Job Discussion Forums

rick_martin_78 · Joined: 03 Feb 2003 Posts: 35

there should be a site that does this for all schools, in all cities. a blacklist. that'd be useful.

not sure if a post like this is wise, but it could be useful. Sorry if I've forgotten any schools.

Dalian Veteran · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 11:59 pm Post subject:

If you are looking for good management, probably all of them are a bit dodgy. But if you really, desperately want to come to Dalian and are not really a professional teacher (meaning no TESL certificate, Master's in Education, and years of teaching experience in your home country), the foreign or Sino-foreign-managed schools are semi-bearable for a year or two. But after that, you should move on. The language mills tend to really test people's sanity over a period of time. The week-end kids class schedules can also be very testing of one's physical stamina, with 7-8 hours both on Saturday and on Sunday of teaching the wild little emperors and little empresses who are only there because their parents make them attend. Many teachers end their Sunday afternoons with a fever and sore throught.

rick_martin_78 · Joined: 03 Feb 2003 Posts: 35

I was in dalian last year (worked at NewCentury and Talenty), and I'm semi-seriously considering a return... (but not to those schools)
maybe 6 months in dalian while it's warm, and then the winter in taipei if possible.

considering further study here in canada, so things are up in the air for now.

the canadian winter is pretty irritating, and China is becoming increasing attractive. I'd like to study the language a bit more, so who knows...

MyTurnNow · Joined: 19 Mar 2003 Posts: 860 Location: Outer Shanghai

Wow, might have been easier if you'd asked "Which school is NOT dodgy" for this list...quite a rogue's gallery ya got there. The only school I hadn't either been directly abused by or heard less-than-positive tales about was Talenty, but Rick's post above knocked even that one off the list.
(Of course, I voted for Awful Employment Situations.)

MT

Dalian Veteran · Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 4:00 pm Post subject:

A disclaimer:

I was one of the ones that voted for New Century as the worst based on things I've heard and defectors' stories.

I saw that some picked A.E.S., but actually, A.E.S. is better than most of the others on the list. The conditions there are adequate enough to get that China experience, plus there are management opportunities if you stick around for a while.

But if you are a bona-fide professional teacher with TESL certificate, Master's in Education or Linguistics, plus years of teaching experience in your own country, I would avoid all of the language mills altogether. Go for an upper class school like Maple Leaf or a big company that needs an English teacher for its employees, or if money is not an issue, teach at one of the universities. If Dalian doesn't offer much, than I'd aim for Beijing or Shanghai.

But if you aren't a long-term career teacher, like myself, choose one of the language mills that are not too dodgy. Those are good places to get your feet wet if you don't have any skills besides having a Bachelor's Degree and being a native English speaker. The language mills have one good quality, that is, they are an experience that will make you stronger and expose you to challenges you've never dealt with before, even if you get a few gray hairs and sometimes lose your temper in the process. But don't stay there too long. Eventually there comes a point where one needs to move on, even if that means going back to your home country to upgrade your skills package.

rick_martin_78 · Joined: 03 Feb 2003 Posts: 35

there's a few comments about NC and the infamous evander under the job information journal.

latefordinner · Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Posts: 973

I'd have to second MTN's comment:
>Wow, might have been easier if you'd asked "Which school is NOT dodgy" for this list...

I've been through NC and am now at another sausage factory, errr language mill. Normally Friday is my day off; yesterday afternoon they asked me to go to Pulandian today. Oh, please waste your day off travelling so that you can spend an hour teaching a group of kids that you may never see again... Add it to the the usual list of complaints. Next time it will be a uni, whether I stay in DL or move on.

MyTurnNow · Joined: 19 Mar 2003 Posts: 860 Location: Outer Shanghai

Liaoningtraveler · Joined: 17 Feb 2004 Posts: 3

I have worked at two of the schools in this poll, and I feel they have both treated me fairly. I think a better poll would be to find out which school in Dalian is good? Therefore you don�t only attract the whingers.

rick_martin_78 · Joined: 03 Feb 2003 Posts: 35

yeah, I think a poll like that would also be useful.

But realistically, we can probably learn more about a school (and whether or not we want to get involved with them) from their management mistakes, illegal activities, mafia ties & brutal kung fu attacks, etc...

If such bad behavior is publicized here, maybe they'll develop a less-than-admirable reputation, and thus get what they deserve.

Plus, I think a school would be more likely to get an uninformed "good" vote than an uninformed "bad" vote.

NumberOneSon · Joined: 03 Jul 2003 Posts: 314

Liaoningtraveler · Joined: 17 Feb 2004 Posts: 3

Another reason the poll is flawed is that it does not take into account the number of foreign teachers each school has employed over its history. For example, New Century has employed close to 250 foreign teachers since its start, where as Little Doctor has employed under 20 foreign teachers since its start. Therefore it would be reasonable to expect New Century to have more unsatisfied teachers than Little Doctor, as well as more satisfied teachers than Little Doctor. Therefore in a positive poll, it would also be reasonable to expect New Century to lead the poll with good positive feedback. If they did not lead both polls then there might be a problem at the school. As for some of the new smaller schools on this poll, I don't think either poll will really let a teacher know about the school's quality because these schools hire too few foreign teachers.

rick_martin_78 · Joined: 03 Feb 2003 Posts: 35

i see your point.
and it's a valid one.
and I'd love to see a more comprehensive poll, with a more complete list of schools.

all the same, I still think one could do worse than adopt a "once an arsehole, always an arsehole" strategy when evaluating schools.

Newfoundland · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 75 Location: Shanghai

I guess I was one of the 250 that was at NC. 250 That should say it all right there. I was there for 5 months they originally had 9-10 teachers when I got there, 5 months later when I was leaving there was 1 original left and some of the replacements had already bailed in that time. Fei Fan small but nice place located about 50 meters up the road from NC. Knew a teacher at sea rich only bad thing I heard there was the amount o prep time you put in.

Lanza-Armonia · Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2004 6:16 am Post subject:

Well, I'm trying to compile a list of cr~ppy schools and stick them onto my website. If you have any schools (and contact details) I will love to put them on the site.

LA