Pros
Pros...well, there's many I suppose. The job is stable, I've never had an issue getting paid on time, every time. Stock shares were a nice addition. Insurance is ok. You make great friends. The kids can be a delight, especially when you're having a bad day. You're in a safe environment...(except when Tianjin blew up that time)...You gain experience. There's usually after school projects you can become involved in...The CEO (owner Sherman Jen) and most BC superintendents are quite approachable believe it or not. You may catch their ear, but you may not too. You have an opportunity to learn Chinese language. The holidays are paid, and long usually. And there's many. I'm sure there are other pro's, but mostly limited to your own ability to adapt to such a different culture. I've seen people stay for years, and others leave in a day. So it can really depend on your own constitution. If you expect Maple Leaf (or China) to pacify your cultural idiosyncrasies, and change itself to better suit your way of life, then of course, you'll be disappointed, and like so many others, find yourself raging and complaining at the smallest things. The school is no different. Yet many believe because it holds the BC accreditation, it should be the same as though you had stepped into a Canadian high school. That's probably the first big surprise. Avoid the naysayers and chronic complainers. You'll meet many. It WILL affect you.
Cons
It is difficult to separate the school from the culture of China. At least for me. So instead of writing an opinion piece, I will try to just simply list a timeline of events so to speak, as they happened. And let you draw your own conclusions. Started out at X amount of salary and 20 classes per week. Maybe 21. Was given a raise (after three or four years of teaching) of 500 US dollars more per month. Not bad. Immediately informed afterwards, that our teaching will now be raised to 25 classes per week, plus clubs. That was soon raised to 30 per week, because of teacher shortage. After reaching the point of exhaustion, we went back to 25. Still, this term, at least one teacher was required to do 30 classes. As of this writing, most schools are at 25 classes per week, plus clubs ever second week. You are told to present an idea for a club. Frequently, your own ideas will be rejected in favor of something more academically based. There will be no supplies, no resources to draw on other than your imagination and the internet. And whatever you choose to buy. I have spent thousands (RMB) on my classes. I'm told I could hand in a receipt. I never do. If I was better organized, I might get the receipts. On the other hand, a limit of probably 500 rmb or maybe 80 bucks will start to raise questions. That's 80 bucks for the entire term, though I have never been told a limit. I buy the stuff. I forget about it. Sometimes the kids will kick in some cash if they want something special. Point is: no resources but what you decide. Computers in the classroom are rife with viruses...students use them with their own USB's...wiped tons of files off my own USB, and infected my computers too many times to count...still have them. Almost unavoidable. No policies for misbehavior, no consequences for students who continually disrupt class and refuse, outright refuse to listen, obey rules, or apply themselves. None. Don't let them tell you different. There are NONE. We were told point blank by our director, 'this is a business..' Any classroom issues, ANY, will be the sole responsibility of the teacher. The unspoken, (and often spoken) rule is thus: 'if there are ANY issues in the classroom, it is the fault of the teacher." You will be held accountable. You will receive no support, or if any, perhaps they will tell the students to apologize. I had three students expelled by having them sent to the dean's office. After other teachers agreed the students were indeed an issue, they were all sent home, for one week. A welcome rest for the kids from all their studies. Upon their return, nothing changed. Nothing. It is a business. Period. And the kids are the cash cow. Keep them in school. Regardless. (I can't speak for all schools and programs, just my experience) I spent weekends, after school and some evenings working with kids, tutoring them and giving up free time. During one event, I arrived at school at 7:50. (schools begins at 7:40) My first class was at 10:00. I was taken into the dean's office, informed of the rules, given a reprimand that was witnessed by two other office workers, one of whom took notes, sent a warning email, and a transcript of the 20 minute meeting. As far as I can recall, I never missed a class, nor was late for a class. Admittedly, there were times I did not make the 7:40 bell and rolled in 10 - 15, and sometimes 20 minutes later. Ok fine. Whatever. But it wasn't a large habit and probably didn't require the large canon to deal with it. You will NOT be heard, by anybody at any level of administration here. No-one. If you are in ESL, you are basically left to the whims and desires of however they want to treat you. If you complain. You will be labeled. You will make yourself a target of some petty person who's only ambition is to retain their own position, and climb the corporate ladder. (I speak of the Chinese side..and if you are ESL, that is the only side you will know)...You may get lucky and get some support in the immediate, but it will cost you dearly in the end. You will be driven mad by the request for detailed lesson plans. Somebody got it in their head a few years ago that lessons plans were the god of education and god help you if you don't hand them in. Good luck with that. You will have new students dropped into your classes in the beginning of terms. "Do you have a text book?" No. "Do you ask for one?' No. Yes. They don't have any they said." (ESL) You will have 4 levels in your classroom. Out of 30 students (average), you will have 2-3 stars, 2 who want to be stars, 15 middle of the road, 7 who probably don't know a tree from a post, and 3 who will test the very limits of your patience with their constant disruptions, for the which there will be nothing you can do, except whatever your skill and imagination can foster. Again, good luck. Shipping your stuff home: great if you live in Vancouver. Other than that, you're pretty much on your own, no matter what the contract says. I was told i had to pay for my own crates. By the time I paid for the crates, and the extra mileage (I don't live in Vancouver), the money leftover for this 'free shipping' will cost me about 500 dollars or more. Plane tickets. Great! If you live in Vancouver. Though, to their credit, you can do U-fly anywhere in the world and they will reimburse you. Shares. Awesome!, given over three years and told in the second year (of receiving them) my contract will not be renewed for the third year (of shares)..with no warning, and no indication that it would be so. Just an email. No warning letters or reprimands and a 90+ approval rating by students. (Yes, the students rate you). My colleague, the same. Shares cancelled after 2 (of 3 years....they award shares, and spread them out over three years.) As far as all the other stuff goes, canceling/changing classes, last minute notices, people walking into the middle of your class while you're teaching, having somebody stand at the door with a clipboard keeping track of you while you walk into the office in the morning, ignoring common sense, disregarding your ideas, threatening deductions for infractions, intimidation, bullying, and ....well, you get the idea. Maybe its China, maybe its Maple Leaf. Its hard to see the forest for the trees sometimes. Would I do it again. Oh sure. But only for 2-3 years. Beyond that, you''ll probably grow bitter.