I know I told my story, I gave my advice.

Instana

anna_pawlosia · Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 78 Location: Beijing

Actually Jizzo not only Americans can speak or teach English.
But maybe you're just too narrow-minded to accept it.
Try to learn Polish and teach it as well as I teach English Shocked

anna_pawlosia · Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 78 Location: Beijing

And I totally support Instana.
I work for this shitty school now, and can't wait till the end of January to leave this place!!!

Jizzo T. Clown · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 6:02 pm Post subject:

anna_pawlosia · Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 78 Location: Beijing