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[Martin]

Does anyone have any information about or experience with this school?
It's a new privately owned vocational college/uni just outside Shanghai
in a district called Songjiang.

The deal they offer is pretty good, I am just a little bit worried about the 'in the middle of nowhere'-factor.

Is there anyone living in Shanghai at the moment? Do you know Songjiang and do you know anything about the transportation to and from?

Oh, and do you know how easy it would be to pick up part time work in Shanghai?

[Raoul F. Duke]

You should  worry about the "middle of nowhere" factor in Songjiang. It's a smudge of smokestack industries way out to the south of the city. It may be part of "Shanghai City", but it's a far cry from being Shanghai, and getting between the two won't be especially easy, cheap, or convenient. May not be so bad if you want a smaller town and want to keep Shanghai as a weekend trip, but don't go there thinking you're moving to Shanghai.

Songjiang and Shanghai are connected by train, big bus, or vans filled with unwashed migrants clutching live chickens. After dark the choices will be reduced to the occasional train.

It's pretty easy to find PT work in Shanghai...but options may be fewer if you live out in Songjiang.  Pay can be quite good in Shanghai...once you get some experience and connections, 200 RMB per hour and up are not uncommon. Check sites like That's Shanghai, Shanghai Expat, or AsiaXpat for current Shanghai job listings. (Links in our Links page)

[Martin]

Thanks a lot for that advice, Raoul. Although I would like to move to inner Shanghai, I am more concerned about the money at this point, since I want to save some this term/year.
You obviously know a bit about Shanghai and you -and a lot of others here- have more China experience than I do. In your opinion: is a one-year contract with 15 teaching periods (45m) in 3 days for 9000, apartment, power/gas and plane ticket (no money; only reimbursement for an actual ticket), but no end of contract-bonus worth living in SongJiang over? As long as I can go to Shanghai on the weekends easily enough, I don't mind living in the middle of nowhere too much.
I do wonder if in my 4 days off per week I could to go SH and fill 1 or 2 days with PT work. Maybe even find a cheap apartment and live downtown for 4 days. If that's worth it with PT work of course. And is there such a thing as 'a cheap apartment' in SH?

Money vs. teaching hours this one seems good to me. There are 25 students per class and it seems that they are a bit stricter on following the book and curriculum than at other places.
I think that the most important thing for me to know is how far 'far out' really is here.
(And if you do happen to know: how far (by bus/train) is this school is Songjiang from PuXi?)

[George]

Sounds ok to me, Martin, if you don't mind living out in the sticks, as Raoul called it.
3 days teaching, and 4 off? Can't complain.

[birddog]

Hello, Martin!

I'm birddog. I've been living and teaching English in China (mostly Nanjing) for the past four years. Your contract sounds like a good one; almost too good, in fact. I hope it's as "cut and dry" as it sounds. Are you REALLY only expected to be teaching (and available to students and administrators) for 3 days per week? I hope so, but don't be surprised if some "unexpected" requests (i.e. expectations) pop up along the way, such as English Corner, judging speech competitions, hosting various English events, etc. Chinese schools are notorious for adding all sorts of previously undeclared duties to your job. You can haggle and renegotiate, of course, but they will likely want you to do some extra things for them (considering your monthly salary).

Should it indeed be true that your 15 teaching periods are fulfilled within a 3-day period, I think you should consider resting for at least one of the remaining 4 days.

I'm lucky that students respond well to my teaching style. Perhaps it is because I was a teacher in the U.S. prior to coming to China; but I think it is more because I really try to learn my students (their lives, their minds -- not easy!!!), and their individual needs well.

Please try to focus on your students at Lida Polytechnic first, before you venture toward part-time teaching in Shanghai. I say this for numerous reasons, but perhaps most importantly because I predict the teaching you will be expected to do on a part-time basis in the city (likely for an English training center) will be quite different from what you will be doing in Songjiang.

Although, I have loads of experience in training schools and some experience in university teaching here (more in America), I can tell you that neither teaching situation (management) will offer you much help or training. You have to find your own way to be successful at this work. The training schools (especially with part-timers) will expect you to jump in and teach! No time for questions or confusion...

Best wishes to you, Martin!

[Raoul F. Duke]

Sorry for the delay here. Been a bit preoccupied.
3 days a week in Songjiang isn't so bad. You might be able to get part-time stuff in Shanghai proper if they'll accommodate your Songjiang schedule.
If you're happy with everything else, go for it.

[Martin]

Thanks for your advice and for thinking with me guys. I have made my decision and bought my train ticket and as from the 29th of August I'll be in Shanghai for a year Well.. 'near' Shanghai then

[birddog]

Wishing you safe travel to Shanghai next week, and hoping all the best for you in Songjiang!

[Raoul F. Duke]

Let me point out that Songjiang is within striking distance of Suzhou...if you can get to our suburb (Shanghai) then you can get here.

Let me also point out that the Shamrock has all-you-can-drink for 100 RMB on Thursday nights.

Please take these as a hint.

[Martin]

I see your point and will take your hint. You will see me there one day or another, IF... ni tell me nali I should qu.

[Raoul F. Duke]

No worries, dude. We'll get ya here.