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). 

Guiping - Teaching Retreat

Welcome Sign at the High School

Every year the school I teach for sends its teachers on a 3-day retreat to another city in Guangxi Province. The purpose is to conduct English lessons at Chinese high schools and exchange teaching methodologies with the staff. This year we traveled to Guiping, a 'small' Chinese city of 1.8 million, approximately 4 hours Northeast of Nanning - the provincial capital.

Our bus arrived in style to our hotel, with a police escort. The mayor and members of the local communist party were on hand to welcome us to the city. The kind reception we received was a good sign of things to come, as the retreat produced a couple highlights:

1) I have never seen a Chinese high school before, thus an opportunity to teach a lesson at one was met with excitement. Upon arrival me and my colleagues were paired with a Chinese teacher and directed to their classrooms. All of us foreign teachers went in different directions and anticipation built as I heard applause and shouts echoing from behind; a sign that some of my colleagues had made it to their designated classrooms. I came to a large building at the back of the school grounds and was led up several flights of stairs. As I walked down the hallways, classes came to a standstill with students cheering and climbing over each other for a better look. After the dramatic entrance, I arrived in the classroom and the students excitement was like nothing I have ever seen. Clapping, screaming and a pair of students grabbing each other and shaking violently to top it off! It was as if a skid of Red Bull and Skittles had been airdropped into the classroom. It's something I will always remember, given that I'll probably never experience it again.

Overall the lesson was a great success as we talked about Canada, sang songs and showed each other our 'special abilities'. One student sang a Lady Gaga tune, one flexed his pecks back and forth like 'The Rock' and one even gave me an English beat box welcome. They were surprisingly well behaved (there were 89 students in the class!) and were very keen when it came to learning about North America. Many of the students come from a low socioeconomic background and have probably never seen a Westerner before (up close), which explains much of the excitement. They are also in school 7 days a week, from 7AM - 10PM and live in dormitories on the school grounds. I imagine that my lesson was a much needed break from the strenuous lifestyle of a Chinese high school student.

A Lazy Susan, Within a Lazy Susan, Within a Lazy Susan

2) Our hosts treated us well during our stay in Guiping, especially when it came to the meals. Extravagant food was served (mainly meat dishes), with a dozen courses for most meals. Private dinner rooms were rented for the occasion, which came equipped with motorized Lazy Susan's (especially helpful for the 22 person round table), washrooms, a bar and lounge seating. It's customary at formal dinners to toast all guests, whether in groups or individually. Around half of the toasts ended with 'Gam' which is the same as saying 'Cheers'. Meanwhile, 'Gambei' (dry cup) was uttered for the other half, which means that you are expected to chug your drink. Copious amounts of red wine was served, with Baijiu (40-60% rice liquor) reserved for communal toasts. Opposing tables are sometimes matched (and wagered) against one another, to see who can 'outdrink - outlast - outplay'. Like it or not, the Chinese will argue that this is a part of their culture and those that don't participate, risk being ostracized.

Overall, the trip was a culturally enriching experience and I was able to educate students on the English language, along with the home country of Canada - which I love so much!

Teaching in China - Sino Canadian International College

I just finished my second week in the classroom at SCIC and it has been an interesting experience. I teach English to first year University students and have four different classes: Listening & Speaking, Writing, Reading and an English Interest Corner. Some of the major changes in comparison to a North American classroom:

- There is an utmost respect for educators amongst students and behavioral issues are minimum.

- For many, I am their first foreign teacher. Hence, it was easy to understand why they we're so nervous during the first few classes.

- Participation can be a problem and you often have to start 'calling names' - something which is discouraged back home.

- Chinese students go to high school for 12hours a day, 6 days a week. When they come to University it is the first time in their lives when they actually have enough free time to take up various sports, hobbies and to pursue love interests

- Every class has a junior communist member. It was not hard to figure out who it was in my classroom, as only one student filled out that their hero was 'Chairman Mao' on my 'Who Are You' questionnaire. Stay clear of issues regarding Tibet, Tienanmen Square and Taiwan.

- Classes are close knit communities. For example, my students will often come into class early to study and they will plan weekly social activities.

- The student - teacher relationship is somewhat different than in North America. For example, I have weekly lunches at the Cafeteria with groups of three students. It helps the students 'gain face' amongst their peers by going for lunch with their foreign teacher and they will not let you pay for lunch - no matter how hard you try.

- Plagiarism is a major problem in the classroom. For most, this is the first time in their lives where copying is not allowed. The Chinese way is to copy...I mean borrow...and then find ways of doing it more efficiently, both time and cost wise. Due to this, creativity is stifled.

- Since Facebook is blocked by the Great Firewall of China, students here use something called QQ. Picture MSN Instant Messenger circa 2003. That is what QQ is here. You will not meet a single student who does not have it.

All in all, teaching in China is an amazing experience. I would highly recommend it to all those out there. Living accommodation is usually provided and the work hours are highly agreeable. For many teaching jobs here, all you need to be is exotic (a Westerner) and have a regular B.A. If you have your B.E.D. even better, as it will open up the doors to many more positions, prepare you for the classroom and ladder you up the pay scale! An ESL certificate is also handy.