Job Discussion Forums

[Rhys James]

Hey all

So you find me making both my first venture into posting on this site, at long last, and also into teaching English in China. Oh, you lucky things.

Basically, my partner and I just graduated in the UK and did the Trinity Certificate with EF in Manchester. Since then we've sat on our backsides for six weeks waiting for EF to deliver on the guaranteed job overseas.

Now, finally, having done a lot of rooting around ourselves, we've been offered a job at EF Hangzhou. Simultaneously, Dongzhou Middle School, in Haimen, offered us a job. We'd applied to them in a moment of optimistic madness, despite their asking for a couple with experience, after a friend forwarded the link to us (here it is, if you want a look: http://www.anesl.com/schools/hmdzzx.htm).

Does anyone know anything about either of these schools? When it comes to the choice, there seems to be a generally pro-public school consensus, but I just want to be sure, before we pay EF back the subsidy they gave us.

Also, one advantage with EF was that they, in theory at least, were going to sort us out, leaving us EFL newbies a little less to worry about. Now, with Dongzhou, it's going to be far more upon us to sort ourselves out - does anyone have any advice? Especially in terms of things like Z Visas, insurance, flights, the Health / HIV check, banking and so forth, since these sound like things which could really trip us up.

Would really appreciate your imput.
Rhys