Job Discussion Forums

MartyQ · Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 2

Hello,

Can anyone recommend a university in a mid-sized city (about 3 million people?) with good day-hiking nearby and relatively low pollution? I am new to teaching abroad and hope this is realistic for China.

In general, is it a good plan to find the school you like and then apply directly to them? It's my impression that most schools are always looking for people - is this true? If not, is it best to go through a placement agency?

Thanks for your help,
Marty

Bayden · Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 988

Zhuhai.

Fortigurn · Joined: 29 Oct 2003 Posts: 390

I thought there weren't any 'clean, leafy, mid-sized' towns left in China.

Voldermort · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 597

The uni in my city are looking for 2 new teachers for next term. I have heard no problems from the current teachers which is always a good sign.

Our city, Panzhihua in Sichuan, has a population of about 1 million. We are surrounded by mountains, good for hiking. The city itself has nearly everything one would need, bars, clubs, western places to eat... There is a KFC but no maccy D's. Electronic goods can be expensive here but everything else is about average. We are 2 hours on a plane from Chengdu, and about 12 hours on the train.

All in all, I love it here. Not too big, not too small. I just hate all the spicy food everywhere.

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

amandabarrick · Joined: 30 Dec 2004 Posts: 391

Qingdao is the right size and low pollution, but may not much as far as any day-hiking.

I would highly recommend finding a school and contacting them directly rather than using a placement agency or a recuiter. Saves time and money and is much less of a hassle. Plus you get all the information you need directly from the school, and you can better negotiate the contract.

Public schools and universities are usually looking for teachers before the school semester begins in the fall, or perhaps the spring semester in February.

Good luck,

AB

jg · Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 12:11 am Post subject:

Suzhou is all that and off parole. I don't know how many uni's they have there, but i liked the city, and (for China) its pretty leafy and clean, especially in the city center.

tony lee · Joined: 03 Apr 2004 Posts: 79 Location: Australia

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

MartyQ · Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 2

amandabarrick · Joined: 30 Dec 2004 Posts: 391

In the past I have found a school in May and June, but didn't sign the contract until August for some reason. Never had any problems but everyone's experience is different.

--AB

2 over lee · Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 9:34 am Post subject:

With the criteria given, may I suggest Wellington, NZ.

leafy and clean don't seem to sit well in a sentence with P.R.C. and city,

jammish · Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 1704

2 over lee · Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 1:51 pm Post subject:

Jammish and Op.

I'm a big fan of Dalian, with its nifty sky-scrapers, green hills with freely growing 'leaf' and its OK beaches.
As said it has quite a Japanese or even Korean feel--and if you squint a bit a Russian spot or two.

The shopping is good, food's good, girl's are good. A little windy in winter mind and the job scene not fantastic--but exceptions, exceptions...

I would be interested to know who you interviewed with Jammish.

I worked for a couple of places there--one really great the other hmmm not so great.

pandasteak · Joined: 01 Apr 2004 Posts: 166

ya, come check dalian.

Gaoerji Lu is pretty leafy.

(we're not talking code-word leafy, as in cannibus-leafy are we?)