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walsh_zack
Joined: 01 Jan 2008
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 5:36 pm Post subject: PLEASE HELP! 4 jobs, 1 choice, little time |
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| I'm going to sign a contract to work for a Chinese University in the next few days, and I need to know if anyone has any advice or perhaps if anyone knows anything of the schools or areas in which they are located. I am planning on working for one of these four schools in the next month or so: the Shandong Institute of Light Industry (SDILI) near Jinan, the Nanjing University of Finance and Economics (NUFE) near Nanjing, the Jiangnan University-Lambton College in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, and to a lesser extent the Nanyang Institute of Technology (NIT) in Nanyang, Henan. Even if you're not familiar with the schools, please let me know what you find are the major differences between the four areas because one of my most important deciding factors is living in a historically and culturally rich area. I know simple facts like the urban populations and the relative proximity to Shanghai or Beijing, but I need to know what the picture looks like from the ground. For example, would there be more Buddhist and Confucian culture in Jinan (as I've heard) compared to the overwhelming business culture of Nanjing and Wuxi? Would the many smaller towns surrounding Jinan be very interesting for taking weekend trips or are they simple industrial towns, and would Nanyang's climate be any more comfortable than the furnace-like summertime of Nanjing and Wuxi? Thank you in advance for your comments... |
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Craig!
Joined: 23 Jan 2005
Posts: 202
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| Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 6:18 pm Post subject: |
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Wherever you end up, I recommend you visit Qufu [south of Jinan]... very charming.
Jinan has Bao Hu springs, a relaxing place, but getting over-commercialized. Otherwise, Jinan is no cultural mecca.
Nearby Taishan mountain, of course, is worth a pilgrimage... but getting there... Taian city is horrible, dirty and congested . |
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HunanForeignGuy
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Posts: 989
Location: Shanghai, PRC
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| Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:24 pm Post subject: Re: PLEASE HELP! 4 jobs, 1 choice, little time |
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| walsh_zack wrote: |
| I'm going to sign a contract to work for a Chinese University in the next few days, and I need to know if anyone has any advice or perhaps if anyone knows anything of the schools or areas in which they are located. I am planning on working for one of these four schools in the next month or so: the Shandong Institute of Light Industry (SDILI) near Jinan, the Nanjing University of Finance and Economics (NUFE) near Nanjing, the Jiangnan University-Lambton College in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, and to a lesser extent the Nanyang Institute of Technology (NIT) in Nanyang, Henan. Even if you're not familiar with the schools, please let me know what you find are the major differences between the four areas because one of my most important deciding factors is living in a historically and culturally rich area. I know simple facts like the urban populations and the relative proximity to Shanghai or Beijing, but I need to know what the picture looks like from the ground. For example, would there be more Buddhist and Confucian culture in Jinan (as I've heard) compared to the overwhelming business culture of Nanjing and Wuxi? Would the many smaller towns surrounding Jinan be very interesting for taking weekend trips or are they simple industrial towns, and would Nanyang's climate be any more comfortable than the furnace-like summertime of Nanjing and Wuxi? Thank you in advance for your comments... |
Based on my experience in Shanghai, and that of my colleagues and friends who have taught at these schools, here are my recommendations to you:
1. Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, Henan
AVOID THIS AT ALL COSTS. China is littered with foreign teacher refugees from this school. If you really go to this school, you will regret it like nothing else that you have ever done in your life. Maybe you will be paid on time, maybe you will not be paid at all. Maybe you will be given a one-room cold-water flat to live in, maybe worse.
2. Lambton College, Wuxi
Not a bad choice at all. The apartments are fine, generally speaking, you will be paid on time, and more-or-less you will be looked after. There was an Israeli foreign teacher there you made life miserable for all of the other teachers but she was dispensed with and now things have improved considerably. Many of the teachers are returnees -- meaning they stay on from one-year-to-the-next. Above average pay, too. Decidedly an option.
3. Shandong Institute of Light Industry
Generally it receives terrible reviews from teachers that have worked there. Do a search on this Board for more details. On a scale of 1-10, I would give it a 4.5 in terms of foreign teacher satisfaction. Wuxi above is much better.
4. Nanjing University of Finance, etc.
Maybe the best choice on the list together with Lambton but I think that the pay will be higher in Wuxi. Nonetheless, the apartments at NUF are quite nice and the the foreign teachers that have been allocated the new apartments are quite pleased with them. It's a relatively new university in the scope of things but remember that as a rule most universities of finance and commerce in China are well-funded these days because of their close relations to the business community, etc.
I sincerely hope that helps. In any case, avoid the one in Henan unless you want to be miserable beyond miserable.
HFG |
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jeffinflorida
Joined: 22 Dec 2004
Posts: 2024
Location: "I'm too proud to beg and too lazy to work" Uncle Fester, The Addams Family season two
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:13 am Post subject: Re: PLEASE HELP! 4 jobs, 1 choice, little time |
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| HunanForeignGuy wrote: |
2. Lambton College, Wuxi
Not a bad choice at all. The apartments are fine, generally speaking, you will be paid on time, and more-or-less you will be looked after. There was an Israeli foreign teacher there you made life miserable for all of the other teachers but she was dispensed with and now things have improved considerably. Many of the teachers are returnees -- meaning they stay on from one-year-to-the-next. Above average pay, too. Decidedly an option. |
HFG, I work there now. Where did you get this info? The truth is over 70% of the teacher leave by their own choice every term.
The administration turned an American female into one of their puppets who spied and ratted on every teacher and caused numerous problems.
The Lambton administration is very corrupt and steals as much money as it can from students and often teachers.
Contracts are signed and then at the last minute the teacher is told the school has found a technicality as to why they ask them to leave.
The school has broken many contracts without a reason and without recourse to the teacher.
The school openly turns a blind eye to ongoing cheating by the students and does not deal with the any complaints by teachers on this issue.
I have a contract till July with Lambton but I will advise anyone who is considering working at Lambton to keep walking. Several teachers pulled runners when they saw the light.
A note about textbooks - teachers are given books that should be on the dollar table at Barnes and Noble and told to develop a whole course from this book. Textbooks from my last class were photocopied - the whole book, twelve chapters of an illegally copied copywrited / protected book were given to 192 students - above my objections.
Complaints to Lambton Canada are ignored and some teachers were told to stop complaining by the Lambton Canada location and just deal with it. When I asked the Dean of Lambton Canada about illegal photocopies of the text book I was told that it was less expensive then buying the book.
The students are pretty bad. They understand the Pay-As-You go for a degree mentality and most do not study or care and all expect to pas and they will � because they paid for their degree.
Consider another school. If you want to chat with current or recently departed teachers let me know and I will give you some phone numbers and you can call them. |
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Wonderful Yunqi!!
Joined: 06 Jan 2008
Posts: 111
Location: With the Lord.
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:51 am Post subject: |
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I used to work at NUFE. Emy Bao is great and I highly recommend it. I would ask to live on the Fujian Lu campus. 500 less per month is worth it. Xianlin is in the sticks.
Good Luck! |
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Laoshi1950
Joined: 22 May 2004
Posts: 198
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:31 am Post subject: |
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I am not familiar with any of the universities/colleges that you mentioned, so I can't comment on them as workplaces.
However, I have visited some of the cities in which those colleges are located.
Of the 4 places that you listed, my opinion is that Nanjing would be the best location to spend 10 months of your working life. Nanjing has a long association with major events in Chinese History, is a provincial capital, has a large expat community (businessmen and families, foreign teachers and foreign students), has access to western-style goods and foods if you require them, is reasonably close to Shanghai, and is a university city.
The downside is that it can be very hot and humid in the summer, and without central heating in apartments and classrooms, the winters there can be a challenge. |
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walsh_zack
Joined: 01 Jan 2008
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:24 am Post subject: update |
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| In light of the comments and my own research, I have so far chosen to sign the NUFE contract. If you have any other comments, or counter-arguments for working at NUFE, please submit them within the next 24 hours before I sign! They will undoubtedly be extremely helpful, Thanks! |
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TreKidation
Joined: 02 Jul 2007
Posts: 108
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:19 am Post subject: |
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| Craig! wrote: |
| Taian city is horrible, dirty and congested . |
I guess you were in the city only during the 5:30 - 6:00 PM period. Clearly you know little about the city. |
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HunanForeignGuy
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Posts: 989
Location: Shanghai, PRC
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:26 am Post subject: Re: update |
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| walsh_zack wrote: |
| In light of the comments and my own research, I have so far chosen to sign the NUFE contract. If you have any other comments, or counter-arguments for working at NUFE, please submit them within the next 24 hours before I sign! They will undoubtedly be extremely helpful, Thanks! |
You have a good choice IMHO.
All the best to you.
HFG |
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arioch36
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 3589
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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Your actual experience at a school is a crapshoot. If you want specific information on the Henan college, glad to give it to you via PM. Talking specifically about schools here is a big mistake, in my book.
| Quote: |
| For example, would there be more Buddhist and Confucian culture in Jinan (as I've heard) compared to the overwhelming business culture of Nanjing and Wuxi |
Most culture is artificial. they did a pretty good job destroying their culture during the cultural revolution. they are even doing a better job destroying the small remnants of their culture in their hast to make every city a modern city.
Henan has a lot too offer if one knows where to look, but Nanyang (with a long history but little remaining culture) is a little out of the way. You basically have to travel several hours just to travel to somewhere else.
You might seriously want to consider Kaifeng in Henan. Really!
Jeff didn't talk about Wuxi itself Nanjing and Jinan are very opposite in character. I would definitely take the Jinan climate. You don't really come out and say what you want, but I get the feeling you are not looking to hang out all the time with expats at an expat bar eating expat food. Henan will teach you things about China that many Chinese never think about, but of the four you mentioned, I think Jinan might be your choice. Not the easy choice, but if you are looking to go on the less-traveled road... I would pick it over Nanjing. Nanjing has many more well known places nearby to go on weekends
Wuxi I only know by hearsay |
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jeffinflorida
Joined: 22 Dec 2004
Posts: 2024
Location: "I'm too proud to beg and too lazy to work" Uncle Fester, The Addams Family season two
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Wuxi is ok. Not good, not bad. people are very unfriendly. food is nothing special. city center is ok. countryside is the same as anywhere. |
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arioch36
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 3589
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:43 pm Post subject: |
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Jeffie
| Quote: |
| Not good, not bad. people are very unfriendly. food is nothing special. city center is ok. countryside is the same as anywhere |
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In other words the same as Jinan, Nanyang, Nanjing, and 75% of China.
Lie to the guy. Tell him that you have not had a chance to do all the wonderfully exciting thing all of the chinese have told you can be done in and around Wuxi  |
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jeffinflorida
Joined: 22 Dec 2004
Posts: 2024
Location: "I'm too proud to beg and too lazy to work" Uncle Fester, The Addams Family season two
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:24 pm Post subject: |
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| arioch36 wrote: |
Jeffie
| Quote: |
| Not good, not bad. people are very unfriendly. food is nothing special. city center is ok. countryside is the same as anywhere |
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In other words the same as Jinan, Nanyang, Nanjing, and 75% of China.
Lie to the guy. Tell him that you have not had a chance to do all the wonderfully exciting thing all of the chinese have told you can be done in and around Wuxi |
you are exactly correct! while I have went to every McDonalds in Wuxi, I have not went to every Pizza Hut or KFC !!!
Now I have a travel goal for the holidays. |
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Trish Flurman
Joined: 28 Jan 2008
Posts: 92
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| Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 3:48 pm Post subject: |
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Jinan is hardly a bad choice, but lower end of pay with high costs of living if you are a "I must eat out and eat foreign foods"
And Taishan / Taian IS NOT as horrible as you all claim. I've been here 4 years and now moving to Jinan. Few opportunities in this smaller city.
Depends on what you want |
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