This is a blacklist posting.

Aston in Lianyungang is a franchise. I have worked at and visited other Astons. Talk of standards across the board is dismissable.

The owner is a business woman and commands a substantial profit. The manager is a relation and evidently, unfortunately, hates her job, and avoids doing it at all costs. There is frequently nobody in authority present in the school.

No money is spent on the school or resources. Free English Corners are run nearly everyday with a refusal to limit numbers. 40 to 50 kids is common. Due to a longterm attitude of neglect and active lack of interest towards the quality of classes upstairs, discipline is a problem. Contacting the parents about the behaviour of their children is quietly forbidden.

Chinese teachers are required to work "office hours" during the week, unpaid. However the bonus is that unlike many teachers they receive insurance payments. Except that none of them do.

Attempts to approach "management" in order to discuss any problem, suggestion or request are depressingly difficult. Everything is waved off with a smile. One teacher left after two weeks, they never got around to installing gas in her kitchen or furnishing her with all her books for classes. Trying to get enough board rubbers is a hard enough.

"Management" fosters bad relationships bewteen CTs and FTs; after you try to discuss a problem about a class, the CT is taken aside and blamed and threatened, despite our protestations.

Incompetence runs riot in this school, commmunication is a quagmire and morale is immensely low.