Job Discussion Forums

[nathrodgers]

HIi all,

I just want to give some feedback about my university teaching experience in wuzhou over the last year after a couple of people contacted me about it. This is an impartial review- my thoughts only- and I have not been pressured into writing it...check my previous posts.

With all the bad experiences I read on here, I want to tell you all about my positive one in wuzhou. Bar some initial teething problems with accommodation, I have enjoyed my time here, and would recommend the university should others want to work here.

First of all, I get paid on-time, every time. Secondly, I never work more than 16 hours a week, and can rearrange my classes when I want to go on holiday. I also enjoy lots of holiday paid...

Wuzhou on the whole is a nice place, small by china's standards, but massive in terms of what this englander is used to. There's plenty of entertainment options- cinemas, clubs, tea houses, coffee bars etc, and everything is so cheap I've actually managed to stash up a fair bit of yuan. Plus the place is pretty well connected. Nanning in 6 hours by train, guangzhou in 4 hours by place, hong kong in 7 hours, guilin/yangshuo in circa 3.

The bad parts to my experience? Ok, the accommodation at the start was annoying, but resolved in the end. My on-campus apartment is pretty good, but it does get a little chilly come January with no heating (Note a heater was NOT supplied). Secondly, my classes are around 60 students on average, which for me is rather too many- some students get angry I do not recognize them. The plus side of this is that I can organize my own lessons, and can pretty much do what I what in class as long as it is beneficial.

The salary is 4500rmb a month, plus one way airfare and travel allowance of 2200. Low by some comparisons, but based on the hours and work I have done, fair compensation in my mind.

I should also add that wuzhou is an english-free zone. A Cantonese speaking region, I have found that the majority of under 60s can speak mandarin, and I have gone from someone who could not say 'ni-hao' to a (mostly) confident speaker in 8 months. Something to consider if you want that real china experience.

As I said I'm not being pressured to write this, but I think good behavior on behalf of an employer should be rewarded. The university at present needs foreign teachers desperately as there is only one now, so get in touch with the uni if you are interested in an overall stress-free experience. I'm sure other universities are also very good, but this is just my two-pence about Wuzhou...

[hochhasd]

[nathrodgers]

Teaching 60 students listening at a time...I don't think to was too bad, seeing as you just have to play them audio clips and then ask them questions using the computer system...

All in all i had roughly 350 students this term...