I am a teacher and administrator at this school. I am not afraid to use my own name or give the current emails of all my teachers that work with me right now.
Why do I think this is a good school? Because I treat the teachers how I want to be treated. I have taught in China for over 6 years. I told myself I would never bullshyt my teachers.
I try to block my teachers hours so they aren't spread out in the day, I allow them to work at other schools if they have openings in their schedules.
I make sure they are trained to teach classes. Majority of my teachers can explain why "I teach he." is incorrect. Majority of my teachers can explain what a present perfect tense is and how to use it. I honestly wonder how many teachers can explain this without looking it up. Mine CAN!!
My teachers can arrange vacation times whenver they want with advance notice, except summers :) BUSY TIME for us:)
Our payment policy is if we are late we pay 1/2% penalty daily. Has happend twice to my teachers because the accountant was on vacation or because of holiday scheduling - payday falling on a Sunday. We pay all our teachers in arrears for the month.
I help my teachers get settled and find housing that suits them not some shack that the normal deals get. We pay you more so that you can pick your own place. I believe that making the teacher comfortable will improve their outlook on life.
We offer free Chinese classes to teachers teaching more than 10 hours at our school.
We have small classes. Average 3-6 students. Prep and grading time is about 30 min to an hour for new teachers, shorter for older teachers because they have all the materials already made.
I am an equal opportunity employer. I have a tendency to hire native bilingual teachers. I don't just hire you because you look white and speak English and throw you a book and tell you to teach. My current teacher composition of the last year is:
1 Russian 1 Belaroussian 1 Philipino 1 Ugandan 1 Venezuelan 1 Canadian 1 Korean 11 Americans 1 British 10 Chinese
If my teachers have problems, I try my best with reason to help them. I don't hold my teachers back, if they can get a better deal from somewhere else - take it. If you are on our Z visa, I will give you a release letter and 60 days to get it transferred else where. Since teachers are picking up this cost, its kewl. Since most of my teachers are free to work at other places on our visas, we really don't have this problem.
My teacher turn over average is about 1-2 years for my full time.
My P/T teachers make 5-10k a month My F/T teachers make 10-25k a month.
You have 60 days to make up your mind as to stay on or leave, but that goes for the school too.
Class scheduling goes by senority and ability. Senoir teachers get to cherry pick their classes and schedules first, left overs are for the new hires. I ask senoir teachers first if they want the class and it works it way down.
Whatever I promise, I am willing to put on paper. Most of my teachers are working without contracts and on good faith. My salary teachers require contracts. Most of my teachers are hourly, any teacher can give me 2 week notice, although I prefer a month to find a replacement.
I have prejudices against certain hires. I want teachers to show up on time and prepared. No alcohol on your breath - wait till after class please. No pedophiles!!! People who call in sick once a week on Friday nights and Monday mornings. Helpful if you can speak 2 languages, if you know grammar major plus - explanations such as, this is how we say it are not acceptable aside from the idioms class.
Honestly!! You couldn't ask for a kewler boss. As for me, I am a Californian, prefer easy going and no stress atmospheres. Do your job come in on time and expect to get paid. Don't have to worry about nickel and diming from us. We pay you for the hour teaching 50 minutes. 10 minute break mandatory LOL.
PS. If you know any other school that has these conditions let me know. I like to keep a list of good schools so that I can send my teachers there if they want more hours. Beijing area only please :)
(In these notes, feminine pronouns can be substituted for masculine ones. Remember Bonnie and Clyde!)
When choosing a school, consider the following points carefully. If an employer demonstrates a reluctance to commit himself to any of the following terms in writing, in English, signed in original ink, on headed paper, and delivered into your hands before you arrive in the target country, ask yourself: why? Remember that there are some employers who love money so much that they will stop at no unscrupulous practice, including threatening violence, to those who challenge them. They will often use native English speakers as servants, who appear to be completely honest and open, to lure you to a country where you will then feel you have no choice but to submit to them. This advice is intended to prevent that from happening. Look after yourselves - and each other!
1. Rates of pay
What will you be paid, and what will you be expected to do for it? Where the employer deducts money from your hard-earned wages, is he willing to provide written citations referring to specific legal provisions of the target country as authority for doing so, which you can check independently of what he says? Is your pay accompanied by an honest, itemised wage slip that you don't need to be Einstein to understand?
2. Hours of work
Are you guaranteed minimum and maximum numbers of teaching hours? In my opinion, twenty hours of class contact time is a full-time commitment. Some employers, especially those who have never personally taught in a classroom, will have no qualms about working you into an early grave. Say no before that happens! The only reason you are in that classroom is because they need you more than you need them!
3. Travelling time
If you spend hours travelling between places of work, how much compensation will you receive for this? Who pays for your travel expenses?
4. Legal status
If there are legal formalities you must comply with to be legally resident, will the employer provide you with all reasonable assistance to obtain a visa, for example? Remember that if you are content to put yourself outside the protection of the law, you are at the mercy of some potentially very unscrupulous people.
5. Bank account
Will the employer facilitate the opening of a bank account for you? If not, why not? And if he insists on paying you in cash, will he provide you with a written indemnity, agreeing to reimburse you for any loss of that cash arising if you are the victim of crime?
6. Holidays
Remember that in many countries, you have a legal entitlement to paid holidays (annual leave as well as statutory "bank" holidays). Look on the Internet. Do some basic research.
7. Illness
What happens if you fall ill? Are you paid for time that you may have to take off? Who pays for any medical expenses? If you are expected to use public health services, is it clear to you that the employer is even prepared to pay all of the taxes that he should (and out of your wages!) to play his part in ensuring the quality of those public services? If there are inadequate medical facilities in the target country, will the employer extend to you the benefit of a reputable insurance policy? If so, what will it cost you? Will he furnish you with reliable evidence of this so that you are satisfied that he is not just telling you a story?
8. References
What about if you want to leave? You should try to honour all of the terms of your agreement with your employer, but what happens if, for example, you need to start to look for another job before the end of your contract? Remember that some employers will repay your loyalty and dedication by using tactics designed to keep you in their service. You are a source of money, and that's all some employers care about.
I practised as a UK solicitor for 11 years on and off (I am still entitled to do so), and even I have been fooled. This advice is provided without the cloak of anonymity, at considerable personal risk, without charge, and in the hope that it will be widely circulated, without being edited, as a simple, single contribution to raising standards in what is one of the noblest professions - teaching.
I agree with what Adrian says, many admins are unscruplous cads. I personally don't have to write contracts with my teachers because my word is good enough, but I have no problems with putting stuff on paper.
As for release and recommendations, heck I can give you names of my teachers that have broken their agreements with me and wanted to leave after they got our training. I would much have a teacher that wants to be at the school then one who doesn't want to be at the school. When one of my teachers gets a better deal from someone else then I let them go. I had 1 teacher who complained that working 12 hours was too much, he used our visa to work at another school for 6 months, later he came to me asking to use our work permit to work at another school. I gave him a release letter. I had another teacher who after receiving his training quit 2 weeks afterwards because he had a family to support and needed more hours as a Business English teacher. I gave him 2 1/2 months to to go find another sponsor. Teachers sometimes don't understand. If you leave a school, it is required to turn your documentation back into the PSB and notify Education Ministry as to your status. You know how anal the Chinese govt can be when it comes to monitoring foreign nationals in their country, but I think they have that right. Is their any country that doesn't like to keep track of their foreign population? I think US and Europe have even stricter monitoring policies.
As for the way I had run things at this school, when my teachers are willing to accept my word as good enough - especially in China - that should say a lot of my character. When teachers tell me they want to leave because I am leaving the school and not managing the situation, I understand that also.
As for teachers researching as school, my advice is find out about the management first! Ask for e-mails of current existing teachers. A schools management will change but their name may not.
For example, As an American, Do you think that all Americans agree with Bush as the perfect role model for America? However, his policies whether good or bad will be born by the country. If he does something bad, does it mean America is a bad country, or that all Americans are the same as him?
In this context, it goes for the same for any small organization or multi-billion dollar corporation. Leadership and management drastically affect an organizations direction and reputation. I know companies and markets that can adjust as much as 10% in a single day just by who is leading the company.
As for reputation, you being a solicitor - do you think that management styles of King George, Margaret Thatcher, and Tony Blair are the same, but does the country or organization take the blame for it? I bet as English Subject you are now faced with the same problems that Americans have. We used to be able to travel the world in relative safety and were welcomed by many nations. Do you think that your intangible rights of being able to travel been impaired - Do you know how many Americans cannot travel to places now because it is to dangerous. This is the result of management.
Food for thought as to if a school is good or bad. I would much rather have a list of good and bad managers than good and bad schools.
One "White" schools I have taught at and wld recommend to anyone with integrity:
St. John's College (the high school) in Bangkok. Super staff: James,Head of Ctr., Scott, like Tonto but cuter and more helpful, and the two Thai ladies in the office and lots of support.
In 2008, from February to June, I worked for a Bologna school called Speakeasy srl, and I can say it was the best training experience of my life (I started as someone who was new to the job despite my certificate, but now -teaching back home - I can say I am reaping all the benefits). Everybody there was very nice and friendly...the approach is informal, and I was treated with respect all the time. The pay was not high (10 euros an hour), but I was offered the same in 5 other schools in town and I decided to work there because I liked the atmosphere and it was near home. I was offered a contract, which was not really advantageous but that's what you usually get in Italy. I was trained for a week by the director, who is extremely competent (although I disagree with a few of her teaching tenets, I can't deny this) and got all the support I needed. They are very particular about teaching quality, and their students seemed to be happy to come to the school (a high percentage of success at ESOL exams was one of the school's flagships). They were informed by the EFR for Languages, and that's what I liked most: it really works, and I could see student progress every day. Staff are very committed, friendly, a bit disorganized sometimes, but that's perhaps down to the fact that they have a lot of students and not enough staff to handle them. Definitely Ok despite their lack of organisation.
7 comments:
San Jie Foreign Language School
I am a teacher and administrator at this school. I am not afraid to use my own name or give the current emails of all my teachers that work with me right now.
Why do I think this is a good school? Because I treat the teachers how I want to be treated. I have taught in China for over 6 years. I told myself I would never bullshyt my teachers.
I try to block my teachers hours so they aren't spread out in the day, I allow them to work at other schools if they have openings in their schedules.
I make sure they are trained to teach classes. Majority of my teachers can explain why "I teach he." is incorrect. Majority of my teachers can explain what a present perfect tense is and how to use it. I honestly wonder how many teachers can explain this without looking it up. Mine CAN!!
My teachers can arrange vacation times whenver they want with advance notice, except summers :) BUSY TIME for us:)
Our payment policy is if we are late we pay 1/2% penalty daily. Has happend twice to my teachers because the accountant was on vacation or because of holiday scheduling - payday falling on a Sunday. We pay all our teachers in arrears for the month.
I help my teachers get settled and find housing that suits them not some shack that the normal deals get. We pay you more so that you can pick your own place. I believe that making the teacher comfortable will improve their outlook on life.
We offer free Chinese classes to teachers teaching more than 10 hours at our school.
We have small classes. Average 3-6 students. Prep and grading time is about 30 min to an hour for new teachers, shorter for older teachers because they have all the materials already made.
I am an equal opportunity employer. I have a tendency to hire native bilingual teachers. I don't just hire you because you look white and speak English and throw you a book and tell you to teach. My current teacher composition of the last year is:
1 Russian
1 Belaroussian
1 Philipino
1 Ugandan
1 Venezuelan
1 Canadian
1 Korean
11 Americans
1 British
10 Chinese
If my teachers have problems, I try my best with reason to help them. I don't hold my teachers back, if they can get a better deal from somewhere else - take it. If you are on our Z visa, I will give you a release letter and 60 days to get it transferred else where. Since teachers are picking up this cost, its kewl. Since most of my teachers are free to work at other places on our visas, we really don't have this problem.
My teacher turn over average is about 1-2 years for my full time.
My P/T teachers make 5-10k a month
My F/T teachers make 10-25k a month.
You have 60 days to make up your mind as to stay on or leave, but that goes for the school too.
Class scheduling goes by senority and ability. Senoir teachers get to cherry pick their classes and schedules first, left overs are for the new hires. I ask senoir teachers first if they want the class and it works it way down.
Whatever I promise, I am willing to put on paper. Most of my teachers are working without contracts and on good faith. My salary teachers require contracts. Most of my teachers are hourly, any teacher can give me 2 week notice, although I prefer a month to find a replacement.
I have prejudices against certain hires. I want teachers to show up on time and prepared. No alcohol on your breath - wait till after class please. No pedophiles!!! People who call in sick once a week on Friday nights and Monday mornings. Helpful if you can speak 2 languages, if you know grammar major plus - explanations such as, this is how we say it are not acceptable aside from the idioms class.
Honestly!! You couldn't ask for a kewler boss. As for me, I am a Californian, prefer easy going and no stress atmospheres. Do your job come in on time and expect to get paid. Don't have to worry about nickel and diming from us. We pay you for the hour teaching 50 minutes. 10 minute break mandatory LOL.
PS. If you know any other school that has these conditions let me know. I like to keep a list of good schools so that I can send my teachers there if they want more hours. Beijing area only please :)
Saiops@hotmail.com
Jae Yang
GOOD TEFL SCHOOLS
(In these notes, feminine pronouns can be substituted for masculine ones. Remember Bonnie and Clyde!)
When choosing a school, consider the following points carefully. If an employer demonstrates a reluctance to commit himself to any of the following terms in writing, in English, signed in original ink, on headed paper, and delivered into your hands before you arrive in the target country, ask yourself: why? Remember that there are some employers who love money so much that they will stop at no unscrupulous practice, including threatening violence, to those who challenge them. They will often use native English speakers as servants, who appear to be completely honest and open, to lure you to a country where you will then feel you have no choice but to submit to them. This advice is intended to prevent that from happening. Look after yourselves - and each other!
1. Rates of pay
What will you be paid, and what will you be expected to do for it? Where the employer deducts money from your hard-earned wages, is he willing to provide written citations referring to specific legal provisions of the target country as authority for doing so, which you can check independently of what he says? Is your pay accompanied by an honest, itemised wage slip that you don't need to be Einstein to understand?
2. Hours of work
Are you guaranteed minimum and maximum numbers of teaching hours? In my opinion, twenty hours of class contact time is a full-time commitment. Some employers, especially those who have never personally taught in a classroom, will have no qualms about working you into an early grave. Say no before that happens! The only reason you are in that classroom is because they need you more than you need them!
3. Travelling time
If you spend hours travelling between places of work, how much compensation will you receive for this? Who pays for your travel expenses?
4. Legal status
If there are legal formalities you must comply with to be legally resident, will the employer provide you with all reasonable assistance to obtain a visa, for example? Remember that if you are content to put yourself outside the protection of the law, you are at the mercy of some potentially very unscrupulous people.
5. Bank account
Will the employer facilitate the opening of a bank account for you? If not, why not? And if he insists on paying you in cash, will he provide you with a written indemnity, agreeing to reimburse you for any loss of that cash arising if you are the victim of crime?
6. Holidays
Remember that in many countries, you have a legal entitlement to paid holidays (annual leave as well as statutory "bank" holidays). Look on the Internet. Do some basic research.
7. Illness
What happens if you fall ill? Are you paid for time that you may have to take off? Who pays for any medical expenses? If you are expected to use public health services, is it clear to you that the employer is even prepared to pay all of the taxes that he should (and out of your wages!) to play his part in ensuring the quality of those public services? If there are inadequate medical facilities in the target country, will the employer extend to you the benefit of a reputable insurance policy? If so, what will it cost you? Will he furnish you with reliable evidence of this so that you are satisfied that he is not just telling you a story?
8. References
What about if you want to leave? You should try to honour all of the terms of your agreement with your employer, but what happens if, for example, you need to start to look for another job before the end of your contract? Remember that some employers will repay your loyalty and dedication by using tactics designed to keep you in their service. You are a source of money, and that's all some employers care about.
I practised as a UK solicitor for 11 years on and off (I am still entitled to do so), and even I have been fooled. This advice is provided without the cloak of anonymity, at considerable personal risk, without charge, and in the hope that it will be widely circulated, without being edited, as a simple, single contribution to raising standards in what is one of the noblest professions - teaching.
I agree with what Adrian says, many admins are unscruplous cads. I personally don't have to write contracts with my teachers because my word is good enough, but I have no problems with putting stuff on paper.
As for release and recommendations, heck I can give you names of my teachers that have broken their agreements with me and wanted to leave after they got our training. I would much have a teacher that wants to be at the school then one who doesn't want to be at the school. When one of my teachers gets a better deal from someone else then I let them go. I had 1 teacher who complained that working 12 hours was too much, he used our visa to work at another school for 6 months, later he came to me asking to use our work permit to work at another school. I gave him a release letter. I had another teacher who after receiving his training quit 2 weeks afterwards because he had a family to support and needed more hours as a Business English teacher. I gave him 2 1/2 months to to go find another sponsor. Teachers sometimes don't understand. If you leave a school, it is required to turn your documentation back into the PSB and notify Education Ministry as to your status. You know how anal the Chinese govt can be when it comes to monitoring foreign nationals in their country, but I think they have that right. Is their any country that doesn't like to keep track of their foreign population? I think US and Europe have even stricter monitoring policies.
As for the way I had run things at this school, when my teachers are willing to accept my word as good enough - especially in China - that should say a lot of my character. When teachers tell me they want to leave because I am leaving the school and not managing the situation, I understand that also.
As for teachers researching as school, my advice is find out about the management first! Ask for e-mails of current existing teachers. A schools management will change but their name may not.
For example, As an American, Do you think that all Americans agree with Bush as the perfect role model for America? However, his policies whether good or bad will be born by the country. If he does something bad, does it mean America is a bad country, or that all Americans are the same as him?
In this context, it goes for the same for any small organization or multi-billion dollar corporation. Leadership and management drastically affect an organizations direction and reputation. I know companies and markets that can adjust as much as 10% in a single day just by who is leading the company.
As for reputation, you being a solicitor - do you think that management styles of King George, Margaret Thatcher, and Tony Blair are the same, but does the country or organization take the blame for it? I bet as English Subject you are now faced with the same problems that Americans have. We used to be able to travel the world in relative safety and were welcomed by many nations. Do you think that your intangible rights of being able to travel been impaired - Do you know how many Americans cannot travel to places now because it is to dangerous. This is the result of management.
Food for thought as to if a school is good or bad. I would much rather have a list of good and bad managers than good and bad schools.
One "White" schools I have taught at and wld recommend to anyone with integrity:
St. John's College (the high school) in Bangkok. Super staff: James,Head of Ctr., Scott, like Tonto but cuter and more helpful, and the two Thai ladies in the office and lots of support.
Hi There, I really would like to know is there a Whitelist for English schools in Japan - I don't think I have as yet come across one!
Hi can you suggest any white listed schools in Spain or Greece?
In 2008, from February to June, I worked for a Bologna school called Speakeasy srl, and I can say it was the best training experience of my life (I started as someone who was new to the job despite my certificate, but now -teaching back home - I can say I am reaping all the benefits). Everybody there was very nice and friendly...the approach is informal, and I was treated with respect all the time. The pay was not high (10 euros an hour), but I was offered the same in 5 other schools in town and I decided to work there because I liked the atmosphere and it was near home. I was offered a contract, which was not really advantageous but that's what you usually get in Italy. I was trained for a week by the director, who is extremely competent (although I disagree with a few of her teaching tenets, I can't deny this) and got all the support I needed. They are very particular about teaching quality, and their students seemed to be happy to come to the school (a high percentage of success at ESOL exams was one of the school's flagships). They were informed by the EFR for Languages, and that's what I liked most: it really works, and I could see student progress every day. Staff are very committed, friendly, a bit disorganized sometimes, but that's perhaps down to the fact that they have a lot of students and not enough staff to handle them. Definitely Ok despite their lack of organisation.
Post a Comment