Job Discussion Forums

[sheeba]

Hi Guys
I am new to this forum so please let me introduce myself. I am a 29 year old male from the South of England. I have a BSc hons degree in Business Stats and passed my CELTA (C+) a few months ago. I have worked in offices for about 7 years and finally realized that I really hate what I do - So I thought TEFL would be an inspiring change.

I have thought about several initial destinations to teach and have now decided on China. I haven't a lot of saved cash and the deals in China seem to set you up without as much hassle as I would experience in Thailand or Vietnam. I am teaching in a summer school for 6 or 7 weeks in Brighton soon to give me an introduction to teaching. I know this will be hard work but I think the experience will be very useful before I take the plunge into China.

I thought a University would be a great place to start. I want to be involved with activities and create a real bond with the students. I hope this will help with lessons. There seem less teaching hours in uni's in China which I would appreciate as I think to start with my planning may take a while.

I have had an offer from Shenyang University of Technology. I know it is freezing in the winter. I have heard of sand storms etc etc but this won't put me off. The pay is 4000 RMB. They offer the usual accommodation (on site -is it better on campus?), flight back and so on. The hours are 20-22 teaching. The lady there seems keen for me to sign on the dotted line and fax her back - She said 'you have a very clear voice!You are young, The student's don't like the old teachers - they are too serious'!! I think she was trying to flatter me - My cockney accent has to say the least never been that clear !!!

I should receive a call for jobs in the Anhui Province -Bengbe medical college and Anquing teachers college. These apparently pay 4500 RMB, Airfare etc. They accommodate 2 bed roomed apartments. The hours are 14-16 per week and they provide Medical Insurance (contract mentions 'common diseases')

I am concerned about medical insurance and insurance in general. Where is the best place to get insured against illness and accidents? In England? I seem to be steering towards Bengbe as I have noted some good comments somewhere on this forum. I just want a good initial experience - Nothing too extravagant � I like cities in the evenings but also like the country (a bit of both!!) but teaching experience and building friendships are the main things. I am ready to work hard and am looking forward to coming to China.

I would like to travel to Vietnam in my holiday break to check out schools for the future - Will this be easy/expensive from Shenyang? My RMB�s won�t be worth a lot will they? I do not know about the Chinese travel.

I know there are a ton of questions but any comments on the cities/colleges and newbie naiveties would be appreciate

[Dalian Veteran]

I would recommend Shenyang. It is a huge urban center with much more to do. The other two places are minor cities in the not-so-prosperous province of Anhui. Unless you have years of experience in China, stick to the established urban centers for your first experience. Then, if you feel more adventurous later on after you've gotten your feet wet, you can wonder out to the countryside or the cities of lesser developed regions.

The drawbacks of Shenyang: it's polluted, over-crowded, full of cheesy architecture, brutally cold winters, pedestrian road rage, high unemployment due to re-structuring of state-owned enterprises, high rate of corruption (former mayor was like a mob boss), and generally conservative.

Attractions of Shenyang: the long Zhong Jie commercial walking street, the Manchu palace and its adjacent bicycle street with traditional architecture, plenty of shopping centers with modern amenities (including Wal Mart, Carrefour, etc.), plenty of places that serve Beijing-style roasted duck, lots of Western food after you begin to miss it (including Pizza Hut), large numbers of universities and schools, large number of beautiful girls (although not as beautiful as Dalian girls), clothing sizes that can fit us foreigners (northeasterners grow pretty tall), it's the provincial capital of Liaoning Provice (i.e. renewing work visa is faster since you are right there), it's the commercial center of Northeast China, and the central government is about to pump in a lot of investment into the northeast in its "Re-vitalize the Northeast Campaign."

[sheeba]

Thank you very much for your advice . I have also had interest from Beijing . Would Beijing or perhaps Shanghai be a worthy starting point over Shenyang? From looking at posts on this site my money would go further in Shenyang. The guy I mailed up there saves half his salary and lives off 2000 RMB per month .Pedestrian Rage!!! Taking out some insurance myself seems even more sensible !

[Norman Bethune]

Stay away from Anquing and Bengbe.


They are small disagreeable, polluted places. The locals are hicks. AAnhui province is one of the poorest provinces in China. You will be paid little, overworked, and bored out of your skull in three weeks. The accommodation provided by most schools is slum like.

Anhui is also one of the most corrupt places in China. You will not have any legal recourse or government help once your employer begins to breech contract terms.

Avoid Anhui like the plaque. Go to a big city in the south.



Been there, done that, won't do it again.