Job Discussion Forums

[ZenMonkey]

For the life of me, I cannot find any information regarding this school online. The initial blurb states:

Hebei Institute of Vocation and Technology (HBIVT), which is located in Shijiazhuang city(the capital city of Hebei Province),250kms from Beijin , has over 20 years vocational education history as well as higher educational experience, is a provincial high vocation academy college approved by the State Education Ministry and governed by Hebei provincial educational executive department.

So I am assuming this wouldn't be university job, but rather a vocational school. I've read that the problems and unmet expectations are less at these schools than at private k-12's although university jobs are better. I hope I have this right.

We've researched a lot about Shijiazhuang and it certainly seems livable.
My wife and I have been in correspondence with the school. This site has been invaluable towards directing the right questions to ask. There are some questions that have been bugging me and I've been unable to find the answer.

1) How can I tell if this school is registered/certified by SAFEA? I've studied over the information presented at: http://www.china-tesol.com/SAFEA_Guide/safea_guide.html but have found no comprehensive list. The English version of the SAFEA site: http://www.safea.gov.cn/ has not been of much use, as the English translated pages aren't working.

2) I asked the woman that called if she was a recruiter or affiliated with the school itself. She claims to be with the school, so I inquired about schools that my 9 year old might attend, and she replied there was a great school for only 400 rmb a year. She stated that it wouldn't be a problem that my son speaks no Chinese. Of course I looked into the international schools, and well...I can't afford that. 400 rmb isn't much considering the salary offered, I am just worried that she was exaggerating the "no problem" with my son fitting in or communicating.

I have read several threads on taking a child to China while Mom or Dad teaches, and my wife and I decided that if the school for 400 isn't working out, we could homeschool. I'd still like any suggestions on this matter if they're offered.

The bottom line is that my wife (28 with BA in English) and myself (29 with MA in English) are interested in the job, interested in the locale, but haven't really spoken to anyone other than the school's contact about it. Any tips would help sway my decision.

Steve

[Teacher Lindsay]

Steve

Have a look at the following site:-

http://www.google.com/search?as_q=Hebei+Institute+of+Vocation+and+Technology+&num=100&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&safe=images

" so I inquired about schools that my 9 year old might attend, and she replied there was a great school for only 400 rmb a year"

Steve, do you really believe this? - USD50.00 per year?

"She stated that it wouldn't be a problem that my son speaks no Japanese."

This is true, and understandable here in China.

Where are you Steve: Canada or USA?

How easy is it to get a MA there?

Cheers

[Nate]

[ZenMonkey]

Lol....I kept thinking...Is that sarcasm? Or being genuine....and then I'm like wham--I'm a moron. Of course I meant Chinese, not Japanese. The last few weeks have been hectic. I'm finishing my thesis and preparing for two conferences...and in my spare time (and well past my bedtime) have been reading the boards...about JET, about NOVA...I've called around (and been called at 3am) to get info, insight...to get a handle on what our options would be if we choose to work overseas.

My apologies.

Steve

[august03]

There are many Primary Schools that charge only 400RMB but they cram 50 students into one room, and yes it would be a problem that your son does not speak Chinese!! All the classes would be in Chinese, and they work so hard!!

Maybe you should look for jobs in International schools that way you may get a discount for your son, or try to get a job in a city like Shanghai or Beijing where there are many expat kids and schools. You could earn up to 16,000RMB a week at International schools, I'm sure that would cover your son at an English school.

[Roger]

Two observations:

"Vocational" versus "university": I recently taught at a self-proclaimed "college", and one of my classes was - secretaries! Tell me: do secretaries in the USA need an uni degree ("uni" and "college" often get used interchangeably!).

Tuition:
I believe you can get tuition for your kid for RMB 400 a year, but what kind of "tuition"? Yes, Chinese class-style. Not to be recommended. Inhumane. Reminiscent of a herd of sheep crammed into a rabbit hole.

[ZenMonkey]

Well, to bump the post:

I've been in contact with 3 teachers at the school--two Australians, and one from the Philippines. My wife, son, and I are looking to head out in August, a month before the position begins. The family from the Philippines has a 9 year old girl and she has given me hope that my son would survive in the school, and as I mentioned before, we would homeschool if it doesn't work out.

I guess my primary fears now are that the pollution might trigger my allergies, but then again, I've lived near Houston all my life.

[Wolf]

ZenMonkey, I don't know much about that school ... but for the love of CHRIST don't go to work at NOVA! Whatever you do. You've got a wife and kid to think about. You're far better hacking it out somehow in China than working for those deamons.