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[thedistractress]

Hello all-
I'm considering taking a job beginning in August with Golden Apple International Child Education in Chengdu.  Has anyone heard about or had experience with this school?  I'd be signing a 12 month contract (with no summers off) for 25 hours a week (7000 RMB/month) with a furnished apartment included.  From what I understand, the "flight reimbursement" of 6000 RMB (upon completion of the contract) is a bit low.  I'd appreciate any comments/advice.  Thanks!

[dragonsaver]

I get 8000, 12 hours per week, 6 weeks in summer and 6 weeks in Winter off. I get return airfare included.

Pay is ok but those hours are high with no holidays.  What is your background?

[Lotus Eater]

No summer off, 25 hours a week, 6000Y reimbursement, 7000Y month - with kindergarten children?  The preparation time will be a killer.

From their own web page:

you will find yourself making craft objects, things for the classroom, rewards for the kids and other such things in your own time, making teaching aids, singing and dancing, doing morning exercises, performing in plays, making costumes, helping individual kids outside lesson time, playing the piano (if you can), doing extracurricular activities and other such things.

Without knowing the place at all, I would say you are being had! 

Chengdu is a nice place, but working 11 months of the year is NOT fun, and you wouldn't get to see it with the amount of preparation and teaching time you have.

[Raoul F. Duke]

Wow.
The paragraph Lotus quotes sounds like the contract will begin with the installation of a ring in your nose. Do you want a new job, or a new lifestyle?

You have to be extremely careful when reading contracts in China. Some schools will include things like the above that indicate an intention to not only work you a full class load, but also occupy most of your out-of-class-time as well. It maxes the value they get out of you, and keeps you occupied and under control the whole time you're here. You don't want to see this happen.

Similarly, travel reimbursements have been changing...and not in our favor.
It used to be standard for the schools to simply pay the cost of your tickets- you turn in the receipts and they pay the amount shown. But the cost of air tickets has been steadily climbing higher and higher, and if the schools paid these higher fares it meant less profit for big school owner mans to buy investment properties and big shiny black car. So, many schools have started fixing their travel reimbursements at a standard rate- a rate that has fallen increasingly short as travel costs rise. Obviously somebody has to pay the higher costs, but it certainly isn't going to be these schools. TIFC.
Sometimes you can make up for this in other ways, such as a truly attractive salary. Otherwise, though, you want to try and negotiate around this dodge...or try another school.

[cheekygal]

Normally, kindy has to give you all public holidays off, including 2 weeks for Chinese New year and 2 weeks extra -  if you sign for a year -  that you can take any time after having completed 6 months. Kindies don't really go on vacation so signing up with one is usually deliberately depriving yourself from long vacation.
You are signing up as a full-time teacher, so yes, be prepared to do morning exercise, wipe noses, help kids dress/undress and change and do all sorts of stuff regular kindy teachers do. I worked in a kindy just like this one in Beijing and my salary was 12,500, no benefits, only 1 month's salary bonus on the completion which actually got cut into 4 times because I missed 26 days total during the year due to being sick or having to deal with few personal stuff. So, you also can't normally get sick unless it is 1 day a month.

So, read up on advice, and think twice whether you are ready to teach kids. Good luck.

[James the Brit]

Thedistractress, it seems that you are being screwed by this particular school. I would suggest that you take another teaching job.

[thedistractress]

Thanks for the advice!  It seems like I should keep looking.  I am, however, very interested in moving to Chengdu- anyone familiar with the area and job opportunities?  As to my background, I have a B.A. in political science, and I've spent the past two years teaching ESL with the Peace Corps in eastern Europe. 

[dragonsaver]

You deserve much more than that job then.

[Lotus Eater]

There are several universities in Chengdu - google universities (although I think there is a list in here somewhere already) and then write directly to their Foreign Affairs Office. You might not make as much money, but will have way more free time, plus summer, winter and public holidays, air fares etc.  And if you still wanted more money, yuo'd have enough time to do some freelance stuff.

[Raoul F. Duke]

Chengdu is a nice place. Reputedly a great place to live. I know it has a large and thriving expat scene. It even has a Bookworm!
Many residents of the surrounding countryside in Sichuan is still pretty poor and backward. The parts of Sichuan province that aren't high in the mountains are STINKING hot in the summer. And I hope you like hot, spicy food...Sichuan cuisine is good but served in Sichuan it'll sho'nuff take yo' head clean off. Sichuan is a good place to learn Chinese...Sichuan is one of the few Southern areas where the Putonghua (Standard Mandarin) spoken by locals is pretty clear and standard.
Chengdu has a large, healthy English education market. For many locals English is seen as a ticket out of Sichuan province... Be very careful of schools there...but then I'd say that pretty much anywhere.

[LaowaiSaosao]

Hi, I live in Chengdu and teach at a uni here that is probably looking for staff next term. They pay 3,500-4000 per month for 10-12 class hours (=45minutes) per week plus 1500 accommodation allowance plus fare money (5000 per term) and travel allowance (1200 per term). Drawback is you have to take a bus to work as the undergraduate campus is 30mins out of town, but they do try to offset that with sensible scheduling so you will probably only work two days a week, leaving you plenty of time for fun or teaching elsewhere. PM me if you want the contact details.

Also, I know someone who works at Golden Apple and likes it okay, she only works mornings giving her afternoons free. There is another kindergarten that also recruits foreign teachers, I think it is called Olive Tree or something like that.

Chengdu is a fab place to live, I would highly recommend it. Only place I know to steer clear of is the Intensive Language Training Centre at Sichuan University as they treat their staff pretty poorly. Like I said, PM for more info. Cheers, Laura.

[danbo]

Hi Laura (and everyone else!), I'm a newbie on this forum. Teaching in BKK at the moment, but looking to leave after two years here, and bring my wife and little boy to China.

Chengdu sounds very nice, and so if I may impose upon you, do you know if the uni you work at still require teachers?

I'm a 34 year old Brit, and have taught a mixture of Business and General English, at both Batchelors and Masters levels.

Any help you can give much appreciated.

PS I dunno if there's a newbie intro section (haven't yet checked the forum out at length as I joined to pick your brains on this thread). If there is I'll introduce myself more properly 

[Raoul F. Duke]

Indeed there is: http://raoulschinasaloon.com/index.php?topic=7.705

Also a reminder...if your school is a good place to work, and they are seeking teachers, get 'em to send me a job ad at goodchinajobs@gmail.com!

[DJWolff]

I see this post was made two years ago, but I am also applying for a position there.

As for all of the activities described on the web site, that is pretty much what I do on a daily basis where I am employed right now and even more. I have done everything in terms of crafts. Actually, the nose ring doesn't sound a bad idea after all, Raoul.

I just don't think I can do worse than that,  and please don't crucify me for saying this, because I better than anyone know that when things are likely to go worse, they almost always do.

Does anyone else have updated references or knows someone currently working there? How is life in Chengdu? I'm in Nanjing and I so want outta here.

Thanks.

[old34]

Does anyone else have updated references or knows someone currently working there? How is life in Chengdu? I'm in Nanjing and I so want outta here.

Thanks.

Can't help with the Chengdu part, other then that I know it houses the first "Bookworm" so must be a cool place to chill.

But I'm on my way at the end of the month to 7 weeks in Nanjing. I've been before and enjoyed it (the gig and the city), so why "I so want outta here?"