I'm not attacking you. I think you may have read my remark "can't be bothered" out of context. I probably should have said maybe you "don't feel inclined" instead. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Turnoi is usually the first person here to slag-off ALL training centres, irrespective of who they are. However, EF (English First) is a HUGE franchise operation with training centres in several countries, not just China.

As Turnoi said though, EF really ARE the 'bottom-of-the-barrel', and their reputation proves it.

You should write a letter of complaint to the local FEB (the office that issued your Foreign Expert's Certificate) making sure you outline everything. I understand it's something you probably can't be bothered to do, but it's our duty to protect naïve new teachers from being abused in this way.

I re-iterate EF SHOULD BE AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS!!!

I'm sure that you're fully aware of your employer judging people by whether or not they are Native Speakers of English or Non-native speakers based on how bleachy their faces look. Oh wait you're NOT aware of this? Then maybe you shouldn't make such comments and give credit where it isn't deserved, thank you very much.

I can assure you that this school has nothing to do with EF!

So, please explain why Ao Jia uses EF's email address in their recruitment ads!

Date: Wednesday, 16 March 2011, at 11:54 a.m.
Couples Preferred - Ao Jia Language School seeking two professional teachers starting in June in Qinhuangdao, China
Posted By: Ao Jia Foreign Language School

<eftianjin@gmail.com>

Date: Monday, 30 May 2011, at 11:59 a.m.
EF English First, Tianjin wants to offer you the chance to visit one of the world's most interesting countries this summer
Posted By: EF English First, Tianjin

<eftianjin@gmail.com>

Even if there was the miraculous chance of there being a good DOS, the DOS actually has no power at the school. It's the owners who have the final say in the end. They and only they have the decision making powers. I wouldn't trust any owner of any private "school". Not anymore anyway. Greed in the end is always top priority. Quality is only a gimmick word used to fool others.

So when you say "Though your posting is based on their new methods of trying to recruit teachers," I assume that this means that EF has had to resort to lying, cheating and stealing, in order to recruit teachers after cashing in on the franchise scams that they are involved with and loosing control of their brand and overall image which is a direct byproduct of their already infamous business plan of lying, cheating, and stealing.

Is that about right?

That would be like Pizza Hut using a McDonald's email address for recruiting cooks after the word gets out that their pizzas are bad.

EF is done. They are a [edited]. They are a [edited]. They are a [edited] organization that steels money from students while holding their teachers under their thumbs while placing threats and pressure on them to turn a blind eye to their unlawful business practices while also lowering their standards, of which EF is already far below any realm of professional standards anyway. If the FT smells a rat and looks for redress they are threatened with visa cancellations, or some other form of felony retribution. When any FT tries to do the right thing based on fairness, common sense and a sense of doing the right thing in the best interests of their students, places like EF smash them down.

At the same time, now that you work for EF ad you are part of the problem the thing to do is to leave EF immediately. Pack your bag, head for the airport and leave. Go back home and stay there where in your country, wherever that is, the standards must be higher because China is the lowest level on earth for any form of educational standards. Stop helping EF to remain in business by giving them cheap labor and stop letting them milk you for your talents.

EF is [edited]!

I must say what an interesting posting this is. It seems like people have finally woken up to the fact that the majority of E.F.'s are a load of tripe!
Though your posting is based on their new methods of trying to recruit teachers, I would also like to mention how (most of) thier language centres are only interested in taking their customers money every 8 weeks.
I am an ESL teacher with said company, and it annoys the hell out of me when for (all my best efforts) a student unfortunately fails a particular course. Naturally, one would assume they would be asked to re-sit that level, perhaps at a discounted rate as a sign of customer care and the like. No! Because of a fear that they will lose that customer they just take the money and put him/her up into the next level. Said customer obviously struggles even more at the higher level, but once again the management tell us to pass them through, so they keep on paying.
A prime example has happened just recently where I work. A student did a placement test and was placed at pre-intermediate level. His teacher for that level said he just scraped though, he failed the next level, but got put through to the next course, and this trend continued until the student reached the end of the upper-intermediate books. This totals about 7 or 8 courses. He then wanted to take a conversation class, because he was struggling with learning the grammar. He was asked to retake his placement test and he scored 5 points higher than when he originally had done it before, which would have placed him back in the same class for a General English course!
I am not blaming the teachers, they all highlighted early on that the student wasn't good enough, and the work was too hard for him. My gripe is with the management for just wanting to take his money. I would also like to say this is an isolated incident, but the truth is that it isn't.
Our boss even told us at a staff meeting, first and foremost you must remember 'THIS IS A BUSINESS'. Does that mean we have to compromise on quality? Shouldn't we aimed to maintain standards? These kind of questions are greeted with a snigger.
Thank you for your time, and enjoy your day.
DY