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jmc616123
Joined: 09 Dec 2010
Posts: 3
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 Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 11:21 pm Post subject: Any info about EF Shanghai ? ? ? |
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Hey folks,
My first posting on Dave's so be easy on me.
"Newbie" in the sense of posting on Dave's = yes. Newbie in the sense of ESL teacher = far from it. 15+ years on 3 continents, former Fulbright exchange teacher (Bogota, Colombia), fluent Spanish, lived, worked, and/or traveled in 40 countries on 6 continents, Master's in TESOL since 1997, blah, blah, blah . . .
So - will be interviewing (Skype) from Ecuador (where I'm currently wasting time - seriously horrible "bilingual" school) for a Director of Studies position with EF in Shanghai (I already have many years of experience in the NYC public schools as ESL Dept. Chair / Coordinator), in like, 2 days, and am wondering (hoping?) if anyone out there in cyberworld can give me any of the skinny about EF Shanghai?
I know EF is notorious for overwork and underpay but I'm just spinning my wheels here in Ecuador and "time's a wasting" (Cash and Carter). Besides I have a 7 year old daughter who lives with her Mom in Bogota, Colombia and would sure like to parlay this into an eventual transference to EF in Bogota to be close to my darling daughter.
Seriously - ANY (recent) info.? Good, bad, indifferent . . . it will be more than I currently have. Many thanks in advance and . . .
Peace,
Joe |
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The Great Wall of Whiner
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 4946
Location: Blabbing
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| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 12:37 am Post subject: |
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I was offered a DOS position a couple years ago and turned it down. The workload seemed intense for the money offered and a large chunk of that was towards housing anyways.
Summers and winters you can basically say goodbye to any free time. 15,000 RMB a month is not bad but when you have to spend a good 1/3rd of it on housing... no thanks.
I actually like EF itself don't get me wrong. But I think they need to re-check the laws about schools that hire foreigners and the clauses about housing.
Good luck, I'd look at Beijing EF as an alternative. |
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TexasHighway
Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 779
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| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 2:19 am Post subject: |
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jmc616123 wrote:
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| I know EF is notorious for overwork and underpay |
You appear well aware of EF's reputation and Shanghai is no better. I was offered a job with them in Shanghai several years ago. For a 40 hour week, I would be getting essentially the same pay as I was making already just working 1/3 that amount of time. Also, I would be working 12 months a year, not the 8 months I was working though I was being paid for 12. Judging by your impressive credentials, you appear to be grossly overqualified for any EF position in Shanghai. I know you are not happy in your current situation but I wouldn't advise jumping from the frying pan into the fire. I think you can do a lot better. |
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 2:55 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| But I think they need to re-check the laws about schools that hire foreigners and the clauses about housing |
What they do is make up their own rules about these things and pass them off as "law". EF is just too weird. |
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 2:59 am Post subject: |
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| By the way, OP, I've noticed several job announcements from EF that state that they are prohibited from getting Z visas for teachers over 35 years old. Another rule that they say is the law. |
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The Great Wall of Whiner
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 4946
Location: Blabbing
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| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 3:55 am Post subject: |
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| johntpartee wrote: |
| By the way, OP, I've noticed several job announcements from EF that state that they are prohibited from getting Z visas for teachers over 35 years old. Another rule that they say is the law. |
I've seen it, too. But I guess the 'national' laws vary region to region. EF Changchun has 35+ year-olds, for example.
I won't paint all EF's with the same brush. It depends on who is running each individual EF. I enjoyed my short time at Dongying EF, and I have friends who did Dalian EF, Shenyang EF, Beijing EF and Tangshan EF and they for the most part were content.
It's just like McDonald's here. Sometimes they give you 'mei you' when it's 8 AM and you ask for an egg McMuffin and all they seem to have are those horrible deep-fried pies and chicken burgers.
Franchises are just that--franchises. |
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80daze
Joined: 15 Oct 2008
Posts: 118
Location: China
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| Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 6:11 am Post subject: |
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EF Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen are not part of any franchise! They are the real deal (so to speak) and are part of the much bigger Education First company.
EF's in the other cities are franchises and as such are run differently from each other in China. |
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TexasHighway
Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 779
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| Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 3:42 pm Post subject: |
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The Great Wall of Whiner wrote:
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| It's just like McDonald's here. |
I think that says it all. |
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The Great Wall of Whiner
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 4946
Location: Blabbing
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| Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 2:24 pm Post subject: |
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| 80daze wrote: |
EF Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen are not part of any franchise! They are the real deal (so to speak) and are part of the much bigger Education First company.
EF's in the other cities are franchises and as such are run differently from each other in China. |
This is true and I apologize.
EF's in the major cities are corporate-run, and the ones outside the major cities mentioned are franchises. |
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seamallowance
Joined: 20 Apr 2010
Posts: 151
Location: Weishan, Jining, Shandong
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 9:57 am Post subject: |
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| That may explain why the EF in Jining is so bloody awful. Stay away! |
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dogUNLEASHED
Joined: 07 May 2008
Posts: 42
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| Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 4:57 am Post subject: |
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| Do all of the EFs not give a furnished apartment, or is it only some EFs? |
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Frank_Castle
Joined: 29 Sep 2010
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 10:23 am Post subject: |
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I did a skype interview for EF in Beijing quite awhile ago. It was with a Miss Caroline Sheldon out of Shanghai, I do believe, I wasnt impressed with their offer so I turned them down. She is the "gate keeper" for the bigger city's EF, is that still the case ? I have a friend who was in-between teachings jobs did a skype interview with her as well, and apperently he was not qualified enough to teach for EF at all! He had a MA, BA, 1 year in china at a language mill, and has alright chinese. She said he was under qualified, and that she had people with 4-5 years teaching in China, and Celta's applying!
After reading alot of what people on this forum have to say about EF, and talking with other teachers who have taught at EF, I gather they are the near the bottom of the barrel when it comes to teaching. Have any of you with 4-5 years of teaching in China under your belt seriously considered EF ? |
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jmc616123
Joined: 09 Dec 2010
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2010 7:59 pm Post subject: Thanks for all the input ! |
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I'm the original poster of this string. Did Skype interview with Kate Burden out of the Shanghai office. We spoke for an hour and a half. With 15 years as an ESL professional, MS (TESOL) I thought the job was in the bag - though I was very unsure as to wheteher I would accept if offered. "Thankfully" I was denied. Whew!
My take? EF wants people they can boss around with total impunity (read: you're "lucky" to have this job so shut up and do what you're told) and I'm certainly NOT one of those. A very hard worker, definitely, ESL professional, check. A walkover? Move on. As I have.
Again many thanks to those who put their 2 cents in. I really do appreciate your input.
Peace! |
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sharpe88
Joined: 21 Oct 2008
Posts: 226
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| Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 7:22 am Post subject: |
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| ^ yeah, they want young, energetic kids that they can boss around. |
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80daze
Joined: 15 Oct 2008
Posts: 118
Location: China
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| Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 8:18 am Post subject: |
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| The Great Wall of Whiner wrote: |
| 80daze wrote: |
EF Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen are not part of any franchise! They are the real deal (so to speak) and are part of the much bigger Education First company.
EF's in the other cities are franchises and as such are run differently from each other in China. |
This is true and I apologize.
EF's in the major cities are corporate-run, and the ones outside the major cities mentioned are franchises. |
 No worries
I have a friend who works for them in Guangzhou and he says it looks like they might buy back the rights from some of the worst franchise owners.
Maybe they received too many complaints from disgruntled ex-teachers or students. |
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