Search found 72 matches

by tangchao
Fri Feb 28, 2014 2:58 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Hanova International Department of Bodi School, X'ian, China
Replies: 25
Views: 45182

Re:

eion_padraig wrote:
> Honestly, I don't think it matters much who the foreigner is that the
> private Chinese high school puts in charge to deal with foreigners. He
> won't have much say in how things are run, and he's probably mostly there
> to deal with the laowai teachers. I'd take a look at the norms for Chinese
> run schools and try to decide if you're okay with them in general.
>
> Chinese schools (as opposed to international school in China which are
> completely different) are run in a very hierarchical way. So if you're okay
> with going with the flow and being in harmony with the administration, then
> you'll be fine. I would say you shouldn't expect that the promises made
> will be honored. What exactly will change is hard to say. In China,
> contracts are often a starting point for continued discussions. Both from
> personal experience and from those I know who've worked in Chinese run
> schools, don't expect decisions to be made well in advance, and schedules
> often change at the last minute. Whether you would be happy depends on what
> you mean by stable.
>
> I think Xi'an could be a fascinating place to be as a foreigner if you have
> decent Chinese language skills and an interest in engaging with the local
> culture. But it would be low on my list of places that are easy for people
> who to have access to an expat community.
>
> Good luck.


Well, you certainly drew a pretty heavily demarcation between Chinese schools and International schools in China yourself mate. The mistake I was trying to correct is that Hanova is definitely the latter. The person who thought that they knew about Hanova had actually been here prior to the school building itself even being constructed yet they went on to misinform the OP.
by tangchao
Thu Feb 27, 2014 2:48 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Hanova International Department of Bodi School, X'ian, China
Replies: 25
Views: 45182

Re: Hanova International Department of Bodi School, X'ian, C

I just found this here and thought I'd better correct some basic misinformation.

Hanova International School (as it's now legally called) is a separate entity to Bodi School that exists in a separate building. It has nothing to do with the 'international' department of Bodi School (which is made up of Kazakhi students here purely to learn Chinese).

Hanova first opened her doors in August 2012 in a new building so the facilities are very new with the chairs, tables and many of the fittings coming from Germany. I think that the person who confused Hanova with Bodi's department may have been here for three hours prior to August 2012.

The school population is currently over 200. It is K-12 with about 50% of the student body being Korean and a decent mix of other nationalities making up the other half.

The international teacher package is actually okay. It is enough to travel and save on. The accommodation provided is not bad. The healthcare to be had in the city is adequate.

The expat group is not purely TEFL teachers in their early 20s; there are many well paid professionals in different industries. Interestingly, there are many foreign students here studying in the city's universities. Whilst the expat community here is a little harder to tap into than other cities, it is worth the effort.

Yes Xi'an is polluted and dusty, cold in winter and can be 'done' in two days; however, there is plenty to do around the place, including travel to Tibet, Xingjiang and Yunnan. In addition, there is a direct flight with Air Asia from Xi'an to Bangkok which takes three and a half hours.
by tangchao
Mon Dec 16, 2013 1:03 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Who has NOT had an interview?
Replies: 42
Views: 45714

This is my fourth recruitment season in the IS scene. This year I haven't sent out a single email. I am just turning up directly at the Bangkok fair and getting in the right people's faces.
by tangchao
Thu Nov 14, 2013 7:33 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Job hunting with non-teaching African partner
Replies: 11
Views: 23796

Hi migratingbird,

I was in your situation when I fronted up to Search Bangkok two years ago except without the children, and a girlfriend instead of a boyfriend!

Speaking from experience here, you will face a massive wall trying to get a job that will consider moving you with an unmarried partner.

I tried saying the same things you are: i. e. that she would be my problem; that I could be responsible for getting the visas for her etc.

They were having none of it. I can understand why now. They were worried about having a teacher on staff that would be constantly distracted with family worries.

Also, I can confirm that most countries do not recognise de-facto or common law marriages. We did get quite a good job in China; however, to clinch the deal we had to get married.

So, the best advice I can give you is: get married! This will put you back in the game. Currently, I reckon you will almost certainly find that you are not in it as things stand.
by tangchao
Mon Oct 28, 2013 10:29 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: I have a girlfriend... but not a wife. Should I say single?
Replies: 11
Views: 16659

I was where you are a couple of years ago. I thought that, like many anglosphere countries, surely the rest of the world would recognise a de-facto marriage as a marriage.

I found out the hard way that there are few countries in the world where you can bring along a defacto partner as if she were your wife.

In the end, we ended up getting married so that we could make a visa to where we are gainfully employed.

Truth is, being married is the same as living in sin, but you just wear a ring.
by tangchao
Thu Sep 05, 2013 8:01 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Cracking a first tier school - how did you do it?
Replies: 5
Views: 9217

Cracking a first tier school - how did you do it?

I have been on the international circuit now for five years and have had little luck getting a break in a first tier school. So far my experience has been limited to start-up IB schools. So, to those teachers who have had success in cracking the first tier, please let me know how you did it.

I am going to have one more go at the Search and my first go at the AASSA fair this coming season. If unsuccessful, I shall consider going back to my home system.

A bit of background may be of help: I have ten years' experience teaching Humanities and Social Science subjects (including History, Junior Geo and recently, Economics). I have an undergrad in Social Sciences and a Bachelor in Education. I have been both an MYPC and a DPC, though both in start-up schools.

I'm having one last go at it. Any advice would be very much appreciated.
by tangchao
Tue Apr 02, 2013 1:23 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Finding a job in SE Asia (particularly Bangkok)
Replies: 23
Views: 40788

What's so great about Bangkok anyway? I really fail to understand the attraction.
by tangchao
Tue Jan 29, 2013 1:00 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Best paying schools
Replies: 18
Views: 49583

Some of the top tier Aussie schools pay their heads in the order of half a million.
by tangchao
Sat Jan 26, 2013 10:24 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Xi'an High Tech International School?
Replies: 7
Views: 15070

Hey mate, I know the school quite well. The pay is ridiculous (10000RMB per month!?) and it will not survive the competition that it is about to face. Also, they have only got candidacy in PYP and MYP so they will not become a proper IB school anytime soon... if at all.