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Q: Can somebody give me info about China Edukeys (Project of Global Access-PGA)?
I would like to have further information about an open job position to teach German at Hangzhou. My employer seems to be China Edukeys. They run a PGA (Project of Global Access) program with top public highschools in China. Got no Idea about teaching conditions in China. Can somebody in net (maybe somebody who already teaches German at Secondary school) help me?
8 years 44 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - China
Yahoo-gle has some links on 'China Edukeys'.
Here is an old thread from Dave Esl Cafe on 'Edukeys':
Thank you icnif77. If you have more suggestions to give me I would appreciate it. I am a qualified teacher and know about the teaching job conditions here in Europe. Unfortunately nothing about terms and conditions in China.
icnif77:
Wait few days, maybe somebody is currently working for them.
Search Dave's ESL Cafe and Yahoo-gle for more threads/info on 'Edukey'.
Name of the Co. is very corny, what is usual for Chinese Co., but that review on Dave's wasn't so bad. It was from 2010, so it doesn't mean, Edukey is good Co. today.
Standard Contract in China offers beside salary (and working hours required), return flight ticket home (refund), free apartment, salary in Winter and/or Summer recess. Ask for the photos of the apartment, if possible.
Don't come to China with any other visa but Z. This is only legal visa for work in China. If you'll come to China with any other visa for work purposes, you'll be illegal, and to get Z, you'll be required to return home, and apply for Z in Chinese Embassy.
If you're qualified teacher, you should look for the job adverts from International Schools in China. Just scroll through Jobs website, top R of the screen for couple of days, and you'll see offers with salary, working/teaching hours, benefits and documents required.
Big thank you for your second reply. I beg you pardon as English is a L2 language for me. What does "very corny" mean? I think in the next day I am going to launch the same question to the German community. I hope there will be no problems if I write in German. It is a tricky situation for me. Again, Danke dir (thanks), icnif77!
icnif77:
'Not commonly used name in English'. Chinese mostly aren't fluent in English, and they either misspell their English name, or they add two words and make one: 'education + key + education' = Edukey Education.
My spell check is US English, and puter changes 'edukey' to 'educe'
.
However, Yahoo-gle has link on Edukey Education. It was established by Brit and Greek man:
http://www.edukey.co.uk
Chinese probably just run School/Placement agency under the same name. 'Unauthorized copy'
Ich spreche (ein bisschen) Deutch. Not too often, thou.
Wenn du es mir erlaubst werden wir uns auf Deutsch schriftllich unterhalten. Ich fuehle mich einfach besser mit der deutschen Sprache (ihr seid ja alle Englischlehrer so wie ich das verstanden habe). Ich werde in den naechsten Tagen vielleicht wieder mit dir schriftlichen Kontakt aufnehmen (nur wenn du Lust dazu hast!!!).
Eine Frage moechte ich dir gerne noch stellen: ich habe mit einer Agentur ein erstes Jobinterview gehabt wo man mich einfach gefragt hat ob ich Deutsch fliessend spreche. Natuerlich hab ich geantwortet! Wie versteht mein Arbeitsgeber dass ich perfekt Deutsch spreche und schreibe? Wird mein zweites Jobinterview (mit dem Schuldirektor) in deutscher Sprache gehalten oder besteht die Moeglichkeit dass ich mit einem englischen Bewerbungsgespraech eingestellt werden? Das beunruhigt mich ein bisschen. Komm aus einem strengen Arbeitsumfeld. (Entschuldige fuer die fehlenden Umlaute)
Wuensche dir einen angenehmen Abend und wie gesagt "Danke fuer deine Rueckmeldungen". Stuttgart1
icnif77:
You're going to get 'assassinated' by Native English posters here.
I'll use translator.
You should be aware that Chinese aren't fluent in English or any other language for that matter. School has some students, who want to continue study in Germany, so they need a German teacher.
If they want to conduct interview in English, it isn't because they want to see your English fluency. Either they have a foreign English teacher working for them, and she/he'll conduct Interview in English, because that's the most common/only foreign language in China. School's Principal maybe speaks passable English. That's it.
You'll be hired as German teacher, and I suppose English isn't required at your teaching. If they want German teacher fluent in English, ask for double salary.
You will get many stupid questions in China. Don't worry. Just answer 'of course'. They aren't fluent in any other language, but Chinese, so they must ask 'if you're fluent in German language (speaking and writing), despite you're Native German speaker/teacher'. If you wouldn't be fluent in Chinese, and you would interview Chinese teacher for German school, you would also ask many stupid questions in Chinese.
If they'll show you a contract, take few days and read it, and think about. Don't sign it right away! You can ask Q here about the Contract, and you'll get answers and guidance from old-timers in China. Very important: 'Don't greet them in English at interview. Tell them few sentences first in German, then switch to English'. Good luck!
I taught at PGA my first year in China (2010 - 2011). Solid company embedded in public high schools all over China. Uses Australian curriculum that is fairly effective (I taught English). Offered decent accommodations and I always got paid on time. They offer a 10 month contract, but I think you can get half pay in the summer if you sign a two year contract. Your biggest issue might be with your Director of Studies, depending on which school you work at. My buddy worked for PGA in another city and he ended up having to leave early on in the year because of his DOS. Apparently, she was a real b**ch and docked teacher's pay for the slightest mistake. My contract was not renewed because my Director of Studies wanted to sleep with me which I considered professionally unethical behavior. Also, the salary is low compared to similar programs. Good luck!
icnif77:
'DOS with English ability lower than FT'. That's for sure good Co. set-up.
I worked shortly for Tangshan EF in 2009 as Non-native, with DOS from S. Africa, who knew his job in detail. It was pleasure to work with him.
Quinn68:
Her (my DOS's) English was surprisingly poor for someone in her position. On of the other FT's would always speak very slowly and clearly, precisely enunciating each word so there was no ambiguity and she'd understand. I adopted the same strategy and use it when talking to most Chinese people today.
Are u sure u want to stay in Hangzhou ? I stay there for almost 3 years and now moved from there this month ,the air pollution is terriable.
Teaching as a language teacher in China is easy but very different from western education,,,,ummm, be relax , I think the most important thing is don't use normal think way when u deal with problems here .
Try to learn Chinese,it is helpful if u want to live more happier here .
Herzlich Willkommen in China.
Dear Quinn68,
this is a horrible thing what happened to you. I am getting really scared. I am happy about the fact you got decent accomodation and you were paid. I seems to me that foreign people are being molested. You are a man and your friend is a man. What is the normal approach in China to poor female European teachers?
Dear Ninthcold,
I can stay only for 10 month - a short abroad experience - then I have to go back. I am a State teacher with permanent teaching contract. Impossible for me to learn Chinese and I am not interested in. Would like to teach German (nothing else). Please can I ask you "Are Chinese students good students? Do they improve with their language skills?" (or will I risk to end up in a monolog?)
Dear icnif77 , excuse me that I have been writing you in German. You convinced me, I will definitively ask Q for help, if I have to sign up the contract. Please can you give references?
To all of you colleagues, big thank you. Stuttgart1
icnif77:
No excuses needed. I'm Non-native English teacher.
Just post another question about the contract, as soon as you get it.
Ninthcold:
Well , the key point to determine whether students learning positively is their learning motivation,it is depends on ur teaching place also.
If u work in a high schools in the university city of Hangzhou, the situation will not be so good if these students just want to pass the final exam,as I know,just very few students in Chinese schools really want to learn a language them use it in real life.
If u work in Zhejiang University,maybe better, it is really hard to say u won't suffer from monologue because this is normal in Chinese classes.
Anyway,not be too frustrated during ur teach time if the situation is not on the way , just do what u really really well to do .
Quinn68:
Stuttgart1: I talked to some old colleagues and found out who your DOS will be. I used to work with her and she's a really nice girl. You'll be in good hands, so don't worry:)
How will they know that you speak perfect German?
Just say a few sentences to them 
Because they really have no clue... that's how jobs work here
As a 10 year teacher in china, i finally got ripped off from Edukeys in Shanghai which of course is connected to Beijjng. They owe me 4000 after sending me waiting in HK and Hanna the manager disregarded any of my calls and failed to give work release. so becareful never trust this organizaiton
icnif77:
Enter 'SAFEA' in search above for address and contact numbers in your Province.
Dial them, and they'll sort your employer ASAP.
School must give you Release letter and FEC Cancelation Cert. in 30-days after your last working day. ----->Chinese law!
