Job Discussion Forums

[newtefl168]

Hello sorry mods if this is the wrong place but u came across this post on another website , and thought it best to make any new TEFL /FT aware of this company and their treatment of FT ,

if any one would like to read the whole article ,i will pm you the address ( unless i'm allowed to post here ,mods ?)



I came to China with English International..6 months ago, I completed my contract with them simply because I'm a young girl in China and I was scared of Lucas' threats.
Everything you have wrote is true..yes, they took 50% of my pay for the whole contract, but not just that, my school paid Coco 8000RMB directly to Coco, of which she kept 2000RMB before giving me half.
One month I came out with 1300RMB another month they couldn't afford to pay me for another 10 days. There are many of us here who are with or were with EI, I just want to pass the word really, because if you have just signed up with EI and are placed in Dongguan, Shenzhen or close by, I'm sure a few of us would be able to help you get out of your contract. Honestly, you do not want to deal with these people.

Secondly, they have 600 people coming out for next semester. It's shocking and yes they do have a registered business in Leeds, UK. Which is under the name of the Mohammed Soin, also known as Billy, who lived in Shenzhen with his girlfriend Ivy (who also worked for the company)..However, Billy seems to have magically disappeared.

The reason we were placed in the hotel in Shenzhen is because that's where the business works from, on the second floor there is a meeting room and that's where everything EI is dealt with from the 'training' they give you when you first arrive to the telephone interviews. The reason they have it in a hotel, so they can move on with relative ease and never have to terminate contracts with office spaces etc.

Here's the bad news..they're all moving to Dongguan. Sigh.
Well, if anyone EI needs any help just add me or leave me a comment..either way, I'm sure something can be worked out.

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

Off-topic and inappropriate postings have been deleted. Future ones will result in permanent bans including ISPs.

[wesharris]

Good luck to you then. We would greatly appreciate a more detailed report, if you could possibly give one.
The more information we have, concerning schools that harm foreigner teachers, the better armed we are to combat this blatant disregard for the rights of foreign teachers.

[newtefl168]

i hope this can help ! i know the post is outdated but i only came across it on a social network site ( not FB ) The other day ! the first post from me a reply to this one ! i know at least 5 people that have worked for these guys and they really had a shit life ! china is cheap but a FT can not live on 2000rmb ! i don't want to plug the other site but if you want to have a look at the OP then pm me and i will pm you back with address ! hope this can help someone !

Written by FT Teacher
Wednesday, 19 May 2010 09:08
I am an FT in China and have been doing this for a long time now. I still consider myself to be learning every day, yet I continue to be more surprised with the unbelievable actions of Chinese management and especially recruiters. Talking about Chinese management would be a rant in itself, so I'll confine myself to the topic here... recruiters. The latest experience is with a company called "English International." They are primarily represented by 2 Chinese girls. One is called CoCo. The other is called Snow. Both are money obsessed, to your face liars who con "fresh off the boat" foreigners in to signing ridiculous contracts verging on extortion. Their website:

http://www.teflinchina.com

Also check out,
http://www.teflinchina.com/Contact.asp

CoCo was previously known as Silvia. Lucas is a chinese man who "enforces" contract terms by visiting foreigners (who've learnt better at their placements by talking with other FT's) and threatening them with fines, prison terms, deportation and in one instance physically threatening a girl with a knife and telling her to just do what she's told. Both Silvia and Lucas have changed names, both spent time in jail and changed the company name/location more than once. As far as I can gather, they were in jail for organising/supplying fake visa's, operating without any license, and a violence related grievance. I don't know how many times they've done this, but will they ever stop? I hope this helps word get around and at least makes their job more difficult.

Their contracts are standard exploitation. Full of promises.
6 month to 1 year contracts. Failure to complete = penalty. 9000RMB penalty per incomplete semester. The FT must pay this out of their own pocket.
FT's must pay for their own flights, transport, visa's, and lodgings during orientation/training (160RMB/night in a hotel E-I arrange. Seems suspicious to me, but that's only my opinion, not a fact.) Allegedly they will be reimbursed with flight and visa costs upon contract completion, but in reality I have not met one E-I FT who received such benefits, even partially. There is always some reason they find to deem the contract was incorrectly completed.
Half (yes, I do mean 50%) of their pay is taken each month.
Hidden fees galore meaning the 50% FT's are supposed to get each month is often light for some ridiculous reason or another.
Promised bonuses for excellence are never paid.
Heavy penalties for partial breeches, such as genuine sick days.

In speaking with the E-I teachers, I have found that the schools are paying up to 8000RMB per month.
E-I contract says the teacher will get a minimum 5000RMB per month salary. CoCo tells the teachers the schools are paying very little. She lies to both sides and skims it each way.
After following the "contracted 50% commission" in reality, an E-I FT's salary is as low as 2000RMB per month.

I have continued to find work in China off my own back for over 6 years now, and will never use an agency or suggest one to any westerner who asks me. Still, over the past few months I have continued to meet E-I FT's in this area, so I know they have at least one school contract here. They all have similar complaints and tell similar stories of being treated very well by the school, but very badly by the agency. I feel very sorry for those FT's.

Please please please pass the word to Brits as they seem to have a recruitment office over there. They pull as many people off the street and convince them they will have a grand easy life in China. "No degree?" No problem! You don't need one! "No TEFL? No TESOL?" No problem, they're un-necessary! "No experience?" No problem. "No work experience of any kind?" No problem, you can get some in China! "I'm shy." It's not really work anyway, you just sit and chat with Chinese people.

Why do people believe this?

Remember, "English International"... one to AVOID!! If you've signed up, get out before it's too late. You can easily find work by yourself, simply by being a native English speaker and having confidence to stand in front of a class. No job is easy, don't expect work the other side of the planet will not really be work just because it's a different culture. Teaching English in China is rewarding, otherwise I wouldn't have stayed all these years, and it does afford a generous amount of free time, salary and exposure to a fascinating culture. But work is work. Don't believe sweet-talk!

Con-men in UK, con-women in China. I guess East and West do sometimes work well together! Unfortunately.

[7969]

i know someone who worked for english international. They quite liked it and their experience was total contradictory to the third hand info posted above.

[mat chen]

7969 you know someone who liked the place and people who have had direct experience are passing on third hand advice. Wow what obfuscation.

[7969]

The individual who started this thread has no experience with English International. He lifted these posts from somewhere else. There's no source website provided either. That's not direct experience. Clear enough for you?

[Halapo]

Yes, that is 3harnd, and so is yours. That would be what mat is pointing out.

[choudoufu]

[bythebookie]

Any ACTUAL proof? Documentation? Police (PSB), Labor Ministry, Education Ministry, Court Filings, or other actual proof or are we sticking with conjecture and the oh-too-common disgruntled ex that didn't bother to research, ask questions, read the contract, etc. before jumping on board... ?

It's time people starting offering actual evidence before going "public" and defaming an employer/recruiter. Anonymity and perceived freedom to write what you like is ridiculous.

[askiptochina]

I think we are missing some simple guidelines. The big one being, DON'T WAIT 6 MONTHS BEFORE CONCLUDING, "They are taking advantage of me."

Second, there are some obvious things you need to do to start with. Transportation is on your dime in China, and then you get reimbursed (Is there a movement going on to change this? None that I know of.)

Next, you should arrange living accommodations BEFORE you hop on the plane or take the train. Don't wait until you arrive thinking you will have a place provided.

Second hand, third hand, whatever. All of it is unnecessary. Use common sense folks. You WILL BE taken advantage of if you turn a blind eye to all this.