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lapd08
Joined: 12 May 2008
Posts: 82
Location: New York
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 Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 11:41 am Post subject: ShengDa College, Zhengzhan University |
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I have been offered a job at this school and am wondering if anyone out there has worked there, and what their opinion was.
It seems like a nice place, but the salary is low and the housing small (only a bedsit). Also, their policies on socializing with students seems a bit restrictive.
Thanks |
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sojourner
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 738
Location: nice, friendly, easy-going (ALL) Peoples' Republic of China
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| Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 12:41 pm Post subject: |
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Do a google search on "Shengda College". About three places from the top there is a link to a blog belonging to an American teacher called Tom Chambers. Check out the link.
I looked at the college's website. Pay/conditions are certainly not the best - nor, are they the worse that I've come across during my 6 years in China. I, myself, might consider this college - if I can't find a reasonable job elsewhere !
There is no 24 hour hot water service ! PCs are not provided in the flats ! "Annual bonus" of 1500 RMB - is this on top of the "travel allowance" , usually between 2000-2400 RMB, that most other colleges/unis provide ? Also, ten month contracts only - very common, unfortunately, nowadays.
Peter |
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sojourner
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 738
Location: nice, friendly, easy-going (ALL) Peoples' Republic of China
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| Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 3:25 pm Post subject: |
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If you happen to have a phone interview, ask the FAO person to provide names/ph numbers/email addresses of some past and current FTs. You would need to ascertain such things as: teaching resources;level of assistance provided by both the Chinese co-teachers and FAO staff;shops/restaurants on campus, and just outside; the flats (quality of furniture,utensils,etc);whether salaries/allowances are always paid on time;etc.
Peter |
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Howie
Joined: 18 Mar 2009
Posts: 22
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| Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 3:16 am Post subject: |
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I'd PM you, but apparently there is a 50 message minimum requirement for that!
The school will provide you with the email addresses of present and past teachers if you ask. The feedback I have had from people working there today is generally positive. |
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sojourner
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 738
Location: nice, friendly, easy-going (ALL) Peoples' Republic of China
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xiao51
Joined: 06 Feb 2009
Posts: 208
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| Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:14 am Post subject: |
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You indeed need to get more current information.
Arioch36 who used to be on this Board was an extremely, extremely staunch defender of the place...if you follow his threads on the subject, you can see that.
Others have been far less charitable, shall we say. Primitive surroundings, lack of hot water, SRO type accomodations, very, very standard salary for China, nothing great, but still the wiff of all of those horrible riots...
As for Chambers who was discussed above, I urge caution. He is their recruiting agent, ex-teacher, and he makes a commission, I think on the teachers that go there. So it's not exactly as one poster wrote...far from an unbiased accounting.
If you absolutely, positively cannot find anything else in China, then take this job. They have a sister "private" college called Zhegong, or something like that, that advertises on this board, in the same geographical area.
Same salary package except that the accommodations are far, far better.
But you need to be warned about the quality of the FAO there...I had a colleague from Australia who applied...he has a Master's in TESOL from an excellent Australian uni...he was told by the FAO at this Zhegong that they could only pay him a bachelor's degree level because they really require a TESOL CERTIFICATE -- GET THAT -- ONE OF THOSE ONLINE ALMOST NOT SERIOUS ONES -- and since he had only a Master's degree and not the TESOL, they couldn't possibly hire him.l....so there's a warning there, too.
Neanderthal from the get-go.
In any case, the students at these colleges are those that couldn't go anywhere else and who are desperate to get a uni diploma. |
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Enkates
Joined: 11 Jan 2015
Posts: 58
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| Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 6:40 am Post subject: |
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This college has an ad on the China Board today.So I looked it up and found this old thread.
| sojourner wrote: |
Do a google search on "Shengda College". About three places from the top there is a link to a blog belonging to an American teacher called Tom Chambers. Check out the link.
I looked at the college's website. Pay/conditions are certainly not the best - nor, are they the worse that I've come across during my 6 years in China. I, myself, might consider this college - if I can't find a reasonable job elsewhere !
There is no 24 hour hot water service ! PCs are not provided in the flats ! "Annual bonus" of 1500 RMB - is this on top of the "travel allowance" , usually between 2000-2400 RMB, that most other colleges/unis provide ? Also, ten month contracts only - very common, unfortunately, nowadays.
Peter |
Yes, it's six years later, but I did a google search, and this is what I found: It's from 2004, but my guess would be Shengda can't have changed much.
| Quote: |
SHENGDA COLLEGE, ZHENGZHOU, DON'T DO IT
This school is a private college in Zhengzhou City, Henan Province. PRIVATE: That word says it all. Working in such a school is a lot different than in a public university or public school. They can do whatever they want and this school is no exception. Came here on July 7, 2004 and have nothing but problems from day one. The only good thing here is the accommodation. It is more than adequate. Have an A/C but it only produces cool air. No heat comes out of it. You have to wait until they turn on the heat in the apartment which is around mid-November. But as it wears on and late October, if you are not dressed warmly in your house, you could be a little more than cold. Or buy a heater I guess. But why should I put out the expense? They picked me up at the train station and drove me to the school. Got settled in and were kind enough to show me around the school and buy me dinner. Sat in the apartment and talked about other things, signed the contract, and gave them my train ticket for reimbursement. School did not officially quit until the end of the month. I expected my money back before then according to the contract which says: "reimbursment for train ticket or airplane ticket will be made within the first month of the date of arrival. Since I got here in July I expected my money back in July. It took 75 days to get my reimbursment. Again according to the contract pay day is the 15th of the month. If you arrive before the middle of August you will get paid for the entire month. However their excuse was since school did not restart until August 16th, they could not pay us on the 15th so didn't get it until the 29th. In September there were no holidays or any changes to the school, but we didn't get paid until the 20th. In October got paid on the 16th. Ask why, where's the pay, just goes in one ear and out the other. Or no answer at all, they just look at you with a stupid look on their face. Show them the contract but again no results. Their other faze is that they hired more than 20 new foreign teachers for 2004 so there is a lot of paperwork to do. Big deal. But the best of all was yet to come. I needed some time off to attend my wedding in Fushun, NorthEast China on September 18th. In July I made two formal requests to the Director of Foreign Affairs. He agreed on both sides and I was told I could have a 7-day leave. I made the same request twice to the Dean of the Foreign Language Department and his secretary. They didn't say anything at either time, just offered their congratulations and asked how long I would need. I told them 7 days has been granted by the school. You should know that this was all done verbally. I asked to have my classes start after the wedding on the 22nd, but that fell on deaf ears. When I received my pay in October in my bank account, it was 660RMB short. I asked why and was told I did not make my leave request formally; I didn't fill out the proper form. "What form?" I asked. Nobody ever told me about any form. The Dean said "Yes we did." My secretary Mr. Wang said he did." "No" he didn't. That was the end of the conversation and all bases have produced no results. Nobody, not the foreign affairs, foreign language department, accounting department will hone up to their responsibility as to who filled out the form to cut my pay. When I left the Dean's office, I just told him, "You are a simple-minded, closed-minded old man, and I will get my money back with or without you." Don't think he heard me. So I wrote a letter to one of the Directors of the school. She is the Founder's daughter. This letter to her has produced no results either. Kinda makes you wonder who hones up to their responsibility. So far nobody has. Contract says: Party A (Shengda) shall relate all the rules and laws of the Chinese government and rules of the College to all foreign staff. That has never happened. Supposedly they have a hand book about that but to this date have not seen hide nor hair of it. Tell the school that and again it will just fall on deaf ears.
If you want to leave you must make your request formally by writing a letter of resignation to the Dean of the Foreign Language Department. They will decide whether or not you can go. If they say no then the foreign affairs officer cannot go to the PSB and have you officially released from the city. Even if they have a letter of invitation from the new school. In my 5.5 years of living here that has never happened to me. I may get fined for breaking the contract and then again maybe not, but I have always gotten my release. Just take the invitation letter to the PSB, they put it on your green card, stamp it and away you go. It can get done within 48 hours if all goes well.
The new staff was interested in learning Chinese and some of the older teachers were already in that process. Can we join?" they asked. Sure, cost you 25RMB an hour. Tai Chi and Kung Fu classes were offered at 50RMB an hour, expense shared by all who go. Photo and ID cards were made after our pictures were taken. When we got them the school asked for 100RMB; 20 for the picture and 80 for the card they had inserted inside which supposedly allowed us to shop on campus cheaper. Yea cheaper? Instead of 1RMB you pay 0.90. Big deal. It would also allow you access to the library. Okay, but if you want to watch a movie or use the Internet there then you still have to pay. So where is the cheaper price. Didn't take the card. And the classes offered for a price are available in other schools for free. You also pay for the water delivered to your house. Can buy 30 tickets or pay 7RMB for each bottle. Also pay for the gas in your house. Neither of these charges are mentioned in the contract, althought the gas was mentioned on the job description posted on this website. The writer's name is Tony Lee who was a teacher here at the school. Now he does their advertising and recruiting. Careful.
Even the students will tell you they don't like it here there are too many rules. They cannot leave until Friday evening after school at 4:30PM. So they climb the wall to get out.
You can take this as you like; I would suggest you stay away. Go to a public university; but not a private one.
Sean Williams-Bell
November 4, 2004
[email protected] |
Source:
http://abroadchina.org/html/cache=article301.htm |
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MESL
Joined: 23 Aug 2003
Posts: 291
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| Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2015 1:53 pm Post subject: |
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| I was there several years ago. Ate lunch yesterday with a teacher who is still there. No complaints. |
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janeal
Joined: 15 Jun 2008
Posts: 29
Location: Philippines
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| Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2015 1:01 pm Post subject: Shengda |
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| I worked at Shengda a few years ago & loved it. Taught English majors & students were great, with a few exceptions. Only negative was the dean's secretary. He was simply in a job that was over his head. Fortunately, I didn't have to deal with him much. |
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Simon in Suzhou
Joined: 09 Aug 2011
Posts: 404
Location: GZ
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| Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2015 10:39 pm Post subject: |
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LOL. a school can't have changed too much in 11 YEARS!!!
There are some ridiculous notions on this board, often trying to pass themselves off as sage advice. Working conditions ANYWHERE in China can change over the course of a SEMESTER. It's all about management. I've seen great jobs go sour in a matter of weeks when a new boss comes in with "brilliant" ideas and a huge ego. At the same time, I've seen bad situations improve dramatically with management change (as well as sometimes getting rid of problematic foreign teachers).
Internet rants should be considered with a grain of salt in isolation. When you hear multiple bad reports, then you should beware. There are a host of unstable, irrational, delusional, and downright bad people in our profession who go off on employers after being justifiably terminated. They are often people you would have no desire to work with.
When considering a job, always try to get CURRENT info from recent employees. |
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3701 W.119th
Joined: 26 Feb 2014
Posts: 386
Location: Central China
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| Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2015 12:49 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| PRIVATE: That word says it all. Working in such a school is a lot different than in a public university or public school. They can do whatever they want and this school is no exception. |
This is a bit of a sweeping statement.
I work in a private university, and they've been an absolute joy to deal with since day one. The staff (from the FAO, to the Foreign Languages department, to the security men who work our gate) go out of their way to ensure the FTs are content and comfortable and looked after. Quality teaching is a priority here, and the FTs are supported accordingly.
In every area of education in China, there are great schools/centres and awful schools/centres, and everything in between. |
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hdeth
Joined: 20 Jan 2015
Posts: 583
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| Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2015 1:31 am Post subject: |
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| Enkates wrote: |
This college has an ad on the China Board today.So I looked it up and found this old thread.
| sojourner wrote: |
Do a google search on "Shengda College". About three places from the top there is a link to a blog belonging to an American teacher called Tom Chambers. Check out the link.
I looked at the college's website. Pay/conditions are certainly not the best - nor, are they the worse that I've come across during my 6 years in China. I, myself, might consider this college - if I can't find a reasonable job elsewhere !
There is no 24 hour hot water service ! PCs are not provided in the flats ! "Annual bonus" of 1500 RMB - is this on top of the "travel allowance" , usually between 2000-2400 RMB, that most other colleges/unis provide ? Also, ten month contracts only - very common, unfortunately, nowadays.
Peter |
Yes, it's six years later, but I did a google search, and this is what I found: It's from 2004, but my guess would be Shengda can't have changed much.
| Quote: |
SHENGDA COLLEGE, ZHENGZHOU, DON'T DO IT
This school is a private college in Zhengzhou City, Henan Province. PRIVATE: That word says it all. Working in such a school is a lot different than in a public university or public school. They can do whatever they want and this school is no exception. Came here on July 7, 2004 and have nothing but problems from day one. The only good thing here is the accommodation. It is more than adequate. Have an A/C but it only produces cool air. No heat comes out of it. You have to wait until they turn on the heat in the apartment which is around mid-November. But as it wears on and late October, if you are not dressed warmly in your house, you could be a little more than cold. Or buy a heater I guess. But why should I put out the expense? They picked me up at the train station and drove me to the school. Got settled in and were kind enough to show me around the school and buy me dinner. Sat in the apartment and talked about other things, signed the contract, and gave them my train ticket for reimbursement. School did not officially quit until the end of the month. I expected my money back before then according to the contract which says: "reimbursment for train ticket or airplane ticket will be made within the first month of the date of arrival. Since I got here in July I expected my money back in July. It took 75 days to get my reimbursment. Again according to the contract pay day is the 15th of the month. If you arrive before the middle of August you will get paid for the entire month. However their excuse was since school did not restart until August 16th, they could not pay us on the 15th so didn't get it until the 29th. In September there were no holidays or any changes to the school, but we didn't get paid until the 20th. In October got paid on the 16th. Ask why, where's the pay, just goes in one ear and out the other. Or no answer at all, they just look at you with a stupid look on their face. Show them the contract but again no results. Their other faze is that they hired more than 20 new foreign teachers for 2004 so there is a lot of paperwork to do. Big deal. But the best of all was yet to come. I needed some time off to attend my wedding in Fushun, NorthEast China on September 18th. In July I made two formal requests to the Director of Foreign Affairs. He agreed on both sides and I was told I could have a 7-day leave. I made the same request twice to the Dean of the Foreign Language Department and his secretary. They didn't say anything at either time, just offered their congratulations and asked how long I would need. I told them 7 days has been granted by the school. You should know that this was all done verbally. I asked to have my classes start after the wedding on the 22nd, but that fell on deaf ears. When I received my pay in October in my bank account, it was 660RMB short. I asked why and was told I did not make my leave request formally; I didn't fill out the proper form. "What form?" I asked. Nobody ever told me about any form. The Dean said "Yes we did." My secretary Mr. Wang said he did." "No" he didn't. That was the end of the conversation and all bases have produced no results. Nobody, not the foreign affairs, foreign language department, accounting department will hone up to their responsibility as to who filled out the form to cut my pay. When I left the Dean's office, I just told him, "You are a simple-minded, closed-minded old man, and I will get my money back with or without you." Don't think he heard me. So I wrote a letter to one of the Directors of the school. She is the Founder's daughter. This letter to her has produced no results either. Kinda makes you wonder who hones up to their responsibility. So far nobody has. Contract says: Party A (Shengda) shall relate all the rules and laws of the Chinese government and rules of the College to all foreign staff. That has never happened. Supposedly they have a hand book about that but to this date have not seen hide nor hair of it. Tell the school that and again it will just fall on deaf ears.
If you want to leave you must make your request formally by writing a letter of resignation to the Dean of the Foreign Language Department. They will decide whether or not you can go. If they say no then the foreign affairs officer cannot go to the PSB and have you officially released from the city. Even if they have a letter of invitation from the new school. In my 5.5 years of living here that has never happened to me. I may get fined for breaking the contract and then again maybe not, but I have always gotten my release. Just take the invitation letter to the PSB, they put it on your green card, stamp it and away you go. It can get done within 48 hours if all goes well.
The new staff was interested in learning Chinese and some of the older teachers were already in that process. Can we join?" they asked. Sure, cost you 25RMB an hour. Tai Chi and Kung Fu classes were offered at 50RMB an hour, expense shared by all who go. Photo and ID cards were made after our pictures were taken. When we got them the school asked for 100RMB; 20 for the picture and 80 for the card they had inserted inside which supposedly allowed us to shop on campus cheaper. Yea cheaper? Instead of 1RMB you pay 0.90. Big deal. It would also allow you access to the library. Okay, but if you want to watch a movie or use the Internet there then you still have to pay. So where is the cheaper price. Didn't take the card. And the classes offered for a price are available in other schools for free. You also pay for the water delivered to your house. Can buy 30 tickets or pay 7RMB for each bottle. Also pay for the gas in your house. Neither of these charges are mentioned in the contract, althought the gas was mentioned on the job description posted on this website. The writer's name is Tony Lee who was a teacher here at the school. Now he does their advertising and recruiting. Careful.
Even the students will tell you they don't like it here there are too many rules. They cannot leave until Friday evening after school at 4:30PM. So they climb the wall to get out.
You can take this as you like; I would suggest you stay away. Go to a public university; but not a private one.
Sean Williams-Bell
November 4, 2004
[email protected] |
Source:
http://abroadchina.org/html/cache=article301.htm |
95% of his complaints are dirt common in China. It's unclear about him asking for personal leave...whether the fee was for not using the right form or because they don't pay for personal leave. The rest seems pretty much par for the course in China. |
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