Job Discussion Forums

[charmed]

Dear All (Roger- as i know u r in this area, Guangzhou FTs, et.al.,

Hi.. this is following the thread on Attn: FT Guanzhou..... Please help me come up with a sound decision on this one. Following is a comparison of my current school and the one in guangzhou.

Current School:

- Gansu Province
- 5000 RMB monthly salary
- 18 classes per week
- senior middle school level + primary and junior middle as OT work
- furnished apartment (shared) provided
- airfare provided (2 way for 1 year)
- OT pay 60-80 RMB
- visa / Foreign Expert cert / Residence Cert and life insurance provided/ arranged
small city (not much happening)
- cold cold cold winter but not so hot summer weathers, very windy spring and autumn
- Direct contact with school leader (2nd top honcho / vice headmaster who speaks English)
- good rapport with admin
-other minor perks...

note 1 - i've been offered to stay on for the next (breathe) 3 years (solid contract, chinese standard of course..unless something monumental occurs).
note 2 - so far working here has not been bad but i couldn't say its that good either as i have nothing to compare it with... although for a sure thing.... (i'll leave this hanging for a while)

VS.

Prospect School

- Guangzhou
- 9000-12000 RMB
- 20-25 classes per week
- OT pay not mentioned but maybe about 150/class hour?
- varied level but mostly primary (no idea if posting per school is solid for each term)
- no apartment provided
- no airfare provided
- no visa, FEC, RC and life insurance arrangement provided
- food maybe provided (cafeteria food most probably)
- transportation provided (if necessary, which might mean teaching in different locations?)
- the heat is terrible this summer but i guess not so cold in winter (?)
- American headmaster but under chinese management (maybe a window dressing?)
note: from his emails, the American headmaster is a little stingy on info and the draft contract he sent is very general (not so detailed), wouldn't give emails of current FTs, would only give details on how to process legal papers and other benefits /if any/ upon signing the contract,
i am not so sure about this..... ( again hanging)

I really, really need feedback ASAP since this guy in guangzhou is putting a little pressure such that i have to call them at the earliest possible time if i am interested. I know some of you would say this is a no brainer (Go for Gansu...), but still i would like to hear your ideas.

The school in guangzhou goes by the name of (ssshhh!) Becton School or Becton International School. they have no website BTW. Does anybody know this school?

How is it to live in guangzhou?

Not so last concern: is it wise / okay to sign a 3-year contract? what do you think on this?

For those who know better, help, please!!!


Charmed One in Limbo

[lagerlout2006]

May I be first to pick up a bat? I wouldn't take either..No way..A few e-mails and you can find more offers..

But maybe I missed something...Anyway GZ want to rush YOU but won't answer any questions...that should make you wonder...Good schools should quickly answer you quickly...I didn't like GZ but I am told it grows on you so who knows.Likely better than Gansu..

And there is no such thing as 3-year deals as far I know---can't possibly be legal..I'm hungry maybe I missed something...Good luck anyway!

[charmed]

the 3 year thing - my boss is quite happy with my performance and he has this experimental english class (all subjects will be taught in english -except chinese lessons, of course) he wants to implement starting the next school term... with a three year contract with one teacher (me) he is assured that the english majors would have a continuity of sorts and not to have to hunt for the next FT for the meantime (within three years..) I believe he wants a sure thing ( again, me) than another that he has yet to try out.

some more input on the original post, please! tnx lager...

[Roger]

Hello, Charmed!

I read BECTON adverts every month in the local media. One mag that carries it regularly is THAT'S GUANGZHOU (though the mag has not appeared yet; I heard the foreign editors at THAT'S have had a serious run-in with their Chinese partners...).
What I am trying to say is, this recruiter hires and fires, most probably. In the same mag you will also see a job offer classified from the "Canadian International School". They are serious crooks by the book!
As for BECTON, I have never had anything to do with them, so my opinion is based on rudimentary second-hand data. Anyway, their American is their strawman, to be sure, and they will shuttle you around Guangzhou. I wouldn't do this kind of work because there is no stability in it. Two months here, two months there, the journeys lengthening and lengthening... Never come late or they deduct from your pay. BECTON is a go-between, really; they farm you out. This is common, but it's horror in Guangzhou with its traffic chaos.

I would consider this Gansu job a boon! 5000 for 18 hours is handsome. OVertime pay should be higher, but 80 is quite high in a poor province such as Gansu.
I can safely say you will have far better vibes with your learners in Gansu than with those snotty little devils in Guangdong!
A three-year contract? I have never seen that! Go for a one-year contract, but if you like it for three years...
My suggestion: Gansu!

[charmed]

Tnx Roger, great insight! Wish me luck with the the new contract here in this city (one of the cleanest in China, where people are lovely, where you could find everything in one long stretch of a road, shenma, shenma)... i guess setting one's mind on the positive mode would help in affirming a decision already made (chuckle )

y'all look me up when wanna see beautiful northwest end of the Great Wall of China...