Job Discussion Forums

[awbradley]

Anyone know anything about this school, part of Xi'an Gallop Science and Technology?

[randerso]

Yeah, I teach there on Saturdays for a 'Salon'. I know all the regular teachers. Are you thinking of a contract there? From what I know the apt is kick ass, but hours are long and right now is a crappy time for office politics. The Chinese TA's are treated like crap, and while you probably won't be handled in the same way it is hard to work within the system. That said, the kids are good - pretty nice curriculum, the DOS is awesome and the pay is standard. Xi'an is also a pretty good city - a little dirty, but both very touristy (if you want) and laid back (if you live here). Any more I can help with?

[stumpymonkey80]

I'm not sure if this is the same school I am thinking of, but I'll assume it is. The school principal, the last I heard is a man named Mr. Yuan. The Director of Studies is a Scotsman named David. He's really cool. Last I heard, Fasil, another teacher was still there....and he's really cool too.

I was with Gallop since the beginning. I began going when the school was first bought. I did interviews for the first round of Chinese Teaching Assistants. I interviewed and placed students for the first year the school was running. I did not work there as a full time teacher because I worked at another university (which is loosely affiliated with Gallop). I did work there during the summer and on a limited basis during the regular academic year.

What Randerso said about the apartents was right. THey are AWESOME. They are luxury apartments like you will never get at any other teaching job in China. I dont' know how long that is going to last because the school isn't doing well financially (the apartments cost about 2800 yuan a month and they signed a two year lease on them (abouta year ago). Having said that, I know at least one teacher had a little bit of trouble getting his flight reimbursement from them. They are having financial troubles...so keep that in mind.

The job is not great now though... the T.As are paid shit so most of the good ones have left, the text book sucks now, and everybody hates Mr. Yuan. He's supposed to be this this English teaching big shot in Xi'an, but as far as I can tell he doesn't know what he's doing. The class sizes used to be ideal for lanuage learning (no more then 15). Now classes are crammed beyond capacity. The Foreign teachers are playing a smaller and smaller role in the actual teaching and the T.A.s are being overburdened and underpaid.

Thake the rest of this as you will. My personal experience...wich will undoubtedly be different from yours. I started at the school when the principal was a woman named Ms. Gao. During that time the school was ideal. Everything I could have ever hoped for. Small class sizes, Good text book, quality teaching assistants. The work environment was good and everybody got along well. I worked though the summer vacation which is generally the busiest time for these kinds of schools and the hours were long, but the work was good.

Most importantly, at least for me, was the way the principal (Ms. Gao) stuck up for me. I am American Chinese. I was born and raised in the United States and speak with a Neutral American Accent. I have two bachelor's degrees (Political Science and Chinese Language). I also have training in second language aquisition. I overheard a parent quetioning Ms. Gao saying that she'd paid for a foreign teacher and wasn't sure she was getting one. Ms. Gao said that I spoke like an ABC ancorperson, so the parent shouldn't worry about what I looked like if she wanted her child to speak standard English. Touching. I promised that I would go to work there after my contract was over at another school and they likewise promised that a spot woudl be there for me.

Situation change....the school came under new leadership. Mr. Chen (owener and a very nice man) hired a new principal (Mr. Yuan). And suddenly, I dont' have a job anymore. I came to the decision that it was because I wan't white. What makes me think this...

I had several friends among the T.As and they had recently had a staff meeting and were told that the school was going to undergo what they called "purification of the foreign teachers". There was talk of sacking Fasil, who was very popular with the students and had a bachelor's degree in ESL....but from Pakistan.

I was told the school did not need two teachers (I was applying with my partner) even though one of there teachers was leaving, so they could not give me a job. But the next day, my friend was asked to find more foreign teachers for the school.

So I guess in a nutshell....overcrowded, low morale among the teaching staff, kind of a douche bag for a principal, poor curriculum and text...but sweet apartment. Depends on what's important to you.

Xi'an's a great city though. If you find that you're not terribly happy with the place, there is still plenty of other things to do. THe people are generally friendly, Xi'an is in the center of everything, and the weather is good. A little polluted...yes. I'd suggest bringing cough supressant and cough drops. I love it here

feel free to contact me aobut anything.

[peabocardigan]

I was there a few times for a sort of English corner and I didn't like it very much. The boss is a particularly unpleasant man who treats the Teaching Assistants badly. The pay is under-average too. There are other schools in Xi'an that are better established than this one, who treat their staff better and who (most likely) pay more than this one.