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The Teachers' Lounge => School Reviews and Experiences (ON-TOPIC) => Topic started by: Roy Batty on November 05, 2008, 10:23:06 AM

Title: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: Roy Batty on November 05, 2008, 10:23:06 AM
I am a recent college grad searching for an ESL job in China.  I have dug up alot of dirt on certain schools, but have not seen many people boasting about any.  Does anyone have a school in mind to recommend, or what are the qualities of a qualified employer. 
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: AMonk on November 05, 2008, 11:20:37 AM
Hi Roy!  Welcome to the Saloon agagagagag

First, decide on the sort of climate/geography that you might prefer.  No point in checking out (say) Harbin, if you can't stand cold weather, nor GuangDong if you hate typhoons and humidity.

Second, decide what age level of student you would be most comfortable teaching.  No point in checking out kindergartens if you can't stand the littlest ones and really want to teach adults.

Then, begin looking in our Links and the Location Specific pages for initial help.  When you've narrowed your field of search, please feel free to ask the Saloonies your specific questions.

For me?  I don't want anywhere farther north than Jinan.  I definitely do NOT want to teach anyone under 10 years of age, but I am "iffy" about being in a college/university.  However, I most certainly won't be entertaing at a language "mill" (like EF aoaoaoaoao and their ilk).

Happy hunting bfbfbfbfbf
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: decurso on November 05, 2008, 12:43:37 PM
 Sound advice. I could recommend a few schools,but what suits me may not suit you. Personally, I hate cold weather and refuse to venture north of The Great Wall. I spent two years in so called "real" China and highly recommend it, but at this point don't think any other city besides Beijing suits my personal needs. And I prefer to teach university.

 Like the bunny said...decide where you want to go and then decide what kind of job suits you best. Happy hunting.
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: cheekygal on November 05, 2008, 01:28:50 PM
I think it is pretty hard to recommend a specific school - truly you have to decide who you want to teach. Do browse the forum for more ideas on NO-NOs of ESL employment and more experiences with different age groups. The Saloon has special room for these discussions.
Don't say you can teach any age cause sorry, you may not be able to - it only seems that way in the beginning. But if you are especially new to teaching, you have to really consider how much you can handle (kids, school kids, high school kids, uni/college students or adults).
As for location, first decide on whether you are ok with teaching in places where winters are harsh and summers are warm or mild winters and hot summers or humid hot summers and humid but cool winters. China is pretty big and climatic conditions vary from province to province.
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: Raoul F. Duke on November 06, 2008, 12:38:17 AM
Uh...maybe we kinda straying from the OP's intent a bit? mmmmmmmmmm

Roy, I WISH I had a school I could recommend to you. I really do. But after all my years here, I can tell you many schools to avoid...and not a single one I can endorse. bibibibibi

You're extremely unlikely to find "excellent" or even "good" among schools in China. The target most of us come to aim for is "tolerable"- something we can stand to work at and get a salary from, so we can go do all the things we REALLY want to do in China.
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: George on November 06, 2008, 01:03:22 AM
Ok Roy, I can recommend my current school. You can have yer choice of Primary, Junior Middle, Middle Middle, Senior Middle, or High School. The salary ain't fantastic, but reasonable...Raoul won't agree with me, but this is Jinan! Accommodation is provided. A private apartment in a block on the School premises. Transportation is provided to whichever portion of the School you go to. The Principal is a very nice lady. She is open to reasonable suggestions and requests. I have been here for 3 years, some teachers longer. I could find higher money in Jinan, but I'm comfortable, and ...lazy! There are German teachers here, Japanese teachers here, French teachers here, and this year a Spanish teacher. The contract is for 12 months, so you get paid holidays. Airfare is also paid each year. Salary is paid fortnightly, without fail. There have been a few berks given the arse, because of their behaviour, but most of us are nice peoples. PM me if you want to investigate further.
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: Raoul F. Duke on November 06, 2008, 01:51:38 AM
'Course, what he's not telling you is that no school owner or admin could ever be dodgier or more unpleasant than Gerge himself. aoaoaoaoao

No, seriously, I'm glad we're getting at least one good one on here. Lucky you, George.

It does seem to be true that most of the better experiences tend to come from schools that are in less popular, less wealthy, less-rapidly-developing cities (Did Jinan ever get indoor plumbing in? uuuuuuuuuu ), and from schools that pay lower, State-mandated salaries...

Of course, this means you have to live in less popular, less wealthy, less-rapidly-developing cities, and earn a lower salary... oooooooooo
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: George on November 06, 2008, 01:57:44 AM
Quote
no school owner or admin could ever be dodgier or more unpleasant than Gerge himself
aoaoaoaoao aoaoaoaoao aoaoaoaoao asasasasas asasasasas Bathplug!!
Quite seriously though. This would be a very nice "starter" school. You would spend your first year in China in a relaxed atmosphere, and get to know the place.
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: adamsmith on November 06, 2008, 02:07:58 AM
and you can actually live in the city there - not out n the sticks in the education city. I actually did not mind Jinan proper, and if the school is decent it would be an ok place to start out in, and then move onward and upward to the bigger, dodgier locales. ababababab
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: LaowaiSaosao on November 06, 2008, 03:20:50 AM
I would recommend the place where I teach in Chengdu, it is an excellent uni in Chinese terms, the hours are okay, 10-12 classes per week (each class 45mins), the pay okay for those hours (4000RMB per month) and they do try to schedule the classes together so you should only be teaching two or three days a week which leaves you free to make more money the rest of the time doing private work. Downsides are that the classes are on the satellite campus which is a 40min bus ride from the main campus (there is a school bus and you get your fare paid). There is no teacher accommodation at the moment so you get an allowance of 1500 per month and even once there is teacher accom available (on the satellite campus) you could continue to live in your own place and take the allowance if you so chose. The place isn't perfect but no place I ever worked in the UK was so I'm quite happy here.

Only thing I would say, if you were to go for a job here, is hang out for one in the International Trade Dept on the bilingual programme as their English is much better than the English majors. PM me for contact info.
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: ericthered on November 06, 2008, 04:00:20 AM
I'll beat the drum for my school in Lin'an. Our illustrious Despot will argue that, before arriving in Lin'an, you have to cross a border and read a sign with the caption "This is where civilization ends. Continue at your own peril. Bring glass beads for the natives" but that is not true...well...not exactly...they took the sign down.

Nice uni, good pay as such. Lin'an is not a hopping party town and it's dirt cheap. To put it bluntly, I am having problems finding ways to spend my salary. I teach between 12-14 hours per week, the admin leaves me alone, the students are delightful, with few exceptions. There are instances of the usual TIFC nonsense but nothing a six-pack of Qingdao and some ranting can't cure.

I must concur with the member who stated that you should not look to teach any age. I taught kiddies and loathed it. I enjoy teaching at uni level.
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: Raoul F. Duke on November 06, 2008, 04:56:31 AM
To put it bluntly, I am having problems finding ways to spend my salary.

OK, so we know who's funding the chicken bar excursions tomorrow. agagagagag
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: bill brasky on November 06, 2008, 11:21:58 AM
Very refreshing to read positive comments about teaching in China and recommendations for schools.  Unlike other ESL/EFL Teachers Boards.  Glad to see that many of you are enjoying your China experience.
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: Raoul F. Duke on November 06, 2008, 01:09:33 PM
I'm enjoying my China experience immensely, for the most part. I just hate the asasasasas schools. agagagagag
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: cheekygal on November 06, 2008, 01:44:58 PM
I can recommend my husband's kindergarten - it is a part-time work but they provide with visa and work permit (you pay for them yourself though but it is pretty cheap). No accommodation or other benefits but the pay is enough. Holidays aren't paid either. They pay hourly, pay taxes and you get your tax slip. Pay is regular without significant delays (there may be some due to weekends). Hours are mainly in the morning. They are very helpful and considerate and if you are on time and kids like you - they will have no problems with you. We live in Zhuhai. It is a city in the South of China. Very very humid and hot in summer and part of the spring/autumn. In winter it gets cold but usually not lower than 10C. The air is quite clean. Humidity is the only major problem - it can get as high as 86-90%.
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: psd4fan on November 27, 2008, 03:47:25 PM
Very refreshing to read positive comments about teaching in China and recommendations for schools.  Unlike other ESL/EFL Teachers Boards.  Glad to see that many of you are enjoying your China experience.
Lovin my school and city. That having been said there have been teachers that hated to school and the city. Oh well. Most of those seemed to have unreasonable expectations of what China would be like and how things should be run.
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: Spaghetti on November 28, 2008, 03:08:00 AM

Lovin my school and city. That having been said there have been teachers that hated to school and the city. Oh well. Most of those seemed to have unreasonable expectations of what China would be like and how things should be run.

What is "unreasonable?" "Unrealisitc," I can understand, but, "unreasonable?"
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: chinalin on November 28, 2008, 03:49:30 AM
Well, to follow on this topic.  I just love my college here in Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province.  I worked here for the first year I was in China, and then my contract was not renewed, as the school was led to believe that someone who taught here previously, was returning.  So, I got a contract at a different college in Zhaoqing, and that was not such a good experience.  In fact, just ask xwarrior, as that is where he is now!!

At the end of that year, my previous colleagues contacted me, and asked me to return to the original college.  This gave me some leverage, and I sorted out two issues that were less than satisfying for me, in my first year, with no discussion at all.  What I wanted was seen to, and I have been here ever since. 

I imagine that for as long as I am in China, I will be staying here.  The students are great, as they actually have real opportunities for further studies overseas, and of course that means that their English levels are critical, but also I have just the best support base, from fellow teachers (all Chinese) and from the administration. 

I could not want for better.  Here, if I walk into the English department, it doesn't matter who is in the office, I can have a chat and a laugh with them, as their English is good enough for that.  But, at the 'other place' there were maybe two or three of the Applied Languages department that I could talk with, and there were about 19, and they were English teachers!!  Figure that one out!!

The money is not all that special, but it is more than enough for me, the work hours are excellent (well, except for the three 8am classes that I have this term), my apartment has three bedrooms, and is bigger than my house in Australia, and it is centrally located, just about 25 minutes to walk to the city centre, or a choice of 6 different local buses, depending on where I want to be in the city centre, or a taxi is usually under 8 RMB.  So, all in all, I am very happy here, and sorry but I am not planning on leaving any time soon!!

Lin
Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province. bxbxbxbxbx
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: psd4fan on November 28, 2008, 11:46:52 PM

Lovin my school and city. That having been said there have been teachers that hated both the school and the city. Oh well. Most of those seemed to have unreasonable expectations of what China would be like and how things should be run.

What is "unreasonable?" "Unrealisitc," I can understand, but, "unreasonable?"
Actually for me they would be the same. Perhaps I was using both in a feeble attempt to make myself sound more intelligent. haha
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: china-matt on December 23, 2008, 08:53:19 PM
Somehow I must've skipped over this thread a while back.

I can definitely recommend my university. They have been wonderful to me (kinda sad I'm leaving). Some of the students are rather difficult, but that's to be expected. I would highly recommend working here for anyone interested (and they are still hiring).
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: Li Fu on December 26, 2008, 06:45:04 AM
I would recommend teaching in Gaomi, a "small" city of 800,000 in Shandong Province. I taught in a middle school there for a very short period in October. The school is tring to get a FT permit (hence my not naming the actual school.) The salary was 6000Y pm,a free 2 br 2 story courtyard townhouse, which my wife and I had improved, and some new furnishings, complete with all utilities and internet. You will be well treated by the principle, who is very laid back, thanks to his time spent in the UK. The city is beaut and cheap, and you will be one of few, if not the only western person in town! Good for a newbie or experienced teacher, with only 14 40 minute, and 2 45 minute classes per week, though there are 60-75 students per class. Pm me for further details/pics.
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: sttwo on January 02, 2009, 05:11:21 PM
First, I recommend finding a different country to teach in.

Second, if you feel compelled to teach in China, I recommend teaching writing at a university first.  This is how you will learn about the culture, customs, and thinking in the country.  University students won't teach you much at all in conversation classes.  I guess it's a face saving thing or something.  They will tell you detail in writing that you can figure out that they will never say when others are around.

Third, I recommend if you must teach in China to move downward in age from there.  University students here are convinced that university years are playtime years and are far more interested in their electronic devices, endless certificates and driver's licenses, and romance than they are in learning anything or being bothered with homework or attending classes.

Fourth, once you have progressed those steps, you can easily transition to younger and youjnger students who are polite, respectful, and want to achieve and learn.  I've been in China teaching all ages for more than five and a half years and much prefer the kids who are seven to eighteen.  Of that group ages seven to twelve are the best.  Those eleven and twelve are the utlimate because they are absorbing adult vocabulary in their first language.  Female students are almost universally the best of all.  Male students progress toward believing they are guaranteed jobs and status by virtue of being male.

Lastly, I'm moving to the Netherlands in July 2009.  I will not ever return to China with its current philosophy, impatience, and political system.  The world can come to an end first.  I am finished with it.

Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: AMonk on January 03, 2009, 05:13:32 PM
 offtopic offtopic 


If you feel this way, please express yourself in the appropriate Thread(s)
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: Kabbalistic on January 30, 2009, 01:01:07 AM
Somehow I must've skipped over this thread a while back.

I can definitely recommend my university. They have been wonderful to me (kinda sad I'm leaving). Some of the students are rather difficult, but that's to be expected. I would highly recommend working here for anyone interested (and they are still hiring).

Hi there, I am looking for a new job as I about to finish my contract with my school in China. You can give me the contact details of your University.
                                                   Thanks in advance
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: Schnerby on January 31, 2009, 03:37:06 AM
A realistic view of the situation is what we all need. As a newcomer, this positive thread does give me a bit more confidence. Of course, not everything will go to plan and not everything will meet my expectations. That said, it can't totally suck either, or you good people wouldn't stick around.

Keep 'em good stories coming!
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: china-matt on February 01, 2009, 04:12:43 AM
Though I did endorse my university, I must say they are not currently hiring (they found my replacement). Though that may change if they make changes to the curriculum (which I think my boss really wants). So, feel free to check out Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen Graduate School for future job openings.
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: Raoul F. Duke on February 01, 2009, 11:22:52 AM
Cool.
I'm probably a bit more comfortable with simply naming schools than handing out contact details anyway...

If a school wants to advertise a job, they're welcome to do that...and it's free.
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: The Local Dialect on February 12, 2009, 02:05:25 AM
I have no real complaints with my current school, or I should say, I feel like the complaints I do have are fairly trivial. The pay is good, the workload is more than manageable, and the students are, with a few exceptions, good learners. Unfortunately they aren't hiring at the moment, but perhaps in the fall.

In fact, in 6 years of teaching here, there have only been a couple of schools that I absolutely wouldn't recommend. I would guess that the majority of people teaching in China are reasonably satisfied with what they're doing, but of course we don't hear about those folks, we hear the horror stories. People having completely normal experiences probably aren't particularly motivated to post about those experiences on the internet.
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: Kabbalistic on February 13, 2009, 04:45:01 AM
I am really heartened by this topic.  We seem to spend a lot of time slagging so many places.   I would recommend my uni if you have a Masters.  Not fantastic pay, but hours are short - 12 per week.  12 months pay rather than the 10-11 many other place pay. NO changes to timetables etc. Accommodation is reasonable (2 bedroom, free electricity and gas, 24/7 internet connection, computer and laser printer supplied etc), and FAO fixes almost everything immediately.

Hi, everyone, happy to be posting back again. This site is really awesome. Lotus Eater, could you PM me the contacts of your university, but I don't have a Master degree though, I've only got a Bachelors.
                         Thanks in advance
                                           bjbjbjbjbj
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: Raoul F. Duke on February 13, 2009, 10:51:05 AM
Uh...Kushal, you don't have PM yet. A bit more posting will fix that...
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: George on February 13, 2009, 02:01:50 PM
Email?
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: Kabbalistic on February 13, 2009, 06:27:39 PM
Uh...Kushal, you don't have PM yet. A bit more posting will fix that...
Lotus's uni seems better than most here, too...I gather chances are good that they really truly won't consider you without a Masters, but Lotus will know more.

Ok thanks. I am more than happy to be posting on this forum.
        By the way, Lotus Eater, thanks for all the info.As you said I might give it a whirl & see what happens next.
                              bfbfbfbfbf
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: A-Train on February 25, 2009, 08:29:27 AM
"I would recommend my uni if you have a Masters."


Lotus, I browsed at your web site and it looks pretty cold there.  How long does the really cold stuff hang around and how much snow do you get?  I spent last winter in northern Alberta, Canada and have vowed to live a frost-free existence.
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: Stil on February 25, 2009, 01:20:44 PM
A-Train, It's a little difficult to understand where it's cold here. Looking at the seasonal temperatures means very little and moving south (unless it's far south) doesn't mean much either.

Where I live the temperature never drops much below 0C and there is no snow but it's cold. It feels really cold because there is very little heating and no central heating. If you get cold you can't get warm again. No stores, schools, homes, offices any buildings outside of good hotels are warm. After being out, when I come home I must put on more clothes to lounge around the house keeping a heavy coat on. The buildings here are concrete and just whisk heat away. Summer temps run over 40C so the buildings are built with summer in mind.

If you are worried about feeling cold, look at the far south like Guangdong or north of the Yangzi river where as Lotus said they have indoor heating. It's a little like wind chill. It doesn't really matter what the temperatures are, it's how cold do you feel.
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: Spaghetti on February 25, 2009, 01:27:50 PM
And we are north of the Yangzi, so your apartment will have central heating, as will your classrooms.  A bonus.


 bibibibibi

Not every University in Xi'an with classroom "heating" actually has effective heating. Just because a school has it, doesn't mean you won't freeze. PM me and I'll put you into contact with people who can verify my claim. Lotus has the perfect school. it's lake Woebegone. Sounds swell. However, like any city, not every school in Xi'an is the same.

This is China, where stores have coolers they keep drinks in but never use them. Same applies to heaters in classrooms. It varies from school to school.
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: George on February 25, 2009, 01:33:31 PM
Quote
where stores have coolers they keep drinks in but never use them.
They do keep the drinks in their coolers! But rarely, if ever, switch them on!! bibibibibi bibibibibi
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: dragonsaver on February 25, 2009, 02:39:04 PM
The coolers are used to keep the beer from getting as cold as the room you are eating in  ahahahahah ahahahahah

However, my University in Dalian also has heated classrooms and air conditioners for the summer.  I usually teach in a t-shirt in the winter  akakakakak akakakakak

We got 3 snow storms this winter.  Maybe a total of 5 cm (2 inches) in total. Snow lasted maybe 1 day, if that, each time.

I have worked south of the Yellow River and I never will again.  I was never so cold in my life, and I have lived in Calgary with -40 before wind chill.  Outside cold can be remedied with a good coat and hat.  Inside cold is almost impossible to live with (in my opinion).  
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: George on February 25, 2009, 11:51:46 PM
Yes. There is nothing worse than coming in from the cold outdoors and having to put on extra layers to get warm in your apartment.
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: Stil on February 26, 2009, 12:31:18 AM
Yes. There is nothing worse than coming in from the cold outdoors and having to put on extra layers to get warm in your apartment.

Although finding company to keep the bed warm can be pretty easy.  afafafafaf
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: George on February 26, 2009, 01:13:55 AM
Very true, Stil.....but going to bed fully dressed is a tad turn-offish.
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: Spaghetti on February 26, 2009, 01:17:44 AM
Quote
where stores have coolers they keep drinks in but never use them.
They do keep the drinks in their coolers! But rarely, if ever, switch them on!! bibibibibi bibibibibi

Yeah George. I meant, "don't use them," as in, "don't turn them on." Otherwise they're mostly fancy cabinets holding warm drinks.

Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: Spaghetti on February 26, 2009, 01:19:06 AM
Although finding company to keep the bed warm can be pretty easy.  afafafafaf

Like a Tonton in The Empire Strikes Back, or like Kay Parker and making the beast with two backs? mmmmmmmmmm
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: A-Train on February 28, 2009, 08:11:14 AM
Well, I'm glad we stumbled on to this topic because I've just had it with winters here.  Last year we had over nine feet...the second snowiest in state history.  This year was not much better.  At the risk of sounding like a whiner, I agree with the poster who said that there's not much worse than coming inside and finding it colder than outside.  That would send me straight to the airport or the gun shop.

Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: paddyfields on March 09, 2009, 03:12:43 AM
I will second "Ericthered" with regard to our school in Lin'An. agagagagag It is quite likely I will sign up on the dotted line for another year here when current contract ends.
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: Schnerby on March 10, 2009, 04:29:27 AM
I will second "Ericthered" with regard to our school in Lin'An. agagagagag It is quite likely I will sign up on the dotted line for another year here when current contract ends.

"our" school in Lin'an?

You didn't drag another one in here, did you ETR?
 ahahahahah

Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: paddyfields on March 10, 2009, 03:31:36 PM
Actually I have been here long B4 I reached Lin'An! bjbjbjbjbj Just "Aint said much yet"
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: Schnerby on March 11, 2009, 01:59:09 AM
My mistake. I thought he was dragging 'em out of the woodwork to clog our boards.  ahahahahah

To get back on topic, of course people can rrecommend some schools - but time and personal wants/needs mean what's right for one person can be very wrong for another.
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: ericthered on March 12, 2009, 08:09:22 PM
Oh, Paddyfields has been here for a while. He's just been hiding in the corner, probably hunting Stil with a shil..err..shillel...huh...shillishsally....big Irish stick thingy. He is also the reason why the campus is now rife with rumours of my upcoming summer nuptials to a Chinese girl. Me..getting married...yeah, that's a possibility...NOT!!!
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: paddyfields on March 12, 2009, 09:25:49 PM
You getting married? That was yesterdays rumour.... kkkkkkkkkk
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: Nolefan on March 12, 2009, 09:34:16 PM
ahem.. ahem...  offtopic
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: Ruth on April 22, 2009, 06:09:37 PM
I can recommend 'my' uni as a great place to work.  As others have said, though, it suits me but it might not be for everyone. 

The salary is great by uni standards, but less than one can make in a language mill if one works hard.  My hours have varied from 8-14 per week in the 5 semesters I've been here.  My contract says 16/week (teaching hours of 45 minutes, that is).  The new dean seems to be trying to get more out of us, but hasn't tried to exceed the contract. There are growing pains and experiments in testing and teaching that we are working through, but the admin of the foreign language department seem to respect the opinions of the FTs and are now consulting us about courses and class arrangements. It's taken awhile, but I now feel as if I'm part of a team.

There are currently 5 FTs teaching English.  We teach Business English majors, Normal English majors and non-English majors.  Every semester is a crap-shoot regarding which classes we'll get.  In January we were asked what our areas of expertise are and what our preferences for teaching were.  They tried, but still not an ideal use of abilities (IMHO).  There's hope, though.  At least they are talking to us about it.  Students are mostly polite and keen.  Yes, we get the slackers, but they are in the minority.

A 2 bedroom apartment on campus is provided free of charge*.  Of the 4 homes I've had in China, it's my favorite. I pay for electricity, water, gas and internet.  No need for central heating as I'm in Dongguan in the deep south.  It's chilly for a few weeks in the winter (never frost) and we have a space heater, but rarely use it.  Of more concern is the stinking hot, humid summers.  Classrooms have ceiling fans and a fan the teacher can aim at his/her armpits, but it's still uncomfortable.  There are air cons in the bedrooms of my flat, but not in the rest of the house.  We have fans, that sorta help, but I have to say my energy level is sluggish from late May to late Sept.

Holidays - huge bonus of uni life.  Each semester is 20 weeks long, but I usually end up teaching only 16 of those weeks.  This semester I have to teach to week 18, but didn't begin with those students until week 3.  I'm usually free for 4-5 weeks over spring festival and about 9 weeks in the summer.  Pay shows up in my bank account 12 months a year.  One way air fare shows up at the end of each contract period.  Occasionally other money shows up in my bank account as bonuses (ie 3000 rmb in January for the new year).  Occasionally we are given cash as a bonus (most recently 300 rmb because our school did so well in last year's audit) and occasionally we are given store cards with 100-200 kuai on them (new years gift, teachers day gift, etc.)  All of these are lovely perks.

In the 'not for everyone' category, the campus is about an hour's bus ride out of the city proper.  Buses stop running about 9 at night, so if one likes to party in the wide variety of western bars and restaurants in the city, you are looking at a 50-60 kuai taxi ride home or finding a friend's couch in the city.  Shopping for western food is not a problem in DG proper.  Local shopping 10 minutes from campus provides almost everything we need.  There's a grocery store on campus too, but supplies are limited.

If you're interested - Dongguan University of Technology.

* I need to qualify that.  My husband and I are both teachers here and share an apartment.  I think the free rent is based on 2/apt.  If one wants to live alone I believe they charge half rent which is about 700/month.  I'm not sure about that though.  Not sure what they do if you are willing to share but there isn't anyone to share with.
Title: Re: Can anyone actually recommend a school
Post by: synthette58 on June 01, 2009, 06:01:12 AM
You getting married? That was yesterdays rumour.... kkkkkkkkkk

....as was ANYONE having a future here in Lin'an..........don't waste the printer ink.
Gone to the dogs - and the dogs have long fled the building, as has Elvis.
Rumours abound, and will so, long after our sad, sorry asses have left........

Life is a learning experience - that's why it's known as the 'Universe-ity'.....

As I stated to Con earlier...........'keep your friends close, and your enemies closer'.
True enough, eh?

Sayonara.