Maple Leaf International School - Tianjin TEDA

#71-Third Avenue, TEDA, Tianjin PR China 300457

www.mapleleafschools.com

City of Tianjin

The school is located in the TEDA (Tianjin Economic Development Area) of Tianjin. Tianjin is the third largest city in China and is only 130 km from the capital, Beijing. It is one of the four Chinese municipalities directly governed by the Chinese central government. Tianjin is a city rich in history and culture and like each part of China has its own unique cuisine. Tianjin is a great jumping off spot to explore other areas of China or Asia.

Maple Leaf International School - Tianjin TEDA

The school is a private senior coeducational grade 10-12 British Columbia certified high school. A new 10 storey building will be added over the next year. The building will include a 1000 seat auditorium, 55 classrooms, computer labs and new technology. The school strives to inspire students to grow in mind, heart, body, and spirit and foster the values of respect, responsibility, honesty and hard work.

Students at MLIS - Tianjin TEDA

Most students are Chinese nationals (95%) who speak Mandarin as their first language. The student population is currently 1200 students in either Foundations, just starting to learn English, Bridging, developing their English ability and in the full BC high school program. Most of the students are from Tianjin and nearby cities. Because of the travel involved, the majority of students (over 80%), board at the school.

Staff at MLIS - Tianjin TEDA

Composed of Canadian and foreign trained teachers, who hold a certificate of qualification from the British Columbia Ministry of Education. At present there are 50 BC certified teachers, and 5 international ESL teachers. The BC principal, vice-principals, and other academic support roles work together with Chinese counsellors and teachers.

Housing

There are a limited number of teacher apartments available on campus. These apartments are scheduled to be renovated in the next few years. The rent for school apartments is competitive with apartments close to the school. Rent for apartments close to the school can range from $500 to $1000 Canadian. This is dependent on the number of bedrooms and amenities a person is looking for. Before your arrival, the school will connect you with a real estate agent to help you find an apartment.

Furnishings

Campus apartments are furnished and include a dining room table, chairs, couch, a television, hot plate or stove, hot water heater, refrigerator, microwave, bed and various end tables and cabinets. In apartments that are close to the school, the number and quality of furnishings can vary. But most often, this can be discussed with the landlord.

Utilities

For all apartments (on and off campus), you are responsible for the cost of drinking water, electricity, and internet service. Your landlord will help you set these services up. In some cases, they will ask for you to pay in advance for a full year for the service they are providing. It is best to ask questions regarding this when visiting apartments with the estate agent.

Pets

Pets are not allowed in school apartments and we do not recommend bringing pets to China. Some teachers who live off campus have transported cats and dogs from Canada to China. It can be hard to find a vet or your pet’s favourite food. This also would need to be discussed with the estate agent before you go out looking for apartments.

Cleaners

Cleaning personnel are available for hire independently to clean teacher apartments on a regular basis. Arrangements can be made with other teachers. Teachers wishing this service are solely responsible for employment arrangements with cleaners.

Rail

The Binhai Mass Transit (BMT) light rail is a quick and easy way to travel from TEDA to downtown Tianjin or to stops in between such as the IKEA store. A new stop is now open and is a ten-minute walk from the school. There is also a fast train to Beijing that take less than one hour. The station is only a ten-minute cab ride from the school. Travel by BMT is cheap and the high-speed train to Beijing costs only $35 CAD for a round trip Second Class seat.

Bus

There is an extensive network of buses in TEDA and into Tianjin. There are stops just outside the school and the bus system is quite easy to become familiar with and use.

Taxi

Taxis are abundant in Tianjin TEDA and flagging one down is rarely a problem. Rates start at 8RMB for the first 3 km and 1.7RMB for each additional kilometer. There is a 1RMB fuel tax charge per journey.Most taxi drivers do not speak English and it is recommended to bring a business card with the address of your destination.

Bike

Some teachers buy bikes and ride to school from their apartments. Driving in China is very different from what you would be used to at home. It is best to watch and understand the rules of the road before you start to ride your bike and always wear a helmet.

Walking

The TEDA area is very convenient and during autumn and spring most restaurants and shopping can be reached by foot. In summer and winter, weather conditions can make walking any distance uncomfortable, but buses and taxis are cheap. It is important to note when walking to always remember that vehicles have the right of way.

Groceries

Shopping for groceries is not a problem in TEDA. Choices range from traditional style Chinese markets to international chains all with 5-10 minutes by taxi from the school. It does take some time to understand what certain things are. Western foodstuffs are available at international supermarket chains such as Tesco (UK), Jusco and Isetan (Japan) as well as small international shops like Nick’s Mart and Times Grocery.

Household Items

Household items such as furniture and small appliances can be purchased at IKEA or Tesco. The school provides 5000 RMB when you first arrive as a settling-in allowance. Trips to IKEA will also be arranged by the school each semester.

Clothing

When packing your professional clothing, think comfortable and professional. Men must wear comfortable pants, button up shirts with collar and tie. Woman’s dress code calls for professional wear. Dresses, skirts of modest length, and pants are acceptable. Jeans are not permitted. It will get cold during the winter, so make sure you bring warm clothes. Temperatures during the winter will range from 5C to -10C.

Electronics

You should not bring any major electronic items aside from your laptop. The Chinese use 220V power, which will permanently damage any electronics not rated for this power service. Laptops are usually ok but you should check all electronic ratings. If you want to access Facebook and other sites you will need a VPN before you leave. If you have a mobile, we recommend that you get it unlocked before you leave home. WeChat is the most popular social media platform used in China. It is a good idea to install WeChat and connect to your family.

Sights

Tianjin TEDA is less than 1 hour to Beijing by high-speed train, which means that all the sights of Beijing are accessible for short weekend trips, even day trips. Around TEDA there is much to see as well. Tianjin was a foreign colony port and the site of the Boxer Rebellion. Tianjin is rich in history and cultural.

Entertainment

There are many western pubs and Chinese dancing clubs near the school. There is an IMAX theatre at the AEON mall near the school, which often shows English blockbusters. The TEDA soccer stadium, home of the Tianjin, TEDA FC, was built for the Beijing Olympics, is 5 minutes from the school.

Restaurants

Restaurants are plentiful in TEDA. You have a choice of Thai, Italian, French, German, Korean, Japanese, American and of course Chinese food. Aside from very good western food, Sichuan restaurants, Beijing duck restaurants, BBQ and Hotpot restaurants are popular.

Sports

The school is near to many health clubs. As well, there is a strong expat soccer community in TEDA. Hockey players often connect with the Dalian campus for road trips.

Travel

There are plenty of options for travel out of either Tianjin or Beijing. Tianjin has direct flights to most cities in China and many large centers across Southeast Asia.