Job Discussion Forums

[mysterytrain]

Hi all, I'm planning to return to China next year after four years in Indonesia (I taught in Xinjiang for ten months in 2010-11, my first ESL job).

I am interested in working in Guangxi, Guizhou, or possibly Yunnan for a few reasons, including:

- warmer winters, which are more suitable for my Indonesian wife (to the extent that cold weather suits her at all, which is ... not much... a place like Xinjiang would be MUCH too cold for her in winter!)

- interesting cultural mix with many ethnic minorities and

- some beautiful topography and scenery

I have not been to any of these provinces before, though we are planning an "exploratory junket" to Guilin, Yangshuo, Longji, Kaili area in December (wanted to go to Guiyang and Zunyi as well, but considering at least 15 hours of combined train or bus travel to get there - one way - no inexpensive hotel in Zunyi, and the fact that we have to get back to Guilin, all within ten days, it seems like too much time spent for what it would be worth... if we had more time, I would definitely want to get up there and maybe even get in an interview or two while looking around. I'm not much interested in the area much south of Guilin in Guangxi, unless I learn something that changes my mind.)

I have been doing some research about schools in Guangxi and Guizhou in the places I'm most interested in so far (Guilin, Guiyang and Zunyi), mostly private language schools, though I'm sure there are public school and university jobs as well.

Any opinions from those who've had a go, about what are the best (or worst) places to live in these three provinces, any good (or bad) schools to work for, etc, would be appreciated.

(Is Guiyang a better place to live than Zunyi, or the other way around, and why? Yunnan ... Kunming, Yuxi, or Dali? etc)

[Shanghai Noon]

Guangxi is good, but go somewhere in the south of Guangxi. Places like Liuzhou and Guilin get cold. Nanning is warm in the winter.

[newmansone]

I just don't get it. I really don't. Everyone, all people, every where have their own opinions, likes, dislikes, peeves, etc. about everything in life. What makes you think that one persons opinion is suitable to you? You must rush to the theater or avoid it at all costs based on some loser movie reviewer too? ONLY you know what you like or dislike. It's posts like this that make us all realize you are only setting yourself up to blame everyone but yourself later should you not like what you get YOURSELF into.

[roadwalker]

OP, which ONE PERSON's opinion were you trying to elicit? Please be specific as my criticism of you may depend on the answer. In the meantime, please refrain from asking questions of a community of teachers about specific regions of China in order to answer specific questions about where you might be most happy to teach. And do your research!

/s What makes anyone think that asking a question on a forum is the sole piece of research the asker is conducting? Why not get others' opinions? There might very well be information in an answer that is not easily found elsewhere.

Sorry, OP, I've been to Guangxi and Yunnan but I'm not familiar enough to have a useful answer to your questions. Good luck.

[teenoso]

I would definitely recommend Guangxi, as a friendly and interesting region: Luizhou, Nanning and Beihai in the far south.

I taught in Nanning for one year, and the city is lively and beautiful in parts, with a smattering of foreign bar, stores and restaurants.
Luizhou is much smaller than Nanning but has some karst mountains in the city.
People here also speak highly of Yangshuo where there are many English training schools .

Guangxi people , in my experience , are much more open and friendly than the sometimes aloof people of more developed areas in China, like Jiangsu.

[mysterytrain]

[mysterytrain]

[mysterytrain]

[Alien abductee]

Beihai's ok but it's a small city. Nice beach and seafood, but I passed through there in the winter holiday once so didn't get a real good look. I'm sure in summer it's nicer. Nanning, Liuzhou, and Guilin seem decent enough too. The whole southwest part of China is less crowded and pretty scenic which is what attracts people. You could probably pick any city in those three provinces and one would be as good as the other for working and living I think.

[mysterytrain]

[roadwalker]