Job Discussion Forums

[wanderingstar]

Hey there.

I am a 19 year old Canadian girl with a TESOL certificate, and although I have no formal classroom experience, I have had 6 informal years of peer-tutoring ESL to a European student.

Like so many others, I'm on the hunt for my first teaching job, and have come across a school in China that I'm very interested in. It is called the Shanda International Education Center (attached to Shadong University), in Jinan, Shandong Province, China.

The DoS of the school is Richard, a fellow Canadian, and he has been absolutely wonderful to deal with, answering all of my questions and reassuring me of everything. One year contract, reimbursed airfare, accommodation (I pay rent/util.), paid holidays, 25(ish) contact hours/week, 5250 RMB/month, small classes, teachers assistant, mostly kids but some adult classes, internet access, medical insurance, help with visa handling, etc.

I've asked him my share of questions, and have been pleased with all I've heard. I've also done my share of research on the area, and it greatly appeals to me.

So, I was just wondering if anyone out there has any personal experience working for this school, or any advice, warnings, etc. Also, anyone who has lived in or traveled to the Jinan area... any comments would be greatly appreciated.

As well, I'm just curious as to how the Z visa application goes on in Canada. I haven't contacted the nearest office yet, but anyone with advice on this, you'd really help me out.

Thanks in advance!

[Roger]

I wonder how Shanda is "attached" to that university; physically, intellectually, incestuously?

What kind of students would you be seeing there?

As for your working conditions: make sure you get a 12 month contract with paid holidays!!! 5250 for 25 hours a week is a little on the low side, but considering that Ji'nan is a backwater town it is more than adequate.

My suspicion is that they are a private training centre, and your students are going to be self-paying adults (that's usually the most dedicated type of students, but few these days pay for their English classes any more!); a lot of your learners might be adults you teach in in-house classes at companies. Or middle-schoolers in public institutions that have no right to hire a FT, so resort to loaning one from a TC.

Anyway, your teaching experience with a European student will hardly benefit you! Chinese students are not normally disciplined enough to do certain tasks without you constantly prodding them on. They are more like little children that merely imitate their role-model the teacher.
If you get sent to public schools on loan you will have to put up with huge classes! So, do ask your contact what kinds of learners you are going to be expected to deal with!

[tw]

Another explanation would be that she will be under contract with Shanda, teaching both Shanda students AND Shandong University students.

[wanderingstar]

Shanda is an arm of Shandong University, 30% owned by the university and 70% owned by a private family. They teach all ages, including some of the University students (but not all, as the University has it's own English program). I will be hired to teach children, age 4-9, in small classes, with the help of a teachers assistant if I choose so. If will also be trained to teach adult classes, which is just an oral english class to discuss different topics.