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jonathanj
Joined: 09 Mar 2005
Posts: 93
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 Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 2:17 am Post subject: WECL (World Exchange College of Languages) in XIAMEN |
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| Does anyone have any opinions about, or experience with, WECL in Xiamen. I tried a search but came up empty. Thanks |
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jonathanj
Joined: 09 Mar 2005
Posts: 93
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 3:29 am Post subject: |
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| anyone work for WECL at all? I would really appreciate some info as I have an interview lined up soon. Thanks |
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clark.w.griswald
Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 2056
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 4:18 am Post subject: |
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In the absence of any personal experiences here I will let you know what I think for what that is worth.
Judging from the information on their website http://www.chinateaching.com/ it seems like a pretty normal program to me - nothing great, nothing terrible.
The website states that the workload is 20 hours a week but it does not state what the salary is. I assume that you know what salary they are offering and it should hopefully be in the order of RMB5,000-6,000 at least. Anything under that may give me cause for concern.
Looks like they are offering legal employment which is of course going to be to your benefit. You should contact teachers who have worked for them before so ask the program for these contact details. Check with these teachers that they got their Z visa and other documents in a timely fashion.
Accomodation and return air fare are provided which is pretty standard.
The only thing that worries me is that although they seem to have their own schools, it appears that they may farm you out to local schools to teach. This is not a problem as long as you are interested in doing this, but you don't want any surprises here so best confirm this upfront.
I would ask for a firm commitment as to what age groups you will be teaching and whether those classes are conducted in the school or outside. Also is there a curriculum provided / to be followed?
It looks like the program is targetting retired professional teachers which is a good sign from an experience/qualification aspect, and my guess would be that their packages may be more comprehensive than the average school in order to cater to this age group.
Does anyone else have any suggestions? |
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jonathanj
Joined: 09 Mar 2005
Posts: 93
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 4:32 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks for the input. The salary being advertised in 4000-5000RMB. I would be working in Xiamen, and there aren't a bunch of schools here for them to send me to. I do not want to do that anyways. I would much rather work at the same place. They do mention that most of their students are High School and University students. By this statement alone, I would assume that they send you out. I will make sure to ask that. Thanks again. Anyone else? |
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clark.w.griswald
Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 2056
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 5:03 am Post subject: |
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| jonathanj wrote: |
| The salary being advertised in 4000-5000RMB. |
That's not too bad, but of course RMB5,000 would likely be better than RMB4,000. I was a bit concerned that they may have been one of those programs that emphasizes the experience rather than paying a decent wage (i.e. programs that pay RMB2,000-3,000). It seems that they are not so that is a plus!
| jonathanj wrote: |
| I would be working in Xiamen, and there aren't a bunch of schools here for them to send me to. I do not want to do that anyways. I would much rather work at the same place. They do mention that most of their students are High School and University students. |
I noticed that in their website speil too, but I also noticed that most of the pictures on their website of teachers in action are with elementary aged kids. As far as schools for them to send you out to well there are actually plenty if you consider all of the elementary, junior high, and senior high schools in your area and the surrounding districts.
I did a stint with a program that 'farmed teachers out' to various schools and I actually quite enjoyed it. So I don't see those programs as a bad thing provided that the teacher is informed about it upfront. But you indicate that this is not what you want so I would recommend that you get confirmation on this in writing as I have suspicion that what you are expecting and what they are offering are two very different things. |
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vikdk
Joined: 25 Jun 2003
Posts: 1676
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 5:17 am Post subject: |
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| That's not too bad, but of course RMB5,000 would likely be better than RMB4,000. |
For any normal thinking FT this rate of pay is a disgrace - and if posters start to think: well this is a wonderful opportunity for retired teachers to have meaningful lives in China - just think of the meaningful FT wages they undercut - the wages of established FT's who live in this country. After all - just think of the fuss that would be stirred up in our home countries if retired teachers were allowed to enter the job market to work for wage rates that caused the general wages of other teachers to stagnate or even fall. But I suppose that�s China - the old and the young are the cheapest so pack 'em in - profit rather than education is the name of the game here!!! |
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jonathanj
Joined: 09 Mar 2005
Posts: 93
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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| vikdk wrote: |
| Quote: |
| That's not too bad, but of course RMB5,000 would likely be better than RMB4,000. |
For any normal thinking FT this rate of pay is a disgrace |
Other than Beijing, Shanghai, and HK, you are most likely going to see 5000RMB and below. I have had many job interviews in Fujian province, and I have never seen anything above 6000RMB, other than the *cough* better schools *cough* like King's English or Metro. The fact that these jobs are higher (in the 8000RMB range) is because they have you working like a dog, with absurd working hours. |
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vikdk
Joined: 25 Jun 2003
Posts: 1676
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 4:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Other than Beijing, Shanghai, and HK, you are most likely going to see 5000RMB and below. I have had many job interviews in Fujian province, and I have never seen anything above 6000RMB, other than the *cough* better schools *cough* like King's English or Metro. The fact that these jobs are higher (in the 800RMB range) is because they have you working like a dog. |
Well those wages are at such a pathetic level because of the ingenuity of recruiters in attracting the type of white skin that can be tempted to try this job for the least amount of pay - those who don�t expect to be paid much - the young and unqualified - or those who don't come for the money - the OAP's. This market certainly suites their needs. And if you think I'm being discriminatory - then think about how this market treats the serious qualified teacher hoping to make a serious long-term commitment to being an FT, a teacher who wants to earn a serious slice of the revenue generated from EFL teaching in China. Well their needs are so often undercut by the cheaper version of the FT - that one could even start to think over the concept of discrimination against the FT who actually has the audacity to think of FT work in China as being something that could be considered serious career  |
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jonathanj
Joined: 09 Mar 2005
Posts: 93
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 4:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Well, then what should an experienced teacher do? I don't have a tremendous amount of experience (about 5 years teaching in China and Japan). I have pretty much demanded higher wages in all interviews, and was pretty much laughed at, or given some sort of excuse. If too many newbies or under-qualified FTs are lowering the pay, how is one supposed to get a higher one without having to work more hours? Like I said, I have had at least 50 interviews in the last 5 years, and none have gone more than 500RMB to 1000RMB over what was advertised. I would like to know how one is supposed to make 10000RMB a month without moving to the over-crowded, polluted cities that are Peking, Shanghai, or HK. |
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kev7161
Joined: 06 Feb 2004
Posts: 5880
Location: Suzhou, China
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| Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 12:25 am Post subject: |
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The problem is, when it comes to these low salaries, is that nobody stays put. The majority of eslers have itchy feet and want to see other parts of the country/world. Many find working or living conditions deplorable (regardless if it is or not) and so they move on. Of course, there are those that only wanted to come here for a year or so for the "adventure" and then they're on that next jet plane home with their photo albums full and their suitcase stuffed with silk and pearl items.
The minute one esl teacher leaves, there are 20 behind him/her. There's no reason for schools to raise the pay - - unless you stay put and prove your worth and ask for pay increases come next contract.
There ARE jobs out there that pay 8,000 or more, but they are more difficult to track down or they do ask the teacher to work *gasp!* 30 or 35 hours a week. Oh the humanity! 
Finally, as long as "spoken English" is the task given to the white faces and you only see your students maybe once or twice a week, then the importance of an FT is minimal. Maybe a photo-op to put into schools' brochures or web pages. People get USED TO working 20 hours a week and find it hard to WANT to work more and they become content with a salary or 4000 a month (hey! plus free rent!). As long as this market maintains the current status quo, the more it will never change. |
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vikdk
Joined: 25 Jun 2003
Posts: 1676
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| Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 2:13 am Post subject: |
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| Well, then what should an experienced teacher do? |
Obviously, since so many recruits are determined to come and work for low pay, on a macro scale nothing much can be done - but having a whine here could at least nudge one or two of them into seriously thinking about this problem - and bring about a stop to those idiotic type statements, such as - I'm not here for the money. After all, unless we're doing real aid work, then we're all here because of the money - since it's only because of the money that's generated through putting white English speaking skin into the Chinese classroom that so many jobs exist (many new FT's soon find out that, on the front-line, the actual teaching of English seems to take a lowly second place to profit protection). So, it follows, that if recruits meekly accept low pay without trying to bargain or move on if those pay rates aren't raised, they're helping set a poor wage standard that employers are only too glad to follow 
By the way why am I ranting in this thread - well this WECL organisation, on the surface, seem a preety iffy bunch. They're targeting a type of recruit - the retired - who obviously aren't going to be the type of recruit who will demand a huge wage - and sending them off to 20hours/week of regular FT type jobs (that's a lot of hours when prep and potential transport time is calculated together with it). But then again I know nothing of this company - and it may indeed be run by an angel of mercy who's main concern is the well-being of bored Canadian OAP's (and of course buying that Audi for the secret second wife). |
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