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adrianf
Joined: 17 Feb 2007 Posts: 1 Location: Nanjing
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Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 4:33 am Post subject: Witty English, Tianjin |
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I've been offered a position at Witty English in Tianjin, starting in a few days' time. Unfortunately I've come across some seriously bad publicity about the place on the internet, and I'm hoping that somebody who reads this forum can confirm or refute the following allegations.
1. Last autumn most of the teachers were arrested because they were illegally employed. Presumably the school now has sorted these problems otherwise I doubt they would still be operating.
2. Staff are frequently 'fined' without warning for petty reasons, and most staff never receive a 'full' month's pay.
3. Staff are required to work excessive amounts of overtime for no reward. According to the contract, overtime is compensated only by time off in lieu, which seems wide open to abuse.
4. Accommodation is sub-standard.
Can anyone tell me what it's really like? I've 2 days to decide.
Thanks,
Adrian |
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movinaround
Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 202
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Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 4:38 am Post subject: Re: Witty English, Tianjin |
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adrianf wrote: |
I've been offered a position at Witty English in Tianjin, starting in a few days' time. Unfortunately I've come across some seriously bad publicity about the place on the internet, and I'm hoping that somebody who reads this forum can confirm or refute the following allegations.
1. Last autumn most of the teachers were arrested because they were illegally employed. Presumably the school now has sorted these problems otherwise I doubt they would still be operating.
2. Staff are frequently 'fined' without warning for petty reasons, and most staff never receive a 'full' month's pay.
3. Staff are required to work excessive amounts of overtime for no reward. According to the contract, overtime is compensated only by time off in lieu, which seems wide open to abuse.
4. Accommodation is sub-standard.
Can anyone tell me what it's really like? I've 2 days to decide.
Thanks,
Adrian |
I wouldn't. There are hundreds of jobs, and I am guessing this one is offering just the standard package. You can find better. Especially if you have already seen (or have first hand knowledge) of the sub-standard housing. Remember, that will be your home for a year! |
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Shakhbut
Joined: 14 May 2005 Posts: 167
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Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 4:44 am Post subject: |
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edit
Last edited by Shakhbut on Thu Nov 07, 2013 1:04 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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brsmith15

Joined: 12 May 2003 Posts: 1142 Location: New Hampshire USA
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Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 4:55 am Post subject: |
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The name itself should give you a clue. |
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DistantRelative
Joined: 19 Oct 2004 Posts: 367 Location: Shaanxi/Xian
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Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 2:01 pm Post subject: |
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Adrian,
Let this school die a slow agonizing death without your participation. Feel a bit of pain for the poor saps that didn't do the research, but rejoice in the fact that you did, and are now smart enough to run the other way.
Zhuhao,
Shawn |
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Shan-Shan

Joined: 28 Aug 2003 Posts: 1074 Location: electric pastures
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Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 2:47 pm Post subject: |
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and allow a small smile of relief to temporarily overtake your lips as you realize that hundreds of jobs are available outside of Witty, and far from China's armpit, Tianjin. |
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clark.w.griswald
Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056
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Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 3:30 pm Post subject: |
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I agree with the others. I would give this place a miss. Even if only half of the stuff written about the school is accurate you are still far worse off than many other schools.
Lucky you did your research on this one. Don't pressure yourself into a decision. Move on and find something else, or in the very least spend more time finding about the problems that were reported by the other teachers. I would also ask the school about those problems if you are still considering working there to see what they have to say for themselves. |
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james s
Joined: 07 Feb 2007 Posts: 676 Location: Raincity
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 7:10 am Post subject: |
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...
Last edited by james s on Sat Sep 29, 2007 1:42 pm; edited 3 times in total |
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Shan-Shan

Joined: 28 Aug 2003 Posts: 1074 Location: electric pastures
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 7:25 am Post subject: |
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I dont understand why people still choose these places when there are so many others. |
People are desperate to misinterpret a thousand hellos as short, animated phrases of welcome. The tacky superstar status,too, and chance to be applauded (in public and on tv) for acting as the Dork.
And there are the foggy, forever outdated and backwards Orientalist lenses some folks find stuck to their eyeballs. Dreams of dancing girls, incense towers and Emperors gardens taunt the poor nine to fiver into selling all his possessions for a year or two of discovering that China is just where the pen he chews on everyday and shoes he falls asleep in at night originate. |
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