Just Like Mr Benn
Barfly
Posts: 356
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« on: April 27, 2012, 04:00:06 AM » |
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I would recommend Dahongying University as a good place to work.
I've worked here for two years. In my first year there was a fantastic Director of Studies called Helen. She left last summer, and her replacement only lasted 3 days before disappearing. The new DOS has spent much of the year settling into the role and fixing problems caused by the lack of a proper handover and teacher induction at the start of the year. However, the curriculum established by Helen is very good.
The pay is low, 5k, but so are the hours, and it is possible to acquire part-time students in Ningbo who could ensure that you earn a decent amount of money. With one exception we have been paid on time each month. I think that the Uni understand the importance of not paying us a couple of days late again. The apartments are quite good. There's actually 2 different sets of buildings that teachers live in. One is slightly nicer, but noisier. Ideally new teachers are offered a choice.
Dahongying is not the most prestigious Uni. In fact, we tend to get the students that score lowest on their school entry exams. This actually has 2 good consequences though. Often the reason they scored lower is because they come from the countryside. There’s all kinds of reasons for this phenomena, but what it mean in practice is that our students are not spoiled city brats. They’re grateful to be here. They’re committed and they work hard; for the most part too hard. I love teaching here. The Uni isn’t perfect, but I find it hard to imagine leaving when the core part of my job, the teaching, is so cool. It is rewarding to see the distance travelled by the students.
Secondly, the academic standards and practices of the University as a whole may not be fantastic, but the department that oversees the Foreign teachers is ok, and the Head of that department is supportive and competent. Teachers are treated with respect and trusted to be professional and deliver good classes. Of course the constant danger is that teachers abuse this trust and the whole team finds itself drowned under an ocean of rules and regulations. This happened a bit this year, but I think we'll be starting with a clean slate in September. Clases are observed, both by Chinese academic staff and the Foreign Teacher Director of Studies.
I believe that if you take pride in your work as a teacher, this is a very enjoyable place to work.
So the other plusses;
-Close to the city centre (or at least closer than the other Unis)
-Good accommodation
-Good existing curriculum
-Our boss (Head of foreign affairs) is an honest and trustworthy person.
-We’re in the south east, so the weather is ok. (Too cold for me in winter, but about as good as you’re going to get in China without going to the south which may be too hot).
-Ningbo is a nice medium sized city. Not Beijing or Shanghai, but there are plenty of other foreigners in the city and a couple of foreign bar and restaurant areas.
-Teachers are paid 80% of their salary over the holidays, including the summer holiday for those who are retained.
The cons
-There'll probably only be 5 foreign teachers next academic year, so there's not a ready made social life on campus, unless you befriend students. However the old hands have been here a few years and can probably point you in the direction of any type of social activities you want, as long as its not too depraved, (in which case we may be relying on you to point us in the right direction).
-The students are quite low ability. (As I've pointed out, they're motivated and for me that's one of the nice things about the job)
-First year teachers almost certainly will have to teach at the other campus once a week. You catch the 7am bus and get back in the evening about 4.30 or 5, teaching for four and a half hours in between, so it's a long day).
-The computers in the apartments are basically pieces of junk. Bring your own.
In brief, the DOS debacle at the start of the year caused problems this year, but I think things are back on track now; hopefully even better.
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