Job Discussion Forums

[Tarheel 13]

I've an offer from Nanchang University, and it came very quickly. It's 5500RMB per month with all the normal amenities.

I've decided to experience China for a year. Currently, I teach ESL to Hispanic Adults in the NC State Community College System in eastern North Carolina, USA. I also teach a university curriculum course in Marketing. I have an ESL Certificate. I also have an MBA.

Questions:

Should I take this first job offer? Is Nanchang one of the better locations? Is the university reputable and will it fulfill its obligations? Can I obtain something better? If so, whom should I be approaching and where should I be looking?

Thanks for any help here.

[HunanForeignGuy]

Dear OP,

You may wish to do a search on this site for Nanchang University or on www.eslteachersboard.com under the China rubric. No, I am not avoiding giving you a concrete answer -- I remember having read some very unflattering reviews about this institution and they continued to crop up over a period of time from different persons -- but I cannot remember on which of the two boards.

I will go look now and see what I can find.

If you have an MBA, and if I were in your shoes, I would aspire to something a lot "higher" than Nanchang University, for sure. The province in which it is located tends to be considered a bit neanderthal by some posters on this Board.

All the best,


HFG

Well, I searched on this Board and there are lots and lots of thread about both Nanching and this university in particular. Here's one for example that might cause you to rethink your decision:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=33545&highlight=nanchang

[Tarheel 13]

Thank you for much for the reply. Given this and other threads on the overall condition of the community, I believe that I will pass. Any ideas out there on who I should be contacting with respect to "better" and "stable" placement. Thank you for any help here.

[7969]

there are a thousand cities in china just like nanchang, and an equal number of universities like nanchang university. and many of them have foreign teachers who are quite happy there. my advice to you is just come and have a look at the place.... if you dont like it, then move on to another and look there. just make sure you have a bit of cash on-hand to tide you over till you find what you like.

you might find that the places that have more difficulty attracting foreign teachers for whatever reason, actually try harder to please those foreigners who do go there.

by the way, i'm in one of those places i just alluded to above. i quite like it.

[Tarheel 13]

However, my druthers are to do my homework before I go and have a reputable institution with fair pay in place, and in a City and environment that would be conducive to a healthy lifestyle. Mind you, it is the culture and experience first and foremost, but not having to fret over the day to day stuff would be nice.

[eslstudies]

Keep looking. The salary and conditions probably aren't too different to hundreds of other schools. Chinese public schools are generic, with some room for variation!
Location is the key factor. Find a place you like first, which is a bit hard to do on the internet. Only 15 or so hours a week will be taken up by your job.

[Tarheel 13]

Hunan province, as well as Jishou City. The university has offered me a position and I think I like what I see at this time.

[eslstudies]

[7969]