San Migs
- 2011-10-05
I arrived here some years ago after flogging my mobile chip van. It sure beats being a chippie
This linguistic marker is very familiar. Were you not a toilet cleaner, in a past life, in ye olde england?
San Migs
- 2011-10-03
People have mentioned Nanchang's 'backwards' attitude and I have to agree, and it makes living here very hard. I am seriously considering doing a runner in the middle of the night.
You are right, and I don't think anyone should be too critical of you.
I would avoid that place, as I have learned from bad experiences it is to be avoided. The problem is unlike guangdong province for example, the population has been static, and very little has changed over the years.
There are better places to find and work at.
Cheers
SMGS
asd
- 2011-10-03
Just leave but don't tell anyone before you do it. That's what I did. It aint worth putting up with poor pay and teaching/living conditions in China cos life is too short and there's lots better places to go and earn some decent dosh.
Chinese Whisperer
- 2011-10-03
Everything's relative, my friend. Once the culture shock has worn off, you'll be just fine. I've also been through what you're going through right now. Keep your pecker up and enjoy yourself in your oodles of spare time. Don't crucify yourself on account of your disinterested students. Forget about them and pursue those interests you were eager to, but didn't have time to develop, back in the capitalist west.
I arrived here some years ago after flogging my mobile chip van. It sure beats being a chippie. I'm happy every day, and I guess the young Chinese ladies in scanty clothes have kept me young at heart, and possibly young in mind too. Take it easy, coast along and be seen to be doing, even if your heart isn't in teaching. Head down, never complain, and be a super optimist. That's the way to be. That's how to fit in well with your wily Chinese colleagues. and never get angry at students - they'll just laugh at you. Let them be happy, and keep them happy. Smiles go a long way. Thank your lucky stars you can make a good salary by doing next to nothing. In truth, you're a lucky dog!
Dear all,
I am currently a FT at Jiangxi Modern College in Nanchang. I really don't mind being in Nanchang, which is a pretty boring place, but the classes are making me truely miserable. I'm teaching 18-21 year olds who have no interest in learning English and the good ones' English is very poor. I want to be a good teacher and to do good job but I feel that I can't communicate with them. I am learning Chinese but I don't want to rely on it too heavily in class. The school pretty much ignores everything I do. I have lost my temper with students ignoring me and thrown them out of my classes, but so far I have only gotten in trouble with the leaders for walking out of a class because the students couldn't count from 1 to 20 (they have been learning English for 6-7 years, and I was at a loss as to what to do). The hot water in my flat was broken, so they got an electrician in to sort it out. He was about to leave when I tested the boiler, and I got an electric shock. I called my waiban and it turns out that he didn't put the earth wire in, so I could have been killed. Their attitude was, 'It's fine'. People have mentioned Nanchang's 'backwards' attitude and I have to agree, and it makes living here very hard. I am seriously considering doing a runner in the middle of the night. I don't think I'm being unreasonable or over-reacting, I was under the impression that I was hired to teach oral English, not babysit adults. If anyone could provide any insight/advice for my situation, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.