Sorry to burst any bubbles here but I have no choice but to defend EF Changchun .
First of all , they keep their word on the contract . Not once have I had to argue about anything or fight for what was promised . Most of the time they have gone above and beyond their contractual obligations too .
Do you have to "work" ? Well of course you do . Is 40 hours a week excessive ? Are you kidding ? Moreover , if you consider that have your time is spent waiting for something to happen , I'd hesitate to call most of it work .
I've been paid on time , been ASKED (not told) if I would work overtime , received my bonuses , and have had no substantial problems of any kind .

So I don't know , maybe people who come to teach in China have never held a job in the West before because if they complain that EF Changchun is just too much then clearly they have no idea what work is to begin with .
I'm going on two years now with no particular desire to leave . Hey , it's not perfect and we have our complaints of course . As well , things could change in our future too ... there's no way to know . All I know is that right here and now , it's completely unfair to label EF Changchun derogatorily . For the most part I'd say you won't do better especially in this part of the country .