Post by gengrant on Dec 27, 2005 9:00:45 GMT 7
<caution, the following is a rant and school bash>:
Okay, I am not really sure if I can bash a school here or not, but I'm gonna do it anyway and let the poo fly.
Manhattan Kids Club in Shenzhen (Party Central) is a hoax. While I can't say that they completely lied to me, I can say that they "misquoted" themselves quite a bit. While they pay 10,000 RMB per month, the teacher is expected to pay for everything: housing, food, visa, health check, taxes. When it came down to it, my pay each month was really about 8,000 RMB once everything was deducted.
They got me to sign on by telling me that they were using an "American" curriculum. This consists of buying a HUGE amount of Scholastictm books for their library, which were NEVER used. The head teacher (who got her job by default - she's been there longer than anyone else (2 years)) is writing her own curriculum and you must follow it TO THE LETTER or you get written up. A trained monkey could do this job...all they want is a foreign teacher "robot" that has no creative ability and is willing to say exactly what they want you to say and do exactly what they want you to do. So if you sign on here, don't bring any creativity with you! Also, they claim to be the FIRST International school in Shenzhen, but they have NO international students.
The facilities are a joke. No internet availability (some other teachers apparently "used it inappropriately."), a copy machine that is broken more than it is usable, one black and white printer hooked up to the librarian's computer (that is not accessible unless you have asked permission). Supplies and laminating are available if you have requested them at least 2 weeks in advance and are not necessarily going to show up. You must get approval from the Head Teacher (who is on a huge power trip)...and you must tell her exactly why you need to have it.
You are given 1-1/2 hours to leave the campus for lunch (the nearest place to eat is at least 30 minutes away) but you must punch the time clock in and out and are docked pay if you punch in late. The working hours are 8:10 to 5:10 M-F and 8 to 12 on Saturdays. all the time you are there, you are expected to be working, but since your lessons/curriculum is handed to you, you spend most of your time being bored silly...I recommend bringing lots of reading material (for yourself) if you take a job here.
Trust me...you leave each evening from this place feeling completely exhausted! and your weekends end up running out too fast!
They do not organize trips or get-togethers (the boss says she is not a "social" person), and the Chinese assistants are told not to socialize with the foreign teachers outside of class.
As a point of fact: when this semester ends (January 21, 2005), they will have 3 foreign teachers and 5 chinese staff leaving...again, the head teacher will be there the longest!
Finally, back to the head teacher: she is a divide and conquer type of person who loves to micromanage...if there are no problems going on, she will create them just so she has a "fire to put out" to show the boss that she is working hard...and the boss will ferociously defend her.
Any further info needed, PM or email me.
<end of rant>
Okay, I am not really sure if I can bash a school here or not, but I'm gonna do it anyway and let the poo fly.
Manhattan Kids Club in Shenzhen (Party Central) is a hoax. While I can't say that they completely lied to me, I can say that they "misquoted" themselves quite a bit. While they pay 10,000 RMB per month, the teacher is expected to pay for everything: housing, food, visa, health check, taxes. When it came down to it, my pay each month was really about 8,000 RMB once everything was deducted.
They got me to sign on by telling me that they were using an "American" curriculum. This consists of buying a HUGE amount of Scholastictm books for their library, which were NEVER used. The head teacher (who got her job by default - she's been there longer than anyone else (2 years)) is writing her own curriculum and you must follow it TO THE LETTER or you get written up. A trained monkey could do this job...all they want is a foreign teacher "robot" that has no creative ability and is willing to say exactly what they want you to say and do exactly what they want you to do. So if you sign on here, don't bring any creativity with you! Also, they claim to be the FIRST International school in Shenzhen, but they have NO international students.
The facilities are a joke. No internet availability (some other teachers apparently "used it inappropriately."), a copy machine that is broken more than it is usable, one black and white printer hooked up to the librarian's computer (that is not accessible unless you have asked permission). Supplies and laminating are available if you have requested them at least 2 weeks in advance and are not necessarily going to show up. You must get approval from the Head Teacher (who is on a huge power trip)...and you must tell her exactly why you need to have it.
You are given 1-1/2 hours to leave the campus for lunch (the nearest place to eat is at least 30 minutes away) but you must punch the time clock in and out and are docked pay if you punch in late. The working hours are 8:10 to 5:10 M-F and 8 to 12 on Saturdays. all the time you are there, you are expected to be working, but since your lessons/curriculum is handed to you, you spend most of your time being bored silly...I recommend bringing lots of reading material (for yourself) if you take a job here.
Trust me...you leave each evening from this place feeling completely exhausted! and your weekends end up running out too fast!
They do not organize trips or get-togethers (the boss says she is not a "social" person), and the Chinese assistants are told not to socialize with the foreign teachers outside of class.
As a point of fact: when this semester ends (January 21, 2005), they will have 3 foreign teachers and 5 chinese staff leaving...again, the head teacher will be there the longest!
Finally, back to the head teacher: she is a divide and conquer type of person who loves to micromanage...if there are no problems going on, she will create them just so she has a "fire to put out" to show the boss that she is working hard...and the boss will ferociously defend her.
Any further info needed, PM or email me.
<end of rant>