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big3bc
Joined: 27 Oct 2007
Posts: 132
Location: Turkey
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 Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 12:49 pm Post subject: Ezhou University |
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Does anyone know anything about this school or the city of Ezhou?
I have an MA in French, A TEFL Certificate and more than 15 years experience teaching overseas. The salary offered by this school is 4000 whatever per year. Should I expect more? It comes with the usual perks- free apartment on campus, paid roundtrip airfare, etc.
Is teaching at a university a prestigious job in China? How motivated are the students?
Is it easier to enter with a tourist visa and get the work visa in China?
Are any internet sites blocked? |
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 1:05 am Post subject: |
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4000 (I'm assuming you mean per month) is a low salary, but Ezhou looks to be a fairly rural area, so the cost of living is probably pretty low as well. This info is just from doing a quick google, so......Usually, 4500 is the low norm for any postsecondary teaching position.
Yes, many internet sites are blocked in China, most notably (for me) youtube. |
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dharma86
Joined: 05 May 2009
Posts: 187
Location: Southside baby!
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| Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2010 11:39 am Post subject: |
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Hubei Ezhou?
4000rmb is standard for a BA in Hubei province. you have an MA degree, so you definitely should be getting more.
Get the Z-visa before you come FOR SURE!
I doubt Ezhou is any sort of Oxford type university. Just don't go there with any expecations at all and it will be fine. |
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China.Pete
Joined: 27 Apr 2006
Posts: 547
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| Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2010 12:07 pm Post subject: Prestigious Isn't Quite the Word I Would Use |
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"Is teaching at a university a prestigious job in China?" -- Big3
Being an FT at a university in China is not all that highly regarded. Nevertheless, the students generally treat you with a lot more respect, maybe even cordiality, than if you were teaching at a typical middle school or high school in the West (which is about the level of social precocity you can expect from most 17-year-olds here). Typical pay for such sinecures can range from �4,000-6,000 a month, for a 10-month contract, with some out-of-the-way places offering even less. Advanced degrees at such schools are almost meaningless in terms of gaining extra pay. Students matriculating at a first- or second-tier government school can be expected to perform quite well academically. Those relegated to lesser government or private schools may be almost uneducable, at least in English. Apart from special cases like Shanghai Province, it is usually not possible to convert a tourist visa to a residence permit (allowing you to work legally), so you should not agree to come here without a proper work visa. |
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tin man
Joined: 18 Jun 2010
Posts: 137
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| Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2010 12:51 pm Post subject: |
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I spent some time teaching a few years ago and went back to working in sales in the USA.
I have an offer at a uni and wondering exactly what is the appeal to most teachers. If they are not highly regarded, receive low pay and often under freedom restrictions, exactly why do most go?
For me, I am somewhat frustrated with the economy in the USA as well as the social life as a middle age single guy and I enjoy traveling and considering going expat. I also like the idea of working at a uni and the easy hours/free time. However, the more I read about it, the more I wonder if considering to teach would be a big mistake. |
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2010 1:00 pm Post subject: |
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| If they are not highly regarded, receive low pay and often under freedom restrictions |
It's as prestigious as teaching in the US, it's regarded as an honorable profession. The pay is low by US standards but the cost of living is considerably lower; it's sufficient to live on and you can save plenty if you're careful, just like anywhere else. I've never noticed any restrictions on my freedom here, I've had a few administrators try to tell me "don't do this, don't do that" but I ignore them and do what I please when I please (within reason, of course).
| Quote: |
| exactly why do most go? |
Personally, I just wanted a new adventure. I got it. |
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big3bc
Joined: 27 Oct 2007
Posts: 132
Location: Turkey
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| Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2010 5:18 am Post subject: |
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Thanks so much for the replies.
I now realize I will have to get the work visa here in Europe.
A couple more questions-
What level of English proficiency can I expect from first year university students?
I will not be living in an on campus apartment, but in a "foreign teachers apartment" alone. What can I expect? The woman who recruited me said it's nice, but what else would she say? |
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2010 6:00 am Post subject: |
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| What level of English proficiency can I expect from first year university students? |
PROBABLY from fluent to "can't say anything in English unless they've memorized it or are reading it". |
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tin man
Joined: 18 Jun 2010
Posts: 137
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| Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2010 2:24 pm Post subject: |
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I am somewhat torn myself. A part of me wants the relative stress free life of working overseas and a university and travel around the world. I really enjoy Latin America and would like to move there one day. However, the other part is concerned with the reported lack of freedom, unknown conditions, pay and accommodations, etc.
I have struggled the last few years with the USA economy but I now have a shot at a good job and career in the USA with a salary far more than ESL.
It is a tough choice. |
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kukiv
Joined: 13 Dec 2009
Posts: 328
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| Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2010 2:53 pm Post subject: |
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| I have struggled the last few years with the USA economy but I now have a shot at a good job and career in the USA with a salary far more than ESL |
Career wise EFL China -can be a graveyard for those in their 30's, 40's and 50's - merely because it offers zero career (you teach here for 5 years and, if you're still teaching legally, probably still be in same type of job with the same pay-scale and prospects as year 1) - and after spending years in this job and then wanting to return to the rat-race back home - well, unless you possess some super-in-demand skill, then you often have a difficult job working your way into the job market.
Normal run-of the mill EFL China suites the young graduate who wants to gain a little travel experience before settling down into normal working life or the pensioner who has enough time and money to make the job a late in life adventure.
Giving up a good paying career to come out here and teach takes a lot of consideration - a long holiday touring around in China may be a good way of testing the water  |
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tin man
Joined: 18 Jun 2010
Posts: 137
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| Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2010 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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kukiv, I think that is very solid advice. I don't have the USA position yet. I have had 3 interviews and have to clear my head to take a lengthy assessment test this weekend and then pee in a cup on Monday.
It is still a very tough choice as teaching is very appealing compared to the rat race as you put it. I really don't want to work that hard at age 50  |
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struelle
Joined: 16 May 2003
Posts: 2372
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 9:51 am Post subject: |
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Ezhou? Don't do it!
Admitedly this is a biased view but I spent a year in Wuhan with serious regrets ... Ezhou is even more backward than Wuhan and it's way out in the sticks to boot. Recently I went through that area on a motorcycle trip and while there were some perks, i.e. the cheap costs, I would never recommend that hick town for living. For one, the pollution is so bad, your eyes would sting the moment you stepped out of the bus or train station. Which reminds me, you'd have to go that way, as the nearest airport is Wuhan Tianhe airport, at least 100km away
No, please, give it a pass. |
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big3bc
Joined: 27 Oct 2007
Posts: 132
Location: Turkey
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 3:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Being that it is a "backward" area, what type of students can I expect to teach at the university? What exactly didn't you like about Wuhan besides the pollution? |
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struelle
Joined: 16 May 2003
Posts: 2372
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 12:25 am Post subject: |
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| big3bc wrote: |
| Being that it is a "backward" area, what type of students can I expect to teach at the university? What exactly didn't you like about Wuhan besides the pollution? |
The students will probably be motivated, hardworking, and friendly, in this sense that whole area is known for an education center and contains many universities per capita. It is said that Wuchang (and by extension, Ezhou) is the education capital of China as most of the universities are located there. So that's obviously a plus. Another plus is how cheap things are over there, and you can easily save money.
The big minus, however, at least in my experience, was the lack of a social life outside of work. It was simply a case of everything revolving around either colleagues or students, and no free time to go out on my own and meet people. If there was such free time, it would get eaten up in the Wuhan traffic, which is notoriously congested and disorderly - and the most difficult city on the planet to get around in.
For example, I knew several people who lived in the Hankou area which was separated from Wuchang by various bridges. But the traffic situation was so bad that I only managed to visit these people once or twice the entire year. So it's not very convenient. Perhaps in 2012 that will change with the subway, but I'd still expect to see disorder reigning in that city or "big town" for many years to come.
Speaking of disorder and delays, this also applies to various daily tasks, errands, and other business. Even for simple tasks like paying bills at a store or ordering food, the people take their time like you wouldn't believe it, and you can build in a lot of "wait time". For example, once at our favorite restaurant, we waited 2 hours for the food. Or, when I was moving house at the end of June, they wouldn't let me out of the compound unless I produced some sort of receipt to the guard.
Granted, most of this frustration came from comparing how things work in Shanghai - where I spent 3+ years earlier and am now heading back to. The Shanghainese certainly look down on people from Hubei province, as well as surrounding provinces, and I'm beginning to understand why now. |
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big3bc
Joined: 27 Oct 2007
Posts: 132
Location: Turkey
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| Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 1:41 am Post subject: |
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Thank you for your response Struelle.
I was assured by the recruiter that Ezhou is much less polluted than Wuhan, and the traffic isn't nearly as bad. Of course, I take whatever a recruiter says with a grain of salt.
I have lived in Istanbul for many years with no social life whatsoever. Anything will be better than what I have here. Turkish women, for the most part, are totally frigid until marriage. Is this also true with Chinese women? |
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