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EF (Education First)

Engaged employer

Lighter workload but unequal pay and impractical management - Local Teacher EF (Education First) Employee Review

2.0
6 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

1. Compared with other local competitors in the same industry, our workload is relatively lighter. 2. Fixed working hours with regular clock-in and clock-out. 3. Full social insurance, supplementary medical insurance and housing fund (six insurances and one housing fund). 4. No KPI targets.

Cons

1. Workload has been gradually increased over time with no corresponding pay rises or company-wide salary adjustments. 2. Local teachers and foreign teachers receive unequal pay for identical work; foreign teachers enjoy higher salaries, better benefits and more holidays. 3. Most management staff lack frontline working experience or have been away from classroom work for many years. Their decisions are often impractical, and they rarely take frontline employees’ feedback on board.

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EF (Education First) Response
3w
Thank you for sharing about your 8 years teaching English with EF; your commitment to the students means a lot. We hope some of the info below is helpful for the points you wrote about. On scheduling: it’s great that you enjoy fixed working hours, but we'd just clarify that the schedule is built around students' needs rather than fixed clock-in/out times. On workload: teaching hours haven't changed in many years. In the past years we have introduced new class types to replace older class topics. We know adapting to new approaches can take time, but this should not increase workload in the long term. On leave: all teachers (local or international) receive the same annual leave based on tenure. International teachers can apply for additional unpaid leave, reflecting the unique circumstances of living abroad. The feedback from local teachers indicated this unpaid option was not useful, which is why it’s not offered. On management: Beijing centre managers have 5 years of education management experience, hold relevant qualifications, and still teach around 15 hours a week. Senior academic management also understands the workload of teachers as they all came through that pathway themselves. The team is always happy to hear from you on any other questions or concerns - be that face to face, via your manager, or the annual Global Staff survey.

Explore other reviews about EF (Education First)

5.0
27 Feb 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Opportunity for quick advancement - Trainings for new managers - Culture of innovation and entrepreneurship - Global connections; opportunities to travel - Fast-paced work environment - Friendly, supportive teams

Cons

- Low pay (industry) - Burnout / overworked during peak seasons

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EF (Education First) Response
3mo
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re glad to hear you’ve found opportunities for early career development, leadership training, and global connection during your time at EF. Creating a vibrant culture where colleagues can learn from one another and grow quickly is something we care deeply about. We also appreciate your perspective on compensation and workload during busy seasons. Supporting our colleagues’ limitless potential while helping them make a real impact through their work is important to us, and feedback like yours helps us continue to reflect on how we support our teams.
4.0
2 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

You get to choose your tour and recruit the students you want to bring. The paid chaperone ratio is 6:1, so it is very manageable. The tours are great and the local experts are wonderful.

Cons

Company support is variable. There is high turnover and new consultants are very sales motivated and don't always get the nuances of your school or community group. I have had some WONDERFUL concusltants, but they have always been promoted before I get to work with them again.

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