ZBB
- 2010-12-15
that was in zhongshan, in the apartment complex with the swimming pool, RIGHT?:=)
Rock'n Roll Daddy
- 2010-12-14
Really interesting, that story about the noisy apartment...
Hiphop or not, it's always good to make a lot of noise in China!!!
Zhongshan beer boy
- 2010-12-13
Nanning hip-hop boy equals Silverboy =S[edited] who was in Zhongshan briefly before leaving for Wuhan/Queensland. If the *wrong* S[edited], I apologize profusely.
If the right guy, thank god neither of us is in or around that noisy unfurnished apartment anymore?!
Cheers
ZBB
Heidi
- 2010-12-12
Heard about Meten a lot. Basically, it is a place which just make students feel like VIP all the time, that's how they evaluate you. And the ESL teachers there are allowed to date with students- most of them are rich females. About the academic part, just some copy of study software from western I guess...
Heidi
- 2010-12-12
It is not a professional school, when people treat education as business, then we all know how it works. Basically, they just want teachers who looks fine, and kind, and easy to control.
englishgibson
- 2010-05-27
Ted, the person "A" (K) you're talking about might actually be the same person I have met there. If this is the same person (K), I suspect she is very busy recruiting for a few other centers of this farce company. I've seen her name on other adverts. As I have been suspecting the local Chongqing Foreign Affairs Office and Police Station are seemingly in on this. I bet they're trying to take advantage of the new RP system where the province is not on the work permit in the passport. In the old days, in China, we got a Z visa with the name of a province where issued as some might remember. Anyway, my former Nanning employer's (with another center in GZ) taken advantage of this as well, since Guangzhou is not as easygoing and he had troubles getting any permits there.
Cheers and beers to the A's sexy "K's" B cups in Chongqing's Meten :)
Ted
- 2010-05-26
Meten makes a lousy first impression. I talked to a manager at the Jiangbei center named A[edited] who did not know what a CELTA is. She was reluctant to accept this as my TEFL cert, because she had never heard of it. I was called in to work by this same manager and she thought I was someone else until I arrived there. There were a series of other gaffes on their part which forced me to draw the conclusion that they are either incredibly stressed out and disorganized, or simply mentally ill. I do not intend to find out which. I will do without the money or find part time work at some other "school", if that is the correct name for these Chinese English mills. Two years in China and the good old USA is starting to beckon. Not sure I can deal with these bozos like the ones at Meten much longer.
Nanning hip-hop boy, Mr Popularity
- 2010-01-19
In fact Laurence, I am a 41 year old Australian guy who is well known in the ESL world for causing grief to crap school owners, not just on this board, but face to face. I left very obvious clues as to my real identity, I am surprised that nobody has picked up on it.
I think my question is very valid: I am curious as to why a PhD holder would work at ANY training school in China and Korea. As for my "credentials" to teach, they are well known, eg, fashion design teacher, stylist, modelling, model trainer, speech and drama, construction industry.
Many people on this board think I have a big ego ( and also Turnoi ) ,but you will certainly give me a run for my money by the look of it. FYI, just because you have a PhD it by no means is proof that you are a good teacher.
I only have a BA, and I would not bother to get a second degree, total waste of time, I already know how to teach, it is called learning from experience. Strange that you thought I was young, I can still well and truly hold my own on the dance floor, I have the fitness, looks and stamina of a 19 year old.
The reason I replied to your post is because I don't like it when people brag about being "well educated". I am willing to bet that you would look down upon non-degree holding teachers in China, and that you also look down upon tradespeople, eg: plumbers, electricians, carpenters.
Take it easy Laurie!
Shaun
axemenbasketball@hotmail.com
- 2010-01-19
First of all, I see no reason why I should have to answer to you my young hip hop friend. I am a retired university professor and basketball coach that was not ready to retire so i came to china. As for my ego...I have a huge ego..it comes with 35 years as a basketball coach at every level. And as for you, my narcissistic opponent, lets talk about your ego...a little aggrandizement with the name uh what was it ...oh yes! "Mr. Popularity" talk about an ego. In conclusion, the only reason i mentioned my accolades was to give credence to visa situation, my rational, if they would fire one of their top instructors, then no one that bucks their system is safe. By the way, are you an American by any chance? and just what are your credentials and your age?
Dr. Laurence J. MacDonald PhD
Mr Popularity, hip-hop boy, Nanning
- 2010-01-17
Whilst I agree with you that Meten is total crap, do you really have to tell people that you were selected as "teacher of the year?"
You may need to tone down that ego a bit.
Why are you working at Chinese training centres if you have a PhD?
You can do better than that!
Dr. Laurence J. MacDonald PhD
- 2010-01-17
Be very careful with Meten, I worked for them for almost two years both in Chongqing and in shenzhen. In Shenzhen, four teachers were arrested because Meten had procurred our visa's in Chongqing and not in Shenzhen which is highly illegal. we were then informed by the PSB NOT to teach until Meten secured the correct visas.This company does many innapropiate things such as the above. The year before this happened, i was selected as the teacher of the year in Chongqing and while in Shenzhen, elevated to the position as training officer. However all this fell by the wayside when i refused to use my influance with the foreign teachers to get them to return to work with the illigal visas. Meten fired me, the PSB closed down the school but Meten in their quest for money had the foreign teachers with their illegal visa go into coffee shops and teach students. Many of the english training schools in China do many illegal things.
englishgibson
- 2009-12-12
Let me reply to a couple of most recent posts and provide some follow-up on my Meten application from a few weeks ago.
I agree with your points on for ever bad management in Chinese schools as well as on full timers that ofter have "to slave it out" through those one-year one-sided employment agreements in China. However, I am not so sure about the REALLY HAPPY PART-TIME WORK there. Had I taken that part-time offer, I might or might not have been happy by today as I did not accepted the offer of one who with her misadvertising misled the job seekers around Chongqing. My observation was that she attempted to draw foreigners in the area of the city to part-time work, so that she could further advertise her school with more "white faces". When she saw I had my residency permit till end of May 2010 in the city, she knew she could take advantage of the situation. Working part-time under a work permit arranged by another employer is illegal in China and it could earn you a quick departure without a possiblity of a returned ticket. Therefore such a happiness may as well be a gamble one would take. In the case of the Meten representative, I could see she'd take a gamble too and that due to the circumstances that I not only had the foreign expert status and residency in the city, I also had my family and one year old son with me. I wasn't as desperate as she probably thought I was and then it looked like she wasn't either...ticked me off 'cause I got a really quick reply on my application firstly. Most importantly, taking a part-time offer with a dishonest employer could increase that GAMBLE FACTOR.Chengdu CT
You should be really happy that you are working part time for them as opposed to full time. Once you work full time they sign you to a contract and you become a slave to the system.
At least now you have the freedom to take another job. And considering the pay rate (100 RMB per hour) you should have plenty of better offers.
Actually the work isn't that bad. But most of the locations have bad management and they will never get better.
Your understanding is quite correct, although the reality in China is far from your understanding and that with all due respect to you. Normally, it depends on local employers' reputation, connections, and/or how much they have to offer to the local officer in charge. At times, Residency Permits for work are issued even without these "booklets" of experts' certificates at local police stations around. I personally witnessed a PSB officer not looking at either the employment contract or any certificates when issuing the visa. All he was looking at was the attractively big smile of an HR representative from a school. In China, there's no need to be puzzled about the local authorities, but why credentials for such "entertainment" jobs are required is more than offensive, isn't it? Just imagine you've got all your qualifications in tact and then some unqualified supervisors or managers with, at times, only intermediate level of English evaluate your preformance. Would you not be puzzled about your "poor" in class performance?A quote:
However, the reasons why we are asked for our credentials such as MA, BA or the teaching certs for these kinda jobs are quite puzzling aren't they?
A reply from DK:
My understanding is that foreign teachers in China require a "foreign experts' certificate" in order to obtain a work visa. The certificate is issued by the local provincial education department, and is normally issued only to foreigners holding at least a three-year Bachelor's degree. Unlike you, I'm not puzzled. Maybe you aren't now.
Cheers and beers to Kiki from Meten in Chongqing :)
DK
- 2009-12-12
However, the reasons why we are asked for our credentials such as MA, BA or the teaching certs for these kinda jobs are quite puzzling aren't they?
My understanding is that foreign teachers in China require a "foreign experts' certificate" in order to obtain a work visa. The certificate is issued by the local provincial education department, and is normally issued only to foreigners holding at least a three-year Bachelor's degree. Unlike you, I'm not puzzled. Maybe you aren't now.
Chengdu CT
- 2009-12-11
Hi,
You should be really happy that you are working part time for them as opposed to full time. Once you work full time they sign you to a contract and you become a slave to the system.
At least now you have the freedom to take another job. And considering the pay rate (100 RMB per hour) you should have plenty of better offers.
Actually the work isn't that bad. But most of the locations have bad management and they will never get better.
HireEd
- 2009-11-26
Yes, such interview and evaluation practices certainly beg the question about preferred credentials. In my opinion (others may have differing ideas) seeking teachers with advanced degrees is again, mostly a marketing tool, something the school can boast to student's parents when selling classes. I hold two masters degrees, which made it much easier to get hired, but did precious little to raise my salary above the standard rate. As I mentioned before, I feel that any success I had in getting a higher pay scale was due to popularity and demand for my classes by students, plus the fact that I had years of teaching experience prior to arriving in China -- not to mention the fact that I am American (a big plus in their eyes -- I think it rather silly).
Also when an applicant has a BA degree and higher, it is supposedly easier for the school to obtain an official "letter of invitation" from the government which then yields "foreign expert" status to the teacher.
The years I worked in training centers, an open class (all levels invited) called "Speaker's Corner" was offered to the students in addition to their smaller English classes (all centers I taught in would cap the class at 8-10 students). Many foreign teachers hate doing a few speaker's corner classes each week, but I loved them. If you can engage a larger group of people, discussing various topics, then all sorts of interesting comments, perspective, and discussion will emerge.
Also, it's another way for students who are unfamiliar with you, to experience your teaching style, and request your classes. I had to try lots of topics and methods to figure out what worked and what didn't; but once I knew what was usually successful in generating discussion (and fun), then I enjoyed them immensely. Again, the key is making students comfortable and building their confidence with English.
englishgibson
- 2009-11-26
Hi Hire Ed,
The views in your post are completely understandable and I bet many of us that've been in private language centers before know what they are about.
However, the reasons why we are asked for our credentials such as MA, BA or the teaching certs for these kinda jobs are quite puzzling aren't they?
By the way, and again, I wish I knew what was in that feedback there. I mean I would like to know what kinda questions these students are really asked. If I know the questions, I may IMPROVE. :)
Cheers and beers to all
HireEd
- 2009-11-25
Hi, englishgibson,
As one worked in various training centers for several years, I can tell you that the experience you detailed is quite typical of how business is conducted in such enterprises. Once I got used to doing the required demo class, I came to relish it and always asked for as many students (and staff members) as possible to attend. Why? Because usually your pending job greatly depends on feedback from the attendees. Because I always scored high on feedback questionnaires, such nonsense actually increased my negotiating power. Remember the students have basically said, Hire him! We Like him!
Last Thursday, I found a job advertisement on Meten, formerly known as Metro, language center in Chongqing, and I emailed an application to Kiko, the contact person on the posting. 10 minutes later, I received a phone call as I left my own phone number on my application. Kiko asked me to come for a personal interview on Friday, the following day. When I arrived there, I believed it was the right place to work in, and even the fine female receptionists looked right.:)
However, the moment of truth came after the short but quite enjoyable waiting period in the school's reception area, and when Kiko seated me in a small all glass windows placement test look like room out of which I could see a couple of all glass window classrooms where the classes were in session. I reached out to shake Kiko's hand (Hi I am Matt), which seemingly made the young Chinese woman feel uncomfortable. Three fingers opened on her hand leaving her little and ring finger folded, when we were shaking hands(Hi I am Kiko). Our interview lasted about 45 minutes and our discussion was mostly about my current job and reasons for leaving it. The little she said about Meten and its academic product, which I was much interested in, was that they had lesson plans prepared for their foreign teachers and the school gave its students classroom topics for lessons ahead of time prior to the classes. No books were mentioned and after I got about four pages of a lesson plan to prepare for my IMMEDIATE DEMONSTRATION CLASS that was to begin in 20 minutes, I suspected they had no course books.
So, my first in China demo class began just about 20 minutes later. There were 5 adults out of which two were allegedly students and the three others were two Meten young female employees, Kiko inclusive. Right on the beginnig I noticed that none of the "students" had a blank piece of a paper to write on, although they had one A4 page with questions on both sides of it, which was the student feedback on my demo class.Not that I went nervous or anything like that, I tried to help with paper and so I quickly began ripping my lesson plan pages off as the other side of each page was empty. That spooked one student(employee) and Kiko in the classroom as they did not expect I would dare to "damage their lesson plans". After we settled the "students paper issue" (i wanted them to have their role plays and write notes from each other), we began.
My demo on Cultural Differences went on for about 30 minutes where Kiko stopped it.
As the "demo students" could not (had no time) to write notes (about me) or answer any questions pertaining my "performance" during my class, they started right after I finished and while I was still in the classroom...trying to say good bey.
Leaving the classroom, I had some indescribable feelings and as Kiko informed me on the way out that she'd let me know within three days, I felt I failed the test/demo.
Today, I received an email from Kiko, informing me they had a part time job at Meten in Chongqing. Feeling better, I've realized I have not failed completely, but I can't help thinking why we need all these credentials or experiences for our jobs, when these young intermediate level of English students can make a much better judgement about the RIGHT TEACHER than any qualified and experienced foreign academic.
Cheers and beers to Meten Masters :)
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Why does a Canadian have a British and a British an American accent to some Chinese students?