Job Discussion Forums

[dont-go-to-kid-castle]

Dear Reader,

My first teaching job in China was working for Kid Castle Xi�an. I came to this company through an agent. Before arriving I had no idea of the reputation the school had or the mess I was stepping into. I quickly learned about the reputation, but it wasn�t until I was a couple weeks into my contract that I began to experience it. Even though I was teaching 23 classes at the time I was told that I wasn�t completing my 32 hours a week, so I would have to do extra classes a couple of times a week. Blame it on the fact that I was still jet-lagged and adjusting to I agreed. I did this for a couple of months and then even more classes. At one point I was teaching over 30 classes. That is without budgeting for making lesson plans or demo classes. When the time for me to get paid they refused to pay any over time. Therefore when I refused to teach the extra classes because I wasn�t being paid I was not only threatened by the management, but I was moved to a different apartment without heating in the middle of winter. I have seen them threaten foreign teachers, and some of the ex staff that was still in Xi�an has nothing but negative stories. This company is not worth it! I wouldn�t wish this kind of treatment to my worst enemy. STEER CLEAR if you want to stay safe.!!!!

[lostinasia]

What did your contract state as to the number of working hours?

[smutbagdisco]

30 classes?

From the present day contract:

"All contracts are based on either a five day week or a six day week. For a five day week you are paid three hours per week day and 19 hours for the weekend totalling 28 hours per week. For a six day week you are paid three hours per weekday and 20 hours for the weekend Totalling 32 hours per week. This is to include teaching hours and all other duties ( prep, marking, planning, testing, demo classes etc.)"

Pretty much they changed this from a "$x per class taught" model so they could cram as many classes into your working hours as possible. They have the attitude, if you are awake (sick or not), you should be teaching.

The revolving door of FTs is only ever stopped when they can't find anyone to come, and I mean anyone (they would prop up a 'Bernie' from Weekend at Bernie's if they saw the movie).

Too many crazy stories and legends about this school...

[Shan-Shan]

Just seeing some of the bus stop advertisements around town of scruffy looking FTs in purple Kids Castle t-shirts giving a lackluster high-five with shrieking children nibbling at their knees is enough to make a pin-prickly, toxic journey through Perdition seem more appealing than a year at Kids Krisis.