Job Discussion Forums

MrCali · Joined: 05 Aug 2010 Posts: 7

Hello, first time asking a question here, and thankful for all the help I've gotten browsing the forums.

So, my wife and I are close to accepting a contract with Sanda University, in Putong Shanghai. Does anybody have any experience working here? The pay, 8500 for 20 hours, seems pretty good by all the comparisons I've been making.

How is the University and its location? Any knowledge of the accommodation? It's a shared kitchen in a dorm like place, which we're a little apprehensive about.

We've been in contact with the Foreign Office at the school, and the would like us to come on a tourist visa because there isn't much time left before the September semester. That sounds reasonable, and she's answered all our questions fully. Oh, and we both have an MA English TESOL with a few years experience.
We have to make a decision really quick, and we'd appreciate any help.

mike w · Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 2:13 am Post subject:

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

MrCali · Joined: 05 Aug 2010 Posts: 7

Yeah, the tourist visa thing is what worries me most. But we did speak with another teacher, and she said changing it to another visa wouldn't be a problem.

The housing isn't really shared. It's more of a room with a bed and chairs and bathroom, and we could get one with a connecting door to another room since we're a couple. So it's kind of like a hotel, with a kitchen somewhere in there, and a cafeteria on the first floor. Sounds ok, as long as we can spend time outside doing other things. They have a pool, which seems nice.

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

I see a bad dose of cabin fever ahead.
A hotel room with its own bathroom and toilet is OK for a week but for a semester (or two)?
True the weather in Shanghai may be OK but I remember one poor English guy with that set up at Dalian U of Tech.
He spent the entire winter (seemed to me) holed up at the nearest KFC � as much for the human contact as anything.
I passed on that gig � went next door to the Maritime U.
Same money, beautiful south facing s/c sunny apartment.
I know it�s late in the season OP but can�t you do better?
You have the quals.

Happy Everyday · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 268

20 hours a week for teaching at a uni is a lot of classes. The unis in China used to offer a similar teaching schedule to that of a western uni. I've got a few friends who continue to find such jobs in China.

The abundance of expats willing to take on more and more classes is why some now would say that 20 is normal. I would advise against taking it. As another poster suggests, "can't you do better?"

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

20 classes or 20 hours?
It's important to know.
Each 'class' at my last school was 2x45 minute teaching hours.

MrCali · Joined: 05 Aug 2010 Posts: 7

Thanks for the responses everyone.

It's been made clear that it is 20 periods a week, each 40 minutes. So that's 4 periods a day. We either have mornings off or afternoons off. Doesn't seem to bad to us. That sound reasonable to you guys.

And luckily, my wife and I like each other. We don't really think we'll mind the housing too much. There's a gym on campus, so we hope to spend time getting in shape.

We've been talking with another teacher there, and she says mostly positive things. so overall, it seems like a good gig. And we're not sure we could find something else now. We've been going through offers, job boards, forums, emails back and forth, and everything for a couple weeks. Haven't seen many better than this in terms of $, hours, location, recommendation, and all that.

Does anyone have any specific info about the school and its rep? Or, any hot links to to some crazy awesome job? Thanks ya'll!