Ningbo Institute of Technology

Try somewhere else!

Negative:

I now agree with another poster on the web who said the Head of English here, is a racist who'll trump up 'complaints' at the first available opportunity, if she doesn't like you and have you removed, regardless of the extra workload that will put on the remaining taechers and the FAO staff in finding replacement teachers. I've known this happen three times during my year here.

The Foreign language dept is appaulingly run. Ancient textbooks, teachers given inappropriate classes (Foreigners teach grammar, Chinese teach pronounciation, and so on); 1 weeks notice to teach a course that has no curriculum nor materials nor even an A4 sheet of guidance, two printers for 80+ teachers, paper is rationed, but the Leaders go on tours of the US and OZ and the students pay 18,000-28,000 a year just for English. Classes doubled up so you get 60-70 instead of 30-35, with no extra pay, which happens because they can't hold on to enough teachers.

You have to argue for every benefit you think you've already established, and watch closely you actually get it. Example: Salary agreed verbally then written down 500RMB less per month, Visa and medical expenses taken out of salary when they said they'd pay them. If you watch this carefully and argue long enough you'll get them back, but really, why bother in the first place - just go somewhere where you don't have to bother.

And you know, I read most of this from another post somewhere else on the web last summer (and the year before), after they asked me to answer the enquiries of an interested applicant; I answered honestly on the negative points, but promoted the better points and helped them out. Now they've fired another colleague for an unsustantiated rumour that had no bearing on his work, for which he was industrious and talented. For me this is the last straw. Foreign teachers at this school are trash, the bottom of the heap, no matter how good you are, they can and will cheat you, or drop you at any time.

There is more but this is about all I have the energy for.

Positive:

I'm leaving soon :)