Job Discussion Forums

abigolblackman · Joined: 05 Jan 2011 Posts: 15

Does anyone work for WSI in Shanghai? I currently work for WSI in Seoul but I am interested in moving to Shanghai and would like some info.

Songbird · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 1:41 am Post subject:

Sorry, but I'm at WSE Shenzhen. During my training there was a guy who'd spent a year at WSI in Korea and I think he was a bit annoyed he has to go through all the motions of training again. The Encounters are the same across the world, I think the main difference with WSE in China is that there are English Corners (much larger SC's, I get 4-5 a week. They're entirely your own topics and prep). I've been at WSE for just 7 weeks now!

chryanvii · Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 125

Did you say you have to prepare 4-5 Social Clubs a week? 5 INDIVIDUAL social clubs, or are they repeats? That sounds terrible - do you have any spare time at all?

Songbird · Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 2:57 pm Post subject:

No, English Corners. Most SC's are prepped, just add your own touches. Still, about 4-5 of those as well a week.

Blingcosa · Joined: 17 May 2008 Posts: 146 Location: Guangdong

I'm full time there. I do 30 hours of classroom teaching:
Most classes are Encounters: topheavy with Survival and Waystage
5-7 CCs
5-7 SCs
2-3 English Corners
Usually have a party once a month
have to develop an Interactive Whiteboard class once a quarter
Training days every quarter as well (theoretically voluntary, but actually not)
You are obliged to do a one hour service hour every day, but I never find this long enough to prepare six hours of classes. This is plenty for the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of teachers.

A few other heads up:
We will soon have to wear a uniform
Need to formally clock in
They have brought in a stupid 'service credo' which you are expected to memorise and recite (includes 'call the students by name', 'smile' and other such bullshit)
The SPPs are becoming more and more complicated (and time consuming)
WSE is only ever barely staffed, so if someone quits, you will be forced to work overtime until they find a replacement
It is often difficult to get 2 consecutive days off in SH, so you will often have to work split shifts, double half days, etc

Songbird · Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 2:27 pm Post subject:

I spent a load of my own time in the last month planning all Encounters, now trying to get all CCs done. Then service hours normally should be enough for English Corners and SC's that need to be fixed, amended etc (already on IWB).

True about the training, but it's only for about 2 hours or so. And you get paid/ bonus for it.

Haven't heard about the service credo yet, thopugh we had the international bigwigs in yesterday.

Yes, the upcoming uniform is a sore spot. Sure, a strict dress code, but a uniform will look a bit gumby on FT's!

Overtime is paid- at least in Shenzhen at double time!2 months in I've already been offered overtime several times which certainly sweetens the paypacket!

Generally I don't mind it. I've done the maths and worked out that what I'm doing is on a similar salary to back home, only here it's a far more interesting place to livem the people are great and I'm doing a job that I enjoy. I've been working at universities around China for 6 years now and this is the happiest I've ever been. No longer working with idiots either!

Scott 1955 · Joined: 18 Jun 2011 Posts: 51

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

Opiate · Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Posts: 630 Location: Qingdao

Scott 1955 · Joined: 18 Jun 2011 Posts: 51

chryanvii · Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 125