Aoqi/Auqi?

[no_tofu_speed]

Can anyone help me with the link to a company called Aoqi (use to be known as Auqi).
Someone I know went to China through this company to teach english with no previous tertairy education/bachelor certificate. They completed a small certificate by doing homework in their sparetime.
The link they gave me was dead, and well... they cant find a working one for me somehow... bleh

Anyways if anyone has a link for them or contact email it would be much appreciated.
Or if anyone knows of another company that allows you to complete a certificate while abroad teaching and NOT currently hold a bachelor degree certificate (I'm still studying and just changed courses; need a break), please may I have some information or a contact.

I'm currently in NSW Australia and looking to goto Asia to teach, preference would be Korea or Japan but overall, am not fussy...

Thanking you.
Nathan
no_tofu_speed@hotmail.com

[Antonio]

Further details can be found at Heilongjiang Teaching Experience, Heilongjiang Work Experience, China School(Agency) Black List, China School(Agency) Green List. I've pasted the article below:

AuQi - don't risk it!
I worked here for about two years, I even went to the effort to get a CELTA in an effort to get some job satisfaction. The boss of Auqi told the chinese staff that she paid for my CELTA training, which was a complete lie, but when you are in China, it is the usual situation for chinese to believe what they hear from other chinese(the reverse is doubtlessly true in my home country).

The conditions have steadily deteriorated as the boss constantly cuts corners to maximise her profit. I was let go after refusing to work a full day on Christmas and complaining about them cutting my electricity three days before. They don't give a crap if you can teach they just want a foreign face to shove in front of a group of mostly apathetic, over-worked and over-tired students. Your travel time isn't included in your work hours and you will be required to stay overnight usually twice a week.

Travel time can vary from none for lady teachers to about 14 hours per week for the guys. The advertisement on this site about Auqi is either BS or they are so desperate to get new teachers the boss is actually willing to part with a tiny piece of the massive amount of money she is making from students, parents and teachers who wouldn't know a qualified ESL teacher if they spoke to one. Previously when I asked for over-time pay I was screamed and yelled at and threatened, then when they were absolutely desperate for me to teach an extra eight hours that week they offered me 150 RMB. The next week I was told that I wasn't working as much so I wouldn't get the bonus. Nice.

Every teacher in the last six months has been threatened to have their return ticket cancelled for some minor infraction of a contract that is never even given to the teachers. The standard ploy has been to 'forget' to give the teachers a contract to sign, so the teachers aren't protected. Not that the contract is worth anything more than toilet paper anyway. Don't even get me started on the teaching material. It's find your own way as far as that's concerned. Training? Ha! What a joke! No teacher has ever had anything even resembling a training period at this school. The last lot of teachers who were suckered in to coming to Auqi were immediately thrown into the deep end. It's sink or swim and they don't give a crap either way.

The current group of teachers are working close to 40 hours a week as other teachers at this school have just up and left. Yet they can't complain to anybody or ask for extra pay as the boss is in Australia and the manager is one of the deserters. The usual tactic used by the boss for overtime is that once it is done they don't have to pay you, which is why the smarter teachers always asked for it in advance. In my experience and the experience of all the teachers I have talked to, everything you are told before you get to the school is a lie to get you there. Once you're there, your arse belongs to them. I don't mean just for the duration of the contract, if you want to work elsewhere in the city after your contract expires the boss will threaten you. She doesn't want you to work for the competition. And, as you are only supplied with cheap tourist visas as opposed to legit (expensive) work permits, all she has to do is call a friend at the police station. It doesn't matter that she was the one who supplied you with the incorrect visa.

There are other better places to teach - if you have a university qualification teach at a university. Universities in China have legal obligations to their foreign expert teachers. You will be much safer all round. Check here (ESL JOB FIND - ESL Jobs, ESL Employment, Teaching English Jobs) for more info on this school that is damaging and dissatisfying students and teachers alike. Note the obvious fake postings by a lack of return email address and atrocious spelling.

Finally, why did I work at Auqi for two years if it is so abominable? First, my girlfriend is from this city, second, I needed to develop my contacts to be protected from any legal trouble that would be incurred when working for a rival of Auqi. Bottom line - work elsewhere. Remember if you work for her once she (the boss) thinks she owns you and you won't be able to work elsewhere in the city of Qiqihar. Don't risk it! A totally unprofessional outfit.
Jeremy

30/06/04

hoccalugee@yahoo.com

Qiqihar, China.

I would be weary of them. Already sounds the alarm bells when the school says that you can study at home instead of having a Bachelor degree.

[Eryn]

Hi Nathan,
I'd like to reply to your question by stating two thingsand asking one question. Firstly I would like to clarify that I AM currently in the employ of Auqi English School, and secondly I would not deny that some of the things you may find in your research of the may have at least a basis of truth. The school has been running for almost four years and in this time it has indeed gone from a *ahem* less than reputable business to the far more legitimate school you'll know today. In response more directly to the segment posted by Antonio in relation to the business to day the vast majority of the information is invalid. You may notice that the post is somewhat dated by the standard of business development in China and I can tell you that several of the points, while many true at that point, have not only been rectified but have been placed in a contract to protect the teachers from being exploited, but also the school from *ahem* less than legitimate, and respectable foreign staff.

Also, I'd like to ask about the teaching vertificate that you have mentioned, while it is the case it is an offer that will begin this semester and has not existed in the past.

I will not make comment on any personalised statements in the post becasue I was not there at the time of these occuring (I have worked with the school both before and after these events so I have seen personally the changes taking place)
a) There IS a great deal of travel involved in this position, for both men and women equally, however teachers have been compensated for this travel for the last 18 months.
b) Return tickets are no longer offered as a result of more dishonest, and enterprising teachers took the opportunity for a free trip to Chna without the intention for completing the contract. That said, to this date NOONE has had their ticket revoked on completion of the contract, I'm not saying threats haven't been made, I haven't been witness to these instances but have heard of them, most definatley NOT every teacher no more that two to my knowledge through communication error. However to my knowledge all of these people have returned safely to their own country at the school's expense.
c) All overtime is voluntary. In the event of sickness, unforseen circumstances, or "deserters". All teachers are compensated for overtime on a ladder system.
d) I have been a witness to so called "withholding of passports" There have been two reasons for this of which I am aware of. 1. The school in the past has needed to collect up passports to extend visa's and the return has been delayed (certainly not preferable and hopefully eliminated in coming terms through the wonders of EMS) or 2. and yes this is referring directly to my own experience, MY, and only my to my knowledge passport was withheld because of thefts on the property and concern for it's safety. Let me assure the roof was hit and any cultural confusion regarding the acceptability of this practice was dealt with and will NEVER happen again.
d) All teachers have their contracts signed and witnessed before departure, the school's safety as well as their own.
e) all teachers have a two day training course prior to departure and several days, usually a full week, of orientation on arrival. Returning teachers recieve a day refresher course as well.
Texts have existed in Aoqi for two years with varying success. All schools are responsible for copying the material and there still are instances when this is less than reliable. Flexibility is a part of Chinese culture, not necessarily the most endearing part, nut all teachers are trained for these events and our school endeavours to ensure this is recified bu the following week.
f) Working visa's are awarded to all teacher's, tourist visa's were most certainly the practice of the past but as the school has legitimised so have their practices improved.

This has turned into an absurdly long post but in conclusion the school has it's faults to this day but there is a reason staff return to this school. It's a fantastic opportunity to combine travel and work, while experiencing the authentic China and gaining expewrience taht can open ESL doors over the world.

Aoqi will have a website in the coming months, in the meantime you can contact the school on auqi@aemail4u.com, or myself on eryn@aemail4u (yes I setup the school's email, is it that obvious?)
Eryn

[Hypiereon]

In any case, you now have two sides of the story, and you have been warned. As for me, this is a perfect example of someone who seems to be having a great experience contrary to other opinions. My advice: unless you personally know the person who is having such a great time of it, just stay away.

Looking at this situation from the perspective of someone who has never been to a foreign country before, you have to ask yourself "Why should they be used to prop up a business that obviously had problems in the past?" Even if the business has cleaned up their act, they have no right to a good reputation NOW. They screwed up, and now they have to deal with it. To the poster above - don't ask people to take a chance on this company based on your good word - a total stranger. To everyone else - if you're in China, or any other country for that matter, and you want to go check out a school or company personally to see if they are any good or reputable, that's different. Go take a look-see, and if you're satisfied, then good on you.

However, do not stupidly risk going with ANY school or company that has a bad mark against it, if it is truly your very first time going abroad. There are so many other choices out there, and the consequences of taking such a risk are something you will live out in flesh and blood, not in an opinion on a thread like this.

On a side note, there is one other thing I take issue with in companies and crash schools that send people away for jobs: Reimbursement for travel expenses is NOT compensation. Any business that reads this really needs to take a serious look at what they're doing to understand why a foreigner may be just a little peeved.

You take a guy who has a 16 hour contract, ask him to travel somewhere and come back, but you only pay him for his time at the place, and only reimburse (not compensate) him for the costs of travel. What you have failed to take into account is that he was traveling "ON COMPANY TIME" and every single minute he was traveling should count toward his "hours per week" and he should be paid accordingly if that time goes into "over hours" or in American lingo - overtime.

Why this is so confusing a concept is beyond my understanding, yet I don't know of any company, in the USA particularly, where employees are expected to travel during "their" time without being paid for it. The only exception to this are people who work for a salary and no max hours per month - but then these people are WONDERFULLY compensated for their availability, whether or not the company EVER uses them, every expense is paid, and they are definitely taken care of. NOT EVEN A CLOSE COMPARISON to the anemic contracts offered abroad, so I don't even want to hear it.

Look, if it takes 30 minutes to get there and 30 minutes to get back - from the company to the location and back to the company - then that's an hour out of their life you didn't pay for, and you don't intend to give back by way of counting that time towards their "hours per week" total.

Mount Royal International Business Institute sent it's foreigners 1 1/2 hours away - one way trip - which means 3 hours of their life, just to go teach two hours in DuJiangYan. That's 5 hours for which they were only paid for two, and only two hours counted toward their "hours per week" fulfillment. Then the school had the audacity to wonder why everyone was getting angry at being asked to go, and yelled at some of the employees - in public - who refused to take the classes.

My second biggest gripe comes from how they calculate "over hours." If your contract says "16 hours per week" but you work 17 hours that week - THAT IS 1 HOUR OVERTIME the school needs to pay. However, that is not how they see it. They calculate 16 x 4 weeks to arrive at a monthly total of 64 hours you owe the school. THAT'S the mark you have to break to get the "over hours" pay. Again, Mount Royal International Business Institute is my example here, but from the copied post given to us by Antonio, it sounds like that poster was having the same problem. Frankly then, you're not limited to "16 hours per week" because they can nail you for all 64 hours in the first week if they wanted to, and so long as they "rest" you the rest of the month then they don't owe you a thing in overtime.

Again, contract says one thing, and they interpret it in a way that benefits them. Now I make it clear in all my contracts that "over hours" are calculated on a "per week" basis (just as the "hours per week" are supposed to be calculated) - regardless if I ever hit the limit per week during the other weeks of the month. The school / business is not paying you a salary of ????RMB for 16 hours per week - they are paying FOR 16 HOURS OF YOUR AVAILABILITY each week. Whether they use all 16 hours each week is up to them. If they don't, they still owe you the full salary each month. If they go over the availability each week - they owe you for it - simple enough. However, make sure it's written into the contract that way, or I swear, YOU WILL get bent.

[Eryn]

While what you say has some valid points Hypiereon I think you may have gone somewhat off topic to your own personal issues. A black mark is just that indeed but if you are willing to go out there and give another country a go you will inevitably come up against differing ideas of work ethics and appropriate work environments, particularly when the position entails working within the culture rather than beside it. Travelling with any company is a risk and certainly this is a position that should never under any circumstances be taken lightly, that is the entire reason these forums have been designed, particularly for those who are not fortunate enough to have someone they know to recommend a position. This can be said for any position discussed and advertised and is not spoken on behalf of the school in question but as a traveller who has and will continue to enter multiple countries as an educator without prior advise by known parties or accompaniment by others. This information is a tool for people to make informed decision and for those who choose to enter positions to open their eyes to both the positive and the negative aspects of the jobs and the cultures involved. It also the experiences and opinions of individuals and should be regarded as such and not as law.

As a final note back as an employee of the school the thread was originally based on the school pays for tickets up front to China and provides return flights at the completion of the contract, I'm not sure if that was what you were driving at with the comment on reimbursement of travel expenses but teachers pay for no part of the travel on their own. Also travel time within China is specified within the contract along with the estimated travel times (which are generously allotted I assure you) and rates of compensation along with the overtime rates of payment
I sincerely hope that you have found a more suitable position for you after your apparently alarming experiences and I do hope they haven't scarred you from taking a risk and continuing to experience other culture in their authentic environment.

[Hypiereon]

The information I post is primarily directed at people who have no experience teaching abroad. Black marks, bad schools, recruiters in general, and unknowns must be avoided whenever possible. Yes, recruiters in general, even for people with no experience. The reason for this and the other points - while it sounds extreme - is rather very simple. It is a matter of playing the odds.

If a school has even a single black mark against it, why take a chance if it's your first time and there are other choices? If the school is known to be a bad school, why bother? 80% of the horror stories I hear are from people who were stung by recruiters - no matter what the problem was or even if the problem was unknowingly self-inflicted, if a recruiter can't walk someone through the process to come out unharmed then what good are they? While recruiters do have good points and can be helpful - this I will admit - but for all those good points I've never really heard anything at all from that other 20% out there. So, taking someone who has no experience going abroad, and looking at the odds, I'd have to advise first timers to stay away from recruiters all together when it comes down to actually making a choice for a school.

Recruiters can be good sources of information, but the simple fact is that it is their job to match a school and a teacher. It does not take a creative mind to figure out what a recruiter might say or choose not to say to make a match - even the good ones. With a bottom line on the line and money lying around to line pockets, priorities can easily get thrown out of line.

Sure this place is just a forum for an opinion. I can agree with you on that point easily enough - no laws are written here, but solid rules of thumb can be just as good if not better than laws where shady dealers adhere to no law. What you called "your own personal issues" happens to be more than just one man's experiences. Keep that in mind.

So, understanding that the posts I write are not for the seasoned veteran, but for someone looking to gain insight into what can and has gone wrong for myself and many others before and after me, trying to find where the mines are in the field, and looking for a map that will help them avoid most of the bad places to step, I'd say my post has been pretty much "on topic" where I've intended it to be. In such a case, your own posts on this particular thread have been pretty much on target as well, and I appreciate the feedback.

[hoccalugee]

Hypiereon's comments and assertations about the school are spot on. Somewhere in China these schools are being cloned.

I live in Qiqihar. I have lived here for the past four years. Every 4 or so months I see a new group of teachers arrive here. And within a month or two half of them have run. Fast. And far. Those foolish enough to remain are expected to take the extra classes, without a rise in pay. This is a good little earner for the school owners. People who come close to completing their contracts are fired for some made up or tiny infraction that was never even mentioned to them. So no return airfare. Nice little earner too, that one.

Eryn doesn't live or work here unless she came in the last month. She worked at Auqi about two years ago, came back for a few months, was fired and is now recruiting from Australia. The school is desperate enough to use people it fired to recruit for them. That says a lot.

Things are certainly not better at Auqi now. I have talked to teachers working there and they are far from happy. If you need specifics, email me. I can put you in contact with dissatisfied teachers, to hear firsthand their experiences of gross exploitation.

Jeremy

hoccalugee@yahoo.com