Job Discussion Forums

[flutterby]

Hi,
I'm going to do a 4-week intensive course (TrinityCert.) next month and on completion, will be sent for a 1-year contract in China through EF subsidised training program.
I have been asked to emit preferences for schools I'd be interested in so after a lot of research (and there is a lot on EF on the web!!), I managed to draw a short-list:
Chengdu, Hangzhou, Qingdao, Weihai, Hefei, Xi�an, Wenzhou, Dalian and Wuhan.
I know quite a few people here get quickly fired up when EF is mentioned (and for some of them, quite rightly so!). The question here is not if you approve of EF or not.
I would like to hear from people who have worked in these particular EF schools, say in the past 2 years and what their experience was/is like.
Thanks to all in advance!

[jeffinflorida]

My friend works in EF Suzhou and is happy there.

[matador]

I was in EF Shanghai (Pudong) in 2004/5 as Senior Teacher (this was the CORPORATE English school; purely business English clients no kids or general adult classes).

Good operation that was run in a professional manner. 4/5 stars if I was rating it.

[englishgibson]

[flutterby]

Thank you guys for your answers so far about schools. I would love more people to come forward!

Englishgibson: of course you're on this thread but please, don't stir it in the wrong direction..
Cheers and beers to you!

[englishgibson]

you can add to your lovely list the great EF Huizhou with some fantastic record and an EF clone, moving EF Fuzhou with shares up as we speak and an EF clone as well, very foreign EF Zhuhai with some lovely hong kong-king kong ideas, green EF Nanning with a filthy rich owner that's got some fine ideas how to make more money, beautiful EF Kunming that just loves paying the royalty fees, huge EF Shenzhen operation that has its staff not only teaching but also apparently cleaning the toilets as someone has mentioned on here before and the list goes on and on, but i smell something in my kitchen

now, i'm sure more people-users'll come forward, so don't worry

i am glad your butterfly's flyin' in the right direction and thanx for remindin' me to stir my home fries

cheers and beers to your two lovely posts, your extensive forums' search that you've done so far and the EF that i am sure is so proud of you now

[englishgibson]

now that i stirred my home fries i can tell you that the EF head office has moved to much fancier location and all the EF centers in china are apparently under their control greatly..even peter winn says that...things are much cozier now, even the real teaching hours are just in between 22 to 26 with 5 to 6 days working week and 5,000 RMB to start your one-year contract, which you might finish at 6,000 on the end

they are expanding rapidly, so more centers could be added to this lovely list very soon

cheers and beers to our OP

[vikuk]

[YankeeDoodleDandy]

Butterfly, I have never worked for EF. I have been in China for nearly five years and while I was in Anhui province in Hefei, three of my friends either quit or were let go. One was an American female who was their DOS and the other two people were two Canadian men , who are fine teachers. Those of you who remember the poster Norman Bethune will remember this. To spare you the gory details, they were dismissed and quit, because EF did not keep their promises. I don't know if Peter is running the operation in Hefei still, but if he is, look out. EF is a money making operation, that cared little for it's teachers, from what I have observed , at least in Hefei. To end this, " Peter said , you can't quit, I'm firing you. " Evidently Peter thought that he had enough guanxi to railroad the teacher out of town and yet, he is still the voice of Anhui TV.

[NorthofAmerica]

I am considering applying with EF to work in Shanghai. Anybody have experiences regarding the schools in Shanghai specifically?

The stress of jumping schools let alone countries is beginning to make my head spin!

[TESOUL]

I have worked at both Xian and Wuhan and was happy at both. Well, I am still happy in Wuhan. I know there are some poorly run EFs but these 2 schools are great. Professional, well supported, organised, and value ESL education.

Certainly, streets ahead of other private schools in the cities. Both schools have had people jump ship from universities and other private schools and have been happy with the change.

To be honest, they are all businesses and money making machnes. At least these 2 schools value the quality of the teaching and education. They realise it makes good money sense to have good classes- therefor the teachers are pretty happy.

[vikuk]

TESOUL - is there any truth in the info that FT DOS's are being replaced with Chinese DOS's?

[7969]

i had a few bad experiences in taiwan at private schools. never actually worked for them, but the way they run their demo sessions, and the way they go about deciding who to hire just left me with such a bad feeling i never want to set foot in one of those places again.

i did visit one small school near taichung, run by an old brit, who was very friendly and honest. but i suspect an operation like his is not the norm.

[TESOUL]

Hey Vikuk

There seems to be some mumblings about "Chinese Dos's". Honestly, I think some of it is upper management feeling some sort of guilt. You know- why can't a Chinese teacher be considered for management positions. and in reality- Why not? I mean most of the local teachers i have worked with have been more professional and commited teachers than the one year -here for a look- performing monkeys. Still, most are not ready to take on new ideas and tend to chant the "that is not the Chinese way" mantra.

People will argue that Chinese Dos's would be cheaper. They shouldn't be. The best person for the job should be put into place. Still, we all know there are plenty of puppets and yes men out there.

[englishgibson]