Travels in HE: Great Work Opportunity

Currently I'm based in the Zhuzhou Yandi Institute it’s a great central base for getting to meetings etc locally and only 1 hour from Changsha, Hunan Province Capital. The Institute is a centre for education development focusing on the improvement of English language provision and English language teacher development in the province. It is a very forward thinking, pretty much pioneering project for China.

I work as an External Verifier for the Institute and this role came about as a result of teaching the President’s son, now a PhD Alumni of Swansea University, a number of years ago.

The Yandi Institute is currently looking for two qualified, preferably Swansea University, CELTA trained teachers, must be native British English speaker and hold a first degree. For a starter contract of 10 weeks to deliver English classes, primarily, to two local middle schools approx 15 minute walk from the institute and 30 min bus ride.

The main aim of the roles are, working under the direction of the DoS and senior teacher both native English speakers, to encourage communication, via topic based input, in large groups in the middle schools and generally contribute to the day to day running and development of Yandi’s English Language centre.

This is a brilliant opportunity to experience China in a city, that I believe, offers an excellent introduction to this country as it is small, safe and has large open areas. The people of Zhuzhou City are super friendly, warm, generous and welcoming. The staff in the institute, from the cleaners to the President, are simply lovely people who will go out of their way to help even if they do not speak English.

The package on offer is:

10 Week Contract (starting as soon as you can get here)
Visas paid for
Return flights to the UK
Free Accommodation – You’ll live in the Yandi Institute in these really well appointed 3 bedroom apartments. Free Wifi, Air Conditioning, 40” inch flat screen TV, leather 3 piece suite, large double beds, desk in each bedroom etc.
3 meals a day - served in the dining room, all prepared by the kitchen staff and all very tasty.
Take home salary of 4000 RMB per month = £100 per week which is almost double that of local teachers and offers a great standard of living as accommodation and food is covered. Example of cost of living+ Bus fares 10p, 1hour taxi ride £20, shorter trips £1, beer 35p per litre, a decent meal for two in a good restaurant £7-10.

There are plenty of Western outlets if / when you miss home - MacDonald's, KFC, Pizza Hut etc but the food is so good here you shouldn't!

What is required of you?

The main thing is flexibility, China seems to operate chaotically on a day to day basis, this week for example all Western goods were banned in one supermarket and taken off the shelves, then the ban was lifted and shelves restocked! Be prepared for change of duties at a moment’s notice etc!
Prepared to work harder than you’d expect at times, as in all roles this is a prerequisite these days.
Dedicated to offering an excellent experience to your students and to maintain the professional standards required of a quality English language teacher.

There is realistic potential of kick starting or further developing a real career with this opportunity as Yandi is forging ahead with real groundbreaking plans.

If you have read any of this blog you'll see that I've fallen in love with China, I haven't lived here but have good friends that have and wish they'd come here when they were younger.

Here are some pictures: