for Millana - Days of Our Lives

[Mr Nobody]

I can see both. But someone, lotus i think, has a red x for an avatar.

[Jollyjunklass]

Ruth,

I think, first off, you need to make your picture smaller through whatever software it is you use to upload your pictures IE, photoshop. Make it into a tiff or gif file, can't remember which is smaller. Or keep it as a jpeg and resize the image by say 50 to 75%.

Then upload it into photobucket, do not change it there, did you read the red warning. Then in photobucket you see three options, they are URL, tag, IMG. Copy and paste the IMG, 3rd one down and nothing else.

If this doesn't work then I am not sure what could be wrong. But when I say your picture is huge, it really is huge. Just out of curiosity, Bond, do you see it huge, also?

It's not hard Con, go to photo bucket, it will tell you to choose file, click on that. When you click on that, your options come up and then search your desktop or home folder ,and pick the file you want, then PRESTO, scroll down the page and you should see your image. Then do what I told Ruth.

[Mr Nobody]

at first huge, now small.

[Jollyjunklass]

HELP,

Can someone help me as quick as possible. There has been this school I have really wanted to work for, it is my number 1 choice. They just emailed me asking for a phone interview. It will be done through another foriegn teacher. Does anyone know what they may ask, I want to be prepared.

Thank-you

[George61]

Nope, not me Millana. I have never been interviewed by another foreign teacher.
POSTING GUIDELINES for pics are written large in the PHOTO thread.........600pixels across is the ideal size. Any more and Raoul gets the poos.

[woza17]

I wish I was interviewing you. I am in good mood and would enjoy taking the piss out of someone.
Now Millana where do you see yourself in 5 years?
What are your weak points?
What are your stong points?
Can you use chopsticks?
Do you mind being asked this question?
Do you like Chinese food?
Why or why not?
Do you mind being asked this question?
If a complete stranger says hullo to you, how would you react?

I would be very interested in the questions you are asked keep us posted.

Good luck
Woza

ps. Pack a good corkscrew . I have broken 2 already today trying to get this bloody bottle of wine open.

[Jollyjunklass]

Woza, I'm serious, I want this job bad. HELPPPPPPPPP

[Ruth]

Millana - relax. We had a phone interview. Took some time hooking us up. He'd email a time he was going to call and then wouldn't be able to get through. But our interviewer was Chinese. The conversation was really simple. There were no difficult questions. Mostly about when we could come and what ages we thought we would like to teach. He told us a little about his school. I think they just want to hear you speak. Don't be drunk and slurring your words. Speak a little more slowly than usual and ennunciate carefully.

On the other hand...the foreign teacher calling to interview you might be like woza, or worse.

[Mr Nobody]

Millana, I emailed you some lists from the course I took. Have a look at those.

[Ruth]

I don't see your picture, Millana, and still can't see mine. But Mr. N said it was smaller now than it had been, so decreasing it in photobucket must have worked. I'll try shrinking it before I post it there and see if that helps here.

Trial and error. Thanks for the feedback, George, Mr. Nobody, Con and Millana. I WILL learn to do this.

[Jollyjunklass]

Thanks a lot guys,

Now I can get some sleep, it's 5:30 am here. I've been carrying on with some real bad sleeping habits lately

[Jollyjunklass]

It's not smaller on my end Ruth, try what I said, did you read it.

Hmm, if you can't see mine, when others can, that's weird. Do you have any blocks in your server preferences?

[woza17]

Millana i just did? Ruth is right. It's clear speaking and that you don't sound like a nutter. (save it for here) I always try and put on my best speaking voice. I try to do BBC world service and VOA.
Don't worry you will be in like Flynn

[Lotus Eater]

Good luck with the interview Millana. Stress the work you have previously done with young people, and your ability to communicate effectively with them and to create programs.

Fingers crossed.

Did my stint as Question Master at the preliminary knockout round for the CCTV speaking contest for the University. It was held at the new campus - most of the universities here are building new campi (?) further from the city - much to the students disgust.

On the way out I was told that next semester I will be in great demand as a coach for the students and that I may be asked to judge at the provincials for this contest.

Further if I was interested in a new contract, the university would be very willing to have me. My current contract doesn't complete until January 2006! So they are getting in really early - I haven't even completed one semester here yet.

I finally got some sleep at 1:00am Tuesday morning Ruth.
Coming up - Thursday night - karaoke with the Chinese teachers and some stray western volunteers (NOT teachers - panda rescuers) Had to turn down 2 offers of heading to new tea houses with different groups of Chinese friends.

Friday night - outdoor BBQ with Chinese friends followed by a goodbye party at a local bar for one of the previous colleagues

Saturday - concert at the Con - plus concentrated paper marking!!

Sunday - mountain climbing.

The last couple of days the server has been dodgy and I haven't been able to visit Raouls - and found I had a little more time for reading. But now I have so much to catch up on - disappear for such a short while and everything changes!!

[Jollyjunklass]

I see you guys out there,

What city do you like best of these three, Zhuhai, Hangzhou or Nanjing.

Thanks

[Newbs]

Can't speak for Zhuhai, but I've lived and worked in the other two. Six of one, half a dozen of the other, IMHO. They've both got their good and bad points. But I know for certain there are lots worse places in China. PM me if you want more details on Nanjing or Hangzhou.

Newbs

[con's fly is open]

Millana, just remember for things:
1. They need you more than you need them;
2. look them in the eye- fake confidence if need be;
3. when asked your favourite age to teach, sound flexible- don't come out too strongly in favour of anything; and
4. when asked what your weakness is, mention some crap about be TOO dedicated or some such.

Good luck, not that you'll need it.

[woza17]

I have been to Zhuhai its good, not as good as Dalian but nice Macau is just across the road and I really like Macau

[Jollyjunklass]

Thanks Woza, Newbs,

Well I had my phone interview. It was by some British guy. It was pretty easy stuff, I think I had more questions then him. There are a few things that didn't sit too well with me. Actually, I just got an email this second saying I have the job, if I want it.

I was going to say that they wanted me to go there on a visitor's visa and then get my visa once I dealt with them. I said no I know many teachers in China, lol, that's you guys. And they have warned me against this. He said he had never heard it being done this way, however, he would inquire.

I then asked them the bit about sharing the apartment. They said for an extra RMB 800, I could have my own place. Considering the contract I just looked at that is a bit heavy when compared to the income. The income will be 3,600, plus 44 for this extra stuff, ie English corner, training, etc. for a 3 mth probationary period and 3,800 for the remainder of the year.Had I had a TEFL certificate they would have added on another hundred. Total hours work will be 21 hours. Overtime hours are 100 yuan.

I am reading as I am writing this, and the apartment business is starting to look quite manipulating. Comical almost. They pay 5000 in airfare and no holidays.

I have just decided that I think I will pass, I am getting quite a few offers so I think I may be able to find something better. I really wanted this one because of it's location. But, there are also other locations I'm interesting in.

What do you guys think?

Honest this is crazy, because I just got another offer, it's in Fuqing City, Fujiang province. It's a public college. Man, are there ever a lot of jobs there. no one here would ever believe me if I told them this. It's unreal.

Do you guys feel I should at least try to get the airfare covered, free apartment and around the 4000-5000 range with 12 to 16 hours. Is that asking to much. Remember I have no TEFL and no experience over there.

Can I have some feedback on what you feel is fair. Also should I try to stick to public as opposed to private.

Thanks guys.

[Mr Nobody]

Personally I figure that I want to be there,then the airfare is byebye. Now we talk living expenses. However, I would also figure end of year package that includes airfare as being a bonus to spend as i like.

So, he said, now talk large flightless birds. Turkeys? Forget that, I am talking emus.

[burlives]

millana said:

Do you guys feel I should at least try to get the airfare covered, free apartment and around the 4000-5000 range with 12 to 16 hours. Is that asking to much. Remember I have no TEFL and no experience over there.

With no experience and no tefl cert (oh yeah, that counts!), the things you ask for will be provided by a uni or a college, preferably not negotiated through a recruiter.

Private Language schools, like Kid Castle, will ask you to do 20-30 "hours" a week, maybe some of it "off-site", and will provide shared accomodation or a small, small stipend for an apartment you find for yourself.

And if they offer to pay you so little as 4000, you are free to say bad words. Four thou is a salary for us pinheads who need everything but our teaching material provided.

[George61]

Millana, I would tell him to take his job and put it where the sun don't shine. Too little pay for the hours. Don't settle for anything less than 4500 and your OWN apartment....with all utilities paid, except for phone calls.
I wouldn't worry too much about getting your airfare paid over, but it should be paid home. I did come over on a paid fare, but for one reason or another have never got re-imbursed for going home. The minimum to accept is 4500. One Medical College in Tai'an is advertising 2600! Some places have a wonderful sense of humour.

[Jollyjunklass]

Thanks Guys,
I sent them a letter saying no, so I will just check out the ones I have and look for new ones.

I keep getting schools through some recruiter with the email [e-mail] Some of the contracts look pretty good, but they are ridden with spelling errors so I don't know how serious to take them. Also, say you go with a recruiter, I always try to find the school on the net first, is there anyway you can make them guarantee that you are going to get the school that they claim you will get. I would be peeved, as anything, if I got there and they rerouted me to somewhere I wasn't that interested in.

Is there some type of clause I could get them to add into the contract. If so, would it stick?

[con's fly is open]

The spelling/grammar mistakes indicate that they don't currently have a foreigner. If the gig's in a small town, that can be pretty isolating- take it from me. If it's a big city, I wouldn't be spooked.
You could just ask pleasantly if they could fill in that specific school's name and location in the "____________, hereafter referred to as 'Party A'" part of the contract.

But I'm curious to hear how the others feel on both points.