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MO39

I've just found a job announcement from the above school here at Dave's. I have taught overseas in Mexico and Spain but have never traveled or worked in China. Having read many postings here about the terrible things that can happen if you contract with an unscrupulous or horribly mismanaged school, I am a bit leery of signing a contract with a college that I know nothing about, other than what it says about itself. If anyone has ever worked at this place, I would appreciate hearing from you.

Many thanks,

MO

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

I don't know such a college; did you get the spelling alright?
There is a Puiching college, and the exact location is HUADU, a town on the outskirts of Guangzhou.
That place has an excellent reputation, though!

carken · Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 1:53 pm Post subject:

I saw the same ad - the correct spelling is Peizheng. I think the original poster just omitted the 'g'. However, the town is the same.

Carole

MO39 · Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 6:52 pm Post subject:

I am the original poster and did omit the final "g" in the name of the school. I am pleased to know that it does have an excellent reputation. If anyone has more specific information, please write!

MO

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Yaco, it's your turn now!

James_T_Kirk · Joined: 20 Sep 2003 Posts: 357 Location: Ten Forward

Just to clear things up here (am I the only one confused by this thread?), apparently "Peizheng Commercial College" and "Puiching College", are one and the same, as their job posting links to www.puiching.com and their address has them in Huadu District. I must say, I am intrigued by this school as well. I had planned on going somewhere in Southeast Asia to teach next year, but part of me wants to go back to China and see how much it has changed in the four years since I have been there.

The contract isn't perfect, but, on first glance, it seems reasonable to me. Any school that can hook you up with a flat in Hong Kong for weekend visits can't be half bad, can it? Roger, do you have any further insight regarding this school? Anyone else? Especially regarding the contract, as I really have no idea what a fair contract in China really looks like nowadays.

Cheers,
Kirk

P.S.- If you'd like to see the contract they have posted on their website, here's the link

lagerlout2006 · Joined: 17 Sep 2003 Posts: 985

This ad caught my eye beacause they are looking for 100 teachers.(At least they say.) How bloody big are they??? I ahve seen schools with close to 20 000 students that hire 10 or so FE's..

If the ad is all truth it sounds OK. 500 for meal money on top of the salary is unusual..One alarming sounding item though. Although you teach 20 classes you are expected to be available 40 hours a week total.. For things like (I quote) informal chat sports clubs.. I would ask about this. If you have no classes Friday afternoon can you leave??? Also I guess which end of the pay scale you end up on. They say they are in GZ but then talk about the nearest small town...So where is it???

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

This school doeshire expats by the dozen. I heard that they currently have 60 of them, and they replace them every year, never keeping them for a second term.
Yaco told me he was fairly happy there (he is an Aussie guy who taught in some other province before he moved to Huadu).

Also, there were some fairly upbeat posts on the Job Info board (but not of late).
Although the workload sounds a bit overloaded, some still manage to squeeze in some part-time teaching jobs (on weekends, of course).
Huadu, on the other hand, is a bit in the boonies. It takes close to one hour by bus on the motorway, and you won't have transport 24 hours a day!

The HK accommodation seems to be very popular!

All in all: a better-than-average job offer!

CountryClub · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Posts: 46 Location: China

I highly recommend the school. There are about 65 foreign teachers here but they are currently short about 2. The school is located about 25 minutes by bus from Huadu which offers fairly decent shopping and about 1 1/2 hours away from Guangzhou.
I believe Puiching is the translation from Cantonese and Peizheng is the Mandarin equivalent. (or atleast that is what I was once told)
The original contract I saw stipulated 40 hours attendance per week which turned me off at first but the newer contract does not include this. I can assure you that you do not spend anywhere near that amount of time at work. It seems teachers also typically have 1 day a week off.
I don't have much China experience to compare it to but what I have been told by many experienced teachers is that this is one of the best schools in China (as far as working at goes). You are always paid on time, the accomodations are quite reasonable and one does not have to endure the kinds of garbage that other schools try to pull.
Also, the other foreign teachers here are amazing and make new teachers feel very welcome. They are very keen to show you around and such a large foreign teacher community makes your adjustment so much easier.
Of course the school is not perfect but I plan on being here a year and do not see that as being a major hardship.
If you have any specific questions you would like answered I would be very pleased to do so.
Yaco has been here longer than I have so would certainly be able to offer more insight.

yaco · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 473

If you require further information, Please send me a PM.

lagerlout2006 · Joined: 17 Sep 2003 Posts: 985

Hello Yaco may I ask a couple of questions...(Are you getting flooded?)
The students? My 2 jobs were 1)wonderful college students and 2) spoiled rude brats--now. What are they like generally. And what are the class sizes?

Also you are 20 minutes from Haudu. What is in the immediate area? Are you really isolated? Must be different with that many FE's around.

All for now ... Keep up the good posts.

yaco · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 473

The students who attend this school come from reasonably affluent backgrounds. I find the students to be a pleasure to work with, although some lack motivation ( which is standard across the world ).

All students in the first year attend a one year intensive English course. Class sizes are 15 to 16 students who are seen twice a week.

The teachers's workload is 20 x 45 minute periods. Teaching hours are spread between Monday to Friday. Teachers often receive one day off during the week ( I am going to Hk to enjoy a 3 day weekend ). The advertisement which states that you must be on campus for 40 hrs between Monday to Friday is misleading. As you live on campus, you are always around but you only work 20 x 45 minute periods.

Hope this helps !!!!!!!

RSB · Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Posts: 21

Just to try clear up/clarify a couple things about Puiching/Peizheng. According to some powers that be here the spelling difference depends on whether you run with the Cantonese or Mandarin pronunciation of the name.

Don't know why but the web site hasn't been updated for a couple years and this is not the current contract. The '40 hours' was taken out of the contract.

The college is about a 10 minute pedicab ride to Chini (meat, fruit, veggies) 35 minute bus to Huadu (other groceries, McDonalds, KFC) and 70 minute bus to Guangzhou. Subway line will be coming to Huadu as the Guangzhou airport will be moved there some time this year I believe (for the airport not the subway).

The HK apartment is still there for use but that may disappear soon - no one will confirm or deny it.

The college isn't huge (under 10,000 right now) but growing fast and all first year students take English with a foreign instructor (4 instruction hours per class - you have 4 classes + English corner + staff developement = 20 instruction hrs - 20-45 minute classes). Second year non-English majors get 2 hours per week per class. First year class size is 16+/-; second year varies but generally 16 or less. The students overall are woderful to work with. Approvals have been received, again according to the powers but not officially anounced yet, to become a full uni.

The school DOES NOT replace teachers every year as someone posted. A few teachers are in their third year and almost 50% of last year's staff reupped for this year.

The one day a week off that someone mentioned is only because the current Director rearranges schedules to accommodate this. As she is leaving at the end of the year there is no guarantee it'll continue. The contract is 5 days so be prepared for it.

Being paid has never been an issue and as of September the money goes straight into a Construction Bank account. The only thing that has changed is that money goes into the bank on the last day of the month whereas before we were pain in cash on the last working day of the month. So if Sunday is the last day of the month you don't have you weekend party money for those so inclined.

The place is as someone mentioned not perfect but a heck of a lot better than most out there.

Any questions PM me.