Job Discussion Forums

pauleslteacher1 · Joined: 17 Mar 2007 Posts: 108 Location: Indonesia

Recently I saw some banners (spanduk) for a new EF opening in my area this month. They said join EF with "A Brand New Look And Feel"... They are offering 200,000 Rupiahs off, free registration and a free trial class... Wow! But the banners failed to give the address of the "new EF"... Sad

A printing error or perhaps some new promotional strategy...?? Hmmm.. Have to go with the printing error excuse...

Having worked for EF about 5 years ago... (Medan/Pekanbaru), I was quite interested to find out more. So I took a look around and found the new EF (Ruko) near 2 lively karoke bars with a bunch more around the corner... Then as you look into the main "lobby"... a few chairs and a sofa, kind of crowded in... At the entrance at least 12 A/C fans just above the EF sign.. Nice... Laughing

"A Brand New Look and Feel"... hmmmm.... Should be interesting to see what happens....

laughing_magpie06 · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 282

They can market it and repackage it all they like but at the end of the day it is still EF. You can't dress mutton up like lamb.

guruengerish · Joined: 28 Mar 2004 Posts: 424 Location: Australia

I would consider a 'new look' for EF to have classrooms actually large enough to allow classroom activities.

Having been converted to 'learning through doing', I found that pair, group and fun activities contributed much to the English class; Sadly, my EF classrooms left little room for late-comers to squeeze past other students to a vacant chair.

However, crowded classrooms appear to be the norm in Indonesia, and so the students sit for one hour and ten minutes. Hopefully the 'new look EF' includes bigger and better chairs.

ezekiel · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Posts: 79 Location: Indonesia

"Brand new look and feel", eh?
I reckon they should have used the words 'not bad' or 'a bit better than it was before'...since when has "brand new" meant "better"?
..perhaps they should start promoting their "brand new teachers"..that should really attract the discerning customer!!
In Medan they'll be lucky to get some 'not bad' teachers and will probably never get any 'a bit better than they were before'! Laughing

You can't dress mutton up like lamb. I always thought that idiom was for a woman who liked to dress like a girl..does that mean that EF is an old tart trying to look like a pretty schoolgirl?
In the U.K. we have a different, somewhat cruder expression which could be applied to EF franchises (in Indonesia)..
"You can't polish a t**d." Shocked

salam

guruengerish · Joined: 28 Mar 2004 Posts: 424 Location: Australia

"You can't polish a t**d."

Sorry lad, but I can't resist this:

Where there's muck, there's brass. Wink

treacle · Joined: 18 Jun 2007 Posts: 36 Location: the hills

how many of you guys that post on dave's actually work for EF?? I'd hazard a guess at 70%...? Based on the amount of knowledge folk seem to have..

beefer · Joined: 10 Feb 2006 Posts: 238 Location: java

pauleslteacher1 · Joined: 17 Mar 2007 Posts: 108 Location: Indonesia

Beefer... Blasting EF??? Actually when did I do that? Perhaps a bit of sarcasm...."guilty as charged" Rolling Eyes

And yes you are right, it could be a well run school with professional teachers.. But putting it near a bunch of karoke bars, to me, is starting off on the wrong foot..

ezekiel · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Posts: 79 Location: Indonesia

beefer yes it could be a good franchise and maybe they will do so well that they will give EF back their previous good reputation.
Personally, I will say what I like about my own experience with EF..bitter? Yes! Cynical? Damn right! The former EF franchisee in Medan suddenly went bankrupt in 2005, leaving me (and others) without a job just before my daughter was born, forcing me to sell my car and other possessions and adding stress and anguish to what should have been a happy time for myself and my wife. EF as an organisation has a lot of work to do to prove itself to me again, so, however true it may be for other teachers, don't try to tell me that EF 'made me what I am today.'

salam

laughing_magpie06 · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 282

Beefer,

I base my views on the fact that I have worked at three EF schools, two of which have several franchises with the same owner. In baseball three strikes and you're out right? In all cases either myself or some of my colleagues have been mistreated, lied to, ripped off or worse. The last school I worked at there was a plot to get rid of me before my contract ended to avoid paying my end of contract bonus. They also cut back on the biscuit jar because they said it was costing too much money. At this time the owner bought another luxury car. This occured while I was taking leave to watch the birth of my son. Luckily for me I worked in a close knit group and it was found out so they lost face and kept me till the end.

I also have a beef (pardon the pun) with DoS's who have no former managerial background and very little education or work experience in their country of origin. I would be pleased if any DoS from EF were to disclose their experience from their homeland to us just to prove me wrong. Even coaching the peewee football team is sufficient for me.

In case anyone wishes to challenge me on my teaching credentials I have had absolutely no problems with any other organisation and have good references to back it up. I currently teach adults, mostly professionals, and my current job is many steps up from EF's low standards.

treacle · Joined: 18 Jun 2007 Posts: 36 Location: the hills

I say shame on you all for your empty posts. this could be a good little franchise, run by a good director who made an effort to hire some good staff and teachers....

Do you work for EF by any chance?

beefer · Joined: 10 Feb 2006 Posts: 238 Location: java

Kebo · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 26

I have never worked for EF. Therefore I have no opinion.
I don't feel the need to brag about where I am or b1@tch about where I could be.
Make your own way!

Dave Nesbit · Joined: 18 Sep 2006 Posts: 16

also have a beef (pardon the pun) with DoS's who have no former managerial background and very little education or work experience in their country of origin. I would be pleased if any DoS from EF were to disclose their experience from their homeland to us just to prove me wrong. Even coaching the peewee football team is sufficient for me.

Ok, as a former EF Dos I'll bite.

Prior to taking up a teaching career I had eight years work experience in the financial sector in London. The last four of these in a variety of supervisory and management positions.

After going into teaching my managerial background can be summarised thus; One year as a Dos in a London school, seven years in management level positions in various Indonesian establishments prior to taking up the postion of Dos at EF, which I held for three years, and one year in a management position elsewhere since.

Oh, and was also player-manager of an adult football team in the UK for four years from the age of 19 onwards. Very Happy

pauleslteacher1 · Joined: 17 Mar 2007 Posts: 108 Location: Indonesia

I am sure there are a few more DOS's like you out there Dave, but in my time with EF I met only 1 who had similar qualifications and was a nice guy to boot....

In Medan/Pekanbaru... The owner tended to hire DOS's he could control and get to do his bidding... The only good DOS that I worked with was when I first landed in Indonesia, he lasted 6 months and left in a hurry after his contract was over.. the rest were crap...