Topic: Elite Training Institute

[hero]

Another offering from the old TSW board.  This is actually split from one of the Assumption College posts, it seems the poster saved the heaviest criticism for the agency that employed him, the well known Elite Training Institute.

I didn't work directly through the school, but through an agency called Elite Training Institute. They were good in that they always paid on time. That's about all I can say. On the negative side I would have to say that they suffer from incompetent foreign management (and Thai as well, but first things first).

They had no idea we knew the truth behind their fabrications. Anything from something simple as when/if there were to be a holiday to the reasons why someone was fired. While I worked for them two former employees (teachers) had been fired. One of them took Elite to court (and won!), while the other person (to my knowledge) settled out of court. There were so many instances of bizarre actions and behavior by the manager that I couldn't even begin to list them here.

Read your Elite contract several times, question them on everything, etc. If you do, they won't hire you. But it might be fun!

The final blow came towards the end of the school year (Feb/March '05). Elite had a three year contract with the school that was up for negotiation early 2005. We all knew the school was not going to take them on again, yet Elite refused to admit it. The last month of the school term was horrible. The school wanted us out a month before our contract ended, but Elite somehow was able to keep us there for 2 more weeks. We were sent to do our final paperwork and marking in a room in the far corner of the school so we wouldn't be seen by the students or staff. We were told by the manager that the final two weeks would be spent in the Elite office putting together a portfolio of worksheets...or something. Like I wrote, the project manager was so extremely vague in most everything he said...and would just...ah uh uh uh...mumbleeeerrr... It was SOOO obvious they just came up with some busy work because they couldn't stand letting us go with pay. Fair enough, of course. The first day at the Elite office found all 20 teachers stuffed into a room that would normally hold 6 students. Again, very vague instructions on what we were supposed to be doing. It was a dis-spiriting situation that only further illustrated the contempt Elite had for us. We tried to sit in a larger room but were told it was off-limits. Basically the whole thing was to test our ability to sit there for 8 hours doing f*ck all. If you called in sick, they deducted your pay 2000 baht. It was a money making strategy. It was also a real eye-opener to see how little work went on in that office.

The last day of the contract we had pizza--woopee.

Truly a joke.

Last I heard they had lost all their school contracts.

I think you just had to be there to know how truly atrocious this project was run.

[Bangkok Phil]

I always find it a shame when any school takes offence at the teacher who questions all the sections and sub-sections of a contract. Isn't that what a contract is there for? - to analyze and to make changes if unacceptable. 

[accurate reporting]

And when was the last time someone negotiated a contract in TEFL to the benefit of the teacher in TEFL?

[Bangkok Phil]

Me. 1997.

[accurate reporting]

Phil just to point out it's 2006 now - 1997 belongs to the archives.  It's a buyers market and TEFL is at the bottom of the chain.

[DazedInBangkok]

Phil just to point out it's 2006 now - 1997 belongs to the archives.

Dude, I think he was making a joke 

[Uncle Che]

Heck with trying to get a contract that favors the teachers, I am still waiting for a contract to be honored. I have been on 5 contracts in Thailand and only one of them was honored in all of its terms.

[admin]

I split this topic off since the thread was going away from Elite and focusing on lousy contracts in general. In the Teaching Issue Forum, a thread called Unethical Business Practices can be found. If you want to talk about lousy contracts in general, post over there.

[ajarnboomboom]

To be fair - when you work for them you do get paid on time.

Now given that is actually the best thing about them it really says a lot for the company. 

Academic standards, honesty, loyalty, incentives -  these are all words that Elite dont know the meaning of.

If you are ever interviewed by Death Gone Walking, do yourself a favour and take notes - preferably in front of him - so that when he turns round later on and changes his mind on the hours, pay rate, holidays............ you have proof.  Not that it would do you any good of course but then what the hell, you would have the enjoyment of watching him get even paler and squirm in his seat.

If all you need is a job that pays ok but not great, nothing much in the way of excellence expected of you and are ok about contracts and conditions being changed then this is the place for you.

[kenkannif]

Remember though labour laws OVERRIDE contracts.

[floorpotato]

Of the language schools I've worked for, Elite was the least objectionable. They didn't micromanage my classes. Mr. J and Mr. B. were very civil, fair and helpful to me. Pay was average and they fulfilled our short-term contracts as  promised. Their in-house facilities were comfortable as was the corporate site that they assigned me to. There was a definite Commonwealth influence in their management structure, which means it was more logical than dealing with Thais. I was part-time, so I can't speak to the employment contract complaints made by some posters.   

[overdue]

Elite operates more as an recruitment agency than an institute nowadays. They receive good commission for placing gulible and stupid teachers in schools that offer ten month contracts.

[floorpotato]

Elite operates more as an recruitment agency than an institute nowadays. They receive good commission for placing gulible and stupid teachers in schools that offer ten month contracts.

Overdue, What is it about Elite's school contracts that is so much more awful than all the other bad options we have in Thailand? Some forum members (including myself) may very well get an offer one day for a school placement from Elite. Others who work at these schools might be puzzled that they have been labeled gullible and stupid. It's not that I disbelieve you, it's just that the purpose of this web site is to exchange meaningful, useful information to help guide fellow teachers in their decision-making. I'm not being critical, just asking you to include a few facts. Thanks.

[hero]

Two posts split and moved to new topic.......http://www.teflwatch.org/forum/index.php?topic=215.0

[Thighlander]

I dug this one up from its grave.  One of the maggots called me the other day to talk about employment.  They are still up to their old tricks.  22 teaching hours at a government school (8:30-5:00) and then you still have to teach 4 hours per week in-house.  I was born during the daytime, but it wasn't yesterday.  Three dollars per hour anyone?

[hero]

Three dollars per hour anyone?

They offered you 120 baht per hour?

[DerringDo]

I'll hazard a guess he was counting the rate for being at school 8:30-5 plus the 4hrs in house. 46.5hrs or thereabouts. SO about 25k/month methinks.