Job Discussion Forums

IanMWashburn

Any info on possible reputable employers in Qingdao?

I have M.A. and CELTA, 2+ experience as trainer and teacher.

Also, is anyone in Qingdao now? I will arrive there September 20 and will be a newcomer with all of the usual questions and challenges.

Thanks

lostinasia · Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 466

Qingdao sucks - it's hardly what it's cracked up to be

Visit the Qingdao Visitor's Bureau - they have a list of professional business English training program

IanMWashburn

Do you care to share any specific reasons for your low opinion of Qingdao?

Also, you mention the "Qingdao Visitor's Bureau",,,can you say where it is located?

How about a detailed street map of QD? Hard to find online...best seems to be redSTAR site.

Thanks.

johnchina · Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 816

I kinda like Qingdao. The beaches are not great, but there is stuff to see and do there. There are plenty of non-Chinese there (mainly Koreans) and there are several good non-Chinese restaurants and bars, and a few supermarkets have Western stuff. The climate is pretty good (but bear in mind I'm a Brit!), as is public transport. You can easily get a map in English once you arrive.

There are plenty of English schools there - everything from the mills to quality international schools.

lostinasia · Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 466

My personality and Qingdao don't mix well and Qingdao is barely even part of China, but some people like that fact.

I have never found a very good English map of Qingdao. The link below is a Chinese only e-map that may help you with some basics.

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

Check out Red Star magazine's web site here. It has a lot of useful information for expats in Qingdao.

Qingdao's beer is great, especially its draft beer. Qingdao has many bars, with the Corner Jazz Bar being the top hangout spot for expats in Qingdao. Qingdao's winter is not very cold, but its summers can be extremely humid. Qingdao also offers a lot of great seafood.

That said, Qingdao's salary can be also very low. China Ocean University, the top university in Qingdao, was advertising job vacancies earlier this year, and salaries between under 3000 RMB and under 4000 RMB.

lostinasia · Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 466

Yes, the 3 main universities in Qingdao are conspiring to lower and keep low their foreign teacher salaries ... this comes as part of an admission from a director of the QUST program. He flat out admits that he wants to price fix with the other schools. Also, he states they want to agree to not supply airfare and other things as part of the compensation package.

Be careful what you are offered should you play the university game in Qingdao.

kungfucowboy83 · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Posts: 479

check thatsqingdao.com I personally recomend AMIO international english. They were excelent when i worked there and i would still be there if i hadn't changed fields. If i ever do esl agian they will be my first stop.

I like qingdao a lot but i can see why others don't.

james s · Joined: 07 Feb 2007 Posts: 676 Location: Raincity

IanMWashburn · Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 3:10 am Post subject: CLT in QD

Thank you kungfucowboy83 and James S.

Do you have any contact names at AMIO?

I sent them an e-mail. Will see if they reply.

Do you know whether they have an English website?

Thanks again.

IanMWashburn · Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 3:23 am Post subject: Also thanks to LostInAsia

Also thanks to LostInAsia for the great 3D map and details of the visotr's center!