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[Gaomeigeng]

I worked at an EF and had a really bad experience with shitty people and totally backwards and corrupt business policies, but there were also some good things about the school as well.  I am interested in hearing about different opinions about EF around China.  Any thoughts???

[Fozzwaldus]

EF is a franchise, so it varies widely from branch to branch.

If you're going to put this in the review section you need to give specific details of the branch and of the problems you faced (without being libelous!)

Remember, even within a single city standards in EFs can vary widely, so be specific.

Personally, I taught for one very stressful year in an EF in Xi'an, though it wasn't an awful experience, and I wasn't cheated, just overworked.

EF can be good for those who have just arrived in China, the camaraderie of other expat teachers can be important. 

That said, there are some nightmare branches around.

[kitano]

I was talking with one of my my students about EF today. I work for Web and we have quite a few students who left the EF to join Web because the curriculum and environment was better

It's quite well documented that some EFs are incredibly dodgy, so if you have the choice my advice would be to try to work for web before web if possible (better pay as well)

Web is only in the south east of china, but if it isn't an option i would imagine that there is a similar option for the part of china you are working in, I get the impression that the EF franchise relies on n00b teachers and students who don't have access to word of mouth and it's entirely about getting people in with absolutely no concern for how they feel when they leave

[Day Dreamer]

When I first arrived in Changchun, I stayed with 'shroomy. She once worked at EF but left as they kept adding more hours to her schedule. She didn't want it either. She called an old friend to set up an interview and demo for me. The person completely fell head over heals at my experience, ability, etc in the business field as that's where they wished to expand. At the time they had no one capable.

I did my demo. Everyone thought I nailed it. Some (foreign) schmuck from Shanghai who I didn't ass-kiss,     sumarily turned me down. I pestered him for a week trying to find the reason. His excuse; I didn't approach each and every student immediately at the start of class, I did it after my first session (there was two demos). Like I couldn't alter or learn that!   

Later in life, I was SOOOOOO grateful for not being hired

[Raoul F. Duke]

EF seems to fall into the standard chain English mill mode in China. Many (most?) of the schools are 100% in the hands of some local corrupt, incompetent baijiu-swilling butthead, rotten to the core, and can easily cheat or abuse teachers. The better ones will at best be a lot of hard work for very mediocre compensation.
Life's just too short for this.