Job Discussion Forums

[Robin53]

Does anyone know of a province (or part of one) which is remote, has a large city with plenty of state high-schools, colleges, or universities, and where there are jobs for foreign teachers? I'm not really interested in the salary, but would like to go somewhere that has the usual deal of apartment, 16 classes a week, 12 month contract, paid school holidays, a proper SAFEA license, return airfare, and a waiban or head of English Dept who speaks English and is relatively normal and sane. I'm in the older category, and have a BA and post-graduate language teaching training. Also I taught in state schools in my own country for several years before coming to China a few years ago. If there are any suggestions I'd be interested to read about them.

[lf_aristotle69]

GuiYang in GuiZhou province? Urumuqi in XinJiang "province"? Maybe also XiNing in QingHai province, and LanZhou in GanSu province? The latter three look beautiful in the pictures I've seen when you watch the weather on Chinese TV... GuiYang has a nice green belt, I've heard...

LFA

[7969]

if you have no health problems at all, then i think the places listed by lfaristotle are great. i've been to those areas and they're very scenic, although i cant speak about the work environment there.

on the other hand, there are places that are not really remote (closer to a major city), but more backwaterish (few foreigners and more chinese environment) and fulfill your other requirements/needs. i have a couple of places in mind if you're interested.

[Mpho]

Yes, these are probably your best bets. I have been to 3 of the 4 and know 2 or the 4 very well. You will not like Lanzhou most of the time due to the heavy air pollution. Though there is a lot to do and a lot of schools and universitites and not too many foreigners. The summer along the river is a great experience, esp at night.

Urumqi is a dirty city in the winter with all the car pollution blackening the ever present snow. Urumqi isn't too pretty, but once out of the city very nice.

Urumqi has a corps of foreigners, but limits you to 2 years at any one school and they are restriciting "older" teachers now. Some schools, esp. private will hire you quickly.

Guiyang is very nice, but once again catches pollution on occassions. The services here are okay. I would opt for the medical college if you decide to teach here.

Since money isn't your real concern, these cities are fine. You might make 4000/m.

Mpho

[arioch36]

Qinghai, Gansu , though colder in the winter.

Be aware, the further you go from Beijing the greter the guanxi problems, so I have found

English Dean who speaks English and is sane??? Of course the English dep't is really not run by the dean, but a party member who has no experince teaching

[Eyrick3]

You're asking for few FTs, yet solid western management. I'm afraid these are mutually exclusive as solid western management will help their school grow and prosper over the long run, therefore attracting good foreign teachers.

You know, you can always work for a large private language school, with all that you're asking for, and just keep to yourself.

Harbin fits what you're asking for, though if you're set on western management, you'd need to stick with a private language school. Universities will always have Chinese bureaucracy, as will public schools.

[Robin53]

Many thanks for all of your replies which I appreciated. I've been to 3 of the places but not to Guiyang. I don't think the 2 year limit and older teacher limit applies in Urumqi as I know someone who has been there for 4 years and is over 60. Xining in Qinghai is a lovely, unpolluted city ,and only 2 hours by commuter train from the big smoke in Lanzhou. The reason I wanted a school with no FT's is because I've been in situations where the mistakes of one FT are held against the others in an accumulating sort of way. Also, if you are on your own, you are appreciated more. I still enjoy the company of other FTs though and I know that Xining has hardly any. Lanzhou is off the list as I found it too polluted and big. I'll think about Urumqi and Guiyang, so thanks for the advice.