Job Discussion Forums

[Nexus11]

I haven't seen many university positions advertised on Dave's recently. What are the usual hiring periods for university positions in China? Also, what websites other than Dave's are good for finding university job listings?

I can understand if Dave's doesn't allow the posting of links to competing sites. If this is the case, I would appreciate a PM with some suggestions.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[igorG]

There have been a few such postings on before, however, following these leads may satisfy few professionals. The sememster has begun and so it's only if there is a runner or something that the uni needs a quick replacement. Keep looking but better times are coming in a couple months or so. Don't forget that the site has only a few jobs. There are many more out there. I'd hire a Chinese to look into contacts that'd lead you on to the right office for applications.

Good luck

[Non Sequitur]

Academic years start on 1 Sept so you work back from there for the main hiring season.
July and August are the summer holiday and I�ve found that FAO staff like to have everything finalised before mid July to allow them to take their break.
You will usually see an upsurge of advertising in May with some early birds even advertising in April.
The second hiring season is for the Spring semester starting after Chinese NY. Ads for this start date start appearing in December � even before. The reasons for wanting new staff at what is effectively mid-year are varied and include schools that just couldn�t get the staff they wanted for September start, staff who have announced that they want to finish after one semester or have been told by the school to finish then. There can be an internally-generated upsurge in demand ie where students have been guaranteed so many hours of native speaker teaching and haven�t been getting it. The guarantees seem to be part of special admissions schemes where students pay higher fees.
Applying is only one part and you should really pay attention to threads on �offer checklists� etc so that you don�t walk into any situation blind.
I�ll PM you with other info.

[GMark]

Good info fron NS there.

Not intending to threadjack, but can anyone tell me how long the application process for China usually takes? I mean the work permit etc. after you've been told you're hired (so you can apply for a visa for China).

Also, what are the lesson requirements when you're teaching in a lecture room? Can you book a room with movable tables and chairs for a communicative English lesson?

I've never taught mainstream classes, just privates and EAP. My certificate course did spend a lot of time on the drunken monkey / game playing stuff, but jeez, I'm getting a bit old for that, hence my interest in university teaching.

Thanks

[Non Sequitur]

Fixed ie bolted to the floor arrangements are my most common experience, although I recall a ranking uni in Dalian I taught at had moveable desks and chairs. These were only in one building though and may have been only for English Majors. My other classes had the fixed set up.
Haven't come across booking of rooms, but I have often taken a class into a nearby vacant classroom for various reasons ie sunnier or cooler or has a better projector. Within one building you are likely to find all classes the same desk wise although some will be bigger.
Generally though there is a reasonable area at the front of the desk area where say 2 to 6 students can perform a dialogue with a reasonable amount of movement.
Moving around activities that involve the whole class are a bit harder to achieve.
GMark's reference to an interactive seems more like the English Corners most unis expect you to lay on in your own time.
The school admins like to see these in an open area so visitors can be impressed at what the FTs do.
With English Corners you never know how many students are going to turn up. I think the energy levels are improved when they're packed in so I try for a little less space.
Re the time question, I think you need to break it down into phases. First there is the time to get a response to an application. Then for the school to get around to interviewing you. Then get the official offer letter which you use to get a visa. The Foreign Experts process occurs after you're in country and teaching so the time taken doesn't have much practical effect other than for you to wonder occasionally 'Where the hell is my passport?'
Get a scanned copy with the uni chop on it if you feel you need something in your pocket when out on the town.

[GMark]

Thanks NS.

A teacher I know appears to be waiting for the official letter, but I know he's been in the process of getting his job for about six weeks. He taught me all about EAP (no thanks to my university), so I hope things go well for him in China. I'm thinking I might be better off in Russia.

[Non Sequitur]

GMark
Your friend should NOT be a martyr.
He/she should have other fallback applications out there.
After all the letter (when received) is only an offer.
Given we are now mid Oct, I wonder what start date the school has in mind?