Full TEFL Sponsorships for all English First Teachers in 2023

I taught at an EF franchise school in Zhangjiagang for several years and had a great time. From the first day airport pickup I was made to feel very welcome and the teachers all took me out for dinner on my first night. The local staff arranged all my visa documents and provided me with a Chinese phone and a fully furnished apartment with wi-fi already set up.

I'd not had much experience before coming to EF, but I had plenty of opportunities to observe classes and my workload increased steadily but always with a lot of support from other teachers. They had interactive whiteboards, which made using video and other cool stuff really easy. We had weekly teacher training sessions, were observed regularly, and I had the opportunity to do a TKT certificate while there. The management were supportive and fair. We had a western manager whose door was always open, and the Chinese management generally left him to it.

The city I was in was quite small, but people were friendly - it was a great place to learn Chinese. I had a thoroughly rewarding time there and would recommend it to anyone wanting to experience China.

I taught with EF for a year in one of their franchise schools. I can say it was a nightmare. The other staff were heavy drinkers and drug users. Some staff even came to work under the influence, which is completely unprofessional and unacceptable, but nothing was done.
Teaching was pretty much the last thing the school was around for. Our owner was stingy with supplies and only twice during the entire year sponsored an event for teachers. If they didn't need something from you, you were ignored.
This job was a joke to almost the entire staff, incomplete lesson plans and poor performance went unaddressed, and good work was pretty much just ignored.
It was a lonely, scary, depressing, and really awful year.
If I were to go into it again, knowing how the year would turn out, I would leave immediately. I still kick myself for "sticking it out" and "keeping my word", mostly because I was so let down by that empty promise of an enjoyable year.
Teaching there felt like you were trapped. The apartment was nice though, balcony, nice area, the pay wasn't great, and academic support was pretty much non-existent.
The Chinese staff was pretty new every few months, working there was a nightmare for the CC's and PA's as well. One CC told me she would have nightmares about having no students for demos, which happened frequently. Communication between departments was awful, classes were scheduled and the teacher was never notified, or cancelled and no one was informed, sometimes even the parents didn't know what was going on.

EF courses (their materials) are very well done, and I could see EF in a bigger city, with good staff around being a decent place to work, however that was not the case at all.
No way would I recommend that program to anyone. Be careful and do your research.

EF is definitely a Business. This has it's good and bad points. On the good side you have a lot more security and accountability than a small school and they're quite experienced in bringing people to China. They reimburse your TEFL (I got mine from CCPED fast track so not really an issue) structure your pay with benefits to minimise tax, but if you don't The downside is that there is a lot of bureaucracy, unpaid overtime, demands for you to take on marketing and brand ambassador duties. You're not just there to help people, you're definitely a revenue stream. If you're ok with that then jump on board, you can make reasonably decent money albeit working like a dog. If you're looking to teach, help people and make a difference, probably best look elsewhere.

Massive support, Encouragement to excel as an educator. Even opportunities to work in fields outside of teaching. EF is a pretty cool place to work.

The centres are a positive supportive place for both the students and staff.

the materiels are excellent, along with a system that, while not completely following any single established methodology, works in a culmination of the best of the best methods. This systems really works with Chinese learners who, as you will find out very quickly, are a breed apart.

4+ years witht he program, and I don't see myself leaving anytime soon. Is EF perfect? No, but who is? Would I recommend EF? Of course...

Scared and alone, I flew to Shanghai in June 2007 to work with EF English First. I was hired to teach English to kids 3 to 18 years old. Although I had sufficient teaching experience, I was nervous because it was my first time to work abroad. But no sooner than I put down my suitcase than I realized I was in good hands. My DOS was warm and supportive, the staff were friendly, and the school was beautiful.
I underwent a series of training and orientation before they gave me my own kids to teach. There was a lot of support coming from the other teachers. Materials were abundant - from books, to DVDs, to toys! Teachers were kept busy with fun and not-so-fun activities. There were parties, lectures and seminars, marketing activities, as well as, parents meetings. Tiring? Yes. But it was never dull.
After three years of working with EF Kids, I moved to EF Smart - the school for adults. Sure, teachers were just as busy, the school was as fancy,and resources were just as plentiful.However, EF Kids was expanding really quickly, EF Smart was not. It was quite difficult to move up the corporate ladder.
After 5 years with EF, I felt that it was time to move on.

When I first came to China I knew that I wanted to teach so I spent a fair bit of time doing my research on what company offers the most support for the best salary.

EF really does a great job. Even before you start they give you excellent directions and help in getting your Z visa. Your recruiter is with you at all times to answer any questions you may have. When you arrive in China the company puts you up in a hotel for two weeks, gives you micro-teaching training, gives you a real estate agent and generally helps you acclimate to life in China.

During your first three weeks at your school your DoS(Director of Studies) will pair you up with a mentor to train you and answer any questions you have to living in the country. The entire office from the administrative, sales, and customer relations are on your side to help you enjoy your time.

Once you've finished your in house three week training you are given your own schedule and are constantly provided with support to grow as a teacher. The company also offers numerous chances at moving up.

All in all the experience has been amazing and I wouldn't change it for the world.

I came to China planning to teach for just a year. I had so much fun and found it so rewarding that I taught for almost 3 years.

Pros:
-Friendly teachers, really into people and teaching
-Clean, modern schools
-Awesome students who were eager to learn and meet foreigners

Cons:
-Offices can be a little "cozy" (be prepared to share space)
-A lot of the centers are in shopping malls, so the restrooms are outside the school and quality varies.

I had a great time getting to know my students in the center. They were all highly motivated adult learners with passion for English. EF provided lots of material so I always had new topics to work with but they also gave me the freedom to add my own personal touch to my classes.