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tkhodges
Newbie
Joined: June 20, 2007
Posts: 1
Status: Offline
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 Posted:
June 21, 2007 - 03:03 AM |
 
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| Post subject: BSK Academy and EF English First |
Hello everybody. I am new here so I hope I am posting this in the right place. I have been offered a job with BSK Academy but I can only find limited info on this company. Has anyone have any info to share about this school? Whether or not it is a good school to work for?
Also EF English First. Can anyone share any info about this school. Both of them would be in Shanghai. I am really looking forward to teaching over there. However of course I want to make sure I go with the right school. I am working with Oxford Seminars. Which is where I got my TEFL cert. They have a job placement service. They have not worked with BSK. So I am a little concerned about that particular schhol. I know EF is pretty large and international. So any info you can share would be very beneficial.
Thanks |
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yu888
Board Deity
Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 19335
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH
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June 21, 2007 - 04:40 PM |
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Optimus
Newbie
Joined: Oct 13, 2009
Posts: 1
Status: Offline
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Oct 13, 2009 - 10:04 PM |
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| Post subject: BSK and EF |
Not a lot of info about teaching here. I've heard bad things about both.
Here's a great link I found about teaching in Shanghai. And just do a search on the net for bsk academy shanghai and ef english first shanghai, you'll find lots. BSK sounds like they're doing some things not so legal. EF sounds legal, just like a bit of a horror company.
http://eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/review/index.pl?read=27535 |
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dr3x320
LoopKicker
Joined: Nov 21, 2006
Posts: 979
Location: Boston/NYC/Zhang Hai/Goteborg
Status: Offline
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Oct 13, 2009 - 11:05 PM |
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Heh.. EF, good times, if you want to find a trick, theres plenty there. pay is still mediocre but better then average waiter salaries in the city. Be prepared to lose a few pounds while working there and assortment of other hellish routines. |
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Dermatologist |
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paulinshanghai
Reacher
Joined: Nov 13, 2008
Posts: 368
Location: Puxi
Status: Offline
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Oct 13, 2009 - 11:32 PM |
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BSK is a recruitment agency. They send you to junior/middle schools and other classes that have 40+ students a class. I know some past teachers who thought it was ok (but they knew they would just be here for 6 months then leave).
EF? Well all are franchised, so horses for courses. Just met some teachers with EF just out of Shanghai and they work up to 60hrs a week (only 24hrs teaching and a ridiculous amount of preparation work) for a fairly crappy salary. But, they have been there for a few years so cant be that bad.
ABSOLUTELY No need to use any TEFL recruitment offers. Spend a while doing your research about teaching in Shanghai etc. Both companies mentioned are fine but you can do better, even for your first year here.
Keys in a contract are:
1. Look for details re office hours
2. teaching hour details
3. Office hours.
Of all my experience I would highly advise AGAINST following any TEFL school job placements (they are nearly, if not always rubbish).
Sorry going through a bottle of red (and a few) so ignore any spelling/grammar mistakes Im posting! |
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Don't let schooling interfere with your education. www.orientnow.cn |
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Neville_Bartos
Reacher
Joined: July 22, 2009
Posts: 318
Location: Behind you
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Oct 14, 2009 - 06:35 AM |
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Chrisse
SuperStar
Joined: Feb 25, 2009
Posts: 1323
Status: Offline
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Oct 14, 2009 - 06:45 AM |
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| Post subject: Re: BSK and EF |
| Optimus wrote: |
| ... BSK sounds like they're doing some things not so legal. ... |
I am fairly sure you can find many things that are illegal or not so legal in any school that you really investigate here in China.
But they probably pay to keep the government happy  |
Last edited by Chrisse on Oct 14, 2009 - 09:16 AM; edited 1 time in total |
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jeffinflorida
Shanghai Royalty
Joined: Nov 19, 2007
Posts: 9440
Location: Somewhere between Itchy and Scratchy
Status: Offline
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Oct 14, 2009 - 08:33 AM |
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A friends son worked for BSK last year in Shanghai. he was young and inexperienced from Australia.
They said he spent a lot of unpaid time commuting around Shanghai, often commutes of one hour just to get to the school in the morning and then have to commute to a different school in the afternoon. Got paid for 4 hours of teaching and spent 3 hours or more for unpaid and usually unreimbursed commute time. They gave him something like 100 rmb a month for a travel allowance but he had to spend 16 rmb a day or more for bus and train fare. They also don't provide an apartment and give some ridiculously low allowance - like 1500 rmb a month - which doesn't go far in Shanghai.
And yes, he was farmed out to many different schools a week and had to prepare lessons for each class himself with no support from BSK. Also Saturday work was involved.
As far as legal goes, I don't think there are legal issues involved, they just work you very much for a very low salary.
And like most of these types of schools there is no retention, you are used until you quit then another fool comes to take your place when you leave. |
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Wanker- One who masturbates or is full of themself, egotistical. |
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