Teed Off
- 2018-03-29
Having completed a year at this school, I have to say... WTF!!! In all my years of teaching, I have never seen such a bunch of incompetents working, much less running a school. From the moment I got there I was lied to, pushed from person to person when I complained and when I finally threatened to quit, was told to stop complaining because I suck as a teacher and no one likes me. It got so bad that I eventually just stopped talking to anyone and no one noticed. In my years as a teacher, this school has to stand out as a special piece of rubbish and I am astounded that you dared to come to its defense with your soppy "The majority of teachers blah blah..." Are you ^%*^ kidding me? Did school give you some extra money to put out a puff piece? Actually, you are a nice person and I had wished to get to know you better, it was just that the amount of bullshit that you put up with was amazing. I wonder what your previous school was like for you to think this school was ok. Anyways, I wish all the people staying good luck and hope you can swallow the lies and BS that management keeps making up to get everyone to shut up. I am out of here and will delete Changshu International School from my resume first chance I get. In no way do I ever want anyone to associate me with a place like this. May C[edited] burn in hell for all her lies and deceits, I hope her lying tongue shrivels in her mouth. I should have known better, no one gets to that position in a school without being a conniving two-faced lying scumbag. Fool me once, shame on you...
Jefferson
- 2017-06-05
Thank you for your 'honest' review. It’s wonderful that you have time to put out such a beautiful piece on your school. But as my ganny used to say, “You can’t polish a turd” Did you really think that that all your shady behavior wouldn’t catch up to you. By “you or your”, I don’t mean you personally, of course. I can separate the two issues and I am sure you are a wonderful person. I do mean that pile of steaming horse doody called Changshu International School. I lived on a farm as a child in the US and I can tell you, if you find dead fish in a river (which actually happened at your school, I believe) you shouldn’t eat it. Your school is suspect, not because they are liars, that’s a given. No, it’s because I saw professional teachers with real qualifications walk away in disgust after a year or even before, while “teachers” with “real” qualifications, who I wouldn’t trust to organize a kegger at a frat house, thrive. So you are comparing training schools to CIS, hey? No wonder, your standards are so low. I am sure you will do well, if that’s your comparison. Congratulations on making the big league btw, I am sure you will be happy there.
If you want, just an opinion, compare it to other international schools and you will see the rot.
Good on ya for toughing it out though.
FTinPRC
- 2017-06-01
After a negative post written about my school
I've taught for over a decade in China. I have often used the phrase: my students. I have never used the phrase: "my school".
Damage control aside, your relationship with 'your school' makes you an unreliable witness.
NES FTs looking for employment in China this year have more opportunities than at any time in a decade.
Why risk employment at a school which has received negative reviews?
Grade 4
- 2017-06-01
After a negative post written about my school a few teachers and I realised that most people only spend the time to post negative things. I wanted to post a more realistic representation of where I work.
If a teacher doesn't want to come and work here that is there decision but they now have the opportunity to read about the school and make up their own minds. Being well informed before you come to China will help you in the long run.
Everyone that comes to China will have different experiences but if you have an idea of what to expect and are realistic about what working in China is like it will be a lot easier to enjoy your time here. Thinking that a Chinese school will be like a school in America or England can lead to lots of disappointment and frustration but that doesn't mean Chinese schools are bad, just different.
FTinPRC
- 2017-05-31
I want to give an honest review of Changshu International School.
Why? If you are busy working at a school where you are happy, as you contend, why are you taking time to read school reviews online and adamantly defend the school? Have you been conscripted by your employer? Why do they feel the need to do defend themselves online if they
?keep so many staff year after year
Your effort to burnish the tarnished image of Changshu International School is more believable than the past two posts, but, like expert witnesses hired by defense lawyers, your motives are suspect.
If your drug of choice is caffeine and you want to see your students grow in a friendly
environment, then come here.
The job market for FTs in China is now so competitive, new FTs would be foolish to risk working for any school that is a subject of online debate. Glowing reviews, like glowing Orbs, illicit amusement and derision.
I want to give an honest review of Changshu International School.
I have been here for 2 and a half years so far and have signed for a new contract. The majority of teachers currently working here have signed new contracts and are returning next year. There are many staff that have been here for 2 years now. For a school in China to keep so many staff year after year is positive and shows how the foreign staff feel about the school. A lot of teachers come to China to travel or for a short career break so a lot of schools experience some turnover each year but the retention rate at Changshu International School is rising. The school is new compared to the other established schools in the city. It has been open for 6 years now and has primary and secondary departments.
The foreign administration are friendly and very supportive. I have worked for training centres here in China and this is my first school that I have worked for and I have felt supported, welcomed and a part of the team the whole time I have been here. I have worked for places where I have felt like my health or well being was secondary and where I didn't have a voice, but at CIS the staff, both local and foreign, are supportive, open to new ideas and look after each other. My co teachers are amazing too. They are very hard working and have welcomed me since the first day that I got here.
The school teaches foreign curriculum to Chinese students who also keep up with their Chinese curriculum at the same time. It can be busy, but all schools are. The class sizes in the international department are between 18-30 per class and each class room on the international side has an interactive whiteboard (well they are interactive tablet things).
The school is about 8km from the city centre and I live closer to town. It is a distance that is easy to ride and the town is flat which is easy to negotiate. The smog levels here do get bad (compared to Australia) in winter but it is not bad in comparison to the rest of China. We get many days in spring, summer and autumn where we have blue skies. The city itself has a lot to offer. The art gallery gets regular interesting exhibitions, the museum has a good permanent display and there is a big mountain with parks and a cable car which is beautiful. There are a few foreign supermarkets, foreign bars, a new cocktail bar, different restaurants and we even have a uniqlo now. It is a small city but it is friendly and homely.
If your drug of choice is caffeine and you want to see your students grow in a friendly environment, then come here. The work is hard but it is rewarding and you will be working alongside professional staff. 