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Matt_22
Joined: 26 Feb 2006
Posts: 193
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 Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 3:10 am Post subject: Question re: Spring start-stop dates |
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| When do the spring terms/semesters typically begin and end in China? I'm looking to find a job this-coming spring, but I'm unable to start work until mid-February - and then I have to leave around the end of June. Am I SOL, or should I be able to find some work? |
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kev7161
Joined: 06 Feb 2004
Posts: 5880
Location: Suzhou, China
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 3:24 am Post subject: |
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| Without being able to tell you the EXACT dates - - the Spring semester probably will start up around the middle of February, after the Spring Festival/Chinese New Year break. And, even luckier for you, most terms will finish right around the end of June! So there you have it, picture perfect for your needs. |
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tw
Joined: 04 Jun 2005
Posts: 3898
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 5:16 am Post subject: |
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| February 7 marks the first day of Chinese New Year AKA Spring Festival in 2008, so it is a safe bet to say that most public school probably won't start the new term until late February or even early March. |
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Matt_22
Joined: 26 Feb 2006
Posts: 193
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 5:25 am Post subject: |
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| are universities on these same terms as well? |
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tw
Joined: 04 Jun 2005
Posts: 3898
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 5:37 am Post subject: |
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| Colleges and universities usually start about the same time, though it can vary from a week to three weeks. |
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kev7161
Joined: 06 Feb 2004
Posts: 5880
Location: Suzhou, China
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 7:52 am Post subject: |
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I thought the Chinese New Year (and its celebration) tends to fall near the end of the Spring Festival break - - I could be wrong though. We pretty much had all of February off this year. When was the Chinese New Year - - early Feb.? mid? late?
Okay, I checked Google (god love Google!) - - it was on February 18th and the FTs at my school at least had Feb. 1st to 28th off. Back to school on March 1st. Soooooo . . . if CNY next year (2008) falls on Feb. 7th, then my guess (at least for my school) mid-January to mid-February may well be accurate.
The last day of Chinese New Years celebrations should occur on Feb. 15th with the lantern festival. |
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tw
Joined: 04 Jun 2005
Posts: 3898
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 8:28 am Post subject: |
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My school will start its new term the first week of March.
Chinese New Year lasts 15 days, though the first three are the most important for drinking, eating, visiting, etc. Some older people consider Spring Festival a month long. |
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Matt_22
Joined: 26 Feb 2006
Posts: 193
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 1:47 pm Post subject: |
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| that sounds perfect. do your spring terms also finish up around the end of june? |
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latefordinner
Joined: 19 Aug 2003
Posts: 973
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 2:24 pm Post subject: |
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TW, for some of my students Chinese New Years starts when they get to college and lasts for 4 years of drinking eating playing cards partying and catching a quick 40 winks at the back of class. But I digress.
Last spring classes at my previous school began the first week of March, but this can change not only with the calendar but from school to school. My wife has 2 cousins studying at diferent colleges in the city (well one is at Da Wai in Lushun) and they both had different scheds, though one was only a day or 2 diferent than mine. Your Mileage May Vary.
Matt, my spring terms have generally ended the last week of June, but have sometimes carried into the first week of July. Again, YMMV. IF you're up against a tight timeline for travel, you can probably negotiate an earlier date for your final exams within your department. As long as you get the results in they should be happy to cooperate. |
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Matt_22
Joined: 26 Feb 2006
Posts: 193
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 3:10 pm Post subject: |
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| I really appreciate all the helpful information. Sounds like I have the perfect opportunity to spend a good chunk of time in China. Now I just have to find a decent university that will accept a 24 year old with a BA and 2 years of experience. |
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Shan-Shan
Joined: 28 Aug 2003
Posts: 1074
Location: electric pastures
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 3:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Now I just have to find a decent university that will accept a 24 year old with a BA and 2 years of experience. |
Probably more difficult to find one that won't. |
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Matt_22
Joined: 26 Feb 2006
Posts: 193
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 3:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Do you know of any good databases where I can find universities in Shanghai or Beijing? I've been perusing a lot of job boards online, but most of the universities in these cities don't tend to advertise openings. Do I just have to hunt down contact information individually, or do many of these universities just hire those already in China? |
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SnoopBot
Joined: 21 Jun 2007
Posts: 740
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 4:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Matt_22 wrote: |
| Do you know of any good databases where I can find universities in Shanghai or Beijing? I've been perusing a lot of job boards online, but most of the universities in these cities don't tend to advertise openings. Do I just have to hunt down contact information individually, or do many of these universities just hire those already in China? |
Beijing is so saturated that they often will find enough teachers locally already in China. I suspect Shanghai is the almost the same.
If you have some type of rare qualifications or experience, you can high-light these facts and possibly get a few offers.
Rules for Beijing (if outside of China)
1. 4-year degree or higher
2. 2-3 years experience teaching (in China preferred)
3. Some type of TEFL cert
4. Native Speaker
Often recruiters will promise these things above do not matter, however, you want to deal directly with universities and office staff they will usually demand you meet all or most of the above.
My university would receive at least 10-30 applications a week. Many were not a Native Speaker, and they still trashed most of them. The ones they seemed to keep on file were ones that exceeded the list above and were locally already in China.
It does not hurt to try though. I had a website that listed all the Beijing Universities. I'll look for it. |
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tw
Joined: 04 Jun 2005
Posts: 3898
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| Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 12:36 am Post subject: |
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| Matt_22 wrote: |
| that sounds perfect. do your spring terms also finish up around the end of june? |
It all depends on the length of each school's school terms, i.e. 16 weeks, 18 weeks, etc. |
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HunanForeignGuy
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Posts: 989
Location: Shanghai, PRC
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| Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 5:14 am Post subject: 2008 Spring Festival |
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Although Beijing has yet to fine tune the dates for the 2008 Spring Festival holiday, in Southern China the dates have been announced in some places as follows:
last week of classes for foreign teachers : the week of January 8, 2008
return of foreign teachers to their respective schools : week of February 25 - March 2, 2008.
All the best,
HFG |
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