Job Discussion Forums

[tlebel]

Hey. I am just wondering if anyone works for or has worked for Disney English? Anything you can tell me about working for them? I am considering them for next year but wanted to hear some opinions first. Thanks!

[naturegirl321]

I interviewed with them to be a teacher. Didn't like the idea of how they teach. That being said, they just put up adverts for directors. They pay 18K and 4K for housning.

[Voldermort]

[naturegirl321]

[uberche]

Have a friend who worked there. They are losing teachers due to either growing pains or terrible working schedule depending who you ask. Very bad hours, pay is alright and you are working with rich spoiled brats as they are all children. If it sounds like something you can stand for hte money join. I forget exactly but pay was something around 8-10,000 but you're doing 40+ hours a week. Not my idea of a good setup.

[SandyG20]

I applied a few times from the USA - no response. I do get the impression from the job description that they do require alot of nonteaching work from the teachers - things like childcare - almost sounds like babysitting activities. That said the pay looks good and the perks - if they are actually supplying what they say in the ads. I also noted that the classes sizes seem large for the age groups - unless there are assistants in the classroom to help? I think it was 12 - 2 year olds if I remember correctly - if a teacher is to teach and provide childcare and do all the paperwork and such listed - that is an incredible amount of multitasking. But perhaps there are assistants?

[cormac]

Having done Kinder in the past, unless you have done it before be careful of such jobs. The actual classwork is intensive, and the administrative hours can require a lot of work (creating flashcards, games, etc).

Even without the childcare element, which I refused to be involved in, Kinder can be quite challenging. There's no guarantee that your assistant will be useful, and in fact, many resent having to help a foreigner at all.

So be prepared to look after the class yourself... if you have an assistant that can help, count that as a bonus... but assume that you will be acting alone.

[SandyG20]

Here are the legal ratios in my state -

� 1 adult for every 4 infants (birth-12 months)
� 1 adult for every 5 toddlers (1-2 year olds)
� 1 adult for every 5 two year olds
� 1 adult for every 10 three year olds
� 1 adult for every 12 four year olds
� 1 adult for every 15 five year olds

Keep in mind that is childcare - not childcare plus teaching English and all the other multitasking I saw on the Disney ads.

The job did pay well - but the list I saw of duties was alot to do all at once.

Especially if there is no Chinese speaking attendant or someone to change diapers or take children to the bathroom or feed or clean up messes.

Maybe Disney schools can tell us more information.

Of course children are age 1 when born in China - so a 2 year old might be a 3 year old - but that is still young to be learning another language in a large class with only 1 adult.

I believe teachers also had to video tape students learning and communicate each day with parents in person and online.

Also sell Disney products?

[cormac]

Speaking from experience... a Chinese 3 year old seems much younger in mentality than a western 3 year old. So more crying, more puking, more sulking, more pissing, etc.

But then again, I swore never again to kinder. A lot of fun when things go right, but when they go wrong, they go very wrong.