Job Discussion Forums

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

Buckland International Education Group: Good or Bad?

I'm asking this question on behalf of a friend. He is thinking of working for them. He hasn't worked in ESL before.

InTime · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Posts: 1676 Location: CHINA-at-large

In still-exquisite Yangshuo, Owen can often be seen/heard answering his mobile phone... often with:
* questions from folks interested in a teaching job
* problems from current teachers in various parts of south/west China

Owen is hands-on...he's got charisma and charm...
...he's a Fire Sign...a Sagittarian...
...he has self-respect, and he cares about his reputation...
...and he has the entrepreneurial iposition,
so he has the disposition of a Problem-SOLVER,
rather than...as many FTs have met such a DOS...
rather than...a Problem-Avoider

But Owen no Magician
Some FTs expect him to be one
...and they get angry at him/and try to E-trash him,
when he isn't

Owen told me about an FT who called him up from far-in China
screaming that Owen had better get his plumbing fixed...
...OR ELSE...

For current Buckland events, stay tuned for further FT Input.

Bette · Joined: 12 Feb 2008 Posts: 43

Tell your friend he can do way better on his own. I worked for Owen in 2005. He gave me a choice of schools alright and for a newbie in China what does that mean. Anyway I did a stint in a mountainous city that never saw a white girl before. Very isolating, and frustrating.
It is so easy to get a job in China, why bother with a recruiter.
I hope this helps.

InTime · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Posts: 1676 Location: CHINA-at-large

BETTE,

A few questions...

RE:

Lorean · Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Posts: 476 Location: Beijing

Bette · Joined: 12 Feb 2008 Posts: 43

W.E.C.L. is hiring, I noticed the ad on esl cafe. If your friend has a degree I would say apply. It only pays 5000 Yuan but a very likable school. You get students that want to learn and they like to socialize and take the teacher out for dinners and BBQ's. The one in Xiamen is really nice. There is also one in Beijing.
China is awesome, but your friend should start out in a coastal city because doing more remote places first off is VERY challenging. It just depends what he is up for. In some parts they are still 50 years behind us. I'm serious. The people are awesome though. Really glad I spent a year there.
Good luck (to your friend)

Bette · Joined: 12 Feb 2008 Posts: 43

Sorry I didn't read your post before I posted the last one.
Going to China isn't like travelling around your own country. The Chinese do things at the last minute. Like anything important is left for the last minute. This includes telling you where you will be going to teach. The thing with Owen is that he DOESN'T get you your Zvisa which is needed. He only gets you your Fvisa (visitor). After my 5 month stint suddenly I was notified that the area police found out that my visa was only a visitors and that I had to leave. I was terrified. Owen does a great job at telling you only what you need to know and not what you SHOULD know.
Some people however seemed happy with him. A few got the school they wanted and were sent off with a couple of other foreigners to keep each other company. I know of three other teachers that encountered the same problems that I did.
Another thing, Buckland Schools are only crappy remote schools that he may visit once a year if the school is lucky.
Tell your friend to try it and if he is unhappy like I was and the others that I meet along the way to find a school after on his own. It isn't difficult. The serious truth is that recruiters are not needed in China. All the schools that I have dealt with do airport pickup and give you an apartment. The also arrange your Zvisa as well. If you have any issues you deal directly with the Head Master.

InTime · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Posts: 1676 Location: CHINA-at-large

Bette

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

Definitely crappy schools is subjective. Remote ... well I don't think this can be argued with too much. A bias, as is your friendship. And it is one thing to visit such a school (and if they have such great modern equipment, why can't they pay a little better. His jobs tend to be lower paying), it's another such thing to live there. Many laowai really don't understand what they are getting into
To the best of my understanding, he (his group .. his name isn't actually Buckland)does a fairly good job listening to teachers, and calling a school about a complaint (or his group ...his daughter works for him?)
but I think Bette hit a very objective nail on the head

Bette · Joined: 12 Feb 2008 Posts: 43

Well I can only say from my own experiences with him. The school I was at didn't have TV's or DVD's, my friends school didn't either. Both were actually quite run down (the crappy school title). On the surface Owen is a nice man.
YOU STILL HAVE TO BE CAREFUL. It is a business for him and the Chinese love to make money.
Use him at your own risk.
No more said on the matter.

annie- baxter · Joined: 27 Oct 2010 Posts: 6

Hi. I'm interested in working at BIEG next year for 5 months too. Just wondering if anyone can tell me if they offer Chinese Mandarin lessons for us laowai while we teach? I'm keen on brushing up on my Chinese while I'm over there.

cheers.

xi.gua · Joined: 15 Jul 2010 Posts: 170

bingmayong · Joined: 27 May 2010 Posts: 24

It is a good place to work to get some experience in ESL. I worked for Buckland two years ago. I was on a Z-visa, which Buckland got for me and I completed a year contract. You do get a position out in the countryside, but the amount of holiday you get means that you really get to see China and people are very friendly and helpful.

I did have this problem toward the end of my contract, the school owed me money, but Buckland sorted it out for me and in six months (took so long!). I got the money I was owed so that's what matters.

I'd recommend them for a newbie who wants experience teaching ESL in China. Smile

annie- baxter · Joined: 27 Oct 2010 Posts: 6

Those of you that have experienced working with Buckland- did you find you could improve your Chinese while you were there teaching?

wangdaning · Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 3154

Annie, I don't have direct experience with this place, but I have a little experience with the free Chinese lessons scenario. When I came to China my Chinese was already upper intermediate level, but I wanted to improve and was offered free lessons. What this meant was that a member of the admin staff, whose English was not very good and teaching skills non-existent, attempted to "teach" me by telling me about worthless things (example: knowing all of the province names, abbreviated names, and capitols...I could just open my dictionary and memorize that myself if I wanted to).

No more beneficial than simply stepping out of your house, there are plenty of Chinese people outside talking about worthless things in Chinese. Also, plenty of people are willing to talk to foreigners in Chinese. If you want lessons you will need to find a real teacher and pay for them. Just my opinion.