Job Discussion Forums

[Kai6854]

I'd like to know if anyone has comments or information about this school. They are currently recruiting for next term and I am considering it but would appreciate any "need to know" information my esteemed posters here can lend me.

Since working in Zhuhai, I have not had the opportunity to visit Shenzhen and would also like to know the pros and cons of the city, etc.

Thanks for any enlightenment!!!

[TEAM_PAPUA]

I wouldn't teach for any school with 'experimental' in its name

What the hell do they do to the kids in there????



T_P

[Roger]

I, on the other hand, would prefer experimental schools over regular ones - more outside-the-box thinking and more freedom to develop your course contents. They also are more likely to use imported materials.
In Shenzhen especially, such schools cater to kids who eventually move on to Hong Kong; the schools have to take that into account.

I would not, on the other hand, love to work in Shenzhen. Personally, I like Zhuhai a lot better!

As for this particular school, no intelligence, sorry!

[Kai6854]

Thanks, Roger. According to the response I received from the Director of International Studies, the school is located on the outskirts of Shenzhen NOT in the city proper so that is a plus. Also it is affiliated with the Tsinghua University of Beijing. I also like the concept that it is an "outside the box" structure as I could use my own resources and creativity.

They also offer 3 types of instruction: 1) Language Center, which offers daily lessons to primary school children for an additional fee. There are 20 students per class, and the courses follow a textbook-based syllabus, 2) oral English teachers in either the Primary or the Middle School Section. They meet each homeroom of 40 students once per week to practice oral skills; these teachers have complete freedom in their lesson planning, as they are not required to follow the Chinese teachers'
syllabus and 3) International School Section. Class sizes tend to be smaller (averaging 10-15 students), and the students come from
different countries. These courses are also syllabus-based, as they meet daily.

I really got a raw deal when I renewed my contract at my current school (less pay at the bottomline but been asked to take on more hours after the new contract became effective). For example, I was asked to do two back to back 45 minute classes at a middle school with 50+ students (alternating classes, once a week, i.e. this week Class 3, next week Class 3a, etc.) which I flatly refused and then was asked to do the same for a kindergarten level which is a level I told them I would not ever do when I first came here. Two other teachers are catching hell at the middle school (uncooperative, rude and disruptive behavior with no support from the Chinese teachers) and their prep time is at least 3 hours. Bottomline, it appears that we are just marketing tools to get more students interested in coming to our regular classes.

So, I am ready to move on simply because the underhanded tactics here are unacceptable to me and my contract does not stipulate doing any of the aforementioned type classes. Since they want to strictly pay me by my contract, I will only work according to the terms of my contract. We are always getting requests out of the blue for more and more classes in the primary and middle school market which are totally useless as far as I'm concerned especially without the needed support from the Chinese teaching staff and my school. I also cannot rationalize how effective or productive these classes would be prove to be when I would only teach each class twice a month!

[Roger]

I wish you good luck in Shenzhen, Kai!
Note that "outside of Shenn proper" can mean a lot of things; where exactly is it located? Is it beyond the checkpoint? Bao'an? Songgang? Longgang? Some of these townships are real cesspools, others are nice suburbs. However, it will mean long commutes if you want convenience and comfort. I hope the school provides everything that a reasonable adult might want. Newspapers? TV? Good shopping in the area? If it is in Nanshan it should not be a hardship posting.

[arodeorowdy]

I'm always checking the job board and I never see any postings in Zhuhai. I live in Nanshan and like my job, but not the smog we have he so often. Any tips in where to look before I take a trip there?
Cheers, Rowdy