Messages by Danilo

Oh, PS Matt: We need teachers for next year although we still don't know how many. Some applicants will be for Faye Lieu and some will be for this company that I just joined www.scqidao.com

Just a little info re MARS, Matt. This company is not licensed to hire foreign teachers. I have been on Travel Visa (L Visa) since September. Travel Visa can be extended for 30 days in China 2X and the third time I need to travel to Hongkong. I have travelled to Hongkong twice for that. MARS gave me the run around many many times with reasons like, 'oh it will be ready next week', 'something is just missing', and the most idiotic reason given was, 'the photocopy of your passport is not clear'. MARS do not pay on time either. Last April I had to tell the manager, "I am not going to teach until I get paid!". One time she offered, 'I can it to Business Visa (F Visa) but you have to pay me 3000RMB. I was furious because it is their responsibility as per the contract we signed.

I just joined another company that is duly licensed to hire foreign teachers and I am helping them with preparing documents in English. This company does not only hire foreign teachers but also help students with homestay programs, foreign tours, etc. This company is the one that helped me obtain a Working Visa. I am currently helping them set up an English website coz it is still in Mandarin.

Hi everyone,
I am writing from the city of Mianyang in Sichuan Province, PRC. I am currently employed by a crappy company called MARS since September. If you hear of this company somewhere, please don't even think of contacting them. I will give the details of all the evils this employer did to us teachers to those who are interested. Also, here's a school I want you to avoid: Dongchen International School of Mianyang. If you get an offer and are told you will be working here...please pass. You will be dealing with a crazy woman who will scream at you on the phone. The classes you will be given are called Sino-US class 1, 2 & 3. These are the students who are going to the US not because they are smart but because they want to avoid the very very tough university entrance exam here in China which I'm sure they won't pass. They are children of very rich Chinese and are given the privilege of bringing in ther laptops into the classroom. You will be lucky if you have an audience when you teach because some of them are playing computer games, others listening to music and others are texting with their cellphones. Senior 2 already failed TOEFL once and I believe that with study (or actually 'No Study) habits they show, they will keep taking and failing TOEFL until they are in their mid-40's.

Hi Jed and other graduates

If you want to try teaching in China, here's a good employer. Try to contact her.

I am travelling with a group of Chinese students on tour which I call 'O Canada Cultural and Educational Tour 2012' during the second half of July and would like to meet Global TESOL graduates who plan to work in China. Depending on your preference, Faye's Schools are mostly in northeast China.

I decided to help her because she had been asking me to come to one of her schools yet up to now I am still stuck in Sichuan Province. I will work for her starting September. She forwarded to me 3 school profiles today...3 postings although 1 is solely for female teachers only.

Faye Lieu
Maple Professional Resources Exchange Inc.
www.mpre.ca
Cell: 15054286137
SKype: faye420

Hi Jed and other graduates

If you want to try teaching in China, here's a good employer. Try to contact her.

I am travelling with a group of Chinese students on tour which I call 'O Canada Cultural and Educational Tour 2012' during the second half of July and would like to meet Global TESOL graduates who plan to work in China. Depending on your preference, Faye's Schools are mostly in northeast China.

I decided to help her because she had been asking me to come to one of her schools yet up to now I am still stuck in Sichuan Province. I will work for her starting September. She forwarded to me 3 school profiles today...3 postings although 1 is solely for female teachers only.

Faye Lieu
Maple Professional Resources Exchange Inc.
www.mpre.ca
Cell: 15054286137
SKype: faye420

To make sure you can save, don't aim for the large metropolitan cities. I accepted an assignment at a government-run middle school for just 60 RMB per hour. But since I was provided with an apartment all inclusive, I am able to save a big chunk of my paycheque. It also depends on your lifestyle. I sleep when it's time to sleep...I don't do pub crawls. The best part of your stay here is when you are requested to teach part-time by some private 'English language schools'. Presently, I have 22 day classes (40 minutes per class) Monday to Friday but on the side I get 18 classes per week on the side (1 hour per class) evenings and weekends. For the month of March I got 14,000RMB. My monthly budget (food, etc) could only run up to 3,000 RMB. Some school even provide free lunch and even dinner sometimes.

Nikolas, you are right: Educate yourself prior to departure! Those first two comments obviously are from those who did not perform this essential. It is always part of good preparation; Educate Yourself. Also, trim down your attitude of superiority. China is aware that they are needy when it comes to learning the English language. They need you to help them so make sure your reason for coming to China is to teach English. If you come to China to milk their educational system or to be bosses instead of subordinates, you'll be disappointed and leave with a lot of regrets and anger. If you come to China for the right reasons, you will be content and happy. Of course there are a few bumps on the road and sometimes you have to make some little sacrifices...that's part of life...that's part of being a good teacher.

Hi Niko,
I am not sure how far you are from major metropolis like Beijing perhaps. But I agree with you "some" North American stuff could be tough to find. Regarding deodorants; stick type ones are not on sale here. I am desperate for my Old Spice stick and I can't find it even in Hong Kong. They have a few of those disgustingly sticky roll-on brands like Rexona and also some spray like AXE, Adidas (I threw it after one use coz my skin got swollen and felt like it was blistering), etc. As for gifts, anything not "Made in China" would be appreciated. The kids would love those little buttons with Canadian or American flags in them. If you are from Canada, you can request for a few (maybe 30 pieces) of those from your local MP. Also, my students when nuts when they saw my left-over Canadian coins. Even dimes can go a long way... If you have some National Geographic or Canadian Geographic magazines, please carry some. I know they're heavy but they are favourites for your students to browse and even be part of your "get-to-know" first sessions.

Hi Dave,

I would like to know if you are interested in working here. We have an urgent need for one more ESL teacher and for some reason, the task to find that teacher falls on me and I can think of anybody else. It is really urgent...as in ASAP...or hurry up if you're interested. Please send me an email at dovilleis@yahoo.ca for more details. Here, it's a smaller city (relatively speaking) and pollution is minimal PLUS apartment is provided..a nice one. Please think about it.

Hi Dave,
I really do apologize a million times for not sending you a quick reply. I remember you were on your way to China in late spring and inquired about similar things...what happened? You did not get the job? Where are you now then? The answers to your questions depend on so many factors. Learning Mandarin may be easy for some but challenging to others. Local co-teachers from my school is trying to persuade me to study Mandarin but I think I am one of those hopeless ones. Chinese words are usually heavily accented and if accented incorrectly, it could mean something else. My attempts have brought my class into hysterical laughter. Also culture shock could depend from individual to individual. I lived, worked, and studied with a lot of Chinese people in Canada so culture change is maybe only half-shocking for me. Regarding the "visa situation" I have not heard of any difficulty worth noting. I also don't have any idea about the military or police asking for your passport when you board the train.