Job Discussion Forums

sangui · Joined: 24 May 2004 Posts: 2

Hello,

My name is Frank I'm 20 and i'm from the Boston Massachusetts area. I have reciently been really interested in teaching english in china and i have seen lots of offers for 6 month contracts and 2 year contracts but i finally found one that caught my eye. A 1 month contract Just to teach over the summer. I thought this was great but then i came here saw all the horror stories and decided before i set anything up that i should get some advise from all of you wonderful experanced people. Here is the deal I pay them a 300$US fee and they process my visa my room and board when i'm there and my food. they also have a calander that says what were going to do every day were there. Which includes a tour of shanghai when we first get there and a tour of bejing when we leave. I want some honest advise from some people about what i should be doing right now. I still have to get my passport which will take 2 weeks probally and i dont even know how to apply or get a visa. Because i heard you shouldent let them get you passport information. So i'm really not aware of what i should be doing since i never done this before. their website is http://www.uceconline.com/ and i applied for the summer training course. so any help would be great. I just dont want to caught in a skam and either stuck there or living in a hut for a month with a stranger.

Thx alot guys i'm depending on you

Frankie

Guest · Posted: Tue May 25, 2004 4:13 am Post subject:

Frankie

Take very little notice of what you read on this board. I have been here for 9 months now "teaching conversational English" and I have every intention of staying permanently. It is a wonderful life here in China.

You are only coming for one month, so how bad can it get? You can put up with ANYTHING for a month! It might give you a taste of the life here and then you may come back at a later date for a 6 or 12 month contract.

It really depends on the luck of the draw, but if you get a good School it is really great here.

P.S. Bring a dictionary with you!

Ludwig

millie · Joined: 29 Oct 2003 Posts: 413 Location: HK

Hello Frank,

Not sure why you would be

Quote:

stuck in a hut with a stranger

?
You will have a return ticket ...surely ?
Then, of course, you will be nobody's prisoner.
It is only a month and at worst it could be a real eye-opener.
It is really only the cost of your tix that you have to lose.
Best of luck,
M

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

DO NOT PAY ANY PLACEMENT FEES....NO MATTER WHAT ANYBODY TELLS YOU.

there are tons of place that can arrange for you to teach at a summer camp for 1 month or 2 without those $300. P.M me if you need help

woza17 · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 602 Location: china

Frank I know this is not useful but if you read over your post could you correct the spelling and resend it and maybe people would be more willing to help you.
Cheers

La Paz · Posted: Tue May 25, 2004 11:45 am Post subject:

China is not a permanent job. Rhonda is an older woman and permanently means something different to her than probably you at 20.
Take the 1 month. It will suck. Then go home and get a freaking education you slob.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

You are prepared to fork out US$ 300, for what? If it is a one-month summer camp, they won't obtain for you a work visa, that's for definite!@ They will pocket this amount, make you work for a training centre (maybe they double as one) and cash in on parents who send their spoilt brats to their classes. Good luck!
In summer camps, you stand to earn anywhere from 5000 to over 10'000 without paying a placement charge.

This time I have to say: don't listen to Rhonda!

oprah · Joined: 26 Apr 2003 Posts: 382

Hello Frank:
We are teachers, so we like to see teachers spell correctly. I would not give these people $300. Go to web site; www.bucklandgroup.org , there maybe something of interest there??

sangui · Joined: 24 May 2004 Posts: 2

Thank you all!!! Keep the good advise coming. I'm not a teacher. I just speak Chinese as a hobby. That's why I speak it so well now. I have never been to china , so I don't have any teaching exp. except from teaching my friends english, and teaching Karate and kungfu for 9 years. I wanted to have a good time in China and know nothing about what I need to do. Someone told me to come here and post. I did and got blasted on my bad english. Fortunately when I speak, I do so intelligently, (THANK GOD) but my grammar and spelling need improvement. DUH sorry for being a dumbass. I just would really like some advise that's all.

Thx again,

Frankie

gerard49 · Joined: 23 Oct 2003 Posts: 44 Location: Zhaoqing

Hi Frank,
If you're interested in a Summer school, there is a job going here in Zhaoqing (Guangdong) 20 days for 5000rmb. Free accommodation but u do have to pay your airfare. See my posting re. Good opportunity in Sth China. A warning though, the students tend to be rich, spoilt brats but someone your age, hopefully of good looks and Chinese to boot would have an obvious advantage over us oldies. Email if interested
GD

enigma · Joined: 22 May 2003 Posts: 68

If you want to be a teacher, please learn English first. However, if you want to come and have a good time in China, there are plenty of so-called "teaching" positions available! (I occupy one of them.) If you only want to be here for a short stint, just do a little research, get a job, come over. Not too hard, not much to lose.

My advice, though, is to come for a longer time, if possible. The reason is: it took me about 4 months to actually get used to being in China, and I was only able to truly enjoy it after that. This has also been the experience of the other FT's at my school. It will not be "home, sweet home" from the beginning.

Just a suggestion. Good luck!

oprah · Joined: 26 Apr 2003 Posts: 382

I find it an advantage to not speak Chinese. Also I would not hire someone with poor English. When you are helping the Chinese with their English, you need good grammar to correct any mistakes they make, also when talking, sometimes you need to demonstrate words they do not understand with spelling. Grammar and spelling are important. After you teach for awhile you learn what is required. I find that I always reinforce myself with the fact that I am a teacher not an entertainer.

prawn · Joined: 04 Apr 2004 Posts: 73

Frankie,

find the best deal and get over here. ignore all the offers of "great" jobs that cost u more to get to than the piddling pay they offer, and the grammar and spelling advice from those that wouldnt know what syntax was if they stubbed their toe on it.

china is full of halfwitted a?%@hole foreigners whose mission in life is to work you over for not being their useless version of perfect.

ignore it and get on with things.

love prawn.

Ludwig · Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 4:58 pm Post subject: