Job Discussion Forums

[Orrin]

I taught at TPR in Zhuhai from 2/01 through 9/03, and my experience was, for the most part, quite positive. I know that there have been some management changes in the school recently, but the ownership remains the same. That being said, I suggest that ANY potential teaching position in Zhuhai, or any other city in China, be examined closely before any commitments are made.

[bulgogiboy]

I taught in Fountain school earlier on this year, for 4 months. I was treated very well by the boss, who seems to be a decent lady. The school staff were all lovely and i'm still in contact with alot of them by email even though I've subsequently been back home and now moved to Korea.

I think the problem for me was the all the extra work on top of the teaching hours, writing lesson plans, and interviewing students at any time of the day they showed up, regardless of what prep work you were trying to do. The extra activities such as open houses and 'parties' got under my skin alot too. I think that's why I like the Korean-style set-up. In most schools, companies,etc, you just turn up, prep(if need be), do your job and go home. Any social events you do are by choice, not obligation(in my experience).

In Fountain there was a high staff turnover, I think the record was 1 week between a teacher starting work and leaving/running away. I've since been told that 'midnight running' hasn't abated. I think basically all the English schools in Zhuhai are unstable to some degree, so I've heard, though I will say that Fountain school never tried to shaft me on my salary at any time. Zhuhai is a green, beautiful city, with easy access to Macau(I went 11 times in 4 months), so I wouldn't really recommend fountain school but I would say it's bearable if you're determined to live in Zhuhai. If you're nice to the Chinese staff you'll make friends for life with most of them(as I have).

BB