Job Discussion Forums

HiddenTreasure · Joined: 03 Oct 2010 Posts: 81

Just passing some info about Always Education & Exchange Center (edualways.com)

They are currently advertising (web, Dave's, elsewhere) for jobs in Jinan - but they don't tell you that they actually will send you to Taian and you won't actually work in Jinan.

They "require" you via the contract to both seek permission and inform them if you intend to leave the city for any reason - not just the so-called requirement of leaving the city overnight. So if you plan to have lunch or visit friends or do anything for even a few hours in another city you must actually inform them AND receive permission.

You are contractually forbidden from engaging in sexual activity (have sex) with Chinese girls. Of course, there is no clause for not having sex with Chinese men. You are also verbally warned, despite the contractual term, that you are simply not allowed to have sex with Chinese girls.

You are asked to sign the contract but flat-out refused to spend more than 30-50 seconds reading it or they ask why you don't trust them.

The branch offices will tell you entirely different information about pay, hours, rules, schedules from what is contractually required via the head office in Jinan.

They claim to have only a handful of schools in Shandong and Jiangsu, but actually have schools in multiple provinces and in many locations - being told that it's best to "keep those schools secret."

When asked to speak with current/former employees directly or via e-mail, you are told that it isn't allowed.

Drinking is forbidden, as is smoking - but the boss (Mr. Gao) in Jinan sits there smoking and has bottles of beer behind his desk and yet fired a recent employee because he was seen at a bar drinking beer and was smoking between classes.

I was seeking only part-time work and so discussed the job opening with them. Needless to say, I pleasantly walked away.

Keep this in mind if you respond to their recent advertisements.

At least they can provide you a good laugh.

west2east · Joined: 03 May 2009 Posts: 120 Location: China

How do you know all this as fact? I'm thinking you could just have an axe to grind.

Timer · Joined: 24 Oct 2010 Posts: 173 Location: China

HiddenTreasure · Joined: 03 Oct 2010 Posts: 81

therock · Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 1266 Location: China

I would ask them what are they would do if you break the contract? This place sounds like a nightmare to work and live, and its not even in a highly desired location. They should be offering women for the teacher to sleep with as a incentive to work there. Wink

Timer · Joined: 24 Oct 2010 Posts: 173 Location: China

HiddenTreasure · Joined: 03 Oct 2010 Posts: 81

In the end, NOTHING on this site is believable. Everyone moans and groans about something, complains about this or that, etc. In my mind, most of the problems posted on the site are the fault of the "teacher" and not the employer.

In that nothing here can be taken at face value, there is no reason for people to express that fact thread-after-thread - unless you want your post count to to go.

When I asked the question "well, what if I don't follow [this or that] rule in the contract? That means you can fire me," the response was, "... you must follow the contract."

Out of politeness as it were and my desire not to leave the office 3 minutes after I traveled more than 90 minutes to get there, I left later - but after that 3 minutes already decided I wouldn't take the job under such pathetic "rules"

...nobody's damn business what I do outside the classroom.

jmw_purple · Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 5:26 pm Post subject:

It's a good thing no one is taking this post seriously, as it's nothing but a bunch of lies.

I read this post prior to coming to China, and was almost turned off of contacting Always, if not for the fact that I couldn't find a single bad word about it ANYWHERE else. That being said, I actually accepted a job at Always. I've been here for a month and a half now.

Always is an awesome school that doesn't try to control you AT ALL when it comes to things you do in your private time. No where in the contract does it stipulate anything the OP mentioned.

Also, Mr. Gao held a welcome dinner for all the new foreign teachers a couple weeks ago, and he was the first person to make a toast ending with "Ganbei" (bottoms up). Not only that, he went around and offered everyone a cigarette, so where the OP got "prohibited to smoke and drink" from, I have no idea. It's ridiculous.

Every new foreign teacher that has come to Always is working IN Jinan. There is one exception for a teacher that was hired to work in another city, but he came here knowing that.

Aside from all that, we are given fantastic spacious apartments. Some of us even have 2 bedroom apartments to ourselves (myself included). We are allowed to do whatever we want on our own time, we are not questioned nor do they try to control what we do.

So again, I'm so pleased no one thinks that post contains legitimate facts, because Always is an awesome school, and I'm not just saying that since I work there. I hate to see lies that could be mistaken for truth regardless of what it's about. There are people that have been here for years and love it still. That's really saying something considering the high turn over rate of foreign teachers. I've only been here for a month and a half and I already feel like family to these people. I don't appreciate nor want to see them slandered for no reason.

keroppifrog · Joined: 03 Aug 2010 Posts: 7

my buddy came here with Always thinking he'd be working in Jinan, but the ended up sending him to a nearby city (slightly smaller) after a month of 'training'... HOWEVER, this has worked out very well for him .. He likes his job and hasn't really had any problems.. The pay is good, hours are decent - his housing is the best in the city...