TEFL Job Review: China

Showing posts with label China. Show all posts

Showing posts with label China. Show all posts

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Jobs of the Week June 30, 2013

GOOD

Wrinkly Gus is happy with these jobs!

1)Earlybirds – China

jobs@earlybirds.cn

Sounds like a sweet deal. But other than the name of this recruiter, is the sentence at the bottom of the post that really grates against my kisser. You claim you are not a recruiter, but what you describe IS what the job of a recruiter does. No matter if you have ‘personal’ relationships with universities. You are sending out job posts in order to recruit teachers for those specific posts.

It’s like a pig dressed up as a woman, saying it’s not a pig.

Insulting to my intelligence, but still sounds good.

2) Semyung University – Korea

ktw5797@semyung.ac.kr

Alright! 4 day work week! Low number of students and contact hours! Though, a position more suitable for (somewhat) experienced teachers with qualifications.

Sign me up! But negotiated wisely for adequate pay. Remember: you’re an educated person, don’t let them lowball you.

3) Kangwon National University - Korea

langcntr@kangwon.ac.kr

Low pay for the type of qualifications and experience this place is looking for. With that in mind, low contact hours, ample vacation time and partly-furnished housing. No mention of flights...

Give it a go if you’ve got at least a year teaching experience with BA or MA...though, I’d negotiate for a minimum of 2.5 Won/ month.

BAD

Angry or pooping? Or pooping angrily?

4) WithAble Recruiting – Korea

withable3@gmail.com

I’m sketched out by the gmail address. But with that in mind, this recruiter has a range of jobs for your perusal. Different locations with salary between 2.0 – 2.7 million Won. However, some of the contact hours reach upwards of 30 (for kindy, no less) and require you to work 10 hours in one day. Will you lose your sanity teaching kindergarteners 6 – 8 contact hours per day and remain in the office for an addition 2-4 hours? Salary is pretty low for the work demand.

Keep looking.

5) Orange Education Co - Korea

eduorange@hotmail.com

If a stable, reputable recruiter for the last 11 years, why are you still using a Hotmail address? The website offers suitable information about aspects of the job (contact hours, pay, holidays, etc). Be careful though, since Orange Education Co. is a recruiter, the demands of the director/ principal of language institutes may differ than what is stipulated on the OECo. website. For most of the jobs, there seems to be high contact hours with low pay and are looking for Kyopo teachers (F visas) and E2 visa holders already inside Korea.

As well, misspelled words and grammar errors proliferate on the job posting.

Beware.

6) ACE Recruiting Agency – Korea

acecareer@hotmail.com

Go to the ACE Career website, under Recruiting Info, and you will read about teacher’s home leave after signing another contract.

I don’t like the unpaid 14 day home leave for teachers who will re-sign. That’s how you pay back your loyal teachers?

I find that extremely offensive, especially when most other institutes pay you for vacation time.

No thanks.

NOT WORTH IT

[witty caption redacted due to the image speaking for itself]

7) Expertise Education – Beijing, China

hr@expertiseedu.com

No mention of contact hours. Salary is disgustingly low. Look elsewhere. Also, this company should think about renaming it since it sounds so much like the disreputable Education Experts in Saudi Arabia.

Pass...

8) China TEFL Network (CTN)

admin@helengroup.com

This post is sloppily presented. Reading it makes my eyes hurt, and my heart as well when I read the range of salary offered at the different schools.

White space is important when reading. Organize the information into salary ranges. Learn how to write links in your job post. It's much cleaner...unorganized noob.

No thank you.

9) Korea International School Beijing – China

kisbwj@gmail.com

You had me at the salary! But then made me think twice about a small detail you tried to sneak past me.

Yes, 20 contact hours per week is good. Yes, the housing and pay are great too.

But... you have to submit weekly lesson plans. Any good teacher has a lesson plan, but I think you will have to submit highly detailed plans for approval. If you are making the curriculum from scratch, you’ll easily be working 60 hours per week in preparation and teaching.

Go sit on an egg.

10) British Academic Centre – Moscow Region – Russia

recruit@bc-english.ru

No mention of contact hours. No mention if provided housing is shared or not. No mention of the amount of vacation time. Pay is little more than slave wages. Also, it’s located in the Moscow ‘Region.’ You could be out in the boonies.

Likewise, go sit on an egg.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Jobs of the Week June 23, 2013

Some good pickin's to finally whet my appetite. And in case you’re wondering, I don’t work for EF or English First. Good huntin’ to the lot of you.

GOOD

Hopefully this will be you

1) EF English First Yuci – China

Comprehensive package on offer: accommodation, salary, bonus, flight allowance. Quite generous for noobs fresh out of University. Though, no mention of contact hours.

2) Golden Bridge Training Center – China

Low pay, but what can you expect for 0 years of experience and working in China? From the post, I gather there’s solid support for new teachers, provided accommodation, generous holidays on offer (though one could expect to be teaching for Winter Camp holidays, and if you are paid for it is another question to ask in the interview) free Chinese lessons.

Give it a go.

3) English First – Hefei, China

Good package for noob teachers, but does require a TEFL cert. The pay is quite low for candidates with a CELTA. Don’t they know it costs around $2,000 for that training?

4) EF English First Swara Group – Indonesia

No mention of salary or even a range. ‘Accommodation assistance,’ which means you will not be provided an allowance. Flight allowance (return ticket, though from where? You home country, hopefully.) No mention of contact hours or number of students in class. As well, you have the choice of working in Jakarta or the outskirts. Be careful of a bait and switch, as Jakarta differs drastically from the countryside.

I would apply, but ask many, many questions.

5) Oxford House College – UK

If I was going back home this summer, I’d apply. Low pay, but provided meals and accommodation.

6) SELECT EMPLOYMENT – Turkey

Good pay...for Turkey. But you’ll be paying for rent out of your take home salary. Flight allowance. No mention of contact hours, though I’m sure they will differ depending on what age groups you’ll teach. Expect more hours for young learners. Job post requests teachers have 1 year experience + CELTA.

BAD

Choose where to send your C. V. wisely!

7) COMPASS Education - Vietnam

While not entirely bad, as the presentation of the post is helpful and straightforward. The only inference worth noting is the pay and accommodation. If you are paid hourly and your contact hours drop, you could make substantially less money. Makes things difficult, such as ensuring you have enough money to pay rent at the end of the month.

I would look for a salaried position.

8) Meten English – China

Not too bad. Yes the flight is reimbursed, along with the visa and medical costs, but are you provided with an outgoing or return flight? 40 hour week with 25 contact hours is not too bad. But using the other 15 hours to learn about Meten’s methodological approach could mean a very tiring work week. I would understand this if your teachers were noobs, but the job requires the teacher to be TEFL certified.

Could be promising if you ask the right questions: salary? accommodation allowance?

NOT WORTH IT

Choosing this job is just as terrible a choice as the tats above.

9) Kidz-n-us – Hong Kong, China

Good salary, but you’ll be paying for accommodation. It can be quite expensive in Hong Kong.

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Jobs of the Week May 19, 2013

GOOD

1) Teaching Children English in China

Excellent package on offer in Beijing. But you’ll be teaching kids, and you’ll be paying for accommodation out of your own pocket. Ask about number of contact hours/ week.

2) Native English-Speaking Kindergarten Teacher Needed in Hong Kong

Excellent package, though you will pay for accommodation. Again, ask about the number of contact hours/ week.

BAD

3) Native English Teacher needed starting late February 2013 in Dongying City, Shandong, China

Well, not too bad...but it will be difficult trying to get a conversation out of 6-16 year old kids. Quite a rural location. Only go if you want the ‘authentic’ Chinese cultural experience. The low pay is offset by the generous vacation time, flight airfare (provided in lieu of severance – ahem, ahem) and provided accommodation. Post is requesting teachers for early February...but the posting is May 18, 2013....

4) English Teaching Positions in Thailand

35,000 Baht per month, and you got to foot the bill for accommodation? 15-25 hours teaching per week? Classes are 3 hours each? I hope to God for the teacher's sanity there's a break half-way through. Eh, not too bad. But not the best out there. BFITS provides the curriculum for you, so prep. time is limited. 11 month contract means you don’t get paid for one of those summer months. If you is a noob, you can get this job so long as your BA is related to teaching (ie English, TESOL, Education, Linguistics, etc.)

NOT WORTH IT

5) ESL Teaching Position in Foreigner Owned & Run Training Centre

Low pay, part of which will go towards accommodation. 30 periods / week teaching Young Learners? No. Not even close, bud. Choose another job.

ONLY FOR THE DESPERATE/ KIND-HEARTED

6) Native English Teacher needed ASAP!

Low pay, 30 contact hours, but accommodation provided and you’re in Brazil! Waka – waka...I guess that’s South Africa (Shakira) and the Muppets (Fawzy). If you are desperate, or like to help out those less fortunate learn English, apply, apply, apply!

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Jobs of the Week 12 May 2013

GOOD

English First (EF) Academic Partnerships - English Teacher at University in Shanghai

Good salary working for a university in a great location. Low hours and the opportunity to earn extra income during holidays make this a job to apply for.

RAY English Recruitment- TEACH IN CHINA!!

Comprehensive post with all questions answered but one: how many teaching hours per week?

Accommodation is provided, but will you be sharing with another teacher?

Salary is quite low. If you do have a TEFL/ CELTA cert, negotiate for at least 12, 000 RMB.

Becamex – Vietnam

A very high salary and severance on offer here in a beautiful spot in SE Asia. Accommodation provided and decent vacation time (30 days inclusive of public holidays), opportunities for IELTS examiner training. But no mention of contact hours, or if you have to work on Saturday.

BAD

Aston Business Consulting - High School English and/or US history teacher needed for semi-tropical Quanzhou, China

I’m surprised the salary is so low for content teachers. If you have Literature/ History experience in the US, that usually means you are certified to teach in High School, which garners more money, at least for other schools in China.

11 month contract means they will not pay for your holidays. That is a shiesty way to treat teachers who have worked their ass of for upwards of 30 students in each class, for 25 hours per week.

At least they provide you with accommodation and foot the visa costs.

Istra School - EFL Teacher – Russia

Not a bad package. $1,500 / month, shared accommodation. Contact hours? Holidays? Not mentioned...and you’re an hour away from Moscow.

TLTP Teach Global - English Teachers – Saudi Arabia

No mention of salary, contact hours. Because the required qualifications are only a CELTA/ TEFL certificate, they will rape you on the salary. Expect $1,800 – 2,500 at best. You’ve been warned.

NOT WORTH IT

European Centre - Corporate English Language Instructors – Saudi Arabia

No mention of anything helpful for a candidate to make a decision to submit a resume.

Nothing about contact hours, accommodation, flights, visas...in short if they don’t take the time to post the necessary information about the job, I don’t want to waste my time with them.

Keep looking.

ISUS - Online Language Teachers

This company always has a job post on TEFL.com. I applied a few years ago, just to see what the process was. Not a single word from them. Why wouldn’t they entertain a Ph. D. in Education fluent in three languages?

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