Job Discussion Forums

[nomadic_meow]

If anyone has experience at this school (or very close second hand knowledge perhaps), would you please share or send me a message?

Thank you!

[Non Sequitur]

Qingdao's great but don't know the school.
A concern I've noticed about high schools is being farmed out to another 1 or 2 campuses. The commute time isn't paid.
Best
NS

[nomadic_meow]

Have had some experience with this one now.

It's still a new operation. Staff has changed rapidly and more staff and slightly larger numbers of students are probably coming. There was only one first year class of 15-20, but it sounds like there may be about 2 more groups soon.

This will be brief. More details when resettled, or you can PM for expansion on particulars. Also note there are other Guokai's around, but we've had nothing to do with them teaching here so they don't appear connected to the job at least.

PROS:

It's Qingdao (quite developed, fairly clean city, you can get modern stuff)
Office generally fairly pleasant, functional
Small class sizes so far (up to 20)
Apt internet was usually fast; office internet was usually pretty good
A few solid students this year (don't know the next group)

Apartments may be quite spacious (at least this one)
Some staff with passable to excellent English
Australian-sourced and externally reviewed program
Management keeps making lots of very optimistic promises to improve discipline and materials sourcing
Some pretty looking hills around, possible hiking/scenery perks


CONS:

First batch of students had many frequent, serious discipline problems
A few VERY disruptive/poor students retained despite repeated issues
Many students refuse to do most of their homework
Course material well beyond half of the students' level of preparation

Some to many of the core materials may never be provided for each unit
Still a new school - Apt location might change, office setup may change
(this might end up helpful, but it's a big unknown when or how)
Staff roles keep changing - best English speakers may be pulled away
Highway location, very little to eat or shop around the school
(30-60 min taxi/bus to downtown, and seriously avoid rush hour)

Current office is both your worksite and sometimes a noisy conference area
Management has not fulfilled some of those lovely promises to improve resources and discipline, so far
Teachers housed in various places (more of an unknown)
Pay offer - judging by ads - has been decreasing and in-school hours increasing dramatically
(if you are counting, though perhaps I just entered at a bonanza moment)

There's a quick list for the curious.