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Fable105 · Joined: 31 May 2011 Posts: 16

Does anyone know anything about Dalian University of Foreign Languages? I am considering teaching there next year but they have not told me anything about the classes I would teach or the salary/benefits I would receive. I have heard mostly good things about Dalian but I do not know anything about this university.

I tried searching the forum for past threads and posts on this topic but I could not find anything.

ymmv · Joined: 14 Jul 2004 Posts: 387

It has a good academic reputation as one of the best universities focusing on foreign languages.

It also had a well-known reputation, when it was located in the city, for the black cars that lined up at the gates on Friday to pick up the students for weekend dates. One of my former students who went there for grad school told me what I had heard was "kind of true."

Now that it's been relocated out to the 'burbs, I'm not sure if that trade has continued.

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

My boss graduated from there.

He told me that "in the old days", the black car story was indeed true. There was also a trend of girls doing anything to hook up with any foreigner they could get their hands on for the free meal ticket and/or cushy life out of China.

Those days are long gone.

One of the best language schools in China, from what I am told, apart from the naughtiness reputation that it may or may not still have.

Sorry I don't have more on it.

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

I had a friend who taught there after it moved to Lushun. I don't remember much of a discussion except that he liked his apartment and it's ocean view. I think if you teach there the students will be at a good level. If in the city center, I believe they still keep the old campus for the self-study training center (i.e., non-matriculating students trying for English language proficiency certificates) and that's more of a challenge. Of the wai guo yu xue yuans (foreign language schools) Da (Lian) Wai is one of the best, but below Bei (Jing) Wai, Shang (Hai) Wai, Guang (Zhou) Wai and maybe I'm forgetting another.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

Re Dalian FLU I�ve visited old city campus and am familiar with the Lushun area where the new campus is located.

It is really out in the �burbs (and then some) and the accom may only be at Lushun and not �city with bussing� as the foreign trade school advertises.

Lushun is a pleasant little seaside/harbour town, but my recollection is that FTs couldn�t wander off campus for security reasons vis a vis the naval dockyard.

It�s the old Port Arthur, so very interesting historically and remnants of the Japanese and Russian occupations much in evidence.

Previous poster's remarks don't mention restrictions on moving around Lushun. As the medical u as well as the FLU have moved out there to join the foreign trade school which has been out there since 2001 or earlier, I expect something must have been done about FT freedom.

Allow at least an hour for commute each way from central Dalian. A shared taxi would be convenient if there are 3 or 4 travelling. I've done the taxi journey but can't remember the fare.

Students overwhelmingly female.

No direct knowledge of student weekend antics but from time to time my female student friends at other unis would mention being propositioned by wealthy Chinese businessmen. So the more females the more 'situations'.
All in all you could do a lot worse.

monkeyseemonkeydo · Joined: 06 Jun 2011 Posts: 300 Location: China

I'm told the students are overwhelmingly female and being stuck out there with so few males around, and then seeing young foreign male teachers there, well...he detected a fair bit of longing, let's say. He was a married man though so he didn't do anything however, but I'm sure others would be tempted. I wouldn't teach there if I had to live there as you're stuck so far from town, the only girls you can meet are students and that's asking for trouble...

As far as classes, as I know FTs usually teach a few writing units and a bunch of oral english units, along with the option of making their own elective course based on their major. Some teachers cram all of their classes into 2 or 3 days, and take a bus into Lushun on those days. Then relax or teach elsewhere in their off days. Great gig if you can get it.

Fable105 · Joined: 31 May 2011 Posts: 16

Thanks for all the advice everyone. Keep it coming.

I did not know the main university campus was so far away from town (at least an hour). That is a problem. It sounds like relocating to the suburbs is becoming increasingly common at Chinese universities. They are not paying much either and I hear Dalian is not cheap.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

As I said earlier the Lushun area is becoming home to a number of universities which previously operated in town.
The medical u, the foreign trade u and the foreign languages u have been mentioned and there may be others.
When I worked there there was no FT accom at Lushun and we were bussed.
The driver of the move is economic. Expansion at the city sites is impossible and if the u is able to quit the city altogether then they will find any number of developers as buyers. The medical u has a hospital so they will stay in the city in part at least. Medical u is near Zhongshan Park.
The FLU city site is more CBD and would be very valuable. Nice area but as it is tucked up against the hill to the south it loses sun early in winter.