I do not know who the previous poster is but would guess it is someone who worked as a teacher at Alcanta Vocational School prior to my arrival here in 2009. As such, I cannot respond to his comments much further than to say that, as a former teacher here, he is likewise entitled to express his own opinion. There have been some changes here in the last several years, however.

At present, Alcanta Vocational School and Alcanta College effectively function as separate schools, and there is no transferring of teachers between the two campuses as I heard there was in the past. Alcanta Vocational School is in Tonghe in the north of Guangzhou, which admittedly felt a bit remote when I began here three years ago, but is now (since 2010) on the subway line six stops from Tiyu Xilu in Tianhe, which definitely makes a difference. I like the school's location next to Baiyun Mountain actually, but yes, it is not in the city center, and it is not the same school as Alcanta College, which has its campus next to the Guangdong University of Foreign Studies.

Some of the students here come to vocational school because they didn't pass the senior-middle-school entrance exam, and some because they want to start working earlier. But yes, the students here are not on a university track and instead will go directly into jobs or on to two-year college degree programs after graduating. I like the students here though, and most of them want to learn. You're going to encounter students who are a "pain" no matter where you go--I don't think the ratio here is any higher than elsewhere.

I personally disagree with the poster's viewpoint that it would be advisable to avoid Alcanta. It seems teachers have had varying experiences here, but mine has mostly been positive, and I believe most teachers teaching here currently would concur. If you are considering working here, certainly take all you read on this page into consideration, but contact me or other teachers, or come see the situation for yourself, before passing final judgment. Thank you.