Job Discussion Forums

[gochina]

Has anyone had any experience with Global Crossroads and their teach in China program? I am interested in spending part of the summer teaching in China. I don't know much about them and just wonder if anyone else has heard anything.

Thanks

[JadedMenhir]

'Tis a rare occasion but I feel compelled to forewarn the innocent ESL teacher who wishes to engage in business with Global Crossroads.

While my knowledge of the company's business in the last year is nil, I remember only too well being sat in a Chinese agency's office, having come to China without having paid a penny to anybody, next to three irate Americans all of whom had paid 700$ to Global Crossroads for the exact same privilege. GC have quite a track record it seems of taking care of their teachers right up to the moment the teacher has flown the next to foreign climes. I cannot vouch for their behaviour in other countries, but in China, reports of them losing people at the airport for up to a day, sending them to truly remote schools when the teacher requested an urban environment or placing them in less than reliable schools without bothering to vet the school beforehand have become slightly too commonplace for it to be mere happenstance.

With the sheer wealth of methods available to find a job in China, I would place my trust in someone who has earned it.

[gochina]

Thanks for the heads up. If you have any suggestions for better opportunities I would appreciate it.

[WordUp]

Global Crossroads China also works close together with Babel Language in Hangzhou, so you've got two Chinese recruiters competing for margins during the summer.

I cant speak for global crossroads directly, but I know that if you are placed in Zhejiang and or Jiaxing, through them you are being placed by a guy named Jeff Gao who also goes by the name of Jeff Sya through a woman named Camilla at Babel Language and I can speak about Babel. (For specifics you can PM me or email me offlist. )

Babel has been accused by more than 15 teachers last summer of several horrendous acts of behavior including threatening jail, deportation and providing substandard service and harrassing techniques to motivate teachers to do whatever they want and go wherever they can make a quick buck.

You will never know your schedule during the summer because you will be placed in whatever location comes along that decides to pay babel. This means you can expect to be awakened early in the morning to travel long distances to work like a zoo monkey, and you'll get paid a meaningless $150 for your trouble. For the entire summer.

[gochina]

I appreciate the warning. I have heard a lot of horror stories with various places. I am hoping to avoid such disasters and your comments help.