Job Discussion Forums

[englishgibson]

A center as a subscriber to an academic program prepares high school grads to join western unis. There are few students and most of the few ones are quite poor (not financially) academically and especially in English. The new term is about to begin and yet again only few ( apparently two) have enrolled. As the few (three) are in the middle of their studies and scheduled to graduate in Winter, the few (two) coming ones are to take the entry test to this program. According to the center's management, these two WILL GET IN (no matter what/how good they're).

Note that there are 3 fts and a few local employees most, or all, on their contractual agreements.

Cheers and beers to all fts

[wangdaning]

If it was my center I would close immediately. They must not have done very good marketing. An enrollment of 5 (if I counted right) iffy students is not good. Try getting a higher enrollment rate, then open again. Just my opinion.

The FTs would definitely need to get their airfare to go home, or equivalent if wishing to stay in China (or whatever breach of contract fee is). Also, a letter of release and recommendation. Local staff should get what is in their contract or relevant labor laws. Keep some local staff for marketing. Also, you have to reimburse the customers. At some point you have to cut your loses and quit joking. Learn from mistakes and go again (if they still have the capital).

Again, I say just my opinion because I am not in the know of the companies financial workings, but damn.

[Voldermort]

Without knowing any of the details as to curriculum, enrollment fees and market base; I would have to say keep going at it another six months but with some drastic changes. I would hire somebody that specializes in marketing and advertising (possibly commision based), cut back on those FT's (sorry but three full time FT's for five students is just money down the drain), make a few deals with the local public schools and expand into teaching common students (CET3/4 and high school entry) rather than only those wishing to enter foreign uni's. The latter I would use as only a stop gap measure until business improves.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

I would need more information on the programs offered and details on the "ranking" of the institution.

[englishgibson]

wangdaning, voldermort have got some interesting suggestions.

[Mister Al]

EG, you may remember that I worked for a franchise of EF many moons ago and the question of whether the school closes now, the near future or whenever will simply be a decision of the franchisee(s). They may, but equally may not, fulfill their contractual agreement. Mines didn't. Just went incognito. The EF corporate HQ made up much of what was owed to me (the DOS) and the one full-time FT (salary due but no flight money or owed rent etc) and offered us similar positions elsewhere. We both declined in the end. Part-time teachers got nothing. HQ should definitely make sure you are not out of pocket and find you and any other f/t FT's a job elsewhere. Hopefully they will at least do that if the centre closes.

If the sh*t does hit the fan, don't scream at the HQ, Just find out what they can do for you. It's not really their fault although perhaps a nationwide TV ad campaign is something a franchisee could expect. Don't suppose this happened, though.

Good luck.

[englishgibson]

hey al, thanx for sharin'ur experiences..ya, i recall our lil discussion on about EF

since we've brought up the macchain here, i've got to admit they at least attempt to carry "some responsibilities for their fts". this one that i'm in seems to completely stay away from any responsibilities whatsoever. and, here's neither any academic support nor a recruiting channel. the HQ of this one is really just "SYMBOLIC" and to me just a myth as it doesn't deal with fts but chinese in centers. having finished my 4 years with one employer and wishing to move on to another center, i had no channel except the links to individual centers that HQ offered me. mind you that the HQ in this one also picks up the regular fees from the franchisees around.

al, not that i want to confront your views on again, but if the sh*t hits the fan here, HQ surely is at fault. many centers of foreign franchisors are allowed to open under varieties of conditions in china. some open with little in a sense of facilities or equipment, some open with little in a sense of academic material or its suplementary material and some open with either poorly educated owners/managers or inadequate staff training. these are some of the reasons why centers underperform. the HQ of this one allows just about everything/anything. no wonder when the franchisor of this one does not even know (or want to know) what the actual (academic) product really is.

in my case, my life (whole family) has been affected greatly and that at or off work. i was literally dragged into a deal that i now feel obligated to fulfil. happy on one hand that i do not have enough students to work more weekly hours, i am so worried how long this will last. also, i am increasingly frustrated by the center's management that i have no choice but teach these students "available" to me. yes, i get paid, but is that the only one "reward" i should take out of this forgive me saying this but i do feel like a lap dancer in my classroom...take any customers (and their money) you can and make them feel as good as you can as long as they don't touch you

now, if i don't like it, i may choose to tell my employer and see if i could move on before the expiry of my current contractual agreement. and, yes, i've said to my manager a month ago; SHOULD I QUIT? the answer was; NO, WE NEED FTS. hard to believe that, isn't it? well, i really feel i am stuck and it's beginning to show. my frustration is reflecting my 3 students frustration. they're some fairly nice kids and they don't deserve this too. from what i see, there's a general opinion about our product. yes, our and that not only this center but the whole franchise reputation is at stake. i know very well that there're other centers of this franchisor that are in similar situation. if they have more students, they have their own management/ownership issues. HQ's tryin'hard to keep its hands clean and that using varieties of techniques. my assumption is that they're to "RE-NAME" this organization, but any details suggesting it would be off this topic, i guess.

cheers and beers to my beep life that seems to have taken a dive further down..just don't know how far down i'll have to go

[Sugar Magnolia]

EG,

If you feel like a "lap dancer", then you are a "Dancing Gorilla"; you are the "Monkey King".

Hail to the Chief.

I'm just a dancing monkey who is happy when they pay me.

[China.Pete]

Well, English, I'm not sure a poll is going to get you the answer you're looking for. Whether or not to close a center really depends on how willing its financial backers are to carry their losses going forward. As long as they are continuing to pay the salaries of their FTs and other staff, the only question that needs answering is largely a personal one. Like "How long can you keep teaching a 'class' of one or two students and feel fulfilled by it?"

You also mentioned the inability of students to understand English. This is a common enough problem in such programs, one undoubtedly made worse by the inability of the center to be at all selective in admissions. With the very favorable student-teacher ratio at this center, however, there would seem to be plenty of opportunities to work on that. Of course, your ability to actually accomplish anything will also depend on student motivation.

So, some other questions that need to be answered are "Is this really where you want to be right now," "Are you prepared to wait as long as your employer might be for things to turn around," and, if not, "How long will it take you to find a suitable alternative source of income?" Can't always expect the employer to answer such questions for you! I hope that, with all the weight of your family responsibilities, you're able to find your answers.

[evaforsure]

[englishgibson]

I thank you for your posts on.

Yes, the poll on topic may not yield any answers that I am looking for, although I believe it may offer a hint to follow on.

[evaforsure]

[englishgibson]

[Hansen]

EG, I didn't read all this. Am I correct in understanding that you have 3 FTs, local staff, and just 5 students? If so, a better poll question might be "Will I be paid?"

[englishgibson]

I've just got paid again and so have my coworkers.

I've failed two out of the three students, although they're moving on to the next and last level (module). The manager says these two students will only get "certificates of accomplishment" (not graduation) after the next level is done. As the next level's more difficult, I really fear the two won't be able to understand anything at all...a dull classroom with really one student

As this is a franchised operation and as, to my knowledge there're other such centers around, it comes down to the reputation and a riple effect this will have on centers (our center). Yes, this has happened before and I/we are "enjoying" that riple effect already. My few students know, what they need to know.

News is (surprise as i was kept out of the loop) that last week we've begun a new class. Yes, more students. 8 more to be precise. Looks like we're out of the critical situation, although the new class is across from the existing one from where any "helpful" info can be passed on to our fresh students.

On another note, none of our students have taken the mandatory entry exams to our courses appropriately, and so I am worried the new class may soon end up in the same way as the current one moving to its last stage of the program.

Cheers and beers to the franchisors collecting opening franchise fees, roalty fees per student and then the prestige for having soooo many centers around the world (as they say)