Job Discussion Forums

[Plan B]

Anybody heard any rumours about any schools changing ownership in Zhuhai?

I do not want to put forward the names of any schools, but simply want to find out what the word on the street is.

Has anyone been involved with a school during a take-over? What tends to happen over existing contracts? Is there any protection or representation from the PSB?

[Pepsi-Bones]

Hello Plan B. What exactly have you heard? Please email me at :-

[email protected]

It would not surprise me in the least if some of the mills in Zhuhai will be changing hands or folding. I certainly know that a couple of the schools have shed lots of its expatriate "teaching" staff. Teachers have told me that Fountain and TPR are under "the scope". I know for a fact that the PSB has been alerted by the Australian and UK Consulates about the way Santana operates and has treated its staff. The bottom seems to have dropped out of the market in Zhuhai as far as I can gather, sense , see and tell from my own experience and those of other teachers. Since September, Santana from a business standpoint has had a disastrous time attracting students. Weekend classes would be lucky to see 7 kids attend. Fountain were getting 7 times that by all accounts. Since July 2005, Santana has had 14 Western staff come and go in very quick succession. High turnover because of high dis-satisfaction at the way the place has gone about its business.

You yourself Plan B have said that your place Oriental is operating at a loss. I don't honestly think that business is there - irrespective of whether or not some or any of the mills are operating legally at present. I for one am off to pastures new in February. 6 months here is quite an achievement when you consider that some of my colleagues lasted a matter of weeks.

May I reiterate earlier posts. At this moment in time I would not recommend Zhuhai as a viable mid to long term option - not at any rate for professionally qualified and experienced teachers serious about their job.

[Plan B]

[Pepsi-Bones]

Well I'm glad that you've got contingency plans Plan B as I honestly think that the ESL market in Zhuhai has well and truly gone down the pan.

What I'd advise teachers to do - those who at least have a first degree and a TEFL/ CELTA qualification is to take time out and do a Post Grad Teaching qualification for mainstream schools. This takes a year but is well worth it.

A lot of Interntional Schools are opening up in China at presently ( affiliated to schools like Harrow, Dulwich, Shrewsbury etc) and they are crying out for qualified mainstream teachers who also have TEFL experience and qualifications.

I hear that several UK and US private companies will be opening joint School ventures in China soon. Big business.

You get paid holidays and a monthly NET salary of 20,000 to 30,000 RMB with free accommodation. Better than what Oriental pays I would have thought.

Just out of interest Plan B - why do you think that Oriental is any different to the likes of TPR and Santana ...or your former place Fountain?

Does Oriental respect meritocracy? Does it understand the word? Does Oriental insist on hiring professionally qualified Western teachers all of whom are native born English speakers? Does Oriental have the money, the intake and the facilities to offer you INSET and professional training and development?

[Plan B]

[Mytime]

I think pepsi bones may have had a hard time of it in Zhuhai (Just surmizing, I don't know who pepsi bones is) so assumes everyone will. Sometimes people just have a bad attitude. My guess is that PB will also have a hard time of it in (wherever he/she goes), and is always the first to complain. (Schools love that)
6 months isn't long enough to have much in depth knowledge of the scene in Zhuhai, especially when that knowledge is, for the most part, garnered from the grapevine.
Does PB think it matters a whit that the the UK and Australian consulates have 'alerted' the PSB to Santana? And how does he know this anyway? Maybe PB is a newbie who hasn't worked out that things here aren't always the way they seem and things in China work differently than in Australia.
Don't take any notice of this overly pessimistic individual with a chip on his shoulder. There is plenty of opportunity in Zhuhai.

[Plan B]

I must say, without meaning to sound disrespectful, that you have a large chip on your shoulder with respects to your experience in Zhuhai, and a slight disdain for what you see as underqualified staff.

I imagine, that the truth is something like this : You come from a background in education, and were shocked to find that you were offered the same compensation as the other foreigners - some whom you view (in some cases, maybe correctly) as greatly inferior.

When I mentioned the subtle meritocracy present in Zhuhai in my previous post - and I was not necessarily refering to my current school or myself - I was not talking about qualifications and experience alone. To succeed in China, you have to adapt in so many ways.

This is the third country I have taught in, and I quickly realised I had to radically alter my teaching methods to match the expectations of the Chinese students. As for dealing with employers - well, that's a whole different kettle of fish that you could write a story about.

Early on, I made the mistake, that I feel you are making now, of burning my bridges behind me - attempting to discredit schools which I saw as having treated their foreign staff badly. I have since learned that such schools will discredit themselves without the need to lend my hand, and that the best policy is to rise above things, and not let emotions or self-righteousness get to you.

[footsteps]

What is INSET, please ?

[Pepsi-Bones]

I'm sorry Plan B. Have I touched on a raw nerve here? You are qualified aren't you??

[Pepsi-Bones]

Sorry Footsteps. Your question. INSET is In Sevice Training on the job / professional development etc.

[Mytime]

[Plan B]

[Pepsi-Bones]

Plan B. I honestly don't know what I have done to warrant your rather bizarre last post.

I also hope that you are not the author of a strange and unprofessional post on the ESL board in which a former colleague of mine is named. I also hope you are not the same author who then goes on to admitting his/her own fears that his own managers are monitoring the ESL notice-boards.

Plan B - your OP mentioned quite legitimate worries that you and your colleagues have about the state of the language mills in Zhuhai. I responded by saying that I had heard about these rumours inviting you to email me.

(Lets just say that I have a fairly good idea of what Brian may be planning.)

I offered advice to teachers who have Degrees and TEFL etc but no mainstream qualifications - to get themselves a PGCE or equivalent as this will be mightily beneficial. Just think that newly qualified nursery nurses in International Schools in China get in their very first year 20,000 RMB a month. These are 21 year old kids just out of college. Do the Math as they say.

I then said that I have found many schools in Zhuhai to be less than professional and less than honest. This I have said in my capacity of someone who has been teaching since 1976 on 4 continents. This, in my capacity of someone who has met a lot of teachers in Zhuhai who have been given the run around by schools like Santana, TPR and Fountain.

You know about Fountain Plan B and to date you haven't given me any info that convinces me that Oriental is any different from any of the other schools here.

For posting my opinions based on my personal experiences and the views of other expat teachers (some gone but some still here) I get flak about having chips on my shoulder (eh??) - plus a huge dose of paranoia from Plan B.

Someone with your qualifications and experience PLUS a PGCE in my opinion Plan B would earn a mint especially with a background in IT.

I think you are short changing yourself in Zhuhai Plan B and on the TEFL circuit.

You say you love Zhuhai Plan B and then you say that you are only "reasonably" happy. You then initiate this post saying that you have have heard rumours. You then admit to being unsettled by the market's volatility. Where do you stand?

Funny thing is that we might actually get on with each other. We haven't met, we haven't spoken and I am genuinely puzzled by the knee jerk reactions to what was offered on this board as well meaning advice.

Seriously Plan B. Consider your options and think of what could maximise your market value.

Post Scriptum. I personally am very happy in Zhuhai and the job I'll be starting in February ( non - teaching) offers interesting possibilities. ( We will shortly be looking for an IT bod funnily enough...)

[Plan B]

[InTime]

Any words regarding Zhuhai's Gateway Language Village?