Job Discussion Forums

[Brian Caulfield]

I just returned to Nanyang where I was out about 10,000 from a job I had there at a university . I see they no longer advertise for the 6 new teachers on Dave's so I am not hesitant to write about my experience there . I was called my FO to come and pick up my final salary . I went to her office and was told to be out to the apartment that day and I would be paid . Jeng Ping could have told me this on the phone but it is her style to waste your time . I got out recieved my final pay of 1,800 rmb . When I reflect on how much I paid them for utilities I would have been better off living in a motel for the year . I recieved nothing for travelling to and from the university , nothing in the way of an air fair reimbursement .
So by chance I met a new teacher at the school . Same story as mine . 6 teachers hired for the year and three leave because they were not popular with the Dean who couldn't farm them out . Jeng Ping still asking everyone to teach her daughter for nothing . The new teacher
was outraged with high utility bills . And the same story of Jeng Ping yelling at her for asking for itamized bills .
And the Chinese English staff have been instructed by Dean Wang not to talk to the foreigners . I learned this because I had many friends teaching at NYTC. I made friends in the city so spent little time socializing with the foreign teachers who left . In my free time I play Go so I was able to last the year and finish the contract . I miss the city but can't go back there to work because the Deans in the two universities control the number of foreign teachers who work there . They make money on them by sending them to work at cram schools and companies . The poster boy
Phillip now makes 150rmb an hour outside his job . This is moonlighting is illegal according to the university contract but how can you say no to the Dean ? But Phillip has no qualms about the deceit .
Oh and the university is now being certified so they are asking all teachers to provide the library with 200+books at the teachers expense .
So if your looking to live in an interesting and challenging place and doing volunteer work to help Chinese Deans live a decadent life style ,head to Nanyang Normal University or Nang Yang Teacher's College . They change their names often so the best bet is go and make the application in person . Just head west on highway 312 till you are on the western limits of the city and you will see the place . 20,000 students attend the school .

[colonel]

An interesting post to say the least. I left there in July as did a colleague named Paul. I would like to know where you worked as there appears to be, at least, two venues. I worked in the foreign languages department, above Dean Wang's office. I'll expand on my reason for leaving if/when you reply.

[HunanForeignGuy]

Dear Brian,

You are a very seasoned China hand, that I know from this Board.

There have been numerous warnings about these two colleges / universities all over this Board, all over www.eslteachersboard.com, and just about any place under the sun that one can look -- the warnings have been very, very, very dire and very detailed.

So the question begs to be asked -- why did you walk into the mouth of the tiger? Sure, I feel genuinely bad for you -- I hate when any of us are scammed here but sometimes an ounce of prevention..., etc., etc.

All the best and I am really sorry for you,



HFG

[Brian Caulfield]

HFL I got set up on this job. I called Jeng Ping and asked to talk to one of the teachers . She gave me the name of Paul Plamedon a Canadian who was returning to Canada . He said he was pleased with the conditions and I trusted him . I later found out that he was fired not because of his work at NYTC but because he was not liked at the farmed out work arranged by Dean WAng . Now the way it works at most jobs is that there is a big settlement at the end of the job . He was held hostage and forced to say good things about the job . Jeng Ping likes people to be dependent on her and most of the teachers there are Chinese impared . So if they want to use a bank or get on a train or airplane they must deal thru her.
I don't like this and take care of my own affairs . How else can I learn the language ? I found out the crap last summer when I booked a ticket to fly to Shanghai . For some reason the ticket ended up in Jeng Ping's
hands . I never told the agency where I worked . I just told them I would return in three hours and pick the ticket up . The ticket cost more than everyone elses ticket that got on that plane . Jeng Ping gets a cut of the ticket or anything else she can turn . She keeps her financial records in a ragged notebook where things are penciled in .
Nanyang is a farming community . Farmers in China are honest people . People get ahead in Nanyang by tricking the farmers . They look at foreigners as being honest and therefore easy to trick .
Foreign companies don't stay long in Nanyang . Many food companies pulled out of the city this year because of unexplained rising costs . My one English speaking Nanyang Chinese friend just got laid off at a DAnish Company this summer . They put 250 people out of work . The cost of the company went up 70% this year. The company has operations in five other provinces. They wanted to help them solve the problem by having their technicians look at why things were so expenxive. The government told them no.
I don't regret the experience as I said it is a farming community . Most of my students were farmers kids who worked hard for me . I have many lasting relationships there and would have stayed if not for the constant scamming at the school .

[vikuk]

If you're not too worried about how much of the "mighty dollar," your stay in China generates, actually ends up in your own pocket - this sounds like an okay job
Anda and Jordean may well think of applying

[Jordean]

Thanks! I'll look into it!

[HunanForeignGuy]

Brian,

Was this your first job in China? I somehow thought that you had been here years and years already.

Next, in Paul's shoes, and I have been there, and I have forfeited the money, I would have told the truth. Once again a foreigner behaves in a way and / or manner as to cause an unsuspecting, innocent foreigner harm.

Money or not, there is something called personal probity and if money is more important than conscience, well, that speaks MILES about something.

In any case, I noticed that he offered his statement somewhere on this thread. I will have to go reread it.

As for these two colleges, when they were advertising earlier this year, I asked one of my Chinese students about them -- he is from the region -- his answer was categorically "stay away". And I think that I posted that warning on this Board, too.

In any case, are you taken care for next September -- that is the most important now?

All the best, and I really feel terrible for you,


HFG

[colonel]

To Brian Caulfield,

You have, so far, refused to respond to my question.

I would, still, like to know who you are.

I am quite prepared to publish my name address etc. etc. in order to "flush you out" as your post, thus far, is fatuous.

[jeffinflorida]

If it helps, I think his name is Brian Caulfield...

[william wallace]

Jeff......Haha hahahahaa ! Good one!

[HunanForeignGuy]

[Brian Caulfield]

Colonel I worked there 8 months ago . You worked there 6 months . Why did you not finish the contract ? I never met you . I made attempts to talk with people at every school before I work there . Did you do the same ?
Are you one of the teachers whose mother is dying ? This is the lie the university tells teachers to say isn't it ? Nanyang Teachers college over the years has had many foreign teachers with dying mothers .

[arioch36]

When i was working at a school far away from Zhengzhou (In henan, Nanyang is in Henan), I experienced some of the same things.

First, the other Chinese teachers, some who I had already pleasant visits, were told "Don't bother the foreign teachers" This did not apply to the high up person who wanted me to write his Masters work for him

The students were told that from 8:00 to 10:00, they should not bother the foreign teacher. I went on an outing ten minutes from the school with some of the english club students. Half did not come with us because they were told they could not, so the other half found it added to the enjoyment of the day to be in "defiance". Later that semester, the school had a tv crew come, and show the foreign teachers idly talking with the students outside. And yes, the FAO had the same attitude... wait in your apartment for me, I need 5 minutes, wait there all day and don't leave

All that said... why accept such a contract? SAFEA guidelines clearly state that the school reimburses for airfare, one way one semester, round trip two semesters. Housing expenses paid by school. No teacher should accept a contract that this isn't clearly stated. To be harsh, those who accpet such contracts make it worse for all of us.

Best of luck!

[arioch36]

I hate to ask such a question, but I would be curious what nationality you are? I think many of us understand that different nationalities are treated differently. Was this so at you school?

[HunanForeignGuy]