Job Discussion Forums

[eihpos]

Hi,

Does anyone have any experience or knowledge about this place? They run university prep courses and have a new branch in Dalian. I have an interview with them tomorrow so any info would be great!

Thanks!

[Non Sequitur]

Is the job in Dalian or QD?

[eihpos]

Hi,

It's in Dalian - do you know anything about the centre there?

[Non Sequitur]

I've worked in both Dalian and Qingdao and as places to live I'd go with Qingdao.
I'm always a bit concerned about Dalian jobs as a lot of schools are establishing campuses out at Lushun (the old Port Arthur). At least an hour by bus each way from the Dalian downtown.
Hobson's choice is either live in the city and spend two hours in the bus each day OR live at Lushun and go stir crazy waiting on the weekends.
Qingdao U is a reputable school but you might just check the locations of (a) the accom they're offering and (b) where you'll be teaching.
PM me if you like.
That said I've heard nothing negative about Qingdao U.

[igorG]

The job offer has little to do with the university. It's about a private rich high school dropouts that want to go to western unis in 9 or so months. A private company runs the courses.

Amen

[Non Sequitur]

So Igor, what's your advice to the OP?

[igorG]

I described the job, which the OP has probably asked about.

As it seems unfortunately neither NS nor I have an "advice" to share.

Amen

[naturalcauses]

Any update on this school? Has anyone worked there? I'd appreciate any info, I've been talking with them about an offer.

Thanks!!

[Non Sequitur]

In the absence of someone with first-hand knowledge, you'd better go with a 'least downside' approach.
Accommodation.
Pay.
Contact hours pw.
Holidays.
Availability of resources.
Subject - oral is best.
On the subject of contact hours, note that cram courses are often sold on the basis of hours of contact with a native speaker. There is also often a lower standard of entry.
I've found these 3x90 mins pw purgatory as besides mega prep time, all freshness is burned out of the teacher/student relationship and by the end of the week you're just enduring each other.

[chinatimes]

I am working for GAC and for the most part, it's a job. Make sure to get a schedule and find out normal job things like apartment, distance to school if you aren't living on campus, and vacation time (since it doesn't follow the normal school year classes can be anytime).

One thing about some GAC centers is that they have you scheduled for a lot of hours, but the workload isn't as intense if you already know the material. The students rarely do the work in the book and only concentrate on the tests.

Another thing is usually these students that sign up for GAC are from larger public classes which have lower level students. So, by being accepted into the GAC program, they start feeling that they can take another test at a higher level and test out of that as well. They don't realize that by being in a higher level class they need to still do homework.

Most importantly, they need to learn grammar. They sound advanced in larger classes and are handpicked to be in GAC. However, they still don't know the grammar.

This is due to their parents who speak English and the students will appear to have a greater understanding which in actuality they are just parroting what they hear from their parents. When you look at their written work it is riddled with simple mistakes and the students don't seem to understand why. GAC doesn't have a grammar component in its classes. This gap leads to frustration when grading because you don't understand what they are trying to convey. Also, they just copy and paste what they read. Their comprehension is good, but they don't know how to construct sentences.

So, students often take a TOEFL or ACT class alongside the GAC classes.

This is just something to make you aware of what to expect. If you end up with rich brats and Chinese teachers who come to observe your classes wanting to learn instead of you teaching the students, then you won't have a good experience. If you want a job which pays regularly, doesn't fuss around much, and will "eventually" inform you of when breaks are then it's a decent job.

I am getting paid about the same as if I were at a big city language school with 25 classes and 15 hours of office time. I don't have as nearly as many headaches, but also at the same time there aren't many students who are trying to study to learn. They are just trying to pass a test and don't care about the subject.

[Beyond1984]

"It's in Dalian - do you know anything about the centre there?" -eihops

Yes, I gave a demo lesson there around June of 2013.

One administrator gave me totally wrong directions to the place and assured me that no one could meet me at a nearby landmark. He could have said it was by tennis courts. He told me it was by the Liaoning U. stadium.

Perhaps he perceived me as a threat. Nevertheless, he remains in my mind as beneath contempt.

The topic about which I was to talk was completely unknown to the students.

They insisted that I be available on the weekends.

The pay, around 8k, was way low for being on call seven days a week.

If you're desperate, go for it.

-HDT

[JoeKing]

[chinatimes]

[astrayalien]

I worked in a GAC school for one year. Not one of the ones in question.

Each GAC school is a privately run business, essentially a franchise. So you need to due diligence on the business and the person running the business.

Be aware that they may rope you into marketing work to attract new students each year.

[BlueBlood]