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anonymous
Q: Corneil Language Center- any thoughts?
I'm scheduled for an interview with them (in Shanghai) and am curious about the school's reputation. All comments are welcome:)
11 years 38 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - China
Doing a quick web search will reveal little, except that Corneil runs a lot of schools! From an online description I found this:
"Corneil Language Training Center...has been in Shanghai for 9 years and were approved by the National Educational Department in 2002. Currently we have more than 100 contracted schools in Shanghai including kindergartens, primary schools, middle/high schools and vocational schools etc."
That's a lot of ground to cover and a wide range of students along with levels of language. However, I did uncover this link, where the OP states "beware!":
http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/review/index.pl?read=44266
You may want to get in touch with the OP and find out some details (what, where, and surrounding circumstances) that may lead to others who have had a good or bad experience.
Good luck, and be wise.
JacobJohn:
Somebody with so much labor expansion in the teaching industry it can't be an all roses path. I would not even trust it. It looks like a labyrinth of traps where you surely end up with the neck very much broken. With so many schools, kindergartens and so on they prove to be a monopoly with the rules and laws on their behalf. No way that you can be ensured free headaches with them.
Great question! My first teaching in job in China was with this lot. I didn't last long.
Basically, the deal with these guys is that you don't actually work for them in their language centre. Instead, you will be sent to work at a Kindergarten, Primary or High School somewhere around Shanghai. Often, the schools are not very convenient to get to and take a considerable amount of commuting time.
Sounds easy. Except the students you will teach are amongst the rudest, apathetic and highest oxygen-thieving you will ever come across. You will have a translator, but there is only so much classroom silence a person can handle.
Pay is on the lower end of the scale. Every month, a good portion of your salary will be held as a "deposit". Supposedly, you will receive it back after 3 months. I never made it this far so I don't know the end result. Don't like the chances though.
The final thing you need to know is about Frank. Frank is the manager and comes from Taiwan. For that reason, Frank thinks he is the super-mega-ultra-uber authority around the office. But Frank is a twat. He will invent all kinds of reasons to deduct money from your salary. Not only yours, but your TA's salary as well. He is quite well known around some ESL circles for being a proper tighta*se.
Good luck in your interview!
Wow thank you guys for the advice. I'm really grateful for the comments
enemyofreality I'm sorry that whole debacle happened, I can never quite understand why a lot of people treat their employees so badly. I've been here for 2 years almost and have only had good experiences with employers so I'm not really trying to downgrade.
Thanks again!
They only wanted foreign looking teachers. I am a native English speaker wit Chinese heritage. So I was didn't fit their requirements. So my thoughts on them are negative
Corniel please-please avoid working for this agency, you will be paid 40 minutes a lesson not an hour! they will take deposit money of you, and for three months and hope you leave before the time IS up, the pay is well under the going rate, and remember 40 mins a class so do not think you will be paid per-hour a class, there crafty in there wording, and do not let them push you to get you there so called expert teaching certificate it is not needed and they are lying, and try to scare you, this is by far the worst agency in China/Shanghai, Do not sign any agreement keep your pen in your..POCKET.it is a TRICK that they say it is not a contract so just sign that you have read this information..( It is a crafty contract) sign nothing please teachers..this Corneil should have there license taken away from them by Shanghai officials. You have been "warmed" the name (CORNEIL)
expatlife26:
You should tell it to the CFTU! I believe they want to make a differene, but change was too much for all the hobos on this forum.
Corniel please-please avoid working for this agency, you will be paid 40 minutes a lesson not an hour! they will take deposit money of you, and for three months and hope you leave before the time IS up, the pay is well under the going rate, and remember 40 mins a class so do not think you will be paid per-hour a class, there crafty in there wording, and do not let them push you to get you there so called expert teaching certificate it is not needed and they are lying, and try to scare you, this is by far the worst agency in China/Shanghai, Do not sign any agreement keep your pen in your..POCKET.it is a TRICK that they say it is not a contract so just sign that you have read this information..( It is a crafty contract) sign nothing please teachers..this Corneil should have there license taken away from them by Shanghai officials. You have been "warmed" the name (CORNEIL)
Wouldn't it be great to create a 'BLACKLIST' of all the so-called schools and agency who attempt to lie and cheat the so so necessary teachers, then want to treat them like 3rd class Chinese citizens. Schools and agencies who fail to provide a clear description of the vacancy advertised, should go on the wall as time wasters, deceitful, manipulating liars and cheats. It is obvious that with their black hearted promises they will continue to treat foreigners as SH1T. We should grade them as they often degrade us.
expatlife26:
The only men with the gumption to form a blacklist was the CFTU, the China Foreign Teachers Union but they were ostracized here and blacklisted from the forum. You go to their meetings and they assign you a number, then everyone gets to talk in order or their number. Once I tripped down their stairs and my shoes fell off, nobody laughed at me at all. I bet that many, if not most members of this forum would laugh at someone who brought all their glasses and their shoes to a good meeting.Truly salt of the earth people.
RiriRiri:
No one needs a blacklist when a little bit of common sense would work just as well. I'm no FT, but from what I see, people running into problem could have easily avoided them if they had been receptive to early signs.
A blacklist is not only potentially unfair, it's also counter-productive. No one is appointed nor has the manpower to cross-check whatever people would put on any blacklist. How could it be reliable then?
Martinez:
I think blacklists are a great idea so long as they are linked to more than a single complaint of a disgruntled former employee. Also, this "Corneil" sounds like they are trying to rip-off the "Cornell" university name. I'd be a lost more than careful and google them with the words "Corneil, problems, complaints, scam" to see what pops up.
It's been many times brought about that black list and never been created so far. I wish I can see a name and shame list of those schools also on echinacities.
Martinez:
There are many blacklists in China for schools, agents, and businesses. Just Google "China, scam, blacklist" and at least 5 or 6 will pop up. But look for stuff that is current. One of the blacklists was last updated in 2009 while others are from 2014.
I had the thrill of being parading around this joke of a school.... yeah stuck at a school for 6.5 hours getting paid for 4 hours... oh yeah in the dead of winter with no freakin' heaters in the middle on God knows where in Pudong. I was promised taxi fairs to re reimbursed.... yeah and half the recipts I was given.... Than I told the all mighty 23 year old Peter (manager in charge) It didn't match... ooo too bad so sad.
Than I had some butt fuck T.A. that showed up 3 hours late for the day left early on that day wrote a terrible to report to the great FRANK. This motherfucker quit the company shortly after and dawged the fuck out of me while smiling to my face.
Than... hey final pay day is on the 10th right Peter (Franks boyfriend) yes, good because I will go to Canada on the 11th my wife is pregnant I need to get stuff ready in Canada...
6 days before pay Peter " no pay will be on the 12th because the 10th is a Saturday" word now I will have to cancel and re book my plane ticket for money owed to me fro both December and Janruary costing me 3,000 rmb.... ooops we will have all your pay on the 12th.... today is the 7th.... We will see these are some snakey back stabbers stay away at all costs.
