Job Discussion Forums

[wildbillLee]

Greetings; is anyone familiar with the Guan Ya American English Training Center, supposedly one of the biggest English schools in northeast China, and located in Shenyang? I'm curious as to their reputation and the area of China [the city] that Guan Ya is operating out of.

Thanks.

[jppu]

I can't tell you much about Guan Ya from personal experience but what few things i have heard, you might run into the usual problems that goes along with working at a private chain school in china. Those "red flags" have been posted on this site ad nauseum and I won't repeat them here.

I can talk, however, about Shenyang as I lived there for a period of time. I think it is, for a mid sized chinese city, not bad. I found the people to be very friendly and helpful. What I really liked about the city was that it has more sunny days than pretty much any other city in China that I've been to, certainly more than Beijing. If that's important to you, you might consider Shenyang.

On the downside, the pollution is pretty bad especially on that dismal, depressing drive from the airport to the city center. Yet, in spite of that, the sun seems to blast right through it and the sky is usually quite blue downtown.

Shopping is also a downer. I'm not that big and I couldn't find any clothes to fit me there, not to mention the styles I wouldn't be caught dead in, and also of very poor quality. If you're looking for western stuff, except for Micky D's, KFC and Pizza hut, to my knowledge, there isn't much around.

For myself, I was quite alone and bored. The school, a private one, sucked. I was the only white teacher at this school and I came back to Beijing as soon as I could. (I'm in Henan now.) Socially, I didn't see another white face the whole time i was there, not one, although I know there are plenty there. I just didn't see any. I don't know where they go or what they do.

If you're into historical things, there's plenty outside the city to do and there is an excellent impearial palace not far from the very nice Wal Mart in the city center.

All in all, you can do a lot worse than Shenyang

[MyTurnNow]

I phone interviewed with Guan Ya some time ago. I was not very impressed with what I heard but this comes largely from personal biases...

- This school is apparently kids, kids, kids. And after you've taught a huge bunch of kids, you then go to teach more kids.

- The approach to teachers and work seemed to be very strictly regimented; just my impression. I have a lifestyle, sort of...I just want a job.

As for Shenyang, you can do worse....but not that much. Cold, dirty and not terribly close to much of anything but factories and fields. All the downsides of big city life with comparatively few of the benefits. I actually like DongBei, but Shenyang would be fairly low on my list there.

MT

[Roger]

Guanya advertises almost every month. Attrition? But I have nothing negative to say, personally.

Shenyang: It's got four seasons, and the winter there is pretty arctic.
The whole of Manchuria is now a rust belt of sorts, old SOE's dying, workers idle and waiting for their pay for years...

[JDYoung]

I'm in Shenyang right now and have been for two months. I'm told the winter will be similar to Toronto or Chicago although I think more like Winnipeg. The entire city is under construction so there is a lot of dust in the air.

I must disagree with the comments about shopping. With the exception of some especially large sized clothes and shoes, if you can't buy it in Shenyang it isn't available on the planet. The large sized clothes problem is solved by having things made for you. Generally cheaper than off-the-rack in Canada anyway.

I don't know Guan Ya. I'm working for a college. From what I've heard about the private language schools its very unpredictable.

PM me if you want details about the city.

[wildbillLee]

Sounds grim, guys.

Thanks.

[jeanclaude]

I was with them for six months. You'll teach mostly children.
One needs to find the right balance between play and teaching. It was my first job teaching kids so it took me a few months to find it. Most of
the real teaching is done by the Chinese co-teachers. You as foreigner
are there to check their pronounciation and more importantly to add
some levity to the scene. The school will keep you on your toes by
not letting you slack off. I was always paid on time and paid the right
amount. The school got my visa and returned my passport to me and
also when my tenure was up, they got me a tourist visa so I could stay
in country. I thought that was really decent. They have a series of
graded textbooks you'll use, so you needn't prepare your own materials.
There's lots of free time because the classes are mostly on the weekend.
While you'll be under the direct supervision of your particular branches
headmaster, much of the operation is managed back at corporate headquarters in Shenyang. The lady you will deal with is very kind
and honest. The recruiter seems like a straightforward honest guy
as well, but I wasnt' hired through him. Once a month an auditor
visits each branch. I got everything I was promised and then some.
I didn't like the Chinese parents skulking about in the hallways spying
on their kids while I taught class.