Job Discussion Forums

[jlobko42]

Has anyone worked for this school or know anyone who has? I am considering taking a position with them and would like to hear about people's experiences with them.

I asked for contact information for current or former teachers and am waiting for a response from them.

Best,
Joshua

[johntpartee]

Is that Yingshan in Huanggang?

[jlobko42]

No, it is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yichang

[JoeThePlumber]

I am not familiar with the school itself, but I have been to Yichang and I thought it was a very interesting place. Not flat and featureless like most of Hubei.

[jlobko42]

Thanks for the response Joe. I am interested in it geographically too - I am hoping to find some sort of expat community there, though, if I am going to live there for a year and I am having a lot of trouble.

-Josh

[dharma86]

Yichang is a good city. No experience with the school sorry.

[Exp_China]

I have 1 more week with this school left and the management is a real pain so I hope you negotiate everything and make sure everything is crystal clear before considering the offer. Did u get the teacher reference you require from the school?

This school was formed in 2010, and is based inside the grounds of a main school, so they require a large cut of the money as it's the main school who have the authority to apply for foreigners. It currently has about 45 students at this centre.

The school currently has 4 foreign teachers including myself, I'm the youngest one atm in mid-twenties the other 3 are in their mid-forties. 1 lives in Wuhan and goes back everyweekend and the other 2 are a couple. All 3 are from the UK are nice to get a long with, so you'll have no problems there.


Pros:
- The school is based in the nice grounds of the main school.

- The students are nice to teach (the most of them anyway)

- About 20 lessons per week although they do a lot of exams, in which case you just go to inviligate.

- They give you a nice apartment (be expected to pay an additional fee if its over 1000rmb which it will be).

- Salary is good (although some of that is taken away from additional costs)

Cons:
- The headmaster is a pain, although 50% of the time she's not in the school as she has another business elsewhere to tend to.

- The chinese teachers here seem to come and go like a factory producing products. When I came the chinese teachers were new and I've already seen a few go. Next year expect to see new chinese teachers. There are about 10 teachers currently, 6 being chinese.

- Occasionally you will need to do marketing (maybe once every 2 months) on a weekend.

- The centre is quite small so not much happening, in fact not much happening in the city if you are young. Although there is the dam and of course the Yangzste river nearby, a few night markets and the shopping centres, like Wanda. It is a nice area but maybe just needs a little of a lift.

- You need to pay for your own gas, electricty, water, internet etc.


Thats all I can think of, for now.

[Brian Hugh]

When paying utilities make sure things are itemized and metered.