Job Discussion Forums

[22Yossarian]

I have spent quite a bit of time searching for information on the US-SINO Pathway program and there is some information in older threads, but they are at least a year old.

Kaplan has just offered me a job teaching for the US-SINO program and I would work in Beijing. I have done a Google search and I have searched through Dave's ESL Cafe and have found very little from teachers who have worked in this program. I have found quite a few negative reviews from teachers who have worked for Kaplan in countries other than China but I have found very little positive or negative about working for Kaplan in China. I understand some of the issues of teaching for a for profit institution, I currently am an adjunct at a for-profit in the States. I have also made the best of it and still usually enjoy the classroom experience itself.

My question is, are there any other red flags I should consider? Is Kaplan reliable in paying their teachers on time? Will they pay me the wage they stated in my contract? Do they tend to break contracts shortly before they end to save money on the end of contract bonus and air-fare?

Also, the person who interviewed me was quite honest about the "little emperors" I will have as students, so I took his honesty about some of the issues I will have to be a positive thing.

I apologize if this has been covered in another thread that I have missed!

[Mikeylikesit114]

I've worked for one of Kaplan China's other centers for a year and a half. At my center we've always been paid on time, and everyone has received a proper residence permit instead of one of those tourist visas.

I've worked in 3 organizations so far in China (including a prestigious University's graduate school of business) and Kaplan has been by far the most professional (at least in terms of work environment, managers, feedback mechanisms, hr, etc)

I say has been, because our general manager was recently escorted off the premises by police. None of us quite know what to make of that development yet.

As far as the USPP program goes, it's run by Northeastern University in the states, and the material is at the level of first year undergraduate students.

When you arrive, you will immediately notice that many of your students will not have the necessary English to complete work at that level. Kaplan offers several types of programs, and for whatever reason, the marketing department pitched USPP as the "easiest" program with the least requirements.

Lastly, and probably most consequently. KAPLAN was recently sold back from its Chinese partner to Kaplan worldwide, and has a new leadership team in the headquarters in Shanghai. We're waiting to see how this all plays out.

[22Yossarian]

Thanks! Your positive response and the absence of negative responses is quite comforting.

[ShanghaiSurprise]

Yossarian,

Kaplan pays on time. They are very professional in terms of payment.

If they sign you, then you'll get paid what you're supposed to on the same day every month without any questions, and they will follow your contract. I haven't ever met anyone that had any problems with their pay... and I have actually not heard any issues from Chinese staff either, which says a lot.


Mikey,

According to what I've seen I believe the situation you mentioned about your General Manager was some baloney story about a typo on his diploma... but that was just to cover up the idea that they were restructuring and probably didn't have any other good ways to deal with it. Possibly he was locked into a contract that Kaplan wanted to break... no idea... as for why he was escorted out.... very strange. Maybe Kaplan thought it was some kind of blockbuster movie... haha. Anyways, it's unfortunate all that happened, and for the record, I liked the guy.

[d-train]

Was just curious to know how long after the interview did you have to wait until Kaplan contacted you and offered you the job. Had an interview with them a couple of weeks ago but still nothing. Have followed up on it but still can't find out too much more than, "if we have any progress, we'll contact you."