EF China
June 24, 2006 by Louis
Filed under Asia, China, Regional Information, School Reviews
This is an internet based EF China review. Detailed information about EF China in China is needed by teachers around the world. EF China is a Language Institute in China and it’s in need of ratings. Ratings and comments will help other teachers learn more about EF China. If someone was interested in teaching in China, would this school be a good place to start? Is EF China a great place to work or is it in need of improvement?
Name of School: EF China
| City: | Country: |
| China | |
| Admin Contact: | Admin Contact Email: |
| Type: | Site Admin Notes: |
| Language Institute |
Overall Quick Rating: 
(11 votes, average: 2.36 out of 5)
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Mark Finnegan on Mon, 2nd Apr 2007 11:11 pm
EF seems to have a bad rep around the world. However I can personally recommend the school in Shenyang where I have worked for the last two years. Almost every issue I have raised with the DOS and manager have been resolved quickly and acceptably (usually in my favor).
The apartments supplied are large and comfortable (if a little nippy in winter, though a cheap electric heater solves that handily) and are clean when you move in (though how clean they are kept then varies significantly depending on you and your house mate).
The only issues I’ve had while with this school have been with other Europeans and Americans in the city. It’s not a beautiful city, but the Chinese people here are on average lovely.
In the two years I’ve been here pay has been delayed once, and that by a grand total of one day. Visas are processed promptly and seemingly above-board.
Classes range from 10 to 20, usually ending up with 12 or so in adult courses and 16 or 17 in children’s. Most of the working week is crammed into the weekend with very light weekday schedules. Everyone gets Monday off and a second day somewhere in the rest of the week.
Short form : EF is a franchise and school quality varies immensely by location. I can only speak for EF Shenyang which pays reasonably and promptly and doesn’t mess about with it’s staff or contracts.
Rob on Wed, 15th Aug 2007 3:22 am
I’ve worked for the Xi’an 1 school (there are 2 schools)for 1 year and haven’t had any issues. They are well run and care about the teachers. For example, we had a teacher here get beaten up one night and the school made sure there was a Chinese member of staff with him in hospital 24/7 for a month. You get back up and support and a varied teaching experience. I’ve seen bad postings on the web but my experience is very different.
G on Wed, 23rd Jan 2008 9:19 am
I’ve also only worked for EF in Xi’an and have to say that they are an excellent school. You get paid on time, get your flight money back, and have a reasonable work load. All the people I did my TEFL course with ended up in EF schools around China and although not everyone would say their school was excellent the general opinion was pretty good.
Josh L. on Wed, 27th Feb 2008 12:48 am
You also have to remember that the schools aren’t run by the same people. You can’t think of all EF schools as one.
amaterasu on Sun, 20th Apr 2008 1:28 am
The apartments provided to teachers by EF Linyi are either sub-standard or overpriced. During weekdays the majority of the classes are taught on a contracted out basis in a state run school with 60+ students per class. Contact hours are excessive, but can be pinned to 27 hours per week at a reduced salary.
If you decide to pack up and leave, you will be hit with non-contractual expenses. Your final salary will be withheld and you will be asked to reimburse the school.
steve on Sun, 25th May 2008 11:39 pm
I am currently working for an EF school in the southern part of China.
The schools are a part of a franchise network within China and therefore each school is run independently and sometime contrary to the EF Mission statement.
My observations are as follows:
Marketing at the EF school where I am is the primary function . Education takes a distant second.
Teachers are given a 38 hour schedule with morning and evening classes.
The Director of Studies, (DOS), believes that all lesson plans should be a maximum of 30 minutes per class. Some days you work 13 hours including lesson planning.
Teachers are bused 5 days a week to contract schools as early as 8.10 AM.
Teachers at these sites teach three 40 minute consecutive classses,
seperated by two 10 minute breaks . the class sizes average 25 pre- schoolers. teachers have a Chinese Teacher’s Assistant, but it is still overwhelming.
The DOS likes to say, “the parents at these contract sites pay more than the on site classes!” , and also states: “we should not worry if many of the students learn anything!”.
Teachers then go home for 2 -3 hours before returning for night classes.
Last class ends 9:30pm. In other words you work a split shift.
Visas. For the first month I worked without a Z visa. I was constantly reassured that this was OK.
I understand from reading Chinese Govt rules regarding foreign workers. It is illigal to hire a Foreign worker, unless they have a current work visa. If stopped by Police I could have been deported.
Saying one thing doing another.
Teaching schedule is changed without due notice.
Misleading the working hours.
Being asked to sign a contract before working and without a true understanding of the hours,
Teacher skills were not considered.
Most of the teachers at this school have little or no teaching experience including myself. I am a trained Social Worker.
The common feeling from Foreign Teachers who have left this particular EF franchise is: “We are just a body to fit a time slot!”
ForeignTeachers with no previous teaching experience ar less likely to complain.
Foreign Teachers with no experience are less expensive.
Teacher materials @ this EF Franchise.
Some outdated flash cards. The slowest computer on this planet. A bad printer , and a horrible xerox machine.
This tells me that this franchise is more interested in making a “Fast Buck!” than giving children and adults a good understanding of the English language.
After all the DOS said it best when he stated:
“I can use the same lesson plan for children and adults. it only takes 5 minutes!”
I rest my case.
Quillter on Tue, 9th Sep 2008 9:57 am
Never mind, keep tthe if you wish to. Maybe it’ll warn people of what they may face with Ef at it’s worst and it could be just great for them anyway if they do join the company..
EF ROCKS on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 9:58 pm
In response to Steve. The EF you worked for sounds like it sucked. It is a franchise so I think your blanket comments that all EF’s are similar, are blatantly false. You should not place your comments on a school who you did not attend because you are falsely labeling a decent school based on your experiences at another one with the same name.
The EF in Shenyang is a great place if you’re not a complete twit. The teachers here are awesome, the staff are awesome, the owner is really awesome. The only thing you have to deal with here is adjusting to the fact that the air is not the best, the temperature is sometimes really hot and really cold, and that is about it.
I have been working in Shenyang for sometime now and I thoroughly enjoy it. My experience here has been top notch. For one, you get free lunches on the days you work. Second, there are enough teachers here that you don’t have to worry about overloaded schedules except during “warmers”, but those only happen when kids are not attending regular public/private school. We all get Monday off and one day during the week. During warmers the schedules are different you can talk to the staff about that if you decide to come here. We seem to have enough staff here so you’re sure to find friends. The kids and the adults are awesome. Be forewarned though, you should have a lot of energy these kids love creative and energetic teachers. As for the one of the owners that I know well she is a very kind lady. If you’re a good teacher you should get along very well.
So if you’re looking for a good experience, stay away from the EF Steve spoke of and check out the EF in Shenyang. Oh and bring really warm winter clothes for the winter and light clothes for the summer. Good Luck on your adventure!