Ecc

[Pudgimelon]

Several times in the past few weeks, my opinions have been flamed and part of the "evidence" used against me is that I used to work at ECC.

According to some people, ECC is the worst place to work and only a complete f'k-up would work there. Therefore, according to that logic, everything I say must be b.s., because I worked at ECC and ECC only hires idiots.

Well, that may be the experience of some people, but not me. I found ECC to be a wonderful place to work. The teachers there were friendly and social and we often hung out after work, I believe some of them even played D&D together, although I never had the time to join a campaign.

The staff at ECC was warm and kind and very generous. The manager was always willing to help out farang teachers, even going so far as to loan them money out of her own wallet if they were short on cash. She was sweet and genuine and a real joy to work for, in fact, if any of you live in Nonthaburi, I highly recommend working for Khun Aor at ECC in the Mall Ngam Wong Wan, you'll love it.

At the time I was applying for jobs when I first got here, I could have picked between a school contracting ECC for teachers or another school that I had found on my own. I chose the other school obviously because it was a private school and paid more. But I also agreed to tutor at ECC on the weekends. I didn't need the money, but agreed to do it mostly because the girl who asked me was exceedingly cute .

Luckily, a short time after my ex-girlfriend went back to the States, that same girl broke up with her boyfriend and so I seized the opportunity and asked her out. Normally the staff doesn't date teachers, so this caused a lot of good natured gossip and ribbing. We were all on good terms so everything was cool.

We dated for a few months, but it really wasn't meant to be. She had been going out with her ex-boyfriend for 7 years so they had a lot of history together and I was mostly just a rebound. When he asked her out again, she dumped me and ran back to him (then he promptly cheated on her again, HAH! Karma's a b'tch! ). Strangely enough, I had recently met my (future) wife in the Mall and we had become good friends, exchanging language lessons and hanging out around the Mall until my girlfriend got off of work. So after I broke up with the ECC girl, it seemed only natural to ask my best friend out on a date, and of course, that turned out wonderfully.

Anyway, my point is that working at ECC (for me at least) was never about the money. It was a friendly, decent environment and since I did mostly private tutoring, I always had students willing to learn. I got particularly good at cramming people for the TOEFL and I still get references for that.

To this day, Khun Aor will call me up with offers to do corporate tutoring or a quick substitution on a weekend (often for other ECCs). I don't always have time to help out these days, but she's a friend so I'm always willing to squeeze her into my schedule.

Perhaps working for ECC full-time would suck because the pay is quite low and it must be a real bummer to have to subsist on that kind of salary, but for me it was never about the money. I liked the people who worked there and enjoyed helping them out. It was one of three jobs I was working at the time (well, four jobs, actually, but I gradually phased out the last of my web design projects for Stateside companies, that was becoming a bit too much to deal with).

But if you're looking to make an extra 5,000 to 6,000 a month and can spare a few hours on the weekend (or evenings), then its not so bad. I used to go early, eat breakfast with my girlfriend, then teach a class or two and have the rest of the afternoon free to go up to my friend's card shop on the 6th floor and play Magic all day.

Fun times.

Anyway, stop trashing ECC guys. Not every one is the same, and not everyone works there for the money (which is good, because the money sucks. but then, money isn't everything, right?).

Edited December 3, 2005 by Pudgimelon

[Rumpole]

Anyway, stop trashing ECC guys.  Not every one is the same, and not everyone works there for the money (which is good, because the money sucks.  but then, money isn't everything, right?).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I wonder to what extent the owners and franchisees of ECC would agree with the last line of your post?

Edited December 3, 2005 by Rumpole

[Old Croc]

Should this be in the teaching forum?

[Maestro]

Several times in the past few weeks, my opinions have been flamed and part of the "evidence" used against me is that I used to work at ECC.

I love acronyms! Doesn’t everybody? Particularly when an acronym’s first occurrence in a text is not followed by its definition. This gives me the opportunity to go hunting for that definition. Much greater fun than doing crossword puzzles.

For ECC, acronymfinder.com gives the following as the first 20, i.e. most likely, definitions out of a total of 99:

ECC Error Correcting/Correction Code

ECC Earth Central Command

ECC Eastern Catholic Churches (informal)

ECC Echo Canceller Controller

ECC Echostar Communications Corporation

ECC E-Commerce Center (Verticle Net)

ECC Economic Coordination Committee (Pakistan Government)

ECC Edge Card Control

ECC Edison Community College

ECC Edmonds Community College

ECC Education Coordinating Council

ECC Educational Capacity Committee

ECC Educational Cultural Complex

ECC Effects Coordination Cell

ECC El Camino College

ECC El Centro College

ECC Elections Canvassing Commission

ECC Electrical Connectivity Check

ECC Electrochemical Concentration Cell (ozonesonde)

ECC Electronic Camera Coverage

From the context, Pudgimelon’s ECC is a company or organisation where schools can contract teachers, and also where teachers are employed to teach. Hmm, let me see. “Education Coordinating Council” would seem to fit.

Pudgimelon, how close is my guess?

Ah, yes, there’s also D&D. A game. “Dungeons and Dragons” is at the top of acronymfinder’s list. That was easy to hunt down.

[Pudgimelon]

Pudgimelon, how close is my guess?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I believe it stands for: English, Chinese, Computer

Could be wrong though, I never really bothered to ask.

[Wanraya]

ECC = English and Computer Centre.

I too worked for ECC when I first came to Thailand.

I would rate them as a good place for your first year as a teacher after obtaining your TEFL qualification as you do tend to experience the full range of teaching work (corporate, adults, children).

They wouldn't be my idea of a good place to work long term though, too many restrictive rules for full time teachers, out of date text books and a restricted choice of textbooks to choose from for your courses due to the franchise rules.

I'm not knocking them. I'm glad I worked for them during my first year though I wouldn't go back now.

[ProfessorFart]

How much did they pay you to post this?

[think_too_mut]

ECC = English and Computer Centre.

I too worked for ECC when I first came to Thailand.

I would rate them as a good place for your first year as a teacher after obtaining your TEFL qualification as you do tend to experience the full range of teaching work (corporate, adults, children).

They wouldn't be my idea of a good place to work long term though, too many restrictive rules for full time teachers, out of date text books and a restricted choice of textbooks to choose from for your courses due to the franchise rules.

I'm not knocking them. I'm glad I worked for them during my first year though I wouldn't go back now.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah. Could you mention your manager's name?

The school that teaches English to bar girls farangs support. He would love to have it in his resumee.

[chuchok]

Pudgimelon, how close is my guess?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I believe it stands for: English, Chinese, Computer

Could be wrong though, I never really bothered to ask.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Great to see that you are on top of things Pudgi.

[ProfessorFart]

This is a lame ad.

Pudgi is in with ECC.

Block it and block him I say.......

[Spit the Dog]

Can't say that I've ever fancied working for the ECC. The thought of working weekends and being paid a low salary doesn't appeal.

[PeaceBlondie]

I've never darkened their doors, so ECC is a stranger to me. Second hand, though, I've heard remarks similar to posts #1 and 6.

When I was between jobs at the summer break, I went to a different three letter private language chain around the corner. 250 baht an hour, and they didn't need me. That's almost too low, even for extra money. But for a newbie, some of those branches must be a good place to make your mistakes, learn the craft, and get a long term job after a year.

[Ijustwannateach]

As I've frequently said, the alphabet soup schools have their place. They about as cheap and convenient as English teaching can get for the students, and for the teachers they are a foot in the door to a new country and a new profession. To knock people for having formerly worked at one of them is like knocking a math teacher for having once tutored underclassmen at his school. Everyone has to start learning somewhere, and ECC is the place for many.

That said, of course ECC is not the place with the best money or working conditions in the world- and that's why most experienced teachers leave.

As far as I'm aware, ECC is originally a Japanese company (assuming it's the same company). My friends in Japan who worked for the place admitted they never found out what the initials stood for either.

"Steven"

[mbkudu]

The 'Walmart' of Thai language centers. A revolving door of employee turnover.

[Neeranam]

ECC and Inlingua are owned by the same guy. Inlingua gets much the same kind of teachers but slightly better - they won't take anyone. Inlingua teaching standards are therefore slightly better, but basically they put on a nicer "shop window", and charge slightly more.

Nothing to do with the Jap. co.

[kenkannif]

Yes, indeed.

Saying that I've got a couple of mates at ECC that seem pretty happy (which is a relative term) there all said and done.

[Jimmy2004]

I'm gonna start with them (aint gonna tell you the branch though) early next year.

I'll tell you how I get on.