Job Discussion Forums

judytravel · Joined: 21 Oct 2010 Posts: 6

Hi,
Has anyone had experience teaching at Omeda in Yangshuo? I heard about it on the Newbie forum and am interested, as a new TEFL-er, in picking up some short term experience before possibly heading overseas for a longer stint.
It sounds like an exchange program where accomdations and food are offered in exchange for teaching, and teachers can stay for as little as 4 weeks. It's an area of China I would love to see and would appreciate any feedback from those who might have some first hand experience.
Thanks in advance!

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

i think if you use the search function with "omeida" as search criteria you'll get about 22 results popping up. i recommend a read through those for some pertinent (some posts as recent as this past summer) info.

xi.gua · Joined: 15 Jul 2010 Posts: 170

If you're gonna be there for short-term it'll be fine. Yangshuo is a beautiful place, and although it's swamped with foreign and Chinese tourists, it's a good place to become acclimated to China I think. Omeida is ok, i've been there a few times, but just for a few weeks you should be able to to survive it even if it is horrible.

If you just want experience for short term it's fine, but I would not want to be there for long term. Just me though. All the teachers i've known at Omeida and it's partner school Buckland College (The two owners are brothers) have been paid, but it's been low salaries, like 3000-3500.

Cousin Vinnie · Joined: 17 Oct 2010 Posts: 24

The guy who posted about the Volunteer opportunities once worked there, so I'm sure he'll chime in soon.

But, if you are thinking about "volunteering" for 4 weeks during the summer, I'd pass and seek a paying job. I was once offered 4,000 rmb for 4 weeks at Omeida a couple of summers ago. Why volunteer when they'll pay you?

Granted, you'd work a few hours, 5 days a week as opposed to just being asked to attend English Corner/Activity events.

All you have to do is walk down the street parallel to West St. in Yangshuo during the summer, walk into the school towards the end, just past "The Alley Bar" and you'll probably be hired for a short-term (4 week) job.

Omeida is a bit out of the way, but there is a good chance you chat with someone in a bar/restaurant and they'll tell you where Odar's school is located.

HiddenTreasure · Joined: 03 Oct 2010 Posts: 81

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

without knowing the true motivation of someone to do some short term teaching i have to say the comment above is a bit harsh, but there is some truth to it.

frequently i hear students comment on our jobs and our lives to the effect that the only reason we came to china was to travel and do a bit of teaching on the side. i get a bit offended when they suggest things like this, but maybe they have some real experiences in the past to reinforce that thinking. staying in the same place for five years changes their impression.

might be a good idea for people interested in short term work to inquire about a summer or winter camp.

xi.gua · Joined: 15 Jul 2010 Posts: 170

The OP does say that they're looking for short term XP before possibly doing a longer stint. China isn't for everyone, serious teacher or not. Some people like to get a feel for things before diving head over heels into something.

But at the same time......most of the "teachers" in Yangshuo are exactly how you described. Dancing monkeys there for the beautiful scenery and western influence.

seamallowance · Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 10:07 am Post subject: Re: Omeida in Yangshuo

judytravel · Joined: 21 Oct 2010 Posts: 6

Dear Hidden Treasure,
As a newbie, I hope the experienced teachers that I meet going forward are not as venomous and disdainful as you are. I was simply asking for information and am not quite sure why that would make me one of "those people" who make the profession a joke and who are "dancing monkeys." You've made assumptions about me and we've never met.
I have a B.S., I've just retired from a long corporate career, I have 8 years experience teaching adults and I earned my TEFL in Peru. I'm home now volunteering because I can't find a paying job at the moment, but my long term goal is to go to Turkey next Sept. In the meantime, I saw the ad (which by the way, is a paid position and is looking for short termers) and I was simply hoping that someone on the forum may have feedback for me. What is so disgusting about working for a short period in China? (I doubt I could get a longer contract anyhow because I hear that "older" teachers have a difficult time getting hired,.)
Thank you to those that answered, but if this is what the forums are like on ESL Cafe, I'm not sure I would want to write again.

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

I was with Omeida from Dec 09 - June 10, and one of my closest friends worked for them in 2008. As mentioned above, they pay on time and in full, and they dont have any hidden suprises, hidden agendas, or false claims about their school, contract etc. No one will turn up there and find they are teaching kids, not adults. No one will find classes cancelled without warning, no one will find the class of 6 students has turned into a class of 26 students.

The volunteer program normally runs something like this, or it was when I was there. Volunteers are asked to offer a 1 hour class between the hours of 5-6pm twice weekly. This is like an informal English Corner type thing, and expectations are generally easy-going. Volunteers are also expected to eat in the canteen with students, and generally just socialise. Omeida try to create an English only environment, and so having more foreign faces around helps. Thats the main role of volunteers to be honest, just to be around, chat with students, join the weekends trips and outings and just be visible. There isnt a huge pressure on volunteers to deliver awesome lesson plans.

Using the volunteer thing to get experience? Its not the best way to get teaching experience, but it is a good way to get living abroad China experience. You can make the most of it by really working on decent lesson material, rather than just conversational English corner activities. Most of the teachers at Omeida are pretty open and would be happy to let you observe classes etc. To make it a good learning experience, will require work on your behalf, I dont think most volunteers have this in mind to be honest. It could also be a foot in the door for a paid position either there, or elsewhere in Yangshuo...there are a lot of language schools there.

Yangshuo is a great place to go IMO. Im not sure I would want to go elsewhere really. Its small (which suits me) yet it has a lot of choice in terms of food, entertainment etc. There are several Western style bars, several Western restaurants, and lots of other foreigners to befriend. The nice thing about Omeida is you teach adults so there are lots of students who you can hang out with and befriend too. I wasnt there in the height of summer, so I dont know how much it changes then, but during the holidays I was there for, it was fine.

I was in Hainan before .... and Yangshuo is 100 times easier as a place to live. You can do things without language skills, and many local workers can speak some English meaning negotiating restaurants, bars and other things is quite doable. Compared to my city in Hainan, (no bars, no western restaurants, no English speakers, less than 10 foreigners in the whole city) Yangshuo was a dream.

Edited to add - just noticed you mention age might be a barrier? My housemate was a woman in her 60s, so perhaps age isnt such an issue! The downside for her (I think) is that a lot of the social things I mention such as bars and making friends is probably harder for someone older.

Cousin Vinnie · Joined: 17 Oct 2010 Posts: 24

Nick is a nice guy who seems to be very helpful on this forum.

I wonder if Omedia covers the volunteers on these weekend excursions?

I say, seek a paid, 4 week job at Omedia during the summer.

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

nomad-ish · Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 1:10 am Post subject:

i was thinking about doing the omeida exchange program as well. i'm looking for a short-term contract/program for 2 months (April-early June 2011).

so the only things omeida will cover are accommodation, food during the week, and visa assistance (does this include the visa fee)?

also, what sort of visa would i get? would i be allowed to tutor or work part-time on the side while attending omeida and doing their exchange program (provided, of course, i don't tutor their students or disrupt the schedule)? i'm basically not looking to save money, but rather to break even.

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

I dont know what they do regarding visa, so best bet would be to contact them. Not sure how much opportunity there is to tutor or get work on the side in Yangshuo. There are a lot of native speakers there, and a lot of teachers and English corner type activities that students are free to attend. I think that reduces the demand for private lessons, and I never had anyone approach me for them.