Job Discussion Forums

[rioux]

Does anyone know what it is like to work at Anyang University of Technology?

[Volver]

Yep, I do as I worked there for 2 years. What do you want to know?

[rioux]

What were the positives and negatives about the place?
I was sent a contract and what immediately caught my attention was that if you missed one class (I assume unexcused) you would lose your entire travel bonus.

Why did you leave and how many other NET's taught there?

How was the city of Anyang in general?

[Volver]

Anyang is your typical nothing city in a typical nothing province. Nothing ever happens there. Western restaurants of any kind are limited and it is difficult to find much in the way of Western foods. English speakers outside of school? Hah! That is the impossible dream. There were some foreigners across the street at the Cotton Institute, but you did not see them much.

The students are a mixed bag. Most of them wound up there because they could not be accepted anywhere else. You will also have 3 year program students and these are considered the lowest of the low. Having said the above, there are those stand-out students who really work hard and learn well. A small minority, to be sure, but still there.

Cheating in class is rampant and you have to really be creative to stop it. Doesn't do any good, really, because the department heads just reinstate any student to whom you gave an F.

You do get a chance to try your own ideas and see what works. I got the classes into public speaking and had some good results. I also brought in my own listening materials and those provided a welcome break from the text. The school didn't care as long as no-one complained.

Academic management is virtually non-existent and not to be trusted. All they care about is not being bothered. Keep the kids happy and don't rock the boat. When I was given the aviation managers to teach, I asked for expected outcomes. The response was to just get them talking.

The reason I left was because of better opportunities elsewhere. It is as simple as that. Getting my release letter was a total PITA as the school claimed they didn't know how to do it. Rather vindictive types. A student helped my get all the stamps and signatures from various departments and then they had no choice but to sign off on it.

If you are into bike riding, there are some hills and low mountains nearby where you can ride. That area is nice. Otherwise, the area is flat and boring.

Hope that helps.

V

[Modernist]

[Volver]

I agree with everything Modernist said, only with a couple of other considerations. The first is that such a place is an easy way to start off in China. This country is overwhelming in mostly negative ways and such a uni with low expectations can be an easy way to ease into it. Once you get into the "system" you can move out and up from there. The other is that I wish I had volunteered at one of the local, rural, high schools. What I saw out there would blow you away. Anyone who thinks this country is "advanced" should see a rural school before forming an opinion. For all the fancy K-12 school you see in a big city, there are dozens of boarding schools in the sticks getting by on nothing. I felt sorry for the kids, some of whom seemed to be quite good despite the obstacles thrown in front of them. If you are the chill and altruistic type, go work or volunteer at one of these places.

V

[disneyeric]

Anyang struck me as a singularly grim at horrible place. I only went there to see the Yin Xun archaeological site.

Fun fact: 3400 years ago, Anyang was the biggest city on Earth, as capital of the Shang Dynasty. Its glory days are now a few millennia behind it.

[maueuewome]

[twowheel]

Wise, insightful words from Modernist and Volver on living and working in 3rd tier Mainland holes--their words are definitely to be heeded.

+1 to the both of them.

Warm regards,
twowheel

[The bear]

Just a quick comment about 'small town China', not specifically Anyang but I've lived in a city similar in size in Hunan.

As others have said, it can be a nice introduction to China and, depending on the type of person you are, it can be a really good experience. It was brilliant for me.

The students were the best I've taught in China, English majors (even though it was a university of technology), really motivated and put in the work. All dirt poor, I remember an activity that bombed, can't remember what it was exactly as it was 5 years ago, but it basically involved their parents' different occupations - except they were all farmers. A real eye opener. For the majority of students I was the first foreigner they'd ever talked to.

Small town China can be a lot of fun if you don't need western comforts. I went back to that small town in 2014, it had a starbucks and familiar fast food restaurants. But by all accounts no decent western food. Or bars. Compare that to Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen where you have seemingly limitless options. Totally depends on your lifestyle.