Job Discussion Forums

[jg]

Anybody familiar with this outfit? I applied there last fall - the interview consisted of some questions, but I wasn't even offered the chance to do a demo - and of the many interviews I had in China, that was one of the only two where they didn't want a demo. Yet Kai En, along with other chain language mills, seem to constantly be seeking teachers, and generally the schools with a high turnover aren't very strict in their hiring practices. I have several years of experience - in China and NA - and my queries went unanswered, so I will ask here if any of you have experience with Kai En, are they fair in their hiring practices, beyong just wanting "native speakers"?

Might seem an unfair question, but based on my experiences in Shanghai and its ESL industry, I am posing it.

[Midlothian Mapleheart]

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[prof]

I have known Ken and Brian for over a decade.

One of things I remember is when Ken told me (from his Taiwan experience):

"Prof, one thing I've learned is that if you get the students there will always be another middle-aged EFL teacher with a BA, nothing at home, married to a poor local, to fill the slot. Just make sure they show up on time and wear a tie and all is well!"

Or something like that. It was a long time ago. It's good that they can be more picky these days.

[sttwo]

I work for them part-time. I can't imagine working full-time because I would become so bored.

I don't find any of their texts at all stimulating. As time passes the reproduction quality of them is declining.

I find their administrative procedures and what they advertise incongruent. They require us to give written tests but those don't count for anything other than a qualitative vote of confidence.

I've worked at two centers and only since October have experienced the results of 5 different oral testers. In some cases I spent the entire 48 hour course with each student. In most it was just 24 hours because of team teaching.

I questioned their judgments but need the work so I have to perpetuate their subjective judgments.

They aren't my type of place because of the class schedule. I only work on weekends for them as a result. I may do their summer program but may live to regret it; it will be a new experience but a good cash cow.

The texts they've produced combine an odd mish-mash of "stuff". There are new expressions to me and ones that I can't figure out. They use American spelling but have odds and ends thrown in from dialectical differences around the world. That would be fine were it in any system.

I think they could do a lot better job there on teamwork. You have to take the initiative to track down your team teacher if it's a local national. I have gone through two courses and never identified my partner.

Their resource centers in the two centers where I work seem weak. They dont' seem to have fostered a comraderie among the staff to return things to the places where found or to avoid cubby-holing resources.

[prof]

Do they still use their own textbooks filled totally with ripped off material from interchange and other such books?

Copyright be damned!

But you need to wear a tie. And if you teach Business Engish tell your students how important IP is.

[sttwo]

I haven't recognized stuff from "Interchange" in the "learning materials" I've used thus far; there is nothing that interesting.

There are no colored photos or colored diagrams. The materials are difficult to make cut offs to tag off with the team teacher. They have these listening exercises which most people don't use, but there are cassettes or CDs covering these and a few passable players to use for that purpose.

I find that teachers focus on games and mix and mingle activities, which, might be fun, but I seriously question whether the focused vocabulary, idioms, etc., are covered and practiced.

You can write on their glass walls and on their white boards until you're blue in the face and encourage the learners to try to use these expressions as much as you want, but unless they are "seated" during these "activities" they show absolutely no inclination to do so.

The only thing they have going for them is their workbook system which was designed to prepare students in advance of class so that they are familiarized with patterns, points, vocabulary, and idioms to be focused during each session. The problem is that no matter how one admonishes the "clientele" to take advantage of this preparation, they show no inclination to do so which is clear by their lack of familiarity during each and every class session.

[prof]

Ah, the Kai En story!

It's part of the book I'm writing.

Ken and Brian arriving from Taiwan. Starting a school with a local partner using copies of the textbooks they brought in their backpacks and a Chinese 1950's Maoist printing press, searching the bars for teachers.

And...quick success! Until the local partner wanted total control and knew their weaknesses: taking students to to the Portman Long Bar during happy hour and then back to the school provided housing! One night, the PSB were called...Midnight raid!! Who are these women??!! Guns drawn. They fled in the night.

And up from the Ashes came Kai En. A very convenient Shanghai wife with a father in the education bureau...

Get ready to buy the book....