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kiwibird
Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Posts: 5 Location: New Zealand
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Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 10:03 am Post subject: Teaching English at Beijing Language and Culture University |
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Hi,
Does anyone have any experience teaching English to Chinese students at Beijing Language and Culture University? More specifically:
1. How big are the classes?
2. What are the textbooks like? Will I have to spend a lot of time preparing lessons, or can I fairly much follow the book? Do they expect me to keep slavishly to the textbook?
3. What is the accommodation like? Is there any sort of curfew? Is there airconditioning in summer?
3. Is there much support for foreign teachers from the Chinese staff, or are foreign teachers left to sink or swim??
4. Is it frowned on to do extra paid tutoring on the side? Would I need to keep quiet about that, or is it pretty standard for teachers to supplement their income this way?
Thanks! |
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Renegade_o_Funk
Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 125
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Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 12:08 pm Post subject: |
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I would suggest telling them you would like to speak with a current foreign teacher. For the job I have now, that is what I did. First I contacted them about the job, then I exchanged a few e-mails to let them know I was interested.
Then I told them "Before we go any further, I would like to talk to a current foreign teacher. Can you give me the e-mail or phone # for one of them ?" If the school treats it's foreign teachers well, it shouldnt be a problem at all. I was quickly put in contact with one, and she had nothing but good things to say about the University.
Regarding questions 3 & 4
#3 count on sink or swim, and be pleasantly surprised if it isnt like that.
#4 It really does not matter in most places. But there is no need to be publicing what you are doing with students / how much you are making from them or charging them. The less Chinese employers know about what you do, the less problems they can potentially cause for you.  |
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therock

Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 1266 Location: China
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:59 am Post subject: |
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For a BA holder they were offering a whopping 3200 in 2005/2006. Just looked at their website and in 2009 they are offering 3000 - 3500. I hope you enjoy eating 方便面. |
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LanGuTou
Joined: 23 Mar 2009 Posts: 621 Location: Shandong
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:38 am Post subject: |
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therock wrote: |
For a BA holder they were offering a whopping 3200 in 2005/2006. Just looked at their website and in 2009 they are offering 3000 - 3500. I hope you enjoy eating 方便面. |
Incredible!
I guess the administrators have figured out that the location so near to WuDaoKou is one of the most desirable for young FT's searching for a bit of the China highlife! Because of this, regardless of how low the remuneration package is, they will always receive applicants.
The beer and lamb kebabs around WuDaoKou are reasonably cheap though. You can probably scrape a living eating from street vendors and drinking in the international pavilion at the side of the subway station.
To answer the last of the OP's questions, I am sure on that salary and in that location, switched on FT's manage to find plenty of lucrative privates on the side. However, I suspect that the competition in that area is intense (there are more than a few foreigners all looking to do the same thing). |
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Renegade_o_Funk
Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 125
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:23 pm Post subject: |
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WuoDaoKou is quite the hip place to be in Beijing. I feel sorry for FT's that get sucked into such a pitiful Salary just to be in the mix in WuoDaoKou |
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