englishgibson
- 2010-03-30
A-Z, not that I want to disencourage posters on this one, but you seem a bit confused. This topic is on "centers" that subscribe to a, so called, foreign academic product. Some are at Universities, some at High Schools, and then some at their own office buildings or places that look like schools which is a case of GAC Chongqing that's run by Owens Foreign Language School there. In any case, and to be on topic, foreign DoS would probably be more suitable for such a program than a Chinese one that does usually have little knowledge of what the western universities are about. You see this academic program is to prepare the students for western unis they are applying to.
Cheers and beers to all the unis that do not interfere in foreign teachers' work
A-Z
- 2010-03-29
I did not know that Guangxi University of Nationalities had a foreign DOS, and I live in Nanning. That fact alone would turn me off wanting to work there. I have never worked at any university in China that had a foreign DOS, if it is starting to happen I am alarmed by this fact. Also,no exam at any university in China should be compulsory for any FT either. Voluntary is OK, compulsory is not.
I certainly hope that public universities in China do not head down the same path as training centres. I have enjoyed working at Chinese universities, I know how to teach the students and I just turn up at my clases and conduct my work without interference from useless managers and DOS's. I certainly hope it will stay that way!
englishgibson
- 2010-03-28
Silver Fox, thank you. Going over the "blacklisted" centers again, I have come across yet another reason why the ACT and its headquarters in Iowa, USA are up on, probably the biggest scam in the history of education worldwide. The reason is Chongqing and its GAC center. How could it possibly be that the center of Chongqing Owen Foreign Language School is not "blacklisted" after the headquarters (Todd Andrews that signed licenses) have learnt about all the poor management techniques, substandard product delivery and the abuse of the staff there?
Here are some great discrepancies in between a "blacklisted" center Guangxi University of Nationalities , where I have worked for four years, and the above mentioned one, where I have worked for 6 months breaking my one-year contract. 1) Guangxi University of Nationalities was banned by the company to carry out the ACT exams, although the Chongqing Owen Foreign Language School could do it even after i informed the headquartes of it. 2) Guangxi University of Nationalities had to submit all its students assessments to Shanghai's head office for moderations on regular basis, although the Chongqing Owen Foreign Language School never had to do so and only waited for the annual audit at the end of June (every year). Mind you that Chongqing Owen Foreign Language School did not (does not)have a foreign DoS, but Guangxi University of Nationalities did. 3) Guangxi University of Nationalities involved its foreign experts in entry exams to the foundation courses, although the Chongqing Owen Foreign Language School did not.
There are a lot more than just 3 differences in between those two above mentioned centers of this GAC-ACT company and most suggest the Guangxi center was much better than the Chongqing one. So, why is it that Chongqing Owen Foreign Language School is so well protected by Mr Todd Andrews and his accomplices in this bogus operations scam? Did someone not pay the dues? Or, did someone pay more than enough?
Now, amazingly the bogus schools are spreading like a virus on mainland. Then, interestingly, the "blacklisted" ones are also spreading or shall i say appearing after the inaugural opening days. It's so hard to believe their guts with all the lies and even on their websites. See one below;
the link againWhere Can I Study the GAC?
Approved Teaching Centers (ATCs) are carefully selected by ACT Education Solutions, Limited (AES), for their quality of teaching and their dedication to their students' needs. All teaching centers employ qualified English speaking staff who attend regular training sessions conducted by AES's Regional Academic Managers to ensure that you receive quality classroom teaching.
All ATCs meet the standards demanded by AES and are continually monitored via ongoing quality assurance reviews. This ensures that the quality of teaching and assessment is consistent around the world.
http://www.actinternationalservices.com/en/aesl/gac/atc.html
Really, I don't think there are any more comments needed here. :lol
Cheers and beers to a fall of this greatly corrupt company that's running such a scam internationally
S.M.
- 2010-03-27
Jim Smith,
Unless you and I worked together, you didn't work at GAC in Jiangsu Mudu High School in Suzhou in 2009. This would be on Lingtian Rd., near Tianping Hill. Are you referring to another school, perhaps?
S.M.
Silver Fox
- 2010-03-26
Another informative and honest post, englishgibson. Well done!
I see that the crappy GAC school I left ages ago is on the black list! Clearly, it has not sorted out its problems yet despite a heavyweight in the field of education from the US, a Stanford graduate, no less, having been headhunted by the Chinese directrix!
englishgibson
- 2010-03-26
Dragonized, the Shanghai's Headless Office of the ACT Education Solution Limited, that manages the academics of the centers around the country has actually "blacklisted" the, to them, bad centers. Here below are all the centers and of of this link you may see which ones are blue and black (listed);
http://www.actinternationalservices.com/en/aesl/gac/atc.html
China
Beijing Beifang Foreign Language School GAC center
Beijing Hai Dian Foreign Language Shi Yan School GAC center
Beijing Zhong Guan Cun Foreign Language School GAC Center
Australia International Foundation Center, Shude Middle School Chengdu
China-Australia College Beijing (HuiJia)
China Oil & Gas Pipeline Bureau Middle School GAC Center
Chongqing Owen Foreign Language School
ESLI Zhengzhou Campus
Fortune Business Management Consulting Institution
GAC Center of Quanzhou School of Beijing Normal University
GAC Hunan Approved Teaching Center
GAC International UniversitiesPreparatory School of Shanghai, Pudong Center
Guangdong Training School for Studying Abroad
Guangxi University of Nationalities
Harbin Police College, Xing Liang School
Hefei Run'an Boarding School GAC Approved Teaching Center
Henan International Foundation Academy
Humen Foreign Language School
Jiangsu College for International Education
Jiangyin Yaosai Middle School GAC Center
Jincheng College, Nanjing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics GAC Center (JC-NUAA GAC Center)
Kunming Foreign Language School GAC Center
Kunming University of Science and Technology GAC Center
Liberal College at Zhuhai
Lulu International Exchange School at the University of Technology
Mudu Senior High School
Ningbo Bei Lun High School GAC Center
Qingdao University GAC Center
Shandong University GAC Center
Shanghai University GAC Center
Shenzhen BNU Affiliated High School Training Center
South China University of Technology
Tangshan Foreign Language School GAC Center
Tangshan No 1 High School GAC Center
Tsinghua University, School of Continuing Education
Wujin Senior High School GAC center
Wuxi Guanghua Private School
Xiangtan Sunny Foreign Language School GAC Center
Xi'an Jiao Tong University GAC Center
Xiamen Yingcai School International Education Center
Wuhan Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Continuing Education College
Zhejiang University School of Continuing Education
Zibo Experimental High School GAC Center
However, the Headless Office's opinion is unfortunately bias which is due to the war in between the ACT (the US owner) and GAC (the Australian subsidiary and author of the books). Moreover, I dare to say that some subscribers on mainland China choose to cooperate with the American and some with the Australian company which only makes the list more spicy with a rather large variety of choices :Lol
Cheers and beers to all bogus GAC-ACT mainland schools to crash one day and cheers and beers to the American ACT fall and replacement for SAT :lol :lol :lol
Dragonized
- 2010-03-26
It doesn't even sound like the contract you had signed was a legitimate one. So you really have to be careful. This school should definitely be blacklisted.
jim smith
- 2010-03-25
Correction
When I wrote my previous post, reponding to Ms. Gibson I neglected t0 read the initial Post from Mr. Kerr.
In fairness to Mr.Kerr regarding the GAC at Mudu; I was at that GAC in mid 2009. Mr. Kerr worked there the previous year, in 2008. I had heard about the changes in management but it sounds like owership changed too. The people Kerr mentioned to avoid are no longer at the Mudu-GAC School.
Its no secret they had some real problems as Mr. Kerr outlined and I don't dispute any of it.
Everyone including Mr. Kerr should be happy to know the school has changed dramatically. It proves there is great hope in China for education. The market and the west will indeed allow for succession. Accountability coupled with skilled teaching will bring everyone success.
Years ago, when I was a realtor in the USA, we had a saying at our agency; I'd rather be the second or third realtor but not the first. Thats because we knew houses took about 6 months to a year to sell and the standard exclusive real estate contract ran only three months. All home owners think there house is the best and should sell in a week or two.
Here in China going to a new school is always risky! If they survive 2, 3 or better yet more years, the chances of reasonable management is much higher. Change takes time!
There's a lesson for Ms. Gibson, Mr. Kerr did not like his situation, so he did what I would do. He resigned after the first year. Much better than waiting 4 years when you no you should of left after the
first. Kudos to Mr. Kerr!
englishgibson
- 2010-01-30
Robert, i believe many would appreciate if you clear the air on one issue out of your post as, today, i am certain this organization is running a real scam of the century in international education.Your
How does this program prepare those students? Is it that the students study this along their high school curriculum and for at least two years at the high school or are those students solely in this program at an individual private center for just about 9 months within that campus there? From my experience, high school dropouts mostly take this program and some are just the first year high school unsuccessful ones. Of course these kinda kids have their parents financial backup and that's where the problem begins.The program is leased within Mudu Advanced Senior High School which prepares students to obtain a bachelor's degree abroad.
Cheers and beers to the teachersboard that allows us to share our experiences on
I have been through a few schools, and there have been the normal complaints. I think we have all experienced the chaotic schedules, some of us have had a unplanned trip to Hong Kong, and even poor living conditions.
This establishment was easily the worst position I had briefly held in my entire stay in China. Let me paint you a picture, a small class 19 students, one other foreign teacher who acts also as a director of studies, a Chinese woman who is also some sort of coordinator,and the man who hires you/director of the entire program who rarely visits. The program is leased within Mudu Advanced Senior High School which prepares students to obtain a bachelor's degree abroad.
The students hate the staff, although they took a liking to me (maybe because I wasn't a tyrant like the other teacher). The school has been through about 6 foreign teachers and many other staff members within 3 months. Even taxi drivers have told us about their quarrels with the staff within this program. They are impossible to work with, give no notification of anything, and expect you to follow any schedule they set. They play around with your passport, and change the contract (appendix) at will.
I have a huge laundry list of complaints but I just want to warn any teachers that, they expect you to teach four subjects... Mathematics, Science, Business and maybe Computers at a University level. Their courses are NOT focused on English but as I mentioned, preparing to study abroad. They will probably not give you the required information their program suggests they should(introductory package). They all around deceptive, deceiving and dastardly. They also only pay 6000 rmb to teach these courses.
Save yourself a load of headaches and avoid contacting anyone who goes by the name Lynn Ruan, Kenneth Kai or Derek Rogerson. These are a load of folks best avoided.
Thanks.