| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Nkengaola
Joined: 28 Nov 2011 Posts: 92 Location: Wanzhou, Chongqing
|
Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 6:09 am Post subject: |
|
|
What you can bring into the classroom depends a lot on what equipment you have in the classroom - of the five places I teach, only one has anything I can hook a computer up to. The others only have a blackboard and chalk, or a whiteboard and dry-erase markers. I don't even have a book for my oral English classes - "just go talk to them" was my entire instruction.
Some places also have monitors that walk around and poke their heads into the classrooms to make sure no one is acting up - and if you are sitting and doing nothing, or doing personal stuff, they WILL report you. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258
|
Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 9:24 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| Could you just bring your laptop to class instead of teaching and they wouldn't care? |
| Quote: |
| Not sure what you mean by bringing your computer to class |
I know what he means. One of my former colleagues would bring his laptop to class, have the students do "role playing" and he would get on e-mail to his girlfriend in the US. The students didn't learn anything, but they liked him a lot. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Lack
Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Posts: 252
|
Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 9:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| johntpartee wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Could you just bring your laptop to class instead of teaching and they wouldn't care? |
| Quote: |
| Not sure what you mean by bringing your computer to class |
I know what he means. One of my former colleagues would bring his laptop to class, have the students do "role playing" and he would get on e-mail to his girlfriend in the US. The students didn't learn anything, but they liked him a lot. |
Yes, this is exactly what I was talking about. I was trying to gauge just how relaxed it is in that environment. And no, I wouldn't do that, except on the odd occasion, like having a fun day with the class. (I have had professors do things like this occasionally, such as having a small Thanksgiving dinner right before Thanksgiving.) Point is, I would include the class and I'm sure that would make everyone happy.
OK, so extra tutoring is permissible. I'm fine with keeping things quiet. I could even do online tutoring, which I could do from here anyway, and that way have no conflict by teaching locals directly who might let it out that a university teacher is doing extra work.
So, to recap:
-I don't need an FBI background check
-Extra work is fine if I keep it quiet
-I can play up what work experience I do have and make it count
All right, so I've been reading more, and it looks like I'll need a 'Z' visa. Once I get a job offer, will my employer take care of that so I can get it quickly upon arrival?
And also, once I am in China, does the employer help set up getting their teacher an apartment? I have read that sometimes the housing is subsidized, sometimes not. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258
|
Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 1:18 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| And also, once I am in China, does the employer help set up getting their teacher an apartment? |
Most universities will provide an apartment. If not, there is usually a housing allowance. (I prefer provided on-site accomodations; that way, your employer is the landlord [one less entity to deal with]). |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
DirtGuy
Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 529
|
Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 1:46 am Post subject: |
|
|
The Z visa is no big deal so don't stress on it. The uni will pick up the China end of the cost and the US portion is not too much. Suggest using a visa service instead of going to a consulate - worth the cost.
Go for the uni housing. What I have is so far and away better than anything I had in the States that I can't imagine why anyone would get their own place. Ask the uni to send pics of your apartment.
If you're short on experience plus the time of the year, you may wind up a bit out in the sticks. Not a big deal, especially if your contract is only for 6 months. The rail network is pretty cheap and you can be in a real city in a short time.
Go for it and have some fun. The experience is going to be what you make of it.
DG |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Lack
Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Posts: 252
|
Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 7:33 am Post subject: |
|
|
Does anyone have any recommendations for good sites, good recruiter, etc. for getting in touch with Chinese schools/universities? I posted my resume on this site, but the emails I've gotten from it seemed dodgy. I responded to a couple university job postings here too and they didn't reply.
I tried the site en.chinatefl dot com but got a virus warning on my computer. (Don't know if the whole site is supect or it was some hack or whatever on that particular school posting.) But I would rather not risk getting a virus by using it.
I may repost my resume specifying China only. Other than that I'm not sure what else to do at the moment. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Lack
Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Posts: 252
|
Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 11:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
One more thing...
I've been looking at websites of universities, and very few so far have any jobs for English teachers. Ones that do have little info.
I guess I will start sending out some emails perhaps, but who exactly would I send them too? And is there a good way to write an email that will get the university interested in me?
I'm perfectly fine going where there is less competition (and I would like a lower cost of living anyway.) Can anyone offer their advice about this? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
DirtGuy
Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 529
|
Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 12:04 am Post subject: |
|
|
You're looking during a slow hiring time so don't expect to see so many jobs being posted. Start poking around for other sites in addition to this one. I got my job from Dave's but I went through many applications before I connected with the one I have. Just keep looking.
DG |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Lack
Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Posts: 252
|
Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 1:16 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Ah. What's the prime hiring time of the year for China? I know it is technically possible to get hired at various places year-round though, so I will keep looking. But it also seems like responses for Chinese jobs are not forthcoming, and I wonder if it may be because of something else. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Banner41
Joined: 04 Jan 2011 Posts: 656 Location: Shanghai
|
Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 2:34 am Post subject: |
|
|
| johntpartee wrote: |
| Quote: |
| And also, once I am in China, does the employer help set up getting their teacher an apartment? |
Most universities will provide an apartment. If not, there is usually a housing allowance. (I prefer provided on-site accomodations; that way, your employer is the landlord [one less entity to deal with]). |
I disagree here. I would never ever take a job where the housing was on campus. I did that before a couple of times and hated it. Lots of times, the internet is bad or shared with 5,000 students and teachers, the apartments are small and dirty, and you deal with people watching your comings and goings that are tied to your job. Sometimes there are blaring announcements and music (think there is a thread on this) and sometimes are far from stores and restaurants that you may want to visit a lot. If at all possible I would look for jobs that offer 1000+ housing allowance. They can also usually help find apartments and deal with landlords. Now all my downside comments are different everywhere but, it is something to think about when considering a school. Some people like all of these things. It's just nice to have the option of accepting a housing allowance if you don't like the free apt. given to you. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China
|
Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 3:18 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Lack wrote: |
| Ah. What's the prime hiring time of the year for China? I know it is technically possible to get hired at various places year-round though, so I will keep looking. But it also seems like responses for Chinese jobs are not forthcoming, and I wonder if it may be because of something else. |
April-May for the main hire (1 Sept start) with a subsidiary hire season Oct/November-ish for a start after the spring break.
I would say 90 percent of the public unis and vocational colleges would fit into these scenarios.
True though that language schools are looking all the time. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
|