Job Discussion Forums

[JZer]

School: Zhejiang University GAC&ACT Center
Location:Hangzhou, Zhejiang University Zijinggang Campus
Work time: maximus 20 teaching periods per week. (45 mins/teaching periods)
teaching GAC courses(subjects: reading, writing, high school general science etc.) to high school students who are applying for American universities.

Has anyone worked at this school? If so any feedback about the job would be greatly appreciated.

[igorG]

I have found your post interesting and I know a bit about the company that subscribes such centers around the world, especially in Asia. There are a couple ACTs in Canada that I know of, but they do not seem to be doing the same as the Chinese subscribers do. To my knowledge and as it looks from adverts, no Chinese subscribers are directly connected to the local Colleges/Universities.

GAC is a Global Assessment Certificate academic program meant for higher education in all English speaking countries, not only in the US. The truth is that the American ACT company owns the GAC program, although the Australian ACT Education Solution Limited company runs it.

In fact, the GAC is an international academic program, foundation program, that prepares high school kids in the areas of Academic English, Social Sciences, Science, Maths, and Business, however, the local subscribers and their powers seem to have mixed it up with the ACT American College entry test preparation program which serves only the US interests.

I think that your job is going to be difficult considering the confusion in the company's product and given the local environment. What I have seen at the local Universities/Colleges is not exactly what either the GAC or ACT products call for and I mean in the sense of management, academic support, internet, libraries etc. I dare to say that your job will mostly consist of satisfying some rich local high school dropouts that only want to go abroad, but am I sounding too negative now?

Teaching jobs for foreigners may come as easy as difficult on mainland these days and considering the local trend you may end up having issues with your students, then employer and then even your work permit. If you want to stay for a bit longer, and if you do not want to go through some unprecedented hussles, do be careful when chosing your job on mainland.