Job Discussion Forums

[Joel_Mitchell]

Hey im new to the forums and new to teaching abroad so hello to everyone. I have been offered a job at Walton Foreign Languages Training Center in Haudu and was wondering if anyone knew anything specific about this school. The man that runs the place is named Jack Wu, he has been more than helpful in answering all the questions I have had for him but I only know what he has told me. He gave me a former teachers contact information but I dont know how much to trust that information. All I'm waiting for are some pictures of the room they are offering me and unless someone here knows a good reason not to accept I think will be leaving in August . But really, I have looked forward to this for many years now so I am very excited to be getting a chance like this. I think however, that my excitement may cloud my better judgement and I may overlook certain things because I really want to go. So please if anyone knows a reason I shouldnt go, enlighten me.

[Roger]

I guess nobody knows Walton Training Centre. It must be one of the only two to three that this town can nurture. Hope this Mr Wu is up to his job!

I know Huadu from a brief stint teaching at its vocational school. It is a bleak town some 30 kms outside of Guangzhou, slated to be enlarged as a suburb of Guangdong's capital. It will also house Guangzhou's future new airport and an assembly plant of a new car maker (Mercedes, perhaps). There also is a relatively good school nearby, called the Pui CHing College.
Otherwise, it is the laid-back nature of the environment that recommends this town to the traveller. I do not know what you are going to do on weekends unless you visit the cooler mountains and the one waterfall in the area!

Good luck
ROger

[Klamm]

Joel,

A friend of mine worked for Walton, so I'll give you what he told me about the place:

The place is run by Jack and Lydia Wu. They were quite unpopular with all the foreigner who shifted in and out of their school. They're barely legal. They care about money only (are you white? On time?), but if you care about teaching, they'll gladly manipulate that to their advantage so they can criticize and push you like a horse to get more numbers and bodies in the classroom.

To add stress to your life, they'll try to cheat you on small amounts of money, but never too large because their ultimate fear is that you'll take off on them. They may ask if they can keep your passport. Do not let them. Don't be stupid.

They appear nice on the surface, but they're not. They appear that way because you're a foreigner and its hard, quite next to impossible in fact, for them to get and keep foreigners in that town. Huadu has nothing to offer. I visited my friend there once so I can verify. If you want to go to Guangzhou for a night out, expect to drop a big chunk of your salary.

All in all, my friend found them very manipulative, deceptive, and entirely unappreciative of anything you do. It's about money. Bottom line. Judging from his feeling, and what he said about the other foreigners there, you'd be wise to consider having your China experience elsewhere if you want to enjoy the experience. This school gets a big so keep it in mind...

Also, he said some of the teachers there were full-on alcoholics with fake degrees and all that jazz. They were also on business or tourist visas. Why sign a contract? At the very least, judging from what my friend says, you'd be wise to buy your own visa and take by the hour. They'll make it seem that its impossible, but don't budge. They'll do it. The ball's in your court. They're total liars and they're good at it, too, from what my friend says. Demand a place to stay and an hourly wage. Bargain hard. They're not good school owners, nor is the school good; they're hardly legal, and whatever their first nice impressionable face may make you feel, you're better to swoop in for a little while until finding more legal and dignified work.

Good luck. You're leaving in August? Good. Plenty of time to find another more reputable school. I'd take my friend's advice. We're real close

We out

[gregmcd101]

I Am having dealings with them now. They just sent me a contract which differs in dignificant detail from the glitzy 'employment package' sent before

""""""""""""""""Working Hours: 22 teaching hours and one hour meeting per week. Teacher�s teaching hours are counted by actual teaching time instead of by class. Walton will arrange two days off per week for the teacher, but the teacher may need to work on special occasions, say the anniversary of the founding of Walton or any special promotional work arranged by Walton. If Walton cannot provide 22 working hours for the teacher, the school will bank the hours for the future use. Walton may not reserve more than 4 banked hours per week, or additional hours adding to more than 26 hours will be considered overtime."""""""""""""""""""""


Therefore 22 'hours' = 33 classes, and this banking deal is pure horseshit

[nickpellatt]

I would read Klamms post carefully and pay attention to it! There are often all sorts of warning about what you should and shouldnt do...and often it just sounds like hearsay. However, when someone posts that they have worked in a place, or their close friends have, and its all bad news .... it probably should be avoided.

Im making the assumption you hold all the right qualifications? If so, there are probably lots of other safer options open to you, and it might be wise to explore those first rather than make a mistake.

[dialogger]

Given this is something you have been planning, my view is that you should go ahead.
The job that gets you to China is not necessarily the one that keeps you there.
Once in the job, use the time to get around the FT watering holes and find out where the good gigs are and move as soon as you can. This may be related to getting your airfare refund.
Also get around the Foreign Affairs Offices of the universities.
I left my original employer after 6m and dropped any part of the airfare refund to do so.
I cold visited 3 other universities in the district and got offers from 2 of them.
When the old place tried to get cute with the release certificate the new place recruiter made a phone call and everything fell into place.