San Migs
- 2015-08-17
One challenged a burglar in his apartment and was stabbed.
Effing hell!!
uno
- 2015-08-17
Linfen Normal University has better quality students than the likes of Yuncheng University.
Two former FTs of LNU were older males who died tragically while working there. One challenged a burglar in his apartment and was stabbed. The other suffered a fatal heart attack while clubbing downtown and somewhat inebriated in a KTV room. Hence younger jobseekers are preferred by the FAO.
I would think an FT who is reasonably competant and co-operative with the heirarchy will not have his teaching criticised in any way by the head of English. It should be an easy gig.
Pollution levels are, I think, the major negative factor that prevents the university from attracting more than the occasional western jobseeker.
SJB
- 2015-08-02
Linfen itself is your usual Tier three city, smallish, one of everything, traffic not to bad.
The pollution is sometimes very bad although Linfen has cleaned up its act due to the fact it was getting such a bad reputation so these days its generally better than the rest of Shanxi as a lot of the factories and coal mines have been shut down.
Regarding the Uni you mentioned, I went there for an interview. Pretty standard really. Foreign teachers apartments were some of the best I have seen actually. What did turn me off was a comment from the FAO "we don't worry too much about foreign teachers lessons, we just care that you are healthy", you can draw your own conclusions from that about how the students might value your lessons.
The salary offered was pretty good to be fair for a Uni gig.
If you are just starting out its probably an okay choice notwithstanding the above comment but thats my own personal opinion.
Ex-TC
- 2015-08-02
I would steer clear of China altogether. Especially Linfen?
Would brings you here? A degree in media studies?
The Truth
- 2015-08-02
Extremely bad air quality, it is on the fast train Da-Xi line, next major station, and thus very close to Yuncheng by time.
ralec123 knows more. Skype him.
Kevin
- 2015-08-01
Hi Damian,
You can invite me to connect with your Skype. My Skype is ralec123 with a black screen as part of my profile. I have information for you, I shall speak with you then.
Hi
I have seen many posts about Shanxi but nothing specific about Linfen.
I am thinking about accepting a University position there. It seems a standard University deal. I was just wondering if anybody has any knowledge of Linfen in particular Shanxi Normal University?
The main thing that shows in Wikipedia is its record pollution level but I believe that things are better these days.
It will be my first time in China. Should I be looking elsewhere?
Thanks for any advice.