Job Discussion Forums

[Number 6]

Let me ask you all one simple question: If, as they publicly claim. they are the best, biggest, etc., etc., why, then, are EF English First not represented in the SARs of Hong Kong and Macau? They can not say that it is due to shortage of spendable income on the part of the residents; after all, these SARs are considerably richer than their mainland counterparts. It is nothing less than a law in Hong Kong that every school have at least one native speaker of English. Why, then, are EF not tapping into this market? Why are there no EF schools in Hong Kong?

BECAUSE THERE ARE REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS IN HONG KONG; REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS TO WHICH EF ENGLISH FIRST CHINA CAN NOT ADHERE OR PERFORM. It really is that simple. They may be able to employ unqualified, unexperienced, uneducated morons for their 'schools' (or, as I would rather call them, 'fast English outlets' [MacEF]) on the mainland, but the government of the SAR of Hong Kong (and Macau) will not tolerate such low standards.

[Peter]

I fancy it is more a matter of better opposition in the first place rather than governmental supervision. but you have a valid point.

[Roger]

I don't think so at all! You are comnparing apples to pineapples!
EF is neither bad nor in the business of educating people. It is only a successful McDoneducation. Teachers get paid well but are being overworked. It is a franchise and local takers apply different working rules.

As for HK and Macau, there are few international training centres precisely because English has been taught in HK for a long time by the public sector.
It is not true that every school is under obligation to hire a NET!