Former FT in China
- 2016-04-19
I'm rather astonished that the British Council has assisted such a disreputable foreign employer to hire UK citizens to teach English abroad!
Years and years ago I remember travelling by rail from Scotland to Manchester to attend an interview conducted by a representative of the education ministry of Botswana and two employees of the British Council for maths/science high school vacancies in Botswana. It transpired that I was rejected, and therefore I was somewhat disappointed at the time. However, in retrospect I think it was a huge blessing in disguise.
The BC were very thorough when it came to vetting job applicants in those days, considerably more thorough than VSO were. If a job applicant couldn't produce two teaching testimonials, he/she had little chance of being accepted. In addition, I discovered that a character reference wasn't held in the same esteem as it was by VSO.
I'd have thought the British Council would have applied similar strict selection criteria as regards potential employers before trying to assist foreign employers to fill teaching vacancies abroad. Obviously I was wrong!
Honesty hurts
- 2016-04-19
Oh man! I could not agree with you more!
I worked for BC Almaty - they were so disorganised! It took me 5 months to get my paychecks for about 7/8 exams and they still owe me £20! I gave up!
They can't offer visas.
They send you three different times for the exam which takes a while to understand.
I gave them all of the paperwork by hand before I left, they lost it. I then had to send it all when I was in the UK. They then changed it meaning I had to do it again.
The local and foreign bosses don't like each other, and they don't speak to each other meaning you have to speak to about 5 different people before you can get an answer.
In China they do not pay well - 20k rmb a month - after tax you're taking home around 17k. Minus the accommodation (dependent on area). Not worth it.
Caring
- 2016-01-21
In a word, BC sucks on mainland China as it has sold its soul to the local management and its corporate culture to the extent that Almaty or Kiev may not understand well enough.
Good for the CV, bad for you.
I enjoy examining, but the Almaty centre was terrible.
Negatives - you have to email all these different people about different things, if you email the wrong person they don't reply or pass on the message. The local and foreign staff don't speak - huge breakdown in communication - likely due to the local staff and cultural problems in KZ.
So much paperwork to get your money back.
They paid me wrongly and took three months to pay me. I did two months of work, sent the documents, waited and waited, then they emailed me my hours (which were wrong and about £15 off) but I couldn't be bothered to get it back and just took what I could.
They didn't give me a hard certificate, which other companies and BC offices have asked me for - unsure whether this is normal or not.
My only proof of passing the examining tests are the emails I received.
They send you two dates for each exam - the dates the students begin the IELTS tests, and then the date of your speaking exam - stupid and confusing system.
NO VISA OFFERED!!!! I wanted to stay, but examiners can't be given a visa, so I had to leave and lose my certificate (or lapse as they call it).
Positives - you can become an examiner, and they will give you regular exams. You get some good feedback, and the other examiners are friendly and happy to help.
You get paid fairly well.
You can choose your days and hours.
Overall, it is OK. Worth the experience for your CV to be an examiner, and good to put the BC on there too - very well-known company.