Job Discussion Forums

hangzhouvice · Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 25 Location: Hangzhou

Happy new year guys,
My friend got offered a job in Xiamen by EF. Is there anyone out there who worked for this branch before?? And guys, I don't wanna start a big debate on EF again, we've had enough of them already. As far as I can see, we must assess each individual branch on it's own merits instead of tarring them all with the same brush. So, the best way we can do this is specific information on each branch. Warn teachers away from some and towards the more reputable branches.....

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

hangzhouvice · Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 25 Location: Hangzhou

thanks Charles

vikdk · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 1676

Louras · Joined: 24 Nov 2004 Posts: 288

As always, very sharp. clarkie vehemently denies, on one of my other postings, that he does not always take the Chinese's side on things. Yeah, right.

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

Predictably Louras and vikdk follow me around this board like two little puppies, offering no information relevant to the thread but continuing their personal attacks. Guys, I have disagreed with you on some of your points on other threads. So what? Get over it!

vikdk · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 1676

englishgibson · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 4345

ymmv · Joined: 14 Jul 2004 Posts: 387

Noelle · Joined: 26 Mar 2005 Posts: 361 Location: USA

For what it's worth... I have a friend who used to live and work in Xiamen. She now lives in Hangzhou and works in the international school. I don't know about the EF school there but she may be able to offer some other advice... she loved Xiamen.

If you'd like her contact details, feel free to pm me.

MrDaWei · Joined: 11 Jan 2006 Posts: 6

I don't know if the OP is still interested in this but I felt I really should post some accurate information as I still believe in these forums despite their flagrant abuse.

I am currently a teacher at EF in Xiamen. I must mention that I've only been here for two weeks but I'm familiar with all of the teaching staff including a few who have been here for a year already and have just extended their contracts. It is true that the place operated for some time without a DOS and that during that time a couple of people had strong complaints. One man I know, who is still living in Xiamen, was fired after 17 months of an 18 month contract and believes this was to avoid paying his flight reimbursement. The centre manager here claims he was habitually late and absent but if this was the case then surely he should have been fired before so I'm sure the school was up to no good.

So why did I come here (leaving my job at a government university to do so)? Of course I was aware of all the negative things about EF before I came so I did a good bit of research first. The current situation is that there is a DOS now, an experienced and amiable American fellow, who really appears to be doing an excellent job. He has sorted a lot of things out (including better accomodation, staff facilities and teacher support) and hugely improved communication with the Chinese staff. He has also improved the wage structure and I get a very handsome wage indeed (twice what I got at a government normal university). There is a good group of teachers (some young and some with more experience) and there is a lot of help available for everyone. My first couple of weeks have been an easy transition and working at a private school affords you the chance to teach many different kinds of classes - I teach business English, some general adult classes and some children's classes on the weekend. I'm confident I will become a better teacher here.

I don't want to write a huge post (if you want more information then message me) but I want to make it clear that I have a nice, clean apartment close to the school; an excellent DOS who works really hard for the place; helpful colleagues who tell me they've always been paid on time both for their wages and their overtime; a good range of classes which are largely based on good textbooks; motivated students who pay a lot of money to come and are determined to improve their English; two consecutive days off in a week and a wonderful city to live in that provides a great social life.

So I know that this may change again in time and that many EF schools may be quite terrible. Right now, though, EF in Xiamen seems to me to be a good place to end up and I think I'm going to be very happy here.

I hope this was of help.

guruengerish · Joined: 28 Mar 2004 Posts: 424 Location: Australia

good evening.

I enjoyed reading your intelligent and informed mail.

I was with EF in Java for three years, at two different schools. They were both vastly different, one being professionally managed and a good DoS, and the other paying half the salary, and poorly managed and teachers treated in general like the owner's servants. Most of the teachers quit and started their own private school in the same city.

For all the criticism of EF, and some of it IS justified (eg its way too small classrooms) there are many good points, and as I've recently been accepted to teach in China, may well end up opting for an EF school. I might even get back to you and ask if there's a vacancy!!

All the best.

Adrian

englishgibson · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 4345

Good evening,
I enjoyed reading your intelligent posts too, but I just wish that I got that "informed mail".

MrDaWei · Joined: 11 Jan 2006 Posts: 6

I actually played down my experience: tomorrow I will celebrate my three week anniversary!

I still wouldn't consider my post uninformed though. I had been to Xiamen before and have a good friend who's lived here for a year. Besides, how long does it take for your colleagues to fill you in on the place, the job, the boss etc? On top of that, I currently share an apartment with the DOS and so I see first-hand all the evil machinations of the EF monster.

Just let me know how long it takes before one qualifies as 'informed' and I'll post again.

cgrigsby · Joined: 16 Sep 2004 Posts: 7

I worked for EF in Xiamen over the summer--june and July of 2005. I found it not a bad place to work. The textbooks were good, the students were motivated, I was always paid on time, and my apartment was nice, big, clean and close to work. The boss always listened to any complaints and tried to correct any wrongs and in my opinion was very fair and honest. Of course, working at a language center you will always work more hours than at a university or high school. Over the summer I worked about 25-30 hours a week and taught 60 minute classes. However the summer is much busier than normal, whereas at the high school I am currently at, I only teach 15 classes which are 45 minutes each. I guess my only complaint would be that EF Xiamen expects you to work the regular 'teaching hours' during the week, but in addition you have to do English Corners, lectures, or marketing activities, etc.-- all for no pay. It can add up. I kind of like only working 15 hours a week and no more!-- Done deal, close shop, chill out it's Miller Time.
I think that most of the problems that arose at EF, were due to the 2 sides: Foreigners vs. Chinese(because EF employs both). We come from 2 different cultures so we think things should be done differently. The foreigners would get annoyed with the Chinese for the lack of speed of getting things done(which is typical in Chinese culture), and the Chinese would get annoyed with the foreigners for being demanding. The boss in Xiamen though identified these problems and was always trying to correct them to create a good working environment for everyone.
Xiamen, however, is a great place to live and play. There are many bars where you can meet many 'foreigners' and you won't get stared at in Xiamen as much as in the remote cities. EF in Xiamen is about a 2 minute walk to Wal-mart and KFC. Sorry- no Starbucks though! It is very clean and beautiful. I would tell your friend to go for it. I'm actually thinking about going back to work for EF again next year. I had heard horror stories about EF too, but Xiamen is not one of them.