Job Discussion Forums

[newbie84]

Hey Everyone...

Im thinking of going to chengdu to teach at "chengdu shude union school" (it was formerly called chendu south ocean school). So far it seems great! I was just wondering if anyone has heard anything about it. I would be getting 3800yuan plus accomadations and partial air fare. I'm new at this (DUH) and would REALLY appretiate any info anyone could give.

thanks a million!

[La Paz]

Go for it. Sounds a little low on the pay scale and that chain of schools has bit a bit notorious.
I think lagerlout just got fired from one of those chains. Ask him/her.

[Victoria]

[Jane51]

I worked for the South Ocean group (SOS) in Qingdao for a year and as usual, there were good and bad aspects. They usually pay RMB4000 but tried to pay less if a novice was coming along. I found the management poor but that is usual in most private Chinese schools. The one problem was the top heavey management. Every decision, and I mean every, had to go through the head office in Beijing in tripilicate. To get an answer for the simplest request took ages.

The foreigners were housed in a separate building and our accommodation was comfortable. Our Chinese colleagues were accommodated in an unheated building 6 to a dorm. They slept on iron beds with thin mattresses. I know the Chinese are used to this but a lot of resentment built up at the double standards and I found it all very embarrassing.

We had no teaching materials, as usual and the students were mostly spoilt brats of very rich parents who had no interest in learning. Of course there were some delightful kids... but not enough to make each class something to look forward to.

One thing about the SOS schools. They are usually located in attractive even scenic spots. Qingdao only has a narrow road separting it from the beach...a heavily polluted beach! but a beach. We also had a fabulous small, privately run restaurant on Campus tha served cold beer and would deliver to our apartments if we phoned and they weren't too busty

I've heard Chengdu is lovely. Good luck!

[Jane51]

Whoops. It was us that were busty!!! Well ...the ladies.

[lagerlout2006]

To the OP you can PM me for my tale. Guess any Group will get mixed reviews from one location to another...

Will just dispute one thing from Jane51..Yes Qingdao is on an island and I hear it is pretty but that is not the norm...The 2 I have been to were:Taiyuan---It is not only outside the city but is a 10 minute walk on an unlit dirt road from the main road.Very unpleasant
Here in Jinan we are on a highway interchange 20 miles from downtown...There is really nothing around but feilds and construction of shoddy buildings. There is a quaint little village across the way---to get to it you cross a 12 lane highway on foot. Really that is the most fun thing to do around here. And snooker tables. I shall leave here an alcoholic pool shark---instantly qualifying me for work in Korea.

[ilunga]

I agree with some above the above. I'm not sure about Chengdu but you should check how far out of the city the school is.
Mine is only 10 minutes away but some are an hour or so out of the city (Dalian and Kunming I believe).

Lack of teaching materials and spoilt brat kids are two problems I can fully identify with. Getting authorization from Bejing on every decision isn't something I've encountered though.

Low hours, three free meals a day, and lots of holidays are three perks of working for this chain however.

[Teacher Lindsay]

Don't get too excited and accept your first job offer simply because of the fact that it is a firm job offer (does that make sense?).

Personally, I wouldn't work for 3,800 RMB.

If you really want to work in Chengdu (and I understand it's a very nice city), check out the following websites:-

http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/China/index.pl?index=0?read=1446

http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/China/index.pl?index=0?read=1303

http://www.anesl.com/schools/search.asp

Cheers