Job Discussion Forums

[handelme]

HI again!

being warned off dodgey Kunming jobs I am looking into this school, contacted through a guy called Dave Monaghan, who seems lovely. Actually it looks great, but there arent many teachers ( I am girl, 23, alone) and you have to get your own apartment, scary!!!

Anyone know if this school , or the city of NANNING, is a desirable destination??

Thanks a mill

[dajiang]

Dunno about the school, but Nanning is alright I reckon.

Lots and lots of motorbikes there. Seriously many.
The city is not too big, with parks, a good centre, everything's there.
It's easy to get to other places too, like Guilin, Kunming, Guangzhou, Beihai (Hainan) and Vietnam.

There are plenty of other FT's in Nanning. Maybe not in your school, but you'll meet them sooner or later. Try to talk to previous or current FT's in the school you have contact with. Is the guy you're talking to now a teacher there as well?

Anyway, an apartment by yourself is not very scary. I'd prefer it anytime to sharing it with someone else anyway. Where are you now? Elsewhere in China? Ever done this before?

Just jump in, give it a shot.
What do you have to lose anyway eh?
Seeya around.

Dajiang

[Roger]

I have LINGUAPHONE guangzhou experience: I was reasonably satisfied with my job - lovely Chinese colleagues, my foreign colleagues fell into various categories; the working conditions were superb.
Of course, no job is perfect; I noted with some bitterness that our headmistress took measures not quite compatible with professional conduct in a school: students aged 15 and 16 who behaved rother roguishly in class and made zero progress during their summer camp were transferred for their "camp leaving certificate" (yes, they got a cert that mentioned their "pass" grades!) from me to a Chinese teacher who was under the injunction to pass them all...

As for housing and related issues: I urge you to ask them to clarify on what terms they are willing to hire you! Make sure it is going to be a LEGAL situation, i.e. with a resident's permit stamped in your passport; ask them for a contract specimen! I am somewhat surprised they do no offer you housing... they should at least offer you assistance in securing a decent and affordable place, and they should add some housing bonus.

On NANNING I have this to say: it is definitely NOT my cup of tea as a city! It is not a bad place, but it is devoid of interesting sites; if you venture into the countryside the picture changes, of course. The Guangxi landscape is gorgeous (in parts, anyway). But cities like Liuzhou, Guilin and Nanning are blighted.
Still, I have to admit life can be pretty bearable in Nanning - compared to elsewhere.

[englishgibson]

Handelme, I would ask the employer whether they'd provide an assistance in searching for your accomodation as well as where you'd be staying in the mean time.

Further more, clarify the school's location with regards to the city (where it is-with your employer), so that you'd get an idea where to look for your accomodation (you want it nearby the workplace). Nanning is a city with its downtown older buildings mostly in and newer buildings on the outskirts of it. In some cases the older home's rent might be as high or higher than the newer home's rent due to the location.

To exand on your topic and the accomodation, the landlords ask for a pretty high deposit renting a home with the furniture there. The utilities in Nanning are paid (I think) every six months and that's why they also ask for a higher deposit just to let you know.

With regards to Nanning city, it is fairly clean and save place to live in. Many people do not jay-walk, or drivers do not drive red lights as in some other Chinese cities. Beggers do not ask you agressively for spare change as they do in some other Chinese cities. There are garbage bins on many corners to keep the city clean unlike in some other Chinese cities. There are quite a few cops present and visible on the streets of Nanning unlike in some other Chinese cities. There are a few western places (restaurants, bars) in Nanning and some foreigners own a few too. Shopping for clothes in Nanning is excellent due to many, many shops there.

Cheers and beers

[wonderd]

I've been to Nanning before. Pretty nice place. Cost of living is pretty cheap. They have a pretty decent shopping district where you can get both regular Chinese items and foreign products.

I believe I was told it was the motorcycle capital of the world. One Chinese person told me that they have actually stopped giving out new liscenses for motorcycles due to the fact that there are so many.

The people were nice, there were quite a few foreigners there.

Can't tell you much about the company, but the city, it's pretty nice, and very close to some very beautiful scenic places in China.

Good luck

[handelme]

Thanks for the help. Nanning sound good enough - I'm really after the mild climate!! there's another place there that has offered me work, but the pay is paltry. would you accept 3000 rmb?? ha.

Again, thanks!

xE

[dajiang]

What are your qualifications? Teaching Experience?
And what are the hours?

If it's 20 hrs/week, I'd go for more.
You should be able to get 4 to 5 grand at state middle schools.
I believe the regular rate in Guilin for instance is 4000/month in a middle shool. Some other posters would even consider anything below 6000.

Remember to bargain fiercely.
And make sure you know how much overtime pays, if English corners are included, etc. Check out the 'contract' threads.

Dajiang