Job Discussion Forums

yvechina · Joined: 06 Mar 2003 Posts: 20

Hi, has anyone heard anything about, or had any dealings with this school or its academic director David Cotter, based in the Shi Jing Shan district of Beijing?

I'm currently working in Yiwu in Zhejiang, and I'm considering taking up a post there, I'd like to hear anything anyone can tell me, thanks!

Alan.

Cobra · Joined: 28 Jul 2003 Posts: 436

Interesting post. Off topic a little, are they teaching ChIrish with Chinese characteristics?

Laughing

Bill Shagley · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 31

Hi Cobra,
It seems that Ireland has become a popular place for study these days, and that it is the choice of thousands of language students. Dublin is full of language schools, and those language schools are full of Asian students. I am not sure why this is the case. Ireland is a very expensive place now, but educational standards are reasonably high.
As for Chirish, I would love to hear it. I speak Irish pretty well, but I couldn't imagine my students doing it. They are a practical bunch and have no time for a dead language.

Cobra · Joined: 28 Jul 2003 Posts: 436

Hi Bill!!!

Glad to see you are still around!!!

It was just a joke but I am certain that you understood that.

You may be interested in a piece appearing as Chapter 1 in the September issue of Progress in Education, Nova Publications. All about why Chinese are studying English in England. Some surprises there.

yvechina · Joined: 06 Mar 2003 Posts: 20

All very interesting guys, but what about some info????????
Does anyone know anything about their setup???

Ferne · Joined: 29 Apr 2003 Posts: 177 Location: GZ

yve, I actually applied for a job there once. I was in China already then, just a few thousand kms from Beijing, so I applied over the net. It took a while and a few phone calls for me to hear back from them, but one day Mr. Cotter called personally. By then, I had already found a job...so my only impression of Mr. Cotter was the telephone one and I wasn't too impressed but maybe he was drowsy that day or something Smile

. I never heard anything about the school, it SOUNDED good on the tefl.com website, so nooo idea. Have you talked to Mr. Cotter himself? If you can, do, get a first picture, ask him all about it. But also get in contact with current (and former) teachers there.

MyTurnNow · Joined: 19 Mar 2003 Posts: 860 Location: Outer Shanghai

My sole contacts were a bit similar to Ferne's. I applied there a long time ago. Seemed decent enough and the terms were marginally OK for Beijing. When I indicated that I was less than less than enthusiastic about teaching a lot of kids' classes the correspondence ended pretty abruptly...which was fine with me.

Oh, I think Ireland is popular because....1) it's a wonderful place full of wnderful people, 2) there are a lot of business connections especially in the electronics industry, and 3) they are easier to get a visa from than a lot of other countries are.

MT

lfclouds · Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Posts: 44 Location: Guizhou,China

Bill,

maybe we should come up with some Chirish for those who do go study there.

Hao Duit?

Is ai liom thu!

jppu · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2003 9:03 am Post subject: yes

Yes, I met dr. david cotter and his very nice and professional wife, (I'm under the impression she's got some serious guanxi out there) on one occasion. Dr. Cotter, a very nice man, came off to me as an irish potato farmer. First impressions, he just didn't come off very professional - not at all, certainly not like I picture a PHd. should. I think he's very flaky to say the least. I went all the way out to west beijing looking for a gig and at the time he was supposedly desperate for qualified teachers and was willing to pay a lot of $$ for the summer session last year. That's what I heard through the Irish grapevine. He ended up canceling me when i got there and turned me over to his wife who was very nice and is obviously the backbone of the organization. For the next month, i tried to call him and make appts and I kept making them and he kept canceling them. Personally, I'd rather not work for someone so disorganized. Since then, I've had no contact with him. Actually, it worked out for the best because I lived in SE beijing at the time and it didn't make sense to me to spend almost two hours communting time. Having said that, I think the school is quite nice. It looked great. Nice set up. I think he keeps the classes to a decent size. I think you could do a lot worse than that school, to be sure. He appears to be honest, but totally out to lunch - figuratively and literally - most of the time.