Job Discussion Forums

[asianbizarre]

I've been teaching in Saigon and Phnom Penh for quite a few years and have taken a post at a private univ. in Guangzhou (begin in Sept) to check out China scene--any tips re how best to make the experience an enjoyable one both on and off the job?
Thanks

[Roger]

A "private" uni? Have never heard of private varisites in our CIty of Five Rams!

If your university is located in the new University Megacity, you will be out in the green boonies; it will be totally different from your experience in Vietnam!

[asianbizarre]

It may be in the 'mega-city' I don't know really. It's called Baiyun Institute. Can you tell me about it?

[dajiang]

Ever been to GZ before?
It's an okay place I suppose, and you'll love it if you're into crowded, greyish, and crowded cities...

You're near to lots of cool places in Guangxi (Guilin and Yangshuo are only a night's travel away) Shenzhen and HK are next door, and so is Zhuhai. The food is brilliant. I like practically all kinds of Chinese food, but Cantonese chow just takes the cake.
Locals speak Cantonese, but there's lots of people from outside living and working there, so you'll find that more and more people use Mandarin as the standard.

Private unis are different from Public unis. I've worked in one in Beijing before, and had a really good time. Chinese students have a final exam at high school, and they are awarded points for this. The amount of points more or less tells them which level university they can enter. Public unis also differ in status. If the student does not have enough points to enter any university their only choice is to work somewhere or enroll at a private university. These unis have very very very high tuition fees whereas Public unis are really cheap.

So in a nutshell, you'll have students that might have learning difficulties. Some are simply not up for the job. But they come from families that are either rich (--> spoiled kids who dont give a damm) or from families that have to work double shifts, borrow from everyone, to get their kid through uni (-->huge pressure on the student).

The salary will also be higher than on a public uni, and as for organisation it's different in every school in China, so you just have to be lucky there.

You can do virtually everything in GZ. Play any sport, practise any hobby, meet any kind of person, go out to any kind of bar, eat any kind of food... you name it, they got it. It's quite expensive for a Chinese city. More or less the same prices as Shenzhen and Zhuhai.

It's not as laid back as Saigon or Phnom Penh. Things are a bit quicker there. Shamian island is nice enough to stroll around on, but you've seen it once and it gets old quickly. There's not enough green for my liking, and traffic's a beech. Speaking of beaches, it's easy enough to check out some coastal town, or even Shenzhen for some good swimming. HK's beaches are excellent (try getting a multiple entry visa, so you can just mosey over there anytime you want).

Good luck and have fun.
Dajiang

[wailingtraps]

I guess you'll have to take this with a pinch of salt as it's only one person's opinion but I would not take the job with Baiyun institute.

I worked there for about two months in 2004 and had to leave because the admin was horrendous. I should point that I have been on the TEFL road for about five years and I have worked for seven different employers in three different countries. I have always finished my contracts and left on good terms. It was impossible to do this with Baiyun institute. They were very misleading about various working conditions. There is an old thread on this so I won't go over it here again.

It's not a great place to work but I would stress again that is just my opinion and should be treated accordingly.

I really like Guangzhou and I think dajiang summed it up very well. I've worked in Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou and now in a small town in Xinjiang and they all have their various pros and cons. Maybe you could tell us a little bit more about yourself and we could then offer somemore insightful advice.


Ill hopefully be in Vietnam in a month so if you could offer any thoughts on places to go/stay that would be great too!!

[asianbizarre]

Thanx Dajiang and Wailer--I've sent you each a pm
To anyone else who is willing to help me, I feel confident I can handle any classroom situation, but I can get testy with admin problems and/or contract 'hiddens'. My next concern is mainly about finding ex-pat social life in GZ. Any suggestions, tips, general guidence in these matters is most welcome.

[hairuo]

I want to thank you, too...Dajiang and Wailer...I have been offered a job at City Construction College and was told it was a private university. That was confusing because it is part of Guangzhou University...which is public. Now it all makes sense. Thank you for Guangzhou information. Do you know anything about City Construction College?

[Roger]

I know neither "City COnstruction University" nor "Baiyun Institute" though I know one university called the 'University of Foreign Studies" and this is located in Baiyun District; they have, however, relocated at least parts of their campus to the University Megacity.

You must bear in mind that downtown Guangzhou is being hollowed out for big business: universities have had to move out and their estates are being sold (money-spinning business). So no matter which university you are targeting you might find yourself having to work/live in the new university town.
Some operations are still being maintained in Guangzhou proper but you may have to spend part of your time commuting to the new university campus. Some universities have 3, 4 or even 5 campuses...

Here is my personal opinion on living: in Guangzhou it's nice enough though the city is quite gritty, terriblyu overcrowded and a hotbed of petty crime. On a campus you are quite safe, though. The Foreign Studies university has one of the most beautiful campuses right on the slopes of the Baiyun hills. If you are made to live in the new university town you will appreciate the green spaces between the ten or so universities; there is hardly any through traffic. As a downside you will feel isolated. The hikes to and from your living quarters might prove to be a bit long on those hot days we have here until October; your teaching building can be up to half an hour away! Most sutdents travel by bike, and know what? Bike theft seems to be the most exciting phenomenon on any campus! The university town is situated on an island in the Pearl river, surrounded by yet undeveloped plots of land and crisscrossed by motorways. A subway also connects the town to Guangzhou but I heard going by bus is more convenient and less time-consuming (changing subways 2 times to get to the downtwon district required a colleague of mine to spend 2 hours on the trains!).

My suggestion to you is to elicit further details - exact location of campus, for example - from your would-be employer; only then can we come up with more accurate replies.

[asianbizarre]

Roger: Thanks for chipping in with some info.
Since it seems Hairuo is also picking up some useful stuff from this thread I haven't pm'd you, but will ask you some public specifics since you seem quite informed re GZ:
The person I negotiated with simply replied 'we'll pick you up at the airport' when asked re school location. I didn't want to complicate things by saying I'd be coming overland. However, school address is #1 Xucyuan Rd., Jiangguo Town, Baiyun District. BTW you can google 'Guangdong Baiyun Institute' and find a recruitment page that has lotsa fotos of the campus...
Question: Will coming overland jeoparize the travel reimbursement? The contact makes it sound like a certain sum is paid regardless.
Question: Maybe a silly one but will it be easy enough to get a SIM card and use my cell phone there?
Question: If the school is as far out of town as you suggest, what is the feasibility of staying in town on Fri-Sat nights? And are there any favored ex-pat hangouts in town?
Question: For the last couple of years I've been teaching mostly 'academic English' to uni level students pointed toward study abroad--writing skills and reading comprehension; not so much straight L/S stuff. What would you guess would be the case there. My contact person there doesn't seem to know.
Final question for now: Contact person is mailing me a paper to get Z visa, but I'll be going on holiday soon. How long should I expect to wait for this?
Thanks.

[Roger]

I have not been able to access their website via Google; I may succeed from another computer. Meanwhile, I can only repeat: I have no clear idea as to where they may be located though I do know Baiyun district extends to the north from the railway tracks that run from Shenzhen to Guangzhou. It would seem to me they are a bit out of town; I suspect they are closer to CONGHUA than to the centre of Guangzhou, and Conghua is a smallish town in the boonies - nice to visit, with friendly natives, but far from the madding crowds and expats.

I would hope you can get them to pay you a flat airfare for your trip though employers normally refund your homebound airfare at the end of your stint. In your case, try to make them pick you up at the train station (there are two stations and if you are a little unlucky your train will terminate in Guangzhou East - which is farther away than the main station).

Yes, SIM cards are readily available in China.

I do not feel it's possible to discuss your subject at this moment; I suspect they will use you as an oral English teacher.

Spending a weekend in Guangzhou might cost you some dough for hotels in Guangzhou! I doubt you can catch a bus to an out-of-town location after midnight... There is a comfy youth hostel that will charge you some 50 kuai for a dorm bed . Regular hotels start from 200 or so (occasionally below that).

[asianbizarre]

Thanks Roger, your info has been very helpful.

[vive_le_rock]

Hey,

I've been in Guangzhou about four months and I really like the place - if you do get here feel free to give me a shout, I don't get on here often but you can PM me and I can let you know when a group of us are going out.

Dan