Job Discussion Forums

Shurpa · Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 17

Hello everyone,

I have been checking in on Dave's cafe for about 6 years now and just recently needed to post a question...

I am in need of info... Confused

I want to take a TEFL course in Shanghai and I was wondering if anyone has anything to say about Cactus, Bridge-Linguatec and The Boland School. I would appreciate any help/warnings or words of advice concerning these schools. I was leaning towards studying in Shanghai since I fell in love with the city in 2002 when I toured China in October. I know that The Boland school isn't quite in Shanghai but seeing that it's only 45 minutes away in Suzhou (by train), I could handle that. Are these schools out to teach you or to get your money? By that I mean will I get what I paid for? Confused

I don't want to be stuck in China and have that "Just been screwed" feeling... Mad

Has anyone been to any of these 3 schools? I am interested in the Boland School because it is in Suzhou which looks and sounds like a quaint little village/town with not too many distractions to lure me away from my studies. Any info on the schools or even Suzhou would be greatly appreciated. I am 34 years old and am a Canadian citizen with a TESOL certification received in 1997, but I don't have any teaching experience. I just want to know what the best choice would be.

Thanks in advance for your help and if we do meet in China one day, the beer's on me! Very Happy

S.

Super Mario · Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 7:19 am Post subject:

If you post this on Raoul's website, which has several Suzhou members, you'll probably get something useful. Unlikely here.
http://chinateachers.proboards17.com/index.cgi?

Midlothian Mapleheart · Joined: 26 May 2005 Posts: 623 Location: Elsewhere

Edited to remove offensive content.

Middy

Super Mario · Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 7:35 am Post subject:

BUT Middie, Suzhou is comparatively small and quaint. Its still pretty, but has many features attractive to us folk. A range of good standard western restaurants without the Shanghai prices for a start. And a decent expat community I can help the OP link with.
I'd go there, or Qingdao, next tour of duty. If there is one.

Midlothian Mapleheart · Joined: 26 May 2005 Posts: 623 Location: Elsewhere

Edited to remove offensive content.

Middy

Babala · Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 1303 Location: Henan

Suzhou is a great city and that's what I would call it, a city. Just so as not to mislead the OP, the prices in Suzhou are almost the same as Shanghai for many things. Suzhou does tend to get expensive. Also to the OP, hate to tell you this but there are many distractions in Suzhou (which could be good or bad depending on how you look at it).

dajiang · Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 663 Location: Guilin!

I did the Boland course in 2003 (different location at that time though), and I really enjoyed it. The course was pretty good and definitely prepared me well for teaching English.

For more specific info about the course just let me know here or send me a PM.

As for Suzhou, it's one of my favourite cities in China. Gorgeous gardens, lots to do, plenty of laowai around as well, and easy to get to other places.

Dajiang

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

We have had SEVERAL members who posted their personal insights into BOLAND in our forum - just trawl in the archives!

The BOLAND outfit had to revamp itself because they fell out with their Chinese partner a while back, but seem to have come in full force and are doing well now. They used to be located on the outskirts of XUZHOU half a day from Suzhou or Shanghai; the fact that they are now based in Shanghai should be seen as reassuring.

Shurpa · Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 17

Please, dearest Roger, leave my thread alone, I do not want/need your info.

You are a complete waste of my time. Go answer someone else's questions.

Thank you.

ps. You see how I spaced that out for you Roger, hoping you will understand.

brsmith15 · Joined: 12 May 2003 Posts: 1142 Location: New Hampshire USA

Suzhou has been called the "Venice of China." I loved the place.

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

why the hostility in this post near the end? take advice when you can get it.

if noone answers your questions in future i will understand why.

Louras · Joined: 24 Nov 2004 Posts: 288

The poster only posted 14 times here and he/she has sussed out rog. Took you a long time Shurps, but then it wasn't too hard was it?

pc-pocket · Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 218

Goro · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 2

I actually worked as a Teacher Trainer for the Boland course.

It is a very professional course and DARNED hard work! Don't expect to have any time to do anything other than study for the entire course!

It is a good qualification if you want to teach in China, but I wouldn't think it would help you find a job anywhere else as it has zero brand-name recognition.

Also, if you're going to work that hard to get the qualification (there is quite a high drop-out & failure rate) then it might be better to do a more internationally recognised (but unfortuantly more expensive) qualification such as the CELTA or Trinity courses or another 4 week course from a university.

So if you want a cheaper course, then Boland is a good option, but be aware that it is hard work and that recently a lot of the Teacher Trainers have less than 2 years teaching experience themselves and the course itself was established by a woman without any teaching qualifications (although she has been in the industry for 10 years or so).

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home