Job Discussion Forums

MangaMania · Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 2

Has anyone done this course, or know anything about the company? It runs for about 5-6 months and starts around May each year. A friend and I are considering the 2008 intake but I've only seen one post on this forum that had a comment about them.

I've sent an email to the Chinese Consulate in Sydney asking them to verify if they're legit but I'm not sure what checks they'll do to confirm this.

Meowwow · Joined: 20 Mar 2007 Posts: 21

please someone answer this. i want to know too!

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Have you tried asking for the emails of former teachers?

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between

I hate to say this, but I think any TEFL certifying agent in China should be held with much skepticism. I think this could even be a sticky... Look Thailand has a number of authentic agents, and anyway, is there anything wrong with being a month or so in Thailand ? It's cheaper, the folks are by far friendlier, there's heaps of stuff to do, and there are reputable certifying agents.

We are talking about a country that has been making fake water,baozi, ciggs, clothes,medicines,toothpaste...that's the news for the past 1-2 months. It raises my eyebrows ?

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

Meowwow · Joined: 20 Mar 2007 Posts: 21

The good thing with this seems to be that you only pay $200 and get a TESOL cert at the end and a paid job for 6 months (up to 5500RMB in haerbin). Training is only 2 weeks but your 100 hrs are then completed while you are teaching. And the teaching in your training weeks is paid by the hour. And you get chinese lessons 4 hrs a week. It just sounds a bit too good to be true which is why I'm suspicious. But they do sound really legit. I'll do some more searching online.
Has anyone out there actually worked for them or the sunshine schools in haerbin?

lexpat · Joined: 23 May 2004 Posts: 56 Location: Meh

Oh boy. I don't check the China board very often because I teach elsewhere now, but I went to China after being recruited by Will -Excel (a Canadian in Harbin who used to run his own school and now is just a 'recruiter' for Sunshine).

Dodgy? Well the whole industry is that. They are not bad people, but they will take advantage of the newcomer, as will every school. When I was there they had a 'senior teacher' program that depended on self study. I suspect this has evolved out of that.

Unlike most of the other teachers there I had a cert already and had taught abroad. Some of the other teachers were good, but none were really in it for anything other than the experience.

I think a program like this would be okay for someone who had no interest in doing anything but teaching in China for a year or two and wanted a targeted program. (Sunshine teahes A LOT of kids). But if you want to teach anywhere else...get a CELTA.

Jordi · Joined: 20 Jul 2007 Posts: 2

I would like to start off by saying.. I am presently a teacher for said
school. I can understand your concerns because I had the same ones myself as anyone should when considering taking a leap as big as this
one. I was worried about what conditions I would be working in, what sort of appartment I would be living in, if I would have any sort of help when moving here, if I would be alone in this big city in a strange
country...

But I can assure you my fears were all laid to rest my first week here. From the moment I was met at the Airport by Dan, one of the founders of the school, I have been helped in every way needed. I am also taking
the teachers course at the same time as I am teaching for them and it has been an excellent course.

Before I took this course I took the Trinity certTesol four week cram-exam course in Great Britian. I will not give out any names because the course was just pure.. well lets just say I didn't learn much. I feel I paid over a thousand pounds just to get a certificate saying "I can officially teach now" without learning anything.

Then I came to China. I had been teaching English in Italy for 10 years, and I had already taken the Trinity course, but I still went ahead and took the course with Sunshine as well. (One should always keep an open mind, especially when it comes to teaching because there is always something new someone can learn to teach the children.) I feel taking the course with this company has been the right choice. Not only has it prepared me and helped me with teaching in China, but also given me new ideas and tips on teaching. Teaching in a country as different as China can be an overwhelming experience, but with help and the right course, you can fit in rather easily I found.

Though I have to be honest, teaching in China is not an easy thing and is not something for everyone. It can be hard, especially when culture shock sets in. And getting around can be a real pain if you don�t know the language. When I got here they helped me with a lot of things like:

1) There was a nice apartment waiting for me when I arrived.

2) The TA�s ( the Chinese teacher assistants) have been understanding and helpful.

3) Dan himself has helped me with things like buying a new computer

4) They even gave me printed pieces of paper with my address on it for the Taxi drivers and with the school addresses on it, they gave me a map of Harbin, and a print out of the basic Chinese I will need to know when traveling around.
5) They give me Chinese lessons twice a week.

6) The course I am taking with them is really good. Not only does it teach you about teaching English, but how to teach English in China, and they even take a day to teach you about their customs.

7) They have planned activities and outings with the teachers.

And so much more. That�s why I am really happy I took another course at this school. I probably would have been on the next plane out if not for their help. And I have heard some real horror stories from some of the other teachers about some of the places they have worked at in China. Teachers stuffed in tiny rooms for living arrangements, teachers being over worked, teachers not being paid ect ect.

My advice� be careful. Investigate the company or school you will work for. Try to find a place like Sunshine who will take care of you and who will help you adjust and fit in.

Anyways that�s my two cents on the matter. I hope that has answered any concerns. Feel free to ask any other questions about working in China or for Sunshine. Or maybe check out this web page:

http://www.willexcel.com/TESOL/main.htm

HunanForeignGuy · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 989 Location: Shanghai, PRC

Jordi,

I don't wish to impune your post at all, which was highly informative and descriptive...

but so many times over the years there appear "teachers" and "others" who write glowing things about schools, institutes, etc., etc., that after a while it becomes obvious that what they have written is nothing more than a rather directed comment.

Is there some way that one might be able to confirm what you have written in an independent manner?

All the best,

HFG

Jordi · Joined: 20 Jul 2007 Posts: 2

MangaMania · Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 2

Thanks everyone - appreciate your time and responses. I did a lot of web searching initially, and yes I found all the websites that referred to the Will-Excel 'on-line 120 hour course', but just needed to see if there were a couple of people out there who'd worked there and had any comments, so cheers Lexpat and Jordi.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

MangaMania, if you decide to go with them, be sure to keep us updated on what they're like.