Job Discussion Forums

CocoSchmargle · Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 2

Sorry if any of this has been asked elsewhere, I've been doing a lot of reading but didn't come across it in the posts...

I recently got offered what seems to be a reasonable contract from a private school, Da Qiao, in Changchun. Given that I'm completely new to this I need some advice.

First, if anyone has any info on the school I would really like to hear it. The contact is a British guy who has been so far very forthcoming, but we've only been emailing for about five days and we're already talking about the school getting me an apartment. Should I be worried that he's too eager to get rid of the job? I have read plenty on the city and I'm not really concerned with that, but rather what I should be expecting from the interview process. How long is appropriate to wait before accepting the job?

Secondly, I was originally going with a male friend but as it stands I'm probably going alone. I'm only 21, but I have lived abroad before in England. I know this is going to be a completely different experience and I'm looking forward to it, but I really need some positives about travelling there alone. Or negatives for that matter...

Super Mario · Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 7:15 am Post subject:

Can't help on the first query. And I"m not female, so maybe I'm off target on the second.
However, I don't think China holds more risks for women than men. It's a safe country for Westerners, provided you follow normal precautions. The same applies to treatment by employers, and I've had female colleagues from 23 to 60.

chinaamber · Joined: 06 Jun 2006 Posts: 73 Location: Guiyang

Again, can't help much on the first query but I am female and have been in China for 2 years. I have lived in and travelled through many countries and would rate China amongst the safest. The biggest problem safety wise is theft and this is the same whether male or female!! When travelling alone the most annoying thing is people wanting to practise their English skills whilst I am trying to read/sleep/listen to music, but I have also had some great experiences that began in this way.

Whilst I cannot guarantee your safety, with your eyes open and a little common sense you should be fine!!

Songbird · Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 11:26 am Post subject:

Hi Coco,

Single female here- China is perfectly fine, and I know plenty over there right now! I spent my year last year in a village in Gansu Province living alone. I also did a bit of travelling, to Xian, Beijing and Tibet on my own (also with very little Chinese language skills!). Your students will be AMAZED, I find it amusing to tell them I live alone, they get really concerned for you, 'you need a man' etc etc Shocked

.

I'm heading back, again on my own, in 3 weeks to Shaanxi Province, I can't wait! I'm taking to this like a duck to water!

The interview process generally goes like this:
-Do you have a degree?
-When can you come?

I kid you not! It's dead easy to get work if you have the degree, unless it's a very popular position or school/ college etc you're applying for, you can pretty much assume you have the job the moment you get positive feedback from someone there (ie the British guy)!

Have fun, China's a blast!

karminpdx · Joined: 23 Jul 2006 Posts: 1

i just returned from doing a teaching stint in china, alone. really, if you find some foreigners for friends...you will be fine. i found it safe enough as a female- just keep your wits about you! i found the men very respectful...well, more respectful than some of the college guys you find in the states!

have fun.

ColinA · Joined: 31 May 2006 Posts: 262

moderntime · Joined: 27 Mar 2005 Posts: 26 Location: Changchun, China

Hi Coco, I came to Changchun as a solo female as well and I've never had any problems there or anywhere else in China. I think that in a lot of ways China is much safer than the West--but then, I used to live in New York City!

Just bring along a healthy supply of tampons if you use them. Smile

cj750 · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 3081 Location: Beijing

Changchun is a great city and on the move to modernization...but it does get cold...and check the location of the school..anything out of town may be a bit far for comfortable living..there is nothing out side the city but farmers...

Changchun is ratted by many Chinese as a dangerous city and after the antics of the Hammer gang in the late 90s..it got the rep of a city you could get killed in..but most of the injuries I have seen were fueled by alcohol and Russian women..however..the use of beer bottles and an unlikely knife has graced the sene at Mayflower from time to time..

There are the occasional muggings..usually against older woman..one a couple of years ago ..against one of the female teachers in Raffles..PR was her first two initials...and she left..not due to the muggins but due to getting screwed by the school...

I would say that you are more likely to get pawed by the Germans Auto Workers than by the all the young Chinese dudes...who by the way find it fashonable to carry purses, but still use beer bottles in a fight..

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

poof · Joined: 23 May 2005 Posts: 161

If you're new to this and are simply taking the word of some bloke on the other end of a distant phone line, I think the best advice to anyone would be to insist on speaking to current teachers at the school. Find out what it's like from those whose footprints you could be directly following. If you are refused contact with existing teachers, I think you should not accept a position at that school.

ohseejane · Joined: 18 Aug 2006 Posts: 5 Location: Guangzhou

blondie10 · Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 40

Bring mouthwash also but be prepared to explain what it is at every airport! I think it all depends where you go in China, my experience was not a positive one, but there are many people who have not had any problems. I went to a small out of the way college and I did talk to the current teachers there. However they only let met talk to the teachers that would give me a positive or neutral review. I didn't find out how it really was until I got there. In retrospect I would have chosen a bigger city and probably would not have had such a negative experience.

evaforsure · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 1217

the school you have applied for is next to a great hot pot resturant and is located near the center of town...the school may..I say may...be ok but when I spoke with them ..the salary was a little low...as far as a woman in Changchun goes ..the winters are long and cold...not much getting out...
speak with the other teacher and if he says he spend his free time going out, ask where....if it is the Mayflower..pm me...

frank d · Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 155

CocoSchmargle,

Are you dealing with someone at DaQiao named Simon Whitaker???

If so, he is getting lots of terrible comments from FTs on ESL Teachers Board.com. He will tell you he's a foreigner himself, but indeed, he is not. His job postings on ESL Teachers Board.com are very strange! If he's the one who is running or managing or recruiting for the DaQiao school in Changchun (and I think he is), you should steer clear of him!

Good luck!

CocoSchmargle · Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 2

Thanks for the advice guys, I think I'm going to take another job in Tianjin. I have a much better feeling about this one. Frank, I also thought it was kind of strange that this Simon guy never used punctuation in his posts... luckily I saw the comments on him recently too.