Job Discussion Forums

greenwillow · Joined: 18 Jul 2003 Posts: 22 Location: Georgia, USA

Question: Has anyone taught in a school/city they LOVED?? Where was it? What was great about it? Why did you leave?

Michael T. Richter · Joined: 17 Jun 2003 Posts: 77 Location: Wuhan, Hubei, PRC

While I don't like my current soon-to-be-ex-employer, I actually quite enjoyed living in Jiujiang, Jiangxi, PRC. Yes, it's an industrial armpit. Yes, it's small and has few amenities and little night life. It has, however, an energy I've not seen in other places. Everybody seems to be excited at future prospects and has an angle to play -- everybody from the street vendors on up. The taxi drivers are friendly, talkative and seem to have a pedagogical streak. The "foreigner tax" isn't too high (unlike, say, Shanghai). And recently, some larger chains have started to get attracted to the place.

AKA · Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Posts: 184 Location: China

Damn it Sunaru!
My mother used to say that, and I thought it was her own original saying. You've destroyed a son's illusions.
As for Michael's "foreigner tax".......no such thing. There's a "Robin Hood" tax, a "you're not from around these parts, are you?" levy, and the "Please fleece me, I'm stupid" surcharge.
Which ones you pay is entirely up to you. Non local Chinese are the most common victims of these taxes - Taiwanese, Hong Kongers perceived as having more money than they know what to do with. Many foreigners are savage bargainers and notorious cheapskates [moi, for e.g.], so it's largely up to you. Traders close up shop when they see me coming. I will NOT pay more than a local, on principle. Don't ask me which principle; I've forgotten.

PS The original question....Guilin's a good little city, Shanghai's a good big one. Impossible to compare them though!

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

I should mention that while I had a serious problem with one principal (out of four) in my first normal school, and quite a bit of a hard time with a lot of laggards and slackers in my classes, I enjoyed teaching literature and writing.
What really says something in my favour (if the above could be construed to mean that I was teaching in the wrong place) was the fact that on the students' last day before the holidays, half of one class gave me a special farewell party. During that party, a girl started crying - for no other reason than for losing her foreign teacher, with whom she had had no other relationship than that of a dedicated student (and not necessarily the most gifted one!).
I visited her a couple of years later, when she was teaching English at one of China's most successful and most famous private schools!

MartinK · Joined: 01 Mar 2003 Posts: 344

aaronschwartz · Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 145 Location: Beijing

Sounds like "What would be a good place for me and my family to locate in China?"

Guilin, Yangshuo, Nanning or Hainan.

Great weather, less pollution, more foreigners, and some decent schools.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Aaron,
I agree with your selection of Chinese places - Guilin (although I would much prefer Yangshuo), Nanning and HAINAN.

How about:
- Kunming
- Dali
- Lijiang
- Zhongdian (aka Shangrelila)
- Leshan
- Kashgar

aaronschwartz · Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 145 Location: Beijing

I for one find the title to this thread to be very arrogant and insulting, just like the original poster's new signature bar which further insults everyone participating in this forum.

greenwillow · Joined: 18 Jul 2003 Posts: 22 Location: Georgia, USA

I am very sorry for offending you. Please notice I did not address my signature bar to you or anyone in particular.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

A very pleasant surprise today!

I had completed a summer course for grade 2 and grade 3 students successfully on Monday last.
I then asked for my dues, which seemed to take my opposite number by surprise. "Oh, yes, why not?" she quipped. Sure enough, there was a moderate discrepancy between our figures, not in my favour. I pointed out what the verbal promise to me had been. The accountant and the administator were visibly flustered. The person who had made that promise was none other than the boss who, of course, was absent. The two of them sorted the problem out to my satisfaction, though.
I was given a new part-time job, and a modified schedule. I requested everything in writing. They promised to do that.
My second course began on the day after, and it was plain sailing from minute one. As before, some permanent teachers would pop in and watch the show and report back on me.
At lunchtime, they escorted me to their office, with the ominous words "we haven't settled the new wage yet, have we?" I expected a lower pay, of course.
To my surprise, they said "we are so glad you are doing this job. Mr Xu has decided to up your hourly wage by ten percent!"
I signed my first agreement with that primary school right after this chat!

On Tuesday, a new batch of students turned up. I found myself recycling stuff I had done with the other class, and it worked perfectly on my first day.

aaronschwartz · Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 145 Location: Beijing

Roger is back on track and anybody with just half a brain should be happy for him. Just think what you could do with a full brain.

greenwillow · Joined: 18 Jul 2003 Posts: 22 Location: Georgia, USA

Roger, that's awesome! Now see, that is a very POSITIVE thing and I am so glad to see it! Smile

greenwillow · Joined: 18 Jul 2003 Posts: 22 Location: Georgia, USA

Oh, yes - and perhaps it would stanch Sunuru's bleeding and just make everyone feel better in general if I changed my nick to something like.......hmmm.......*FullaSpitAndVinegar* or some other such appropriate handle Laughing

ESLteacher · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 82

ESLteacher · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 82