FAQ:    Information for overseas English speakers/teachers who would like to work
at the Canadian-American School  in Zhaoqing, China 
(Any questions/mistakes/additions? Please email:  jdwomi@hotmail.com)
Last updated July 9, 2005

+ October 20, 2006: "English teachers wanted: who is teaching China's youth"  - must read for anyone interested in working in China

A.  Before you leave your own country to come to China
B.  After you arrive in Hong Kong, before you come to China
C.  Travelling to Zhaoqing
D.  Zhaoqing ("jow ching", both sounds emphasized.  Means "start celebrating"!)
E.  The Canadian-American School in Zhaoqing
F.   Returning to your own country
G.   More information & recommended links

A.  Before you leave your own country to come to China:

1. Who can work in China as an English teacher? .  Starting from the semester beginning February 2004, only "qualified teachers" may get a job in China. "Qualified" at the moment means you have a degree or a certificate of some sort, not necessarily an educational qualification.  A TEFOL/TEFL certificate is adequate in most cases. Each case will be considered on its merits....*** and exceptions can be made...the school will submit your certificate(s) to the local education department ...who will say yea or nay re a job.  You don't need to be able to speak Chinese, but a few phrases can be a great asset.  Willingness to mix & make friends with  English-speaking local people most desirable.

2. What sort of visa is needed for Hong Kong & China?  No visa is needed for Hong Kong. Once you're in HK you can easily (in 2 days) get a one-entry tourist visa for China (except if you are from a small group of countries including Pakistan & Sri Lanka......people from these countries can get a visa in HK if they use a second travel document...e.g. a European passport). Then when you get to Zhaoqing the school will obtain a resident permit for you. This permit allows you to stay for the time of your contract (full year or half year). If you need to leave China during the time of your contract (e.g. to go to Hong Kong) you will need to get another one-entry visa and the school will need to re-apply for a residence permit.  If you foresee you will often need to leave and re-enter China, a travel agent in HK can help you get a 6-month multiple entry visa (for ***c. HK$1,000 which CAS will re-imbuse). Please also note: as far as visas are concerned, HK is not part of China. If you go from China to HK (or Macau) you are leaving China and need another visa to re-enter China.   To work in China you  also need a simple health check which is done in Zhaoqing and for which the school pays. Also needed: a number of passport size photos...for visas, school ID card, health card etc: bring 8 (with dark blue, not light blue  backgrounds)! 
Also: recently some teachers have obtained tourist visas in their own country, then by-passed HK and flown direct to Guanzhou (Canton)...two hours from Zhaoqing, at a considerable saving.....cheaper airfare, no HK costs.  If you plan to fly to Guangzhou, please try to arrive in the morning or early afternoon.  Late afternoon or night makes pick-up more difficult and may mean you need to stay overnight in Guanzhou (...not so simple with no-one to meet you...) ...and....be careful of belongings at Guangzhou airport...recent visitor had traveller's cheques and other items stolen by another passenger (!)  between time he left plane and time he got to customs!
From 2005, CAS will get you a multiple-entry work permit/visa only if you are staying for a full year (two semesters). Zhaoqing Security Branch cannot issue 6 month work permit....and CAS doesn't want to pay for a 12 month visa is you are staying for only one semester. If you are staying for only one semester, you need to get a 6 month tourist visa in HK (cost of which CAS will refund for teachers, but not for teachers' non-teaching family)...in theory this means you are working illegally, but local Security Branch says in practice everything is ok if school regards you as a volunteer and salary is not salary but "allowance". If you fly direct to Guangzhou....with a one-entry one/two month tourist visa from your own country, you'll need to go to HK at some stage to get a longer (3 or 6 month) visa. As far as I know you can't get more than a two month visa from your own country and you can't get a multiple entry tourist visa in your own country.  When applying for visa in your own country, don't say you will be teaching....just going as a tourist.  All of this is very common for working as a teacher in most parts of China 
I don't know of anyone working anywhere in China who has obtained a work visa before coming to China. Just too complicated and very rarely given. I don't know of even one successful case

3. Contract & Salary:  The school will sign a one-semester (= 4 months) or two-semester (= 10 months) contract with each teacher. If you  need a contract in order to get a one-way air ticket,  or would like a contract in advance for security, the school will fax the contract. Otherwise the contract can be signed after arriving in Zhaoqing.  At the moment, our school contract agrees to pay a minimum salary of ***Y4,500  per full 4 week  month (= c. AUD$800; c. USA$560), + provides "free" accommodation (see below) for each teacher. For one semester's work, the school will refund 50% of airfare. For a full academic year's work (2 semesters) the school will refund 100% of airfare. Contracts are 1: from September to June (normal Northern hemisphere academic year) or 2: September to January (just first semester) or 3: February to June (just second semester) or....(which is often the case for people from the Southern hemisphere) 4: February to January (2 semesters) but this Feb to Jan contract does not include salary for July & August (= Summer holidays).  July & August "salary" = return air-fare at end of contract!
If you start half-way through January or any other month, salary is worked out by the number of days worked (i.e., will not be a full month's salary)....and the unfair formula used is: (salary) multiplied by (number of days worked) divided by (30/31) ...should not be 30/31, but number of working days...
And...if you have to leave before the end of your contract for a serious reason (e.g.  family illness) the school will refund your airfare on the basis of the number of weeks worked. 
In practice, the salary is  enough to live moderately on.  Most teachers are able to save a bit for traveling during holiday times. In mid-November 2003, CAS agreed to a minimum salary of Y4,000. Less than this means you will lose money for a one semester contract (after paying for half airfare, injections, insurance, stay in HK, first visa etc). In March 2004 CAS announced it may not pay a full month's salary for January or February because of 3 week Lunar holiday....this will affect teachers who come from Sep to June....only partial salary in Jan/Feb.....this is quite a reduction and should be accurately stated in contract and then agreed to by both sides before you come to China (..name of this game: "Shifting the Goal Posts")

July 04 new problem: if you come on a one-way ticket, how is your air fare refund calculated?? - check before signing contract....One proposal: CAS will give one month's salary

4. Airfare: For some countries and some airlines, a one-way ticket is about the same price as a return ticket. 
Airlines & countries also differ quite a bit  re availability & prices  of 6 month or 12 month tickets.   A one-way ticket will not let you leave your own country unless you have residency or a work contract in the country you're going to......so...a contract is needed for a one-way ticket. Also: certain times of the year (Christmas, Lunar New Year, July-August) are so busy that tickets need to be booked several months ahead.

5. Medications, Vaccinations: Teachers may bring any amount of medicine for personal use. If the amount is  large, a doctor's letter is a good idea.  Health conditions vary from place to place in China. Conditions in Zhaoqing are  similar to those in Hong Kong.  Immunisations recommended for Zhaoqing are:
* Tetanus: primary course completed and a booster every 10 years
* Polio: primary course completed and a booster every 10 years
* Hepatitis B (widespread in China): 3 shots at 0, 1 and 6 months should give protection for 5 years
* Hepatitis A (widespread in China): 3 shots at 0, 1 and 6-12 months for 10 year protection
If you are on medication that might in any way  hinder you from working an 8-hour day 5-6 days a week, please let's discuss this.

6. How much money should I bring?  You will need money for Hong Kong and for your first month in Zhaoqing (..until payday on the 8th day of your 2nd month!). (Rates: AUD$1 = cHK$5 = Y6;  US$1 = HK$7.8)
For Hong Kong you'll need*** c.HK$400?? (keeps changing)  for a China tourist visa (HK$500? in holiday times), HK$300 per night for accommodation (one room, single or double the same price), c.HK$100 per day for meals, c.HK$100-200 per day for travel and sightseeing, HK$200/240 for boat/train ticket to Zhaoqing.  Change money at a bank (never at airport or at a money changer!).  Visa & Master Cards are accepted right throughout HK & China (but as far as I know, you pay 3% to get cash from a Visa card machine. Local card accounts - opened at local bank in China - have no fee attached).
For your first month in Zhaoqing it's good to have about 2,000 Yuan ***(HK$100 = Y105) to pay for meals, travel, and  miscellaneous items you need to buy to get set up in your unit.  Best place to get Yuan is Hong Kong (..at same bank where you get HK$..).

7. What clothing and other items should I bring? 
Clothing: Teachers usually wear casual gear...jeans ok...  Rarely if ever need formal dress. 
Weather: check report for Hong Kong and subtract 4-5 degrees in Winter.  Winter (Mid-Nov to end of March) can be very cool: minimum ***c. 2 degrees , maximum c. 25 (some lovely  mild days). Summer (April-Aug/Sep) is long and hot and sticky (max c. 33).  
Certifcates : photocopies (not originals) of any certificates, of any kind, that you have (school matriculation, university,  music/first-aid/life-saving/computer courses etc.  Please also prepare a resume.  Sample resume.  Certificates and resume are needed to get work permit. And...a simple character reference from someone like a teacher, policeman, J.P., priest etc
Other items: your own CDs, videos, guitar, photos, pictures, posters,  camera - all very useful if you are able to bring them. A few small religious pictures for your unit + personal Bible ok.  Also: tennis/badminton racquet, swimming togs (school has Olympic pool...but this was open for only 2 weeks in 2004 and is now more or less permanently closed "for ripairs"), hiking gear (great hills behind school.....but....need old shoes!)
Can bring your own mobile and buy card here.
Highly recommended: "China" by Lonely Planet.  Excellent for customs, culture, travel, useful phrases etc
Also: Lonely Planet "Mandarin Phrasebook"
Sorry to confuse you but please note: Some  information  in Lonely Planet (the guide book & the phrasebook) is not correct/not up-to-date/doesn't apply in Zhaoqing/doesn't apply at CAS. Things in China are changing so quickly that any book is out of date before it can be printed....something like this FAQ file...trying to keep it up to date is not easy....and it's been modified so many times as to be confusing....a reflection of life here...

8. Insurance: It's advisable to have insurance cover from first departure from your own country to final return home.  Sorry, CAS does not refund this.  (which means, after you pay for insurance/injections/accommodation in HK/visa/transport to Zhaoqing etc....you will be playing financial catch-up for the first 4-6 months, especially if you are staying for only one semester and therefore getting only 50% airfare refund.....which is why we have  lobbied  for a higher salary....was Y3,000, now Y4,500 per month....hopefully will rise again ...) .

9. Print a copy of this info for reference in HK & Zhaoqing!

10. Excellent: "Hints for Australian Travellers", booklet by Australian Government. Most points on the website: www.dfat.gov.au/travel 

B. After you arrive in Hong Kong, before you come to China:

* Accommodation in Hong Kong: HK is one of the most expensive cities in the world and hotels are very expensive. Recommended: The Yang Cheng Guest House, near Jordan M.T.R. Station (Mass Transit Railway = Metro/Underground): 7/F, No. 1A, Tak Shing Street.  Phone 23760263 (but they don't speak English....let me know and I'll help you make a booking ). Cost for one room (single or twin) for one night = HK***$300.  Photos of Guest House  
*** G/F of Guest House building has laundry service
Bus A21 from airport (easy to find, just follow bus signs) goes direct to Guest House. Journey takes about 40 minutes). You need exact change for bus (c. HK$33). . ...stops are clearly indicated & numbered on the bus computer monitor......get off at "Jordan M.T.R." ***(stop no. 11). After you get off, walk ahead (direction bus is going) 30 metres and you'll see Tak Shing Street (on left). Turn left into Tak Shing Street and you'll see a  clearly marked "7-11" shop on the left. The numbers 7 & 11 are in English. Almost opposite 7-11 is the entrance to an arcade.....take lift just inside door of arcade (either side)...will have to open lift's outside door
 ....and  press "7".... as you get out on "7th" floor, you'll be right outside door of  Guest House. Although the staff don't speak English they are used to overseas visitors and will look after you. Rooms are very small, but clean, economical and safe...and convenient for transport. Staff will help you find China Travel  Office (up Nathan Road....to get visa) and will help you get to ferry pier for boat to Zhaoqing.  I can help you buy ferry ticket and have it left at Guest House for you. After midnight, the arcade door opposite 7-11 is locked....you'll have to go around block to door at other end of arcade. 
There's a large internet cafe in Nathan Road between Tak Shing Street and Austin Road. Also a breakfast internet cafe between closest McDonald's and St Andrew's Church (on Nathan Road)

* Keep your airline ticket, ticket bill (showing price of ticket)  and boarding pass - you need them  to get 50% or 100% refund from the school!
* Get China tourist visa, available many places, one is: China Travel Service near Star Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui.  Need one passport size photo with dark blue background.  When filling out visa application form, put "tourism" (not "employment/work"!) as reason for entering China, put "Zhaoqing" as place to visit,  put "teacher" as occupation only if you already have a signed contract, put "Canadian-American School, Zhaoqing" as contact address in China. Visa will be ready in 2 days (can be available in one day for  higher price). 
If you wish to go to HK/Macau or anywhere else while in China, it's best to get a six-month (or one year) multiple-entry tourist visa. The quickest/cheapest place to get this type of visa is from Cosmic Guest House, 12/Floor, Mirador Building/Mansion, 56 Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui - phone 27394952
If you wish the local Zhaoqing Security Branch to extend your visa here in Zhaoqing, the visa needs to be a business visa, not a tourist visa.  If this sounds complicated, it is.
* Use Hong Kong as a time/place for adapting to Asia.....but go easy on Chinese food at first. It's delicious and everyone gets to love it, but if you're not used to it, stay with a 50% Western diet for a little while until stomach adjusts......which reminds me.....toilets in HK & China (apart from hotels) don't provide toilet paper...so when you go out you need to b.y.o
* Water in HK & China must be boiled before you drink it.  
* Chinese custom: receive and give things using both  hands (name card, cup of tea, gift..)
* Traffic: people give way to vehicles, not vice-versa!  And as soon as you get on a bus, hang on! Drivers don't wait for passengers to be seated.
* Many of HK's (& China's) stairways are designed for small feet....need to be careful especially when going down stairs or you might arrive at bottom of stairs ahead of schedule. And...in HK & China, a good rule for walking around is: one eye watching above (for low hanging projectiles) and one eye on the ground (for potholes/disappearing footpaths & steps + dog-droppings etc)
* TV: HK has 2 Chinese & 2 English Channels.  BBC world service radio is transmitted locally & is excellent.
* Near the Star Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui is the HK Government's Tourist Information Centre - excellent.  A free package of info is also available at the airport after you go through immigration and before you go through customs....seek & you will find... Free maps also available at the Guest House.
* If you need dental floss, buy in HK....sometimes not available in Zhaoqing...
* If you are coming from a warm/Summer climate to a cool/Winter HK/China, over-dressing is a good idea. Your body won't feel cold for a day or two...but that's when many overseas people catch colds
* Rosary Catholic Church is only 10 minutes walk from Guest House (near corner of of Austin Road and Chatham Road)

C. Travelling from Hong Kong to Zhaoqing:   Map of Zhaoqing's location in China

Boat: leaves HK each day (from China-Hong Kong City, 15 minutes walk from Guest House) ) at 8.15am, arrives Zhaoqing at 12.15 (exactly 4 hours..). Good to be at ferry terminal by 7.30am in case of immigration delays with large tour groups etc. Very comfortable, big Catamaran made in Fremantle, Australia , holds 400 people, best to pay a few extra dollars for first class (upper deck...no one follows seat number....sit in front seat... ......wonderful views).  Has canteen for coffee/tea etc.  12.15 arrival gives plenty of time to unpack and do some shopping to get your unit set up. Boat photos
(update April 2006: boat no longer running direct to Zhaoqing...only to nearby Gaoming....then bus to Zhaoqing....so trip takes about 5 hours and involves double loading/unloading of luggage)

Train: leaves HK each day (from Kowloon Station) at ***2.15pm, arrives Zhaoqing (at station right next to our school) at c. ***6.15 pm.    Ok, but dearer than boat, not as comfortable as boat, and arrival time doesn't give much  time to unpack and do some shopping before going to bed.

Bus: Not recommended..... usually caught in traffic jams. Often  a 5 hour trip.

 Several days before and a week or two after Lunar New Year    prices for boat, train, bus and many other things (including visas obtained in HK) go up considerably. e.g Boat first class ticket usually c. HK$180 but during Lunar New Year (and maybe some other holiday times ...e.g. first week of May and first week of October) boat ticket will be about HK$280!  Likewise HK Guest House goes from HK$300 to HK$400

At immigration in Zhaoqing, when you fill out the arrival form, for "reason for visit" don't put "employment". Just put "tourism/holiday"!  After you go through immigration and customs,  someone from the school (with a school bus/van) will meet you (from boat/train) and bring you to the school.

At start of each semester there are preparation meetings during the three or so days before school begins....so best to get here at least 4 days before school starts

D. Zhaoqing: Despite frequent pollution (common everywhere in China) Zhaoqing is one of the prettiest cities in the country. It has the famous Seven Star Crags/Lakes and also Ding Hu National Park (one of only 3 World Heritage listed parks in China.... school can obtain a common concession card for unlimited entry to both places ...card costs about Y60...otherwise each entry to either place costs Y50!).  Population according to Lonely Planet is 3,683,400 (= local region).....but actual city population is  c. 350,000.  In recent decades many people from northern areas have migrated here, so what used to be a 90% Cantonese speaking place is now about 50-50 Cantonese/Mandarin.  Almost everyone can speak Mandarin but most  people from the north can't speak Cantonese.  In Cantonese Zhaoqing = "siu hing", with "hing" slighly emphasized.
Cost of living is very, very cheap.  A man's haircut is only 3 Yuan and the most beautiful dumpling/noodles meals can be obtained for only 3 Yuan.   Phone numbers: police - 110; hospital 120
For  mountain views of the city click here   
For a brief history of Zhaoqing click here.    Matteo Ricci spent 6 years in Zhaoqing      Maps of Zhaoqing
Catholic Church in Zhaoqing (Mass each Sunday 8am and 8pm). 
April 2004: a Korean tourist died after being hit by vehicle while crossing road ....here vehicles don't give way to pedestrians....and vehicles (including pushbikes) come from both directions on both sides of any road!
In Zhaoing, only the Bank of China will change foreign currency...and...since January 2005, each transaction requires a photocopy of your passport/ID card

History of Zhaoqing in China Daily  + put "Zhaoqing" in search engine of www.china.org.cn/english/ 

E. The Canadian-American School in Zhaoqing: 
  Phone: (00..)86(China)0758(Zhaoqing)2828999  or 2828444(...if phoning from inside mainland China, just 758, not 0758) 
Local time = Perth, Australia time (2 hours behind Sydney)
*** Main office phone - 2828999 - is a 24 hour phone. From 10pm to 8am it is answered by the security staff in their office.  Almost no-one in both offices speaks English.  Staff in principal's office (2828444) speak limited English

Mailing Address:
The Canadian-American School
Zhaoqing, Guandong. 526040
China

Location map of CAS 

 For some lovely photos of the school and an intro in English, see the school website: www.cas.net.cn   The school's location is really excellent, on the side of a hill, at the base of a mountain (no pollution!) See photos of morning walk 01 & morning walk 02 & Walk 03 & Walk 04
It's one of the largest school set-ups I've ever seen in any country.  At the moment there are about 1,300 students, boys & girls (c.100 kindergarten + c.400 primary + c.800 secondary) all of whom  (including  kindergarten!)  are boarders.  About 50% are locals from Zhaoqing, the rest from nearby, and in some cases  far away, places.  All speak Mandarin and 80% speak Cantonese.
Most boarders go home every second weekend ..a long weekend...Sat/Sun/Mon....and teachers have chance to travel free on school buses that take students home and collect them (...as far as Wuzhou, Zhuhai, Shenzhen, Zhanjiang...)
The school has a staff of c. 300 (!), teachers, tutors, administration, security, boarding, cleaning, drivers (school has 24 vehicles, including 10 big buses!), cooks, gardeners etc.  We also have a 24 hour clinic staffed by ***4 doctors and several nurses....excellent....1 minute walk and 30 second wait and no bill (except for some special medicines; phone 219).  Also a team of electricians, plumbers, maintenance men who also are on duty 24 hours and will fix, install anything from toilets to lights to shelves as soon as requested...and without charge....
...did someone say "no charge"?.....from Feb 04: need to pay for replacements (tap/light/lock)..."this is what you have always done" ?!?!
(June 2004: now back to no charge for replacements....keep watching this space ...)

 ***Some days someone will come into our units and collect  the rubbish (and once every ***month or two will  do a bit of cleaning in the unit). If you prefer no one to come, just let staff know.
Most days there is a free daily laundry service (...except socks/underwear....and....we do our own ironing).
2004: ***no laundry service during some big holidays (Lunar New Year, first week of May and Oct) & sometimes during long weekends

Then there's the Canteen (holds 800) .... meals 3 times a day....soup + rice meal at lunch for 5 Yuan.  Canteen usually open first week of May/Oct but not New Year's Eve or the first three days of Lunar New Year. 
I usually  have breakfast (fruit & cereal)  at home, midday meal at CAS canteen,  and evening meal in local village. 
For info about & photos of our units click here   and here.  CAS no longer has a room for visitors....but local village hotel has excellent rooms ...single Y90 per night; double Y110 per night
Each unit has its own phone (with its own number). In-coming calls are free. Out-going calls can only  be made with a most complicated card and instructions in Chinese.  *** Jan 05 update: Most of the unit phones have stopped working. Best idea - bring your own mobile and buy a local card for Zhaoqing district....costs Y50...incoming calls free...outgoing to Zhaoqing local home phones only Y0.1 per minute, to local mobiles Y0.2 per minute. Service charge of Y10 per month or Y16 per month if you want  text service. To phone outside Zhaoqing I recommend a local card....can be used from public phones (many of them on CAS campus)  Each unit (from March 04) has a TV (not cable, but receives HK English and Chinese channels). All overseas units have a computer with internet connection. Some of the  computers are old and often need fixing, which can take several days (school computer teachers are "very busy"). Internet connection is usually slow, sometimes very slow, sometimes inaccessible. In July 2004, computers were removed from units and stored during Summer holidays (July-Aug).  They were not back in units in working order for nearly a week after teachers arrived for Sep 2004 semester.  *** Each unit has a small fridge (..one large fridge in couples's unit)

Students are discouraged from visiting teachers homes but may in special cases visit in two's or more up to 7pm (except siesta time 12.20 - 2pm) . We are not allowed in students' dormitories (kindergarten/primary/secondary)
Toilets in our units need "added bucket/shower nozzle water" for success for major operations
Go easy on seafood....
When using gas shower, leave window open. Good to turn gas bottle off after each use.
Good Summer Combo: use mosquito net & leave back door open. Make sure windows above doors are open.
There's no "sick pay" in China, so a day off sick is a day off pay.  

Most essential: the ability to wake up on time, get to class early, dress respectably (with footwear) outside one's unit, avoid coarse language in public, don't put feet/shoes on school furniture, keep hands off local women (especially older students). Downloading of pornography on a school computer means loss of job. 
Fooling around with primary students (especially just before or in class) makes discipline  much more difficult for all staff. Smoking permitted in one's unit...not in public on CAS property. Best not to chew gum in class....since students are not supposed to  (...except for medical reasons...)

The school is like a self-contained city....also very secure and safe. Would make a lovely holiday site if it wasn't for the students who are just like students everywhere in the world....mostly good, some troublesome.
To be honest, nearly all our students come from better-off  families and many of them don't have a great interest in study (especially around the 14-17 year level) and break quite a few teachers' hearts (...some 20 out of a total of 158 teachers left the school at end of semester which finished July 2005...). The Blackboard Jungle in China (in private schools) is fast becoming like the situation in Western countries.
Also to be honest,  communication & administration practices  in private schools in China are sometimes disappointing and frustrating ...... There's also the feeling at times (in many institutions in China) that overseas teachers are just being used to attract students....we are often  invited to go (no longer have to go!) on promotions/excursions whose main aim is the seeking of more students....we sometimes feel like Pandas on display....o.k.  if you like meeting new groups of people and seeing new places....with the accompanying feeling that what you teach/do in the classroom is not taken very seriously....

I should say that the boarding set-up here is excellent. All students (except kindergarten) are up at 6.30am seven days a week, Winter and Summer, at 6.45 are on the sports field (primary) or outside mountain road (secondary) doing P.E./jogging....then after breakfast, study before classes.....a sleep after lunch (!...common in China...very, very practical in Summer)...more classes....PE after school....meal...supervised study...bed c. 10.30pm.   On the other hand, many day students (in any country) stay up all night with computer games/t.v./internet...don't get much exercise....too much junk food etc.   Lot to be said for boarding!  And we have long and short weeks which allows the students to go home for Sat-Sun-Mon every 2nd week. 
Re the after-lunch siesta: a sacred time for everyone (especially for some local teachers who do boarding duties as well as take day-time classes)....so we are asked to speak extra quietly during that time (..units are far from sound-proof.....voices outside/next door/down stairs go right through the building. Same after 10.30pm.
*** Increasingly serious problem: secondary students sleeping in class. Most local teachers give in and let them sleep.....one method to keep them awake is a cap full of one's water bottle on their head (after clear warning)

From diary of Oct 26, 2005:  Warning to prospective CAS overseas staff: situation re motivation/discipline etc very poor at moment in secondary school (just as in many other countries).  Many students spend night using mobile phones.....then next day sleep in class....just don't want to work.  Go Abroad teachers (overseas and local) have longest faces in Zhaoqing.....GA students sleep, skip class (then interrupt other classes), refuse to do any work... (even openly cheat in exams).. So....before you come to CAS: get clear decision from Doris on what work you'll have....and if it's secondary (espy GA), come and enter Blackboard Jungle at your risk

....also...some overseas staff have found loneliness is quite a problem....no one your own age/interests...another factor to consider. 

Five minutes walk down the hill from our school, near Zhaoqing's only railway station,  is a busy village/shopping area (called "San Mao" in Mandarin, "Saam Mau" in Cantonese........ a railway suburb to serve the section of track between neighbouring towns of San Shui and Mao Ming) where you can buy just about everything....two markets ....even two little supermarkets.....daily fresh bread....all sorts of fruit.....cereal....short-wave radio for 50 Yuan.....internet shop... bank (can open an account very easily) .....and dumpling cafes!  Thanks Liam/Shaun/Jenny/Garth for English menus for three local restaurants! And...Australian butter and cheese (Sep 2002 discovery!!). Post office (and banks) open 7 days, but to posting mail out of China is very, very expensive (& slow: 3 weeks to Australia). Pre-paid post cards can be bought from main Post Office in city. Phone calls to outside China also very, very expensive (6-8  times more expensive than to phone Mainland China  from HK or from Australia). One help in phoning abroad or long distance: use special numbers like 17909 (*** or 96688 between 8pm and 8am) to cut cost.

Recent change (Feb 04): CAS is giving Y200 per month to each overseas teacher to cover cost of gas, electricity, water,  internet connection. And...when you receive your salary (paid in Y cash) at school office, make sure you personally watch the machine which counts money and checks for forged notes. From September 2005 CAS proposes cancelling this Y200 and instead making all gas/electricity/water/internet free for overseas staff. Power points here are the same as in Australia = small connection (unlike HK which has large UK type)
Update April 06: Y200 per month no longer paid, but CAS covers cost of electricity, water, internet. Teachers must pay for gas (& buy own mobile phone card).
And......two young guys from Australia who were told they had jobs at CAS for summer holidays and Sep 06 semester, on arrival (Feb 06 for volunteer work elsewhere in Zhaoqing until July 06) were told "sorry, too young".....and then the word was "we didn't say we didn't want you" = confusion = be careful to get signed contract before coming...
and ...before coming....get contract to say what work you'll be doing - kindergarten? primary? secondary?  ..work usually not decided till day before school starts and then not much time to prepare...
And....(April 06) secondary jungle getting worse...even qualified highly motivated foreign teachers wring their hands after a few weeks of honeymoon.....many secy students just want to sleep...don't want to work...and can be most unco-operative

Recent problem (April  2004): several local teachers, all women, have been robbed (5 last semester) as they came up the hill at night time. Best not to travel alone at night....

Free boiled water is available from machine outside room 2103....at it's hottest around 1pm & 6pm.
CAS also provides free daily bus service to and from Zhaoqing city. 

2004: use of weights room equipment has become an issue.....will explain when you come

In 2001, 2002 a free copy of "China Daily" was provided for common use of overseas staff. This service was terminated in 2003....and  restarted (?)March 06

CAS has in 2004 been very kind to poor people in local area , donating unwanted shoes, books, clothing....and helping poor people find jobs

Recommended for staying healthy: Let plenty of fresh air into your unit (...germs love rooms with stale air...); don't skip meals; get plenty of sleep during night time; daily fruit; daily walk or run (especially along road/track at foot of hills); don't go out in rain without umbrella/raincoat; don't underdress (weather here is deceptive....."I don't need a jumper"??....keep warm after exercise...don't sit out in cold without extra clothing......notice how local people tend to overdress - especially at turn of seasons when colds/flu are easy to catch). If you feel a cold/flu starting, see CAS doctor straight away....Chinese medicine stops colds/flu from developing. If sick, don't go out......stay home & rest......and avoid contact with other people so as not to spread germs.  April-Nov: use mosquito net....& may need to use coils to combat mini-mosies during day.
Not the custom: bare feet outside one's unit.... 
Teachers are asked to aim at 12 midnight lights out (usually) if working the next day.
City hospital has excellent dental department. CAS does not provide any medical or dental cover, despite vague reference to medical insurance scheme in contract.  No such thing as paid sick/compassionate  leave....so...if you have to spend a day or two in hospital, you pay your own bill and don't get any salary for day(s) missed. 

*** 2005 has seen maybe 20 or 30 (instead of the usual 1-3) days when humidity causes moisture on floors...making CAS beautiful but not practical white tiles extra dangerous. In past 4 years, three overseas people have had falls: Peter B (2001), Bob (2003), Kelsey (2005).

July 2005 - temperature was 40 degrees on several days....and on July 6 reached 42 degrees. Not a good place/time for people with skin problems which get aggravated by hot weather

July 2005 - all CAS buses now leave from Water Tower Gate (not West Gate)

*** A happy day, when P6 students were like angels (..sometimes happens...)

What does Oral English involve in our school? 
Kindergarten: one overseas teacher has each kindergarten class once or more a week
Primary: three overseas teachers together have each primary class once a week (usually diving class into three groups)
Secondary: two overseas teachers together have most secondary classes once a week (usually dividing class into two groups). A third overseas teacher has only Go Abroads

To be honest, in almost every group of students in primary and lower secondary, there are students whose vocation in life is to test the patience of every teacher they encounter. But "we get there"...  Conversation  includes topics/vocabulary  currently being covered in ordinary English classes....whose local  Chinese teachers  are  warmly welcome to join in the English Corners whenever they have time.  The daily workload of each overseas teacher is about 3-4  classes.    Photos of January 2001 English Corner in Canteen with USA visitors  & Photos of Primary School English Corners March 2002 & 2002 secondary & 2002 primary & 2002 primary

Holidays: As well as a 3 day break every second week (whose reverse side is a  6 & sometimes 7 day week), there are many public holidays....especially a week around October 1 (National Day), a week around January 1 (Solar New Year),  and 2-3 weeks for Lunar New Year (February).  For teachers whose contracts overlap the Summer holidays (mid-July to end of August), there's the opportunity to travel around China or get a job in a Summer School .  We work through Christmas Week & Holy Week (including Christmas Day & Good Friday). *** Dec 25, 2003 was offered by CAS as a holiday; all  teachers took classes as usual to have Christmas gathering with students. Dec 2005 also offered as a holiday; nearly all  teachers took the  holiday
During weekends and on holidays CAS also invites teachers to help with promotions  in Zhaoqing city or nearby towns....to find more students.....for which an extra stipend is paid.  www.china8.org >> photos... has many, many promotion photos...

***Jan 05 update: oral English classes finish one-two (secondary) or four (primary) weeks before the end of term....after which primary teachers are asked to help in secondary,  and secondary & primary can be asked to help in kindergarten or with promotions 
And....as in previous years, the CAS calendar has in the past semester undergone sudden and drastic changes. e.g. Dec 31 - Jan 4 holidays were cut back to Dec 31 - Jan 2 .....which means planning trips/activities during holiday time can be a health hazard

There is no truth in the rumour that local staff are not discouraged from mixing with overseas staff (..think about it...)....to avoid catching ideas about standing up for their rights (e.g. the right not to be bullied.
e.g.'s of bullying: can be fired at two hours notice.....you salary will be reduced if your students don't get a 90% average in your subject....you will lose your job if your class doesn't get the best results in Zhaoqing....if you are leaving you will have your salary reduced if you tell your students you are leaving)

Points to check at start of semester overseas staff meeting: (revise E above)
units: unit phones, washing, please mark all washing items with your unit number,  check list of items in unit, students not allowed, fire extinguishers, quiet times, gas + open window for shower, "no gas left" sometimes means heater batteries are flat,  saving water, repairs, main water tap, main power switch, water/power metres, mosquitoes + nets, blackouts, buying gas, keep door locked because of pre-school children, keys, stormy weather precautions
please don't modify/alter computers (including IP address) without ok of CAS computer teacher
classroom: bottle of water, supplies from store-room, windows, lights, doors, air-cons, books, not pigeon English, need to speak slowly & clearly, teacher's name for student's to use, students' names, keys, 
students in class - no food, magazines, CD's, mobiles, + no feet on seats, seating
other: leaving property in free time, school bus times, school phone numbers, school calendar/times, dress, 
not allowed to hit students, local custom/example re interaction  with students, bank account + card, taxi phone number, meal tickets, list of birthdays/anniversaries, copy of passport to office, next of kin contacts, 
common room, clinic, tour of school & village, Mass times, swimming pool (shower at pool before entering pool), add value to meal cards at finance office only after 2pm; laundry doesn't wash blankets; Doris can change Y into any currency; Steve's CD of photos; mail/post office; keep all receipts (visa, air ticket, CAS meal cards, anything you buy for units - especially gas) Update Jan 27, 2005*** Make sure you obtain your "Foreign Experts Certificate" from the school......c.f. Diary January 25, 2005:
On the same theme, during this saga, it transpired that Francis has a Foreign Experts Certificate....(accidentally?) given him last week by school....and......lo and behold....so do other overseas staff...including this old man....has had one for three and and half years but CAS  never got round to telling me/us ...just "kept certificates  safe in office because you don't need them" (same as local teachers' certificates....to stop them leaving...without certificate can't get job in any other school).  How thoughtful.  Back of certificate book says "This certificate/book should be returned to (school) before the bearer leaves China" = it belongs to the teacher and should be kept by him/her!  Mine now in my possession.... 

Problem in last two years: teachers leaving without cleaning their rooms. Unless some kind people give of their time to do this job (and why should they have to?) the next teacher walks into a dirty room and spends his/her first few hours cleaning up a previous teacher's mess

Special times of the year:

F.  Returning to your own country:

To select  a date for your return air ticket, you need to allow a few days for packing up at the end of semester and a day or two for going back to and through Hong Kong.

G. More information & recommended links

*  AITECE    -   a great organization, based in Hong Kong with offices in USA, Canada, Ireland, Australia. Helps teachers & institutions in China make contact.  From an AITECE brochure:

Teachers in China should be: capable, dedicated & kind, authentically human & friendly, open to discovering & appreciating new values/ideas/needs, knowledgeable of Chinese culture, appreciative of Confucian/Buddhist/Daoist concepts of life, have an international outlook, be conscious of Chinese religious sense, be aware of young people's hunger for  meaning in life...
and ....avoid: crusading for democracy, advocating sexual liberation, proselytizing & direct evangelization, cultivating a love for money, projecting an attitude of Western superiority. 

*  GAP (Global Action Program)  another fine organization that sends young non-degree people to China, working for a tiny stipend.

* One of many agencies recruiting teachers for China (...some are good but be careful...many people caught..)

* More China8 photos of Canadian-American School & of Zhaoqing

* One of several CAS advertisements on internet - + grain of salt

* photos of overseas staff at CAS the past eleven semesters:

* Enter "zhaoqing" in any search engine (e.g. www.google.com )  Dozens of sites!