Job Discussion Forums

hughesie · Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 63

I'm teaching middle school with GEPIK in Yongin and as some of you probably know, they make you sit in an empty staffroom during winter/summer breaks.

How is it at a Chinese University? Can you go home after classes? Is there any other advantages of working in a Chinese university over a Korean middle school? (I'm sure there are plenty!)

I have searched through the forum and it has been a wealth of information! Thank you in advance!

mjlpsu · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 128 Location: NJ to Shenzhen

I'm required to have 6 office hours each week--supposedly for students to come in and talk, which rarely happens. Other than that I don't have to stay on campus any more than that after class. And during breaks (the two weeks after exams), I just have to come in to submit grades and sign the transcripts.

Other university experiences may vary.

Mister Al · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 840 Location: In there

I suppose it depends on what your contract stipulates. For me, I have some admin duties but I can choose when to put in the couple of hours a week it takes to do that. Sometimes I'm asked to interview potential teachers or give a talk to new students, and I'm willing to do so, but that is a rare occasion.

hughesie · Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 63

hughesie · Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 63

waynehead · Joined: 27 Oct 2008 Posts: 15

Ha, I came from a south korean middle school and I work at a uni here now.

I pretty much come and go as I please, the only time I have to be at school when I'm not teaching is when either a)i have a gap between classes or b)i have admin stuff i have to do. I teach 16 hours a week and probably spend 20, 25 hours a week max at school. In that respect, this job is much better.

I sure do wish I had a similar commute time as I did in the good ol ROK, tho. It took me about 10 minutes to walk to/from work there, here it's a 45 minute + bus ride to and from work, since my uni's so far from downtown (where my apt is). That time adds up in a week.

YankeeDoodleDandy · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:54 am Post subject: Office Hours

At Anhui Institute of Architecture and Industry, I had to put in two hours a week to be available to talk to students . Usually 6 to 10 students would come twice a week for 1 hour. This was part of my contract in Hefei in addition to 2 hours at English Corner every week. Here in Xi'an, I have no office hours and if I go to English Corner i get paid 100 RMB per hour.

brsmith15 · Joined: 12 May 2003 Posts: 1142 Location: New Hampshire USA

At SUFE I posted 6 hours a week on my office door and in my syllabi, but any visit had to be by appointment. That was my rule, not the uni's. I did this to prevent having more than one student come at the same time. Naturally, being Chinese, few followed it.

By the bye, my 2-page contract didn't specify any requirement for hours. I just did it myself.

eddy-cool · Joined: 06 Jul 2008 Posts: 1008

The only requirement is to be on time. I have no extra work time to put in. The contract does mention 'English COrner' or 'alternative' occasions but so far I have eluded this.

My work week begins on Tuesday afternoon and ends on noon of Friday, giving me the chance to take off and to spend 4 nights a week away if I so like.

I went to our university library today and was amazed at the diversity in their international publications. There is no need to stray away from that campus for days or even weeks - you can find everything your heart may be craving.

brsmith15 · Joined: 12 May 2003 Posts: 1142 Location: New Hampshire USA

Eddy......Hustler??

bradley · Joined: 28 Mar 2005 Posts: 235 Location: China

I have no office hours assigned here. I teach and then go back to my room or go out if I am so inclined...

rel · Joined: 02 Apr 2005 Posts: 25

At both universities ｔｈａｔ i have worked at there were no office hours.

bradley · Joined: 28 Mar 2005 Posts: 235 Location: China

I think some schools require teachers to attend "English Corners." This university doesn't but I have been getting paid extra to attend one once a week here this semester.

Buck Lin · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 405 Location: nanchang china

My experience here in China has been that the house or apartment is your office and students are free to come and visit you. Office hours are a good thing. You can spend the down time writing on Dave's about the lack of autonomous learning in China.

Moon Over Parma · Joined: 20 May 2007 Posts: 819

Two universities and neither had me do office hours. Current gig only asks for me to show up to my scheduled classes, an occasional meal with department heads, and if I take them up on their offer of extra classes and get overtime - to show up for those classes. Korean "educators" just like to control foreigners. Despite the fact you are sitting around doing nothing accomplishes nothing, it makes your xenophobic colleagues feel better knowing you have to sit around on your down time and over holidays. Forget about the fat pensions and other perks they receive. You're the ouaegook and they are better than you: the foreigner.
Rolling Eyes

While the jingoism here will present its head now and again, especially with the very sinister bent in how "harmonious society" is used, the xenophobia here is mostly under control. You won't be attacked for dating a local, nor will you be cockblocked by your local pals when you try to chat up a local lady you find interesting, even though the ratio of women to men in China is woefully skewered towards local guys going without a better half in their lifetime. All of your misery in Korea will no doubt harden you up a bit and make your transition here a little easier.