Global Crossroad China program

[dharpo32]

Hello all....

I am looking to this forum for some insight about the Global Crossroad Paid Teaching in China program. I have been interested in this program for a few months now and have paid in full for the program. I believe I may have done this in haste. Please if there is anyone out there that has experienced the Global Crossroad program Let me know what to expect.

I have been instructed to get a tourist visa and my visa will be changed at a later time. This did bring some concerns.

The added faction to this is that I will be leaving for Thailand and Vietnam early april. So my time is limited.

Thank you all for your help

[roddy]

Hmmm, $800 for the privilege of a job. Some thoughts below, after reading this.

1) There's no need to pay agencies like this to arrange a job. It's entirely possible to do it independently. Even if you want to use an agency, there's no need to pay them - they will be collecting a commission from the school, if they have any business sense at all.

2) Entering on a tourist visa does happen, but it's not ideal. If all goes well it'll get changed for a working visa and everyone's happy. However, you may find yourself being strung out with excuses and a constant stream of tourist visa renewals - which isn't necessarily fatal, but it shouldn't be happening and indicates that you are not working at a legit school. Ideally you want to find a school that will give you what you need to get the working visa outside the country.

3) The pay and conditions look about right for a standard entry level state-sector job (are they state schools though?). It wouldn't have surprised me to see some tiny stipend and nonsense about a 'volunteer' program. I would look for clarification on working hours though, I couldn't see anything.

Overall? I've seen worse packages, but you could get exactly the same elsewhere, without paying for it, and probably have more say in where you get placed.

[tallynole]

dude.. I wouldn't touch them with a 10 feet stick!

I'd suggest PMing Badr for more information if he doesn't post anything on this thread... he'll tell you some stories about global crossroads. Everything I know about them is hearsay so I'm not too comfortable repeating it.

[roddy]

That rang a bell - see also this. Hadn't made the connection with Global Crossroads, but it is the same company. Have also just emailed badr in case he wants to add anything.

[dharpo32]

I understand the concerns involved and I'm not a fan of being taken advantage of. I just have already paid for the program and I have no idea of where else to look for a teaching English position in china. I do not have any teaching credentials however I do have teaching experience. Any advise out there? I can handle losing the $799 I paid but I may not have any more funds to pay for any other program. Thank you all for your help.

[badr]

aye...

I'm in way too good of a mood to write about global crossroads and broken promises, lies, cheats etc.... you've already paid the fee so the damage is done but watch your back and get a plan B.

read this

and this:

here

in the interest of full disclosure, GC was subcontracting New Times International back when I started helping them with teacher recruiting. within a month of me cooperating with them, we made the decision to create as much separation between the two companies as possible. It pains me to remember what we had to go through to fix the mess they created.

2 years later, having moved away from the teaching business completely, I still cringe at the mere mention of Global Crossroads.

basically, you've paid and you have no degree... go with what they're offering you but do not count on any local support or whatsoever. You are on your own once you land in China. I'll recommend keeping checking out the websites for 2 of the more reputable agencies in China: New Times International being the first choice and Buckland being the second. Keep their contact information handy in case you find yourself having to leave your job and needing help.

Buckland has been in the game long enough to know what they're doing. As far as new Times goes, I know just about everybody that works there and trust them to do what's right! They've gotten my wife and I out of a really sticky situation last year when no solution was in sight.