Job Discussion Forums

[thenational]

First off, thank you to everyone who posts here, your information has helped me tremendously.

Two questions for you.

I'm thinking about teaching at a uni in western China, would people recommend this over somewhere like Shanghai?

Also, if you sign a contract with a uni while in your home country and find a better deal long before you leave, how problematic is it to switch uni's before you come to China?

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

Western China is huge. Which part?

[eddy-cool]

If you think China is divided into a 'West' and an 'East' like Germany was, you know, until the fall of the Berlin Wall, then I advise you to read up on China's political reconstruction anno Domini 1949 and beyond.

[suanlatudousi]

[thenational]

Please forgive me for the lack of infomation.

I got a job offer at a uni in Mianyang, Sichuan Provice. What do you think, Shanghai or Western China?

[nickpellatt]

For me, the question is simply city life or not? I would never consider working in a big city, but if you prefer everything a large city has to offer (good and bad) thats the way ahead for you.

I have a friend in Beijing at the moment and he loves the city life...I look at pictures of his large apartment block and the busy roads he walks to go to work and think it looks awful!

When we both worked together in a small town, I loved the quiet and the intimacy of the place, he was bored senseless...

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

Mianyang is not a bad choice at all. My gf is from there and we visited just last year. You could do a lot worse. the teaching in Mianyang is probably much like other parts of China but the advantage to Sichuan is its one of the most scenic parts of the country and you would have unlimited opportunities for exploring the place in your free time.

[sojourner]

Thenational,

I was teaching at a uni in Mianyang about two years ago. Mianyang is a reasonably pleasant, mid-sized Chinese city. However, I believe that it was badly affected by the earthquake - thus, you need to ascertain from both the uni that your are interested in, as well as from current teachers, as to whether things have returned to normal (or close enough).

What is the name of the uni that you are looking at ? If it's the one that I worked at, I cannot recommend it ! Although the uni paid well (compared to other unis in Sichuan), the flat provided was probably the best that I've had in China so far, and the teaching facilities were quite good, I'm glad that I am no longer there ! Yet, I'm quite willing to concede that there may well be people who are quite impressed with the uni in question. Please feel free to PM me with the name of the uni, and if it's the same one that I worked at, I'll provide you with the pros and cons.

Peter

[thenational]

Sojourner,

Thanks for the reply, I couldn't PM you because I need 50 posts before that feature is enabled.

Nevertheless, the uni is Southwest University of Science and Technology. Please provide me with any information you can think of as I'm really leaning toward this uni. Also, how far do you think 4000RBM a month will go in this part of China?

Many thanks

[sojourner]

Thenational,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.

No, the uni that you are applying for was not the one that I worked at. Also, as I have never met anyone who has ever worked at SWIST, I can't say whether or not it is a good uni to work for. Do a search via Dave's search facility.

Is 4K RMB per month a good salary ? When considering a job at a Chinese uni , you need to consider other factors besides the monthly salary.For example, how many hours of teaching per week are involved ? Also, will there be 10 monthly salary payments or 12 ? Re salary payments, unfortunately, for most first year contracts, contracts usually stipulate only 10 payments - although for the 2nd year, one might be offered 12 payments; as well as, possibly, a small monthly salary increase.

How much is the airfare reimbursement ? Usually it's 8 K for a roundtrip - but, can be a bit less. If you think that 8 K is not enough, you might want to negotiate for a slightly higher amount. Besides the airfare matter, unis usually provide a "travel allowance" of 2 or 2.4 K for a 1 year contact - half of which is paid at the end of each term. (Incidently, at my current uni, in Zhejiang, half of my airfare allowance of 9 K is also paid at the end of each term).

4 K, for the usual 16 "teaching hours" ( 40 or 50 minutes), for a first year teacher with only a BA and no previous teaching experience is not too bad for Sichuan. If you have an MA and/or some previous experience, you could possibly ask for 5 K - with a bit of luck, the FAO might agree to 4.5 K !

Apart from monthly salary,airfare reimbursement, teaching hours and salary payments, what does the contract say about utilities ? With some unis, there is no charge - whilst with others, FTs might have to pay the full amount, with the uni providing a "special allowance" at the end of term which may/may not cover the full cost of electricity and water. Most unis usually provide for free 24/7 internet access.Will a PC be provided in the flat ? Some unis even provide for a PC and printer in each FT's office - while others don't even provide a private office; or, even a communal work room ! There might also be other possible perks that you should be aware of,eg: meal vouchers, taxi allowance; as well as with the situation with some Mianyang schools, of 1 or 2 return bus tickets per month to Chengdu.(With the latter perk, if you don't anticipate travelling to Chengdu every fortnight, you might possibly, in your pre-contractural negotiations, consider asking the FAO to "up" the initial salary offer by, say, 150 RMB per month ! ).

Before you sign a contract, ask the FAO or recruiter to provide the names/email addresses of both current and past FTs, so as you can ask questions about such things as: teaching resources, level of assistance from both the Chinese co-teachers and the FAO's office, on-campus facilities such as shops and restaurants, facilities just outside campus, accessability to Mianyang city (distance, availability/frequency of buses), conditions in the flats, etc. Also, in your online "negotiations" with the FAO's office, don't delete any pertinent messages - just in case the FAO has "forgotten" a promise that he/she has made, you need some evidence to "politely remind" that person !


Will 4 K per month go very far in Mianyang ? It will, of course, depend a lot on your lifestyle. Lots of FTs hang out at the "Flags" tavern - it's ok, but don't do it every night ! As I mentioned in a posting about 3 weeks ago, it's possible to live on 500 RMB per month (ie, food/drink only) - at least that's my situation in a backwater of a city in Zhejiang, where I can still eat out every night ! The cost of things, I vaguely recall, might be a bit cheaper in Mianyang. If you like to drink, do so at the hole-in-wall eateries, or at the food stalls - a large bottle of local beer is only around 2 RMB !

I hope that you enjoy Mianyang !

Good luck.

Peter

[thenational]

Peter,

Thank you for the reply.

I signed with SWUST a few days ago. 16 teaching hours a week plus 2 hours of office time for 4000. I have two M.S. degree's so perhaps I could have asked for a larger salary, but I'm 26 with little experience and six grand going over with me to cover me for the year while I figure things out.

I have a friend who is coming over with me who has a B.S. (doesn't get the actual degree until May 10th), a couple years teaching experience, who will teach any age. He doesn't have a job yet. I would like to have him teach at my uni, but I don't feel that it would be proper to ask if this is possible, at least not until I get my visa and have everything set to go, because I simply don't know the university culture over there and don't want to turn anyone off. My second option is to post him up in Chengdu so I will have a place to stay on the weekends when we go out in Chengdu. Perhaps this is the way to go.

I'm really looking forward to Mianyang, as I've heard nothing but good things about the city.

Best Wishes

Nick

[vikuk]

Mianyang is a center for Chinese nuclear weapons research and the Chinese armaments industry - schools that offer jobs always forget to mention this!!!!

[D'yankee]

National

You may want to get your friend a spot in Chengdu, I know of to many friendships destroyed when they started living together or even to close to each other. Besides, having a place to stay in Chengdu would be good that's a nice city (despite the smog) and the food is fantastic.