Job Discussion Forums

[6Tito9]

I recently spent a tear a a half working at the SjiJie Kid Castle in Harbin. I must admit it wasn't all peaches and cream, especially in the beginning. I was new to China and it was my first teaching job at the time. I guess I was a bit unprepared for the whole experience. Right away I learned that though the whole experience wasn't going to be easy. The teaching staff and the Headmaster of the school really tried to help me as best they could. I was unhappy with my apartment, so they fixed it. My schedule was bringing me down, it got changed. I had problems dealing the age group of the students, they assigned me different classes. I can't say everything was fixed immediately. Most problems like these have some limitations as to how they can get remedied and how much they can be remedied, but the headmaster managed to make the adjustments as quickly as she could manage. During my working experience I learned of many other schools in the city and others throughout the country. There were definately some aspects of some other jobs that appealed to me. After weighing the pros annd cons of the job I had and the other schools I still decided it was the best.
The job was a bit demanding at times. The schools reputation has earned it the respect of many people in the city. The students studying there won awards at every English competative event. Almost all of them were hugely confidant in their English speaking abilities. I have worked as a University teacher and I even am more impressed with the confidance and amount of knowledge instilled in these children as opposed to the older students. None of which were older than 13.
If you're looking for a job that will challange you to greatly improve your teaching abilities and desire working with a headmaster who respects your needs this is definately the school to work for. If you are already working at a school and aren't very happy, think about going to work here. No matter how hard your work gets, there is always something to be happy about.
Hopefully you might know of some other good schools out there the rest of us should know about.

[Steppenwolf]

It takes a bit of courage to come out in support of an employer in this forum; congrats to you! It's good to hear of such experiences though spilling beans might lead to the wrong people being attracted to them. It onlytakes one undesirable FT to destroy a long and harmonious history of FT employment.

[KES]

First post?

What a shame you didn't share your experiences along the way.

[sheeba]

My school are allright to me . I think a lot depends on if they like you or not . How White is your skin? How Blue are your eyes?Are you prepared to follow the rules of the school?Can you lower your standards and accept you are a lowly teacher here? Or do you get on your high horse ? These type of things matter to the Chinese . I just get along with people the best I can and don't get angry with anyone. I've seen many dismissed here in my time because they can't follow simple rules or are just simply out of order.

[latefordinner]

OP, congratulations on finding an initial posting that has suited you well. This in particular impressed me:

[sheeba]

Accent - American 50 points, South of England 45points, Other parts of UK 40 points, Australian 35 points. the list spirals downwards after that .

Ability to sing boyband records - 30 points, Breakdance 25 points, Moondance 20 points, Immitate the muppets 15 points.

Conformity to a unified humour 30 points, Chinese comedian skills 25 points, energy to run around the class blowing a trumpet 20 points.

To love your students like they were your blood 50 points, to laugh at fat Americans 40 points, To be able to lie and profess that you respect the Royal family 30 points , Admit to enjoying a nice dog for lunch 25 points, donkey 20 points , snakes *beep* 15 points.

To savour a cup of baijiu like it was a mature bottle of red 100 points, to drink a bottle without falling down a manhole (50 points)

To enjoy being called laowai and agree that being shouted laowai in the street is just a normal thing 50 points.

It's all about points Latefordinner . Brownie points mean everything here !!