Job Discussion Forums

[stinkytofu]

I just had an interview with this company for online teaching and I get the feeling their certifiably insane. They gave me a huge list of things that I can be fired for.

English Tone
http://www.englishtone.cn/

[muffintop]

I'd like to see that list for giggles.

[fat_chris]

We have a yobrochoudoufu and now…a stinkytofu too?

Hee hee.

Changsha, Hunan represent!

Warm regards,
fat_chris

[fat_chris]

[GreatApe]

I admit, I'd really like to see that list too!

I'm just wondering how many of their rules I've broken.

(P.S. Stinky Dofu is delicious ... especially the spicy kind! It only took me two years to try it, but now I buy it about every month, whether I need it or not).

--GA

[stinkytofu]

[choudoufu]

[fat_chris]

[jimpellow]

I worked with them for a few months recently and generally enjoyed it. I only quit as I am currently residing in Cebu Philippines and the overpriced Internet is not stable enough to teach online. The highest paying online schools pretty much have the country blacklisted.

I was a bit turned off initially by the clauses too, but found they were a non factor if you were responsible and a good teacher. Most of the teachers are native Filipino and other Asians just treat them like dirt. Also in their defense they probably get their share of nuts and they try to defend themselves against such. As a Western teacher the staff all treat you with respect. Of course the students think they are paying for an all Western teaching staff so I had to lie I was in America or they would have thought I was Filipino as I live in the Philippines. LOL

I remember my pay being a little higher, $11. Additionally, you get a couple test students a night. If they sign up you get a five dollar bonus. The worst part is that if the student cancels and they can't fill the class you don't get paid (though I think they do). Overall I made about $375 every two week paycheck for working from 6-11. I should add that the students can switch teachers as often as they like. Therefore, if you can't keep your students you will not make the above amount. They do give raises but only a dollar every six months or so.

As you can see, not a way to make a living in itself.

I liked the job as after a week or two you are able to finish all the required work within the 6-11 work schedule. The monthly reports are an unpaid pain, but only take a couple hours to do. The lazier teachers seem to just cut and paste them. But that me be a factor why their schedules are not very full.

Most of the students are adults and thus motivated. Earlier hours do have younger students. Some of those were great, a couple had me infuriated nightly.

I didn't have the interview confusion you had, but certainly on occasion had flashbacks of intense frustration from my dealings with Chinese schools for five years.

I did get paid after I had to quit when the Internet problems from the dual punch of a major earthquake and super typhoon rendered the Internet even more useless. But I was on good terms with them and left the door open to coming back if the Internet ever becomes stable here.

[stinkytofu]

[TheSprinter]

I checked their site and trying to get their contact info but can't find it. Where could I find it? I also tried calling their number via Skype but all I keep getting is a busy signal.

Thanks to anyone for help.

[jimpellow]

Yeah, I wonder about them. I had the Skype contact for the gm and tried to contact him a couple months ago on behalf of someone but no response, which was odd as we got along well and he was always looking for teachers.

Still, I only worked for them as I wanted to keep my career alive and most online schools will not deal with the Internet where I was. Now that I am in Colombia I work for a Middle Eastern school that offers a much better wage.

Go for schools outside of China, as Chinese online schools are overall the worst in terms of pay and conditions, much like the brick and mortar ones.

[TheSprinter]

[jimpellow]

Yes, I see it now. Odd I had a couple recently that had not shown with a new notification. That or I was drunk when I looked at them and forgot all about them. Sorry about that Sprinter.

Looking at your question in the PM, it is a big one without much background on where you want to be or teach. Best way long term is teaching for yourself. I put some advice in the Colombia section as I live in Medellin now.

As for making it online, I must say that I like to live well and would not at present be able to do it just by teaching online. I have a couple Internet businesses I co-own that keep me diversified (which I think one needs to do these days) and provide better income. Plus I sacrificed ten years of my life before chucking it working my butt off to make a good penny that would give me some freedom before I was too old to enjoy having a life of adventure.

Point is that you really need to think along the line of multiple income streams and persevering as an entrepreneur to truly avoid the brick and mortar daily grind. Not that I sometimes don't miss it for ESL, just can't take dealing anymore with a fair percentage of the managers and their inept despotic personalities face to face daily.

[Jmbf]

Never seriously considered teaching online as the rates are (relatively) low. I think I'd only do it as a last resort. If you can fill up your schedule with private students then that's the way to go. That's where my focus would be if I were you. Looking at the longer term, I totally agree that developing multiple passive income streams is the way to go.