Teaching Review: Sino-Canadian International College (SCIC)

For prospective teachers at SCIC (Sino-Canadian International College) I have composed a brief review of the school.

SCIC 2 - teaching building on bottom right. 

Positives:

- Only 16 teachable hours a week.

- Excellent students who are throughly interested in learning. 

- Behaviour issues in class are minimal. 

- No inspections or class observations by administration. Relatively, stress free classroom environment in which you are free to teach the way you want. 

- Teachers accommodation provided (on campus). The accommodation is quite good by international standards, especially if you get a lakefront flat. 

- Everything you need is on campus (cafeterias, cheap street food, small grocery stores).

- The campus is beautiful, with small manmade lakes and an abundance of green-space.  

- You get your own office, complete with computer. 

- New desktop computers were purchased in 2011 and you can get one for your flat. 

- Fairly decent classrooms, with computer and projector. 

- Great international staff (Americans, Canadians, Aussies, Brits, etc). 

- Abundance of things to do in Nanning. 

- The cost of living is very cheap. A 710ml bottle of Tsingtao beer is 4RMB (75cents). 

Negatives: 

- The pay is low (around 6000RMB or $1000/month). 

- Administration can be a pain at times. They have a way of doing things their way, with little to no staff input. 

- SCIC is a back door entrance to Guangxi University. The students who do not get the grades to get into the regular University system, are given an alternative option. If they fork up the money, they can attend SCIC for two years of English training. Once complete, they will be allowed into the regular University system.

-  Year 1 English teacher = 40 student class. Year 2 English teacher = 80 students. Year 2 content teacher = 200+ students. 

- A 30-40 hr work work week can be expected with marking/planning. 

- The winter is cold. Classrooms are not insulated or heated. It clouds over for 3 months and rains.

- Is not an internationally accredited school. This can make it more difficult when applying to international schools that use Canadian/British/American curriculum. 

Summary  

If you are looking for an amazing cultural experience, look no further. I don't regret a thing about teaching at SCIC - it was an excellent experience! 

If you are chasing dollars, look for work at an International school (Grades KG-12).