Job Discussion Forums

[MdSmith]

Hello all

I occasionally read about people's experiences of tefling in China as I may like to go there one day myself. I came across this article and was wondering if others had read it:

http://middlekingdomlife.com/guide/teaching-english-china.htm

Quote: "if you are between the ages of 30 and 50 (or otherwise unable to financially retire back home) and are thinking about teaching English in China as a way of escaping personal problems or a prolonged period of unemployment, then you are the most likely to experience employer exploitation, difficulties with psychosocial adjustment and demoralization, and considerable dissatisfaction."

Everybody has their own opinion of course but it seems overly negative and generalistic. Any thoughts? Cheers.

[johntpartee]

Exploitation is ALWAYS a consideration. If the current foreigner is not amenable to the runarounds and head games they can always find another one somewhere.

[GreatApe]

Have to agree with both the quote from the article and the post by johnpartee.

In my opinion, the quote from the article just presents the cold, hard facts of what most TEFLers coming to China are going to experience at one time or another. It's certainly NOT indicative of everyone's COMPLETE experience, but I'm willing to bet that almost all of us have experienced various levels of "exploitation, difficulties with psychosocial adjustment, demoralization and considerable dissatisfaction."

Personally, I'm pretty happy with the overall "quality" of my current job, BUT ... I still experience most of the aforementioned on a daily basis to one degree or another. Some days are better than others!

I still don't want to go back to teaching in the states, however!

--GA

[Non Sequitur]

I think it's a pretty good summary.
But the immature, hyper critical, moralising/proselytizing/drunken creep we see so much of in China would have difficulty anywhere.
I also have difficulty accepting as criticism, that the Chinese reserve wider English teaching (incl grammar and literature) to themselves.
For these things the language of instruction is and should be Chinese.
How would you explain Shylock and historic victimisation of the Jew to a group of Chinese undergrads where their English oral comprehension is poor.

[roadwalker]

I don't agree with the quote that the age group 30-50 is the most likely to be exploited (under the conditions stated). More likely would be younger teachers with no experience to distinguish what is normal treatment or not and older teachers (60+) who have fewer opportunities to choose from. Of course not having a degree and experience also puts one in an exploitable role.

The problem with 30 to 50 is that those are prime earning years back home, at least under the old paradigm. More importantly for US citizens, anyway, is the lack of contribution to Social Security, pensions and defined contribution plans (401k) and/or retirement savings accounts (IRAs). But if you are in that age and are easily exploited as according to the article, you probably aren't doing to well in your home country either.

That website is a good resource for teachers and people considering China for Tefling. But it paints China as a fragile place where we have to tread lightly to avoid too much interaction, particularly with the vulnerable young women. There may be a kernel of truth in that but the reality is that China is interacting more and more with the rest of the world, including IN China. The status quo is going to be challenged at every social level. That's life. (We don't have to be total @$#$@%@s though.)

[DirtGuy]

I've looked at that site and it is really negative. A lot of good info but overall it is too much of a downer for my liking.

As for the whole age group/earnings discussion, what makes anyone think that old paradigms work anywhere or anymore? You may be in your peak earning years in that age group but that assumes you have a job that actually pays enough for you to save money. So many jobs pay you enough to get by and nothing more. The possibility of serious savings is easy here but in the States, not so much. Factor in the rising yuan against the falling dollar and saving money in China/sending it back to the States approach is a no-brainer. My goal is to save a bundle and then open a business without start-up debt back in the States. Way easier to do that here than in America.

Take what you can from the site but take it with a major grain of salt.

DirtGuy

[Banner41]

I am actually glad that I read that article...it had some good points but said in a very backhanded way.

Basically, if you were a no job, lazy loser at home, then you will probably be the same here. People who complain about an extra day because of a holiday when you work a 16 hour week baffle me.

Then there are those who are hard working and lost their job through no fault of their own due to a bad economy. They will come to China and take every opportunity they can to work and save. It's really up to you to make what you want out of it.

[Lancy Bloom]

Nailed it. Qualified English teachers don't work in China. When you have the president of China with his daughter in Harvard and his sister living in Canada, it shows you that they have no respect for a foreigner who comes to live in their country to teach.
I have been shot down for saying this in the past. "You make money teaching Chinese people in your own country" They need to pass tests in foreign countries. Unllike China they must study to stay in school.

[DirtGuy]

Pardon me, but to what part of B41's post are you referring? I thought the last paragraph was the part that nailed it. But, hey, what do I know? I'm one of those "losers" who came over to China to work vs. doing in the US.

DG

[choudoufu]

[roadwalker]

[MsBlackcurrant]

That website used to make me a bit nervous! I'm right in the middle of that age range. I have quite a few academic academic qualifications and some teaching experience, but I feel I'm unlikely to find a post in the UK that will enable me to make use of my skills and interests, especially since the world of academia is so utterly competitive. So one plan I had was to go to China, work in a university environment, use my teaching skills and pursue my own academic research (in literature) in my own time. Maybe after a few years I could go to teach in the Middle East and actually save some money for my old age. But if working in China only leads to bitterness and a professional dead end, is there any sense in that idea?

[Denim-Maniac]

[Shroob]

[DirtGuy]

MsBlt:

Your personal situation sounds ideal for China. Having an activity outside of teaching here is, IMHO, a great counterpoint to dealing with the hassles of this country.

As for your concern about saving some money for old age, I sent $1,000 back to the US last month and I did not work very hard to do it. I expect that number to be up to $1,200 per month next year and $1,500 within 3 years here. Yes, I could have sent a lot more back had I been working in the ME, but life in my neck of the woods is pretty easy. Can you say that about the ME?

DG