Job Discussion Forums

[ozziaj]

I�m contemplating to teach at a university in China, perhaps for 2-3 years. Though having scouted through this forum, it seems to me China has plenty of, shall I say, dubious �university�. Dubious in the sense that a lot of FT�s are posting some rather disturbing tales of their experiences with various universities across China (i.e. Guangdong Baiyun University et al).

Perhaps some of the long time FT�s here could recommend universities that are known to be good places to teach.

My priorities (in no fixed order):
� Healthy teaching / working environment
� Supportive, cooperative and trustworthy administration
� Good, safe on-campus(!) living environment
� Well resourced with good teacher support
� Preferably not in one of the major mega cities (i.e. Beijing, Shanghai etc)
� Not sure if this is possible: but preferably a true higher education faculty � as opposed to some mega highschool / college / language mill that somehow got approval to call itself �university�

More than likely I have missed a few considerations � so please feel free to add anything of relevance.

Some background:
� 12 years+ teaching experience
� BA edu, TESOL (presently working on my Master�s)
� Last 3 years at a major university in Thailand; responsible for advancing English primarily of our faculty graduates and PhD�s, with some emphasis on writing and advanced speaking, plus extensive support for various student and professorial manuscripts, as well as running TESOL preparation courses

Hope the above makes sense. All help would be much appreciated.

[Anda]

I just signed on for another year as I got this one "Preferably not in one of the major mega cities" but I passed on the rest! I must be easy to please. The staff are friendly, it only takes me a couple of months to sort out a new group of students to work with me a bit in class, I live off campus with double doors and my Chinese neighbors always keep both of their doors locked for some reason, I provide all my own material but at least my college will photocopy for me, my students are middle school dropouts that are not up to getting into a top Uni so they get into the college where I teach.

The last month parents have been demonstrating out of the College gates and I�ve had to climb over the fence to get to work. This went on for about two weeks. Look at all the fun you will miss if you find a China paradise!

.......................................................................................................
My priorities (in no fixed order):
� Healthy teaching / working environment
� Supportive, cooperative and trustworthy administration
� Good, safe on-campus(!) living environment
� Well resourced with good teacher support
� Preferably not in one of the major mega cities (i.e. Beijing, Shanghai etc)
� Not sure if this is possible: but preferably a true higher education faculty � as opposed to some mega highschool / college / language mill that somehow got approval to call itself �university

[HunanForeignGuy]

To the OP,

Thank you for your kind posting. Postings similar to yours appear on this Board quite often -- requesting the names and address of the best unis in China in which to work. More often than not, these postings receive few answers and little attention and let me explain why.

Essentially what you are asking is for the China veterans here on the ground to provide you with their address books and their experience in order for you to find a new job. My own experience here has been hard won at best, and my address book generally is open only to good friends. I think for example, you might receive the same answer in the West.

Please -- do as most of us have done here -- do as much of your own due diligence as possible; search the Web, come up with a short list of say two-or-three names of places where you might like to work and ask the posters here to comment on those -- you might obtain some helpful information. I think really few would voluntarily acquiesce to what you are requesting.

Sorry for the answer but I am trying to be both honest and helpful. I can only wonder what the others think around here.

[naturegirl321]

I can see both sides of the issue. A newbie trying to find a good job and the oldbies trying to protect theirs.

I think that HunanForeignGuy is right in saying that the more time you spend in a place, the better your contacts. Everyone has to put in time in poor paying jobs before they get better ones.

And besides, most of the good jobs aren't advertised.

[william wallace]

This topic came up in an unusual way for me. For years students have asked me,"Where is a good place for me to learn English ?".All I was able to answer was for them to find the cheapest and most convenient location. In 13 years here the only place I found myself suggesting as a good place for FTs was the OLD... New Bridge,which now no longer exists.But some of the worst schools I know of have some people who love it- The one in particular I'm thinking of, is loved by a retired women,who has a pension. And for her it's this or the rocking chair - I'd happily take the freaking chair, myself.So,for Beijing I'm stumped as to what is reasonably good. Now if you want to get some babes, chill, and party - I think most places are geared up to accommodate that.
Cheers and good luck

[HunanForeignGuy]

[therock]

There are plenty of jobs out there. There are plenty of universities in China, some good, some bad.

If you want the best results from this forum, the first thing you need to work out is which location you want to teach in. After you have decided that then maybe search for a few universities and colleges in your chosen area and then ask about them here.

[tw]

OP, as HunanForeignGuy says, you can't expect people to just graciously tell you about schools that actually do meet all these criteria (if any even exist) without your having already done a lot of research on your own, right? Please don't think we are snobby, but this is the time of year when a lot of in-country FT's and thinking-about-its are looking for job vacancies. Competition is obviously quite fierce, because I have personally lost a great job opportunity to someone who'd apparently read a rave review about a school which I'd enquired about and jumped right in and swooped it up. We don't mind helping you, but sorry, as selfish as this may sound, many of us have to think about ourselves first.

[naturegirl321]

[Shan-Shan]

[HunanForeignGuy]

[naturegirl321]

[naturegirl321]

If you�re up to doing some research, here's a list of unis
http://www.bulter.nl/universities/university.asp?CountryID=89

And here's some schools
www.eslbase.com/schools

There are also international schools, click on the LA Job LIst and scroll down.

[eslstudies]

OP, you're a bit too fussy. I doubt if there's a university in China that would meet all of your criteria. Other countries may provide more options as well as better pay. People who choose China, as opposed to those with no choice, do it because there is something about the place they want to know more of. In your case, this may well be on this thread, which 5 of your 6 posts have been involved in

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?p=500774&highlight=#500774

If so, good luck!
However, as pointed out, those who have found Nirvana aren't likely to share, and those who haven't are still looking.

[Shan-Shan]