Ask Headmaster Ken

Hi,

I have been in contact with a few English language schools in China and a couple have offered me positions. However, I have since done some research on the Internet and found only bad reviews for the schools, especially Aston English and English First.

Could you tell me more about these schools and whether they can be trusted? Aston English has offered me a six-month contract (25 hours a week), but after reading all these unfavourable reviews I'm a little put off!

I'm also considering Vietnam, where one can apparently find work very easily at a number of language schools, but for shorter contracts. What do you know about this?

Any advice would be great!

In China, you should approach franchise schools as if they are individual schools rather than as a single entitiy.

Franchise locations can vary widely in how they conduct business. You should check with current and former foreign teachers at the franchise school you are interested in.

Schools are quite individual based upon many factors, especially management. There is simply no broad brush treatment that accurately describes all schools in a chain.