Job Discussion Forums

[zong82]

Hey everyone,

Has anyone ever heard of Shinyway International?

I just had an interview at their training center in Shenzhen.

Here's a link to their English website, http://www.igo.cn/english/

It's weird because I've been here for over three years and never heard of them. Also, I can't find anything on this site or anywhere else on the internet.

So, if anyone could help me out with any information on these guys I'd appreciate it.

[time to teach]

They're basically a test prep center catering to a booming cash cow in the EFL industry, preparing high school students for IELTS, TOEFL, AP, SAT, and other tests and to study successfully abroad.

Chinese parents are paying big bucks to send their kids to these types of language schools, and Shinyway is also getting into the high school market, setting up their own "international" programs at local schools and making huge profits on such arrangements.

Shinyway has a high turnover of foreign teachers; they tend to burn people out by giving them heavy schedules without proper breaks, and they have a lot of management issues, which is typical for a growing organization, as they�re opening a new study center and also looking to grow their international high school program.

If you're full time they can and will make you teach at both of their centers plus a �sister� center, and they could also send you to a high school, which would mean split shifts and extra commuting time. The upside is that classes in their centers are mostly small tutoring style with lots of 1 to 1; and classes in their high school programs are also manageable, 20 or less, etc.

They advertise salaries of 150,000-200,000 per year for full time, so if you negotiate a deal at the high end you could make a decent salary there. And if you�re looking to gain some experience in the intensive test prep arena, it could be a golden opportunity.

[JamesD]

It is sort of ironic that they advertise their expertise in education yet almost every line of text on the first page of their site has a grammar or syntax error.
Granted the writing is very good, for a non-native speaker.

As for the new wave of university and test prep companies, parents are now willing to spend a good bit for a guarantee their kids will be accepted by a western uni.

Check this or run a news search on -China university preparation system-.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/165490/chinese-find-ways-cracking-top.html

[chinanoodles]

The article linked above shows legit ways of getting accepted to a Western Uni. There are many schools who have found ways to send kids to the West when they are unable to communicate at even a basic level...somehow they pass the IELTS or TOEFL. I am sure it could not possibly be related to cheating or corruption, that would simply be unethical......or something.

[JamesD]

I would say that the majority of the services these companies provide are definitely legit. Information on taking the TOEFL and the visa interview are necessary and are a part of any student's language training.
However, when it comes intentionally misrepresenting the student's abilities by writing essays for them and doing work for which the student receives credit.............

[wesharris]

Cheating here, is seen as quite different than we see it in the west.
To have someone else write your essay is seen as quite legitimate,
in order to achieve and end. The results justify the means. I suppose.