Job Discussion Forums

[80daze]

Just saw a video on linkedin where one of the main managers at EF was talking on foxnews and said they will be opening 1000 branches in China over the next few years and will need more than 10,000 teachers to fill the vacancies.

If EF is doing this then you presume that all the other mills will be doing similar. I guess it just shows how big China is getting.

This is the link (but it's through linkedin)

http://www.linkedin.com/share?viewLink=&sid=s281949739&url=http://fb.me/V2oVXkW7&urlhash=mFKR&pk=nprofile-view-success&pp=1&poster=65866131&uid=5447793024459345920&trk=NUS_UNIU_SHARE-title

[Laurence]

1000 branches ~

That's a big expansion.

This could be an indicator that the English learners of china are collectively mired in the 'intermediate plateau'

(linguistically speaking, of course).

[vikeologist]

Their problem will be recruiting the teachers. It is mind-boggling to think of 1,000 schools, but I suppose if they had the teachers it would be possible.

I wonder if the CEO regrets going down the franchise route. It certainly allows them to open a lot of schools, but as widely discussed on this and other sites, if you accept a job with them you don't know what you're going to get.

I'd love to see an interview with the guy where he was asked the questions we'd all like to know his answers to. I wonder of he would ever agree to answer the questions. Maybe I should email him and ask.

[Non Sequitur]

'intermediate plateau' in the 'middle kingdom' yep works for me.
Seriously, to staff that number of new outlets is going to take a turnaround in the attitude of teachers to EF which seems pretty well negative.
The franchise v company owned outlet has been dealt with elsewhere and it's a good question.
I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before but I understand McDonald's started their expansion in PRC using a franchise model but had to turn that around to company-owned. The reason of course being that the Chinese franchisee saw quick bucks by cutting corners.

[Skyblue2]

This is too bad. EF pays some of the worst wages and has some of the lowest standards of any big chain school. They are fast food equivalent of language education.

[seamallowance]

Good heavens, Man! It is not necessary to insult fast food.
Unlike the EF schools, at least Fast Food is warm and filling!

[TexasHighway]

EF is the pits....the bottom of the barrel in the world of ESL. Heaven help us all!

[davidjfrancis]

EF is a long way from being the bottom of the esl barrel.

[deniserita]

Wow all this is scarying me! I just interview with EF last night and it seemed great. Now I know that they of course want it to seem that way, but am surprised at how bad some of you believe this company is. Can it really be that bad if its been around since the 60's? They seem to have a lot to offer.

I am new to search of looking for a job abroad, but thought this one was a contender....should it not be?

She told me they pay 12,000 RMB a month. I haven't done too much research on cost of living, but she said that that was a decent salary. Is it??

[TexasHighway]

deniserita wrote:

[vikeologist]

[deniserita]

She did say that I would work 40 hours a week, with 23 contact hours with students. They do not provide housing but I will be given 8,000 RMB for flight reimbursement. They will also pick me up at the airport and pay for a hotel for 2 weeks so I can look for an apartment. It really all does sound great....don't know how much I can believe. But it is a good idea to talk to teachers from the school, if I decide to go there.


I am actually talking to someone else from EF on Sunday..they think I may be a better fit as a director because I have so much teaching experience in America along with my master degrees. So I guess I will find out more then.

I am actually not completely sold on China, just in general. So I won't be too heart broken if it doesn't all work out.

Denise

[vikeologist]

a few quick points

If you're talking to EF China head office, and they're going to find you a school, be careful. they're basically a recruiter, and they'll put you into a school that has paid them to find a teacher. To get their money they have to provide good teachers. There's no financial incentive at all to find you a good school. It's not the teachers who pay them.

If you have to find your own place to live, bear in mind that some places, eg Shanghai and Beijing, are a lot more expensive than others. Big chunk of your 12k gone just there. Also, it will not be easy finding a place on your own, without being ripped off and cheated in every conceivable way.

If you're going to be a Director of Studies, consider how you will cope if your school's owner is an idiot. The standard EF contract if strictly enforced, is fairly horrible.

I cannot stress enough how tricky establishing yourself in China can be, and that you should exercise extreme caution. There are lots of good and bad experiences to be had here, but if one is reckless, it's easy just to end up with the bad.

[deniserita]

Yes good points... a lot to think about.

If you don't mind me changing topics, you seem to have loads of experience, so if you were to suggest a better place for me to teach for a year where would you suggest?

I do have 12 years of teaching experience in America, with two master degrees in education along with an endorsement in ESL. I only have an American passport and do not have a TESOL certificate...any suggestions for me?

I'm looking for a safe, and social place to teach.

Thanks!

[TexasHighway]

deniserita wrote: