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tatsuo1
Joined: 11 Jun 2009 Posts: 75
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Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 5:04 pm Post subject: Shanghai Wei lai International School |
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Can anyone share information about this school? I have looked at their website, www.SWIS.cn but it seems only available in chinese script.
From my research of Shanghai, it does appear to be an expensive city to live in. Is there a website or personal experience from someone that could shed some light on the costs of living in Shanghai?
Thanks so much
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samhouston
Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 418 Location: LA
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Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 10:25 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: |
Is there a website or personal experience from someone that could shed some light on the costs of living in Shanghai?
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It's not cheap.
http://tinyurl.com/mdbmh4 |
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waxwing
Joined: 29 Jun 2003 Posts: 719 Location: China
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 12:52 am Post subject: |
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The domain www.swis.cn appears to be for sale.
I also tried swlis.cn (seemed like a logical correction) but no good.
Also tried to google "Shanghai Wei Lai International school" but got nothing except this forum (man those spiders are efficient!)
Could you correct it? |
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struelle
Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2372 Location: Shanghai
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 4:02 am Post subject: |
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Haven't heard much about that particular school, but as for the cost of living in Shanghai ...... expensive!
I lived there from 2001-04 and again from 2008 until last June. I kid you not, the prices of most things had doubled from when I left the first time and when I came back the second time.
Most of the price rising happened dramatically around 2007-08 with the severe food price inflation, fuel costs, housing bubble, and many other things which happened at once. The economic crisis cooled things off a bit, but prices haven't dropped much at all, only stabilized.
So in a word, very expensive. It was already pricey when I first moved there, now the costs are so much that I had to scrimp on a 15,000 + monthly salary. Granted, my situation was probably different than most as I rented two apartments and spent a fortune on transport costs (job in the boonies)
That being said, there are ways to save money in the big city and still enjoy a lot of life there. If you can:
-- Buy a bike or scooter to get around instead of taxis. This will save in the long run. Besides, taxis are near impossible to get in Shanghai.
-- Use the Metro where possible
-- Eat at local restaurants
-- Select an apartment in a convenient neighorhood where you can have access to most things with minimal commuting, and it is close to work
Steve |
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tatsuo1
Joined: 11 Jun 2009 Posts: 75
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 4:34 am Post subject: Thanks |
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Thanks for sharing your knowledge with me. I have checked that website repeatedly. I can get to the school but being in chinese script unable to learn much about the school. They do have a relationship with DePaul Catholic High School in New Jersey.
I may try uploading microsoft chinese to translate the page. But not sure that will work.
Wow! That seems very expensive. Struette, you mentioned two apartments. If you don't mind sharing again, how much was the total for apartment in Shanghai city?
One more thing waxwing. Does it state on that website that it is for sale? Or is this information from another website?
Thanks again |
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struelle
Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2372 Location: Shanghai
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 4:52 am Post subject: Re: Thanks |
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I got a pretty good deal on the one in Gubei area. 2500 RMB a month, actually, 1 bdr, fully furnished, 75 sqm. Supposedly most places like that in the area go for upwards of 4000 RMB but I wouldn't know, it was alright what I got. While it was a good deal, I paid around 2000 RMB for another place in the sticks across the Jiangsu provincial line. Together, the rent added up, not to mention all the costs in constantly shuttling back and forth between apartments. |
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waxwing
Joined: 29 Jun 2003 Posts: 719 Location: China
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:22 pm Post subject: Re: Thanks |
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tatsuo1 wrote: |
Thanks for sharing your knowledge with me. I have checked that website repeatedly. I can get to the school but being in chinese script unable to learn much about the school. They do have a relationship with DePaul Catholic High School in New Jersey.
I may try uploading microsoft chinese to translate the page. But not sure that will work.
Wow! That seems very expensive. Struette, you mentioned two apartments. If you don't mind sharing again, how much was the total for apartment in Shanghai city?
One more thing waxwing. Does it state on that website that it is for sale? Or is this information from another website?
Thanks again |
I don't know how to say it more clearly; the domain www.swis.cn is for sale. There is no school website there.
Again, could you check the address ? |
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waxwing
Joined: 29 Jun 2003 Posts: 719 Location: China
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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OK after some detective work I found it.
It's Shanghai Wenlai international school, not Shanghai Wei Lai international school.
And the website is www.swischina.cn not www.SWIS.cn
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waxwing
Joined: 29 Jun 2003 Posts: 719 Location: China
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:44 pm Post subject: |
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http://www.seriousteachers.com/Job_details.asp?idemployer=6882&idjob=178277&pag=1
Looking at the compensation, I'd say the "housing" part is quite important. Are they going to put you up in some kind of digs on campus? (ugh I hate that) or is there a possibility of being given a housing allowance (that's what I have, much better of course!). If there's a reasonable housing allowance (for Shanghai, between 3 and 5000RMB) then I think the remuneration looks very fair, for a certified teacher from the US. If you don't get that, then it's slightly on the low side (Shanghai is expensive!). But even so it's not bad. Also don't forget to deduct tax from the gross, if you're around 3.3K USD you'll probably lose around 3K RMB to tax.
OK, the money's fine I guess, the main point is you need to find someone who's been there or knows something about it. Have you asked the school for the email of a current or past teacher? If your application is at that stage, I don't know.
For reading Chinese pages I use the Firefox add-on "Perakun". It's a clever little tool and it allows you to get the gist of what's on a page, but obviously you can't get precise meanings that way. |
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tatsuo1
Joined: 11 Jun 2009 Posts: 75
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 7:04 pm Post subject: re: waxwing's help |
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I cannot begin to thank you enough waxwing for your help and assistance.
I am presently waiting for a contract and then will follow-up with contacting present teachers at the school.
The web address came from a business card so its possible that the translation was lacking.
I spoke with the director of the school this morning and verbally, housing is included off-campus but near it. I will certainly push for the housing allowance if its possible and thanks for the suggestion.
The compensation, again only verbally, seems good.
Again, thank you for all your help and to the other individuals who shared their knowledge with me. |
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tatsuo1
Joined: 11 Jun 2009 Posts: 75
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 3:38 pm Post subject: re: compensation |
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waxwing wrote: |
http://www.seriousteachers.com/Job_details.asp?idemployer=6882&idjob=178277&pag=1
Looking at the compensation, I'd say the "housing" part is quite important. Are they going to put you up in some kind of digs on campus? (ugh I hate that) or is there a possibility of being given a housing allowance (that's what I have, much better of course!). If there's a reasonable housing allowance (for Shanghai, between 3 and 5000RMB) then I think the remuneration looks very fair, for a certified teacher from the US. If you don't get that, then it's slightly on the low side (Shanghai is expensive!). But even so it's not bad. Also don't forget to deduct tax from the gross, if you're around 3.3K USD you'll probably lose around 3K RMB to tax.
OK, the money's fine I guess, the main point is you need to find someone who's been there or knows something about it. Have you asked the school for the email of a current or past teacher? If your application is at that stage, I don't know.
For reading Chinese pages I use the Firefox add-on "Perakun". It's a clever little tool and it allows you to get the gist of what's on a page, but obviously you can't get precise meanings that way. |
[b]There is a choice between on-campus and off campus housing. Being a newbie to China, I thought on-campus would be better for the first year. Is this a good choice?
I asked for the contact info (email address) of a current teacher. The CEO states he will send that in an email. Any suggestions on questions I should ask?
Thanks again.
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waxwing
Joined: 29 Jun 2003 Posts: 719 Location: China
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:57 am Post subject: |
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Hi,
On the housing, I guess it depends and obviously there is a big element of personal preference. On-campus accommodation can be good in large Universities as they often have quite nice apartments for teachers. In a smaller private institutions, their campus may be quite small and the accommodation very limited. A more general point is whether you really want to live that close to your boss and/or your students. There always used to be horror stories about teachers having curfews imposed in certain places, I don't know how common that really is.
I do appreciate that as a newbie you're worried about the difficulties of living off campus. A school like this should have a small department (perhaps one or two people) devoted to helping you out with issues like paying the bills and so on, which you probably couldn't do on your own, at least not at first. The last three schools I was in all helped me out, although as a 4 year vet I need less and less help.
If they don't give the option of a housing allowance, or if you like the idea, then by all means look in to on-campus accommodation. The devil is in the details but don't assume that the rosy picture you're given is realistic; Chinese employers have a tendency (much stronger than in the West) to promise the Earth before you arrive. Verify - and if you can't verify be at least somewhat pessimistic.
On questions to ask, well I think you have to figure that out for yourself, if indeed you agree with me that it's a good idea. There's no need to be tactless about all this of course and ask things like "are the managers all scoundrels and liars", but of course on the other hand an email like that, if answered, has the additional value of making a contact before you arrive with someone you'll be able to clearly communicate with.
I asked things like this in the past: What are the students like compared to other students you've taught (in the West, in other countries?) What kind of academic achievement level do they have? Are they motivated to succeed in the course? (Might seem strange but some courses in some institutions that have no end goal such as a real exam and therefore you can't realistically expect motivated students, at least not most of them).
What textbooks are you using? Are there any resources in particular you're in need of that I might be able to bring? Ask questions about the syllabus if you have any, about the kinds of weaknesses the Chinese students have ... as a Maths teacher myself I'll tell you they're a lot weaker in areas like vectors and to some degree calculus (say, integral calculus) and a lot stronger in algebra and geometry. Although overall they just tend to be much stronger than typical students in the West - but that depends on the type of school.
I could write a whole article about the differences in approach to studying between Chinese and Western students but this is not the place and anyway you can read it elsewhere on this forum and other places.
What is the accommodation like? How is salary paid, is it paid on time always, is tax deducted? If there are any extra allowances in the contract, e.g. housing, flights, have they been honoured? Have there been any problems with management or has it generally been OK?
How far is it from the nearest "downtown" - large supermarkets, perhaps bars/pubs if you like that. You could ask a few practical questions like that.
To be honest, all of this is open to interpretation but maybe it gave you a few ideas to follow up.
If your future boss said yes to giving you an email he has passed by far the most important test already, in my opinion. Assuming anyone answers!  |
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tatsuo1
Joined: 11 Jun 2009 Posts: 75
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Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 2:41 am Post subject: re: SWIS |
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Hi,
Fantastic response and thanks! I have received email addresses for three teachers, English, History and Chemistry. Sent emails to them and now waiting for their responses.
Because the school has not begun yet, (September 2009), I focused my questions on contract matters and whether they believed this type of program can succeed in China.
The students are from Shanghai. The curriculum used is from a Catholic high school in NJ. The Shanghai Wenlai International School will be located on the Wenlai High School campus.
Back to the housing allowance. The choices are either on-campus or 30,000RMB per year. Based on what you previously wrote, this would seem slightly lower than 3000RMB if projected over 12 months.
The school will be using American textbooks and all classes will be taught in English.
I think your point about students dropping in or as Seinfeld would say "the pop-in" perhaps makes living off-campus better for me. I do like to enjoy another culture and I hear the beer has improved.
Thanks again for your help. Perhaps we will have a chance to meet for a beer in Shanghai. |
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waxwing
Joined: 29 Jun 2003 Posts: 719 Location: China
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Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 6:36 am Post subject: |
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Hopefully a Shanghai-er will read this thread and comment on the accommodation cost, I've only visited, never lived there. From what I know though, it's similar to Shenzhen where I live - which means it's far, far more expensive than most of China. As it happens I've recently been apartment hunting and I'm finding that 3500-4500 here is enough to get you a good 2 bedroom apartment around 70-130 square metres. (Admittedly that's just one district, Futian). The one I've settled on is 4500 but it is really fantastic in terms of size and has a wonderful view.
If you're getting a place just for yourself, I guess you should just be aware that the Chinese standard of what's an acceptable size for a studio for 1 person is decidedly pokey compared to Western standards. You can probably get places for like 2500-3000 with microscopic kitchens and bedrooms around, what, 40-50 m2, I've lived in places like that in the past.
On the positive side, you will find most of the places offer good modern furnishing.
Like I say, I haven't lived in Shanghai, only Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Nanjing (which was much cheaper) so if I'm talking out of my buttocks I'm sure someone on here will correct me
One more thing from the description of your school - it sounds like a program within a high school - watch out for frictions between your program and the school it runs in. I had that experience in one of my jobs, it was a bit of a nightmare! |
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tatsuo1
Joined: 11 Jun 2009 Posts: 75
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Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 2:02 pm Post subject: re: accomodations |
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Hi,
I have only had the chance to look online about apartment prices in Shanghai. All very new and all very expensive as you and struelle mentioned previously.
You are correct in that this situation is a program inside the school. Supposedly, the SWIS school will share programming and systems with the high school. Can you share more about the nightmare experience?
I did receive responses from the two teachers already under contract. Both responses were what I expected. Seems neither knows whether the contract is approved or allowed by SAFEA.
It would be nice to hear from a Shanghaier but I do appreciate all your help. |
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