Job Discussion Forums

[murman]

Hi,

My wife and I are thinking about going to China. We are TEFL trained and have a few years of experience. We want to work in a decent, clean if possible city and at a good reliable school - preferably outside of the polluted, mega-cities like Shanghai, Beijing, etc.

Does anyone know of any decent schools. If so, could you please let us know.

Thank you in advance.

[Roger]

Sorry, but we qare not an agency. I suggest you scour the market, submit your application to a number of schools, compare what there is to compare, then make a decision.
Youcan publicise your job offers for us to comment on them.
I personally wouldn't help a total stranger outside the country find a job any more; too many of them are a bit like some schools we face as employers here: dodgy, unscrupulous, unreliable.
This is not an assessment of you in person!

[davis]

Well said, Roger. To paraphrase a bit...we can't post good schools(or any schools for that matter) on this particular board. If someone asks you to PM them then you should do so. There are many flakes that write queries like, "where can I get the most pay?" "where can I sleep with the most women?" "where can I find the most beautiful women?" You should do as Roger suggests. Contact the schools in the area you are interested in. Or...submit your resume to Dave's. You should have no problem getting offers. Narrow those down to the best 3 or 4 and then post the details and ask for help. I'm sure you'll get plenty of help and opinions.

[Dalian Veteran]

[davis]

Actually, Beijing and Shanghai are mega-cities. You can expect to pay more for housing(unless it's provided) as well as other goods(nightlife, restaurants,etc.) The provincial capitols aren't always sub-standard. Nanning, Kunming, and even Guangzhou have there amenities.

[Roger]

Actually, the capital city is not only a mega city but a mega-polluted one, especially in winter, since they have to heat with coal.
Better pay? You will badly need it to pay for your coal or electricity.
And rent - if you live on your own - is not cheap either.

In point of fact, some medium-sized Guangdong cities offer you as much pay and income opportunities as those so-called mega-cities, plus a lot more in terms of quality of life. I know what I mean - I live in Guangdong.
And we don't use coal to heat our homes in winter. Chinese don't even heat their houses at all here.

[gerard49]

From one who knows, finding the right job in China is somewhat of a daunting task. I suggest u try to avoid agents if u can, because they're really only after their commission. Try to find a position where u can speak directly to the school or the Education Bureau. And also ask to speak with a foreign teacher who is at the school now or has been there recently, for their impressions. Most agents promise the world but few will tell what your accommodation is really like, where the school is in relation to the city centre, shops transportation etc.
Some agents will tell you you're going to one school then when u get to their office, the guy in charge tells you the offer has been withdrawn but hey, "don�t worry I�ve got this great school in N/West China, you'll love it!" Give us a break!
If you want the email address of the Jiangsu Education bureau there are some great schools in Suzhou , Wuxi, Nanjing etc. Email me [email protected]

[MyTurnNow]

I'll definitely second Suzhou as an extraordinarily great place to live in China, and add Dalian to that list. I'd recommend either to anyone.

Another piece of advice...I recommend you steer clear of the multi-city private-English-school chains. There are horror stories galore. Public schools and unis are more frequently OK if you can stomach the kids. There are a very few actual decent private English schools out there, but finding them is really tough.

Good luck,
MT