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neveah
Joined: 09 Nov 2006
Posts: 35
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 Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 6:55 pm Post subject: Ashton English Schools |
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| Has anyone ever worked for this company before? Are they legit? Did you have a good or bad experience? |
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clark.w.griswald
Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 2056
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| Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 3:57 am Post subject: |
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I assume that you are asking about Aston English Schools.
If so then yes they are legit, and are in fact one of the few chain schools that are legally registered and entitled to offer foreign experts certificates and Z visas for teachers. In that sense you will be a legal teacher in China which is important.
As far as experiences, well as a chain school each independant school in the chain is individually run. So while experiences at one school may be good, experiences at another may not be so good. Overall they have a pretty good reputation, but you need to identify which school within the chain you will be working at and then ask specific questions about that specific school. |
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pandasteak
Joined: 01 Apr 2004
Posts: 166
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| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 3:09 am Post subject: aston / future school dalian |
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I worked for them for a six week summer intensive period, and did some sub work for them as well. In Dalian.
While not perfect, they are definitely better than most. They've been around for a while, and have most of the wrinkles ironed out.
Again, this will vary from location to location, but generally I think it's a safe choice. Generally...
Like anything, do your research, and try to get in touch with someone who's worked at that specific location before. |
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vikdk
Joined: 25 Jun 2003
Posts: 1676
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| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 6:03 am Post subject: |
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how funny - Clark writes -
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| If so then yes they are legit, and are in fact one of the few chain schools that are legally registered and entitled to offer foreign experts certificates and Z visas for teachers. |
and then panda writes about how - well at least the Dalian branch - seem willing to employ teachers illegaly -
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| and did some sub work for them as well. |
since a Z is issued for work within a specific work-unit - and a company will never go to the trouble of getting a Z for a sub.
China legal - well it exists in many forms 
and not a mention of pay, hours and conditions - those small things that are of the major importance in this game  |
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clark.w.griswald
Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 2056
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| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 12:11 pm Post subject: |
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The school is able to employ teachers legally. If a teacher chooses to work illegally then that is up to that individual to decide what is best for himself or herself.
As far as pay and conditions well surely you should contract the individual school in the chain that you are looking at working at for that information as it is likely to be specific for both the school and the teacher involved |
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vikdk
Joined: 25 Jun 2003
Posts: 1676
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| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 1:30 pm Post subject: |
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| The school is able to employ teachers legally |
then why should the school choose to employ illegally
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| If a teacher chooses to work illegally then that is up to that individual to decide what is best for himself or herself |
using this Clark logic - we must also realise that the school - in normal society usually an institution regarded in high standing - also has the choice to employ in an legal or illegal manner. I can realise why any FT could feel confusion with regard to the validity of employment laws in China when a branch of a so-called legal chain flouts the law when employing an FT - can't you Clark
Last edited by vikdk on Tue Dec 05, 2006 3:49 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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WordUp
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Posts: 131
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| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 2:04 pm Post subject: |
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vidk: You really educate this forum how mature people respond to others posts without reading like an obnoxious uneducated loudmouth know-it-all. Thank god this forum has people like you to set us all straight. (SARCASM for those fools who need it spelled out for them)
Last edited by WordUp on Thu Dec 07, 2006 3:57 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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vikdk
Joined: 25 Jun 2003
Posts: 1676
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| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 3:05 pm Post subject: |
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| vidk: You really educate this forum how mature people respond to others posts without reading like an obnoxious uneducated loudmouth know-it-all. Thank god this forum has people like you to set us all straight. |
thank god it has - otherwise the unchallenged voice of the recruiter could run riot
But anyways Wordup - despite your fine praise - I'd especially like to thank you for putting another advert up for your visa service - it gives that added special touch to your learned argument  |
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clark.w.griswald
Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 2056
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| Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 11:30 am Post subject: |
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We cannot change the way that China is. The best that we can do is ensure to keep our own noses clean and act in the way that we believe people should act as if we compromise this then we are no better than the very people we complain about.
This school can employ teachers legally and an informed teacher would know what legal work comprises. If any individual wants to work legally then they can consider the deal that this school offers.
| WordUp wrote: |
| without reading like an obnoxious uneducated loudmouth know-it-all. Thank god this forum has people like you to set us all straight. |
Wordup has PM'd me that this was aimed at vikdk not myself so I have edited out my reply to him.
Last edited by clark.w.griswald on Thu Dec 07, 2006 1:06 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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vikdk
Joined: 25 Jun 2003
Posts: 1676
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| Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 11:48 am Post subject: |
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ohhh what comedy - a bit of that deleted Clark post directed at WordUp
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| Further I assume that the animosity comes from the post where I linked up the fact that your visa business in your signature and the recruitment company that you often recommend on this site are registered under the same name. This was a concern for me as it suggests that the positive comments that you have been making about that company under the guise of a happy teacher, are in fact guided by an interest other than letting others know about their services |
good to see you following my lead Clark - lets clean this forum up of those advertisng links - never know what kind of recruiting rubbish lies behind 'em
Last edited by vikdk on Fri Dec 08, 2006 6:15 am; edited 1 time in total |
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atruelove
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Posts: 34
Location: Hohhot, Inner Mongolia
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| Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 8:12 pm Post subject: |
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I worked for Aston for 6 months (in Chengdu). I loved it.
From what I can tell, it depends a lot on the particular location but Aston as a whole is a reasonable chain. While I was in Chengdu I had the opportunity to meet quite a few people from various branches of Aston. Most of them also gave me a good impression of the company.
My contract was followed. My managers were happy to adjust things to keep me comfortable and ensure that I felt like a valued member of the school. I was always paid. The staff helped me with all sorts of things (way beyond their job descriptions). Many staff members became good friends of mine.
Put it this way, I was happy enough that I'll be heading back to Aston in March. |
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vikdk
Joined: 25 Jun 2003
Posts: 1676
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| Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 12:35 am Post subject: |
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| good on ya atruelove - by the way what's the pay like at aston - hours teaching/office hours???? |
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chinaamber
Joined: 06 Jun 2006
Posts: 73
Location: Guiyang
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| Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 1:07 am Post subject: |
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Why don't you check out their website to find out vikdk? It is not hard.
www.astonschool.com
Office hours are not done by teachers but by managers. Any more questions???
Whilst you are at it, why not tell us your problem with this school and just why you hi-jacked the thread.
Aston is one of six schools I have worked at and found it to be the best in terms of treatment and comparable for pay. |
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vikdk
Joined: 25 Jun 2003
Posts: 1676
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| Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 3:12 am Post subject: |
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deary me -
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| Whilst you are at it, why not tell us your problem with this school and just why you hi-jacked the thread. |
asking an objective question about specific conditions found in a school - pay and hours - is hardly hi-jacking a thread. Or should I form an opinion on Astons merely through the following type of subjective info - "I worked there and I liked it". You know that Clark fellow is allways telling me to research - and when I do - well what do I get
By the way I think that Clark guy is also telling us not to just rely on web info - like the Aston site - get a bit of info from FT's as well - after all those pay-levels and work conditions may differ from branch to branch
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| Aston is one of six schools I have worked at and found it to be the best in terms of treatment and comparable for pay |
Ohhh deary me - how can we compare when we get no figures - If I was a newbie, right now, I'd be scratching my head in confusion |
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vikdk
Joined: 25 Jun 2003
Posts: 1676
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| Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 2:00 pm Post subject: |
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looked at that Aston site - its a 4000/15hours type job - wonder if those Chengdu aston teachers get paid extra for this (quote from the site) -
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Free English Corners!
As part of its commitment to promoting English Language learning for everybody in the community, Chengdu Aston School is offering the following English Corners:
Day Time Location Children/Adults
Fridays 6.30pm-7.30pm McDonald's "Xin Cheng Shi?nbsp;(Ba Bao Jie) Both
Saturdays 2.00pm-3.00pm Aston School Adults
Saturdays 6.30pm-7.30pm McDonald's "Huang He Both
Sundays 4.00pm-5.00pm Carrefour (Ba Bao Jie) Both
We also offer a free "Demonstration Class?nbsp;to any child (and their parents) who is considering enrolling on to an Aston course. These take place on: |
teaching at Macs and the supermarkets - in the name of promoting the English language - glad I'm doing my research, after all, with all those english corners, it looks like fun at Astons |
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