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maj0915
Joined: 04 Feb 2013
Posts: 61
Location: China
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 Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:14 am Post subject: Recommendations for Hangzhou, Guangzhou, or Xiamen? |
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Does anyone have any recommendations regarding schools in these areas? Here are my current qualifications:
BA English (graduated Magna C um Laude in December)
Began teaching ESL in January (will teach through April or so)
Private tutoring experience
I'd prefer to teach high school or university if possible. I should also mention that I'm 22 (will be 23 in September.)
Feel free to send me a PM if you'd prefer that! |
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maj0915
Joined: 04 Feb 2013
Posts: 61
Location: China
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| Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:17 am Post subject: |
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| By the way, I am also considering beginning the 120 hour ICAL TEFL course to aid in the job search/visa process. Is it possible that I will be able to complete it in a month or so? |
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Denim-Maniac
Joined: 31 Jan 2012
Posts: 1238
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| Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 11:58 am Post subject: |
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I wouldnt bother with the course. Its not going to be worth anything really, the better employers will probably / could / should disgregard it and such course providers exist to sell dreams and part you from your hard earned cash rather than provide any genuine or recognised training. Some of the claims on their website are spurious at best.
If you want to learn something about TEFL, you'd be better off saving the course fee money and buying one or two well known textbooks. (Jim Scrivener and Scott Thornbury would be a good start).
I dont know the region you are asking about ... but you might need to investigate the visa regulations regarding the two year work experience. You age may exclude you (Im not sure about that). I dont know if you can include part-time work whilst at university or not.
edited to add ... just realised I posted similar about online courses in your other thread ... didnt realise you were the same poster ... but at least Im consistent eh? I should add my anti-online course rants are partly based on my own experiences ... I did two i-i online courses ages ago ... waste of time and money. The 40 hour course I did took about 8 hours to complete ... and that made me 'qualified' LOL |
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sistercream
Joined: 18 Dec 2010
Posts: 497
Location: Pearl River Delta
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| Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 3:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Guangdong Province has a reputation for being strict about the 2 years minimum experience and >25 years age limit - if you do get accepted for a job in Guangzhou or surrounds it's more than likely to be a dodgy one. Don't know enough about the other areas to comment. |
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maj0915
Joined: 04 Feb 2013
Posts: 61
Location: China
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| Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 3:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks Denim-Maniac! Maybe after I teach abroad for a year I can save up enough for the CELTA, but right now I just can't afford the $3000 or so it would cost me to travel to the nearest location. Would you recommend posting my resume on job sites and hoping for a few offers? That seems like the most logical way of guaranteeing that my credentials are acceptable, but I'm not sure if that method typically leads to job offers or not. |
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Qaaolchoura
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Posts: 539
Location: 21 miles from the Syrian border
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| Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 4:38 pm Post subject: |
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| sistercream wrote: |
| Guangdong Province has a reputation for being strict about the 2 years minimum experience and >25 years age limit - if you do get accepted for a job in Guangzhou or surrounds it's more than likely to be a dodgy one. Don't know enough about the other areas to comment. |
I remember seeing ads for Wall Street China (I'll link you to this one, since it's on Dave's) that require "2 years of teaching experience (or 18 months for Guangzhou)."
I assumed that that meant that Guangzhou had lower legal requirements than other cities, since most Wall Street franchises make a point of fulfilling the letter of the legal hiring requirements, even where they're not always enforced. On the other hand, I'll note that the direct-hire ads the company has on TEFL.com have no such qualification, stating two years required point-blank.
~Q |
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ecubyrd
Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 172
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| Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 8:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Denim-Maniac wrote: |
I wouldnt bother with the course. Its not going to be worth anything really, the better employers will probably / could / should disgregard it and such course providers exist to sell dreams and part you from your hard earned cash rather than provide any genuine or recognised training. Some of the claims on their website are spurious at best.
If you want to learn something about TEFL, you'd be better off saving the course fee money and buying one or two well known textbooks. (Jim Scrivener and Scott Thornbury would be a good start).
I dont know the region you are asking about ... but you might need to investigate the visa regulations regarding the two year work experience. You age may exclude you (Im not sure about that). I dont know if you can include part-time work whilst at university or not.
edited to add ... just realised I posted similar about online courses in your other thread ... didnt realise you were the same poster ... but at least Im consistent eh? I should add my anti-online course rants are partly based on my own experiences ... I did two i-i online courses ages ago ... waste of time and money. The 40 hour course I did took about 8 hours to complete ... and that made me 'qualified' LOL |
Yes, you are that to say the least. You certainly always show up with the same spiel when someone mentions taking a TEFL course that isn't what you believe to be the wholy grail.
OP, take the online course if it is necessary to gain employment in your desired location. I do agree with the fact that it isn't going to teach you so much about ESL classroom teaching, but hey, if it is going to get you the job, then do it. |
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Qaaolchoura
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Posts: 539
Location: 21 miles from the Syrian border
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| Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 8:40 pm Post subject: |
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| ecubyrd wrote: |
OP, take the online course if it is necessary to gain employment in your desired location. I do agree with the fact that it isn't going to teach you so much about ESL classroom teaching, but hey, if it is going to get you the job, then do it. |
What if the OP wants a job where the interviewer expects more than a pulse, white face, and Anglophone passport? Or what if after a year of so the OP decides after a year or so that they don't much care for China?
An online course gives you nothing than an onsite course doesn't while an onsite course gives you a small amount of observed teaching practice, and hireability in many more places. The former help you in jobs that ask even the most basic interview questions about your teaching style (while those seem to be rare in China, we're after quality, not quantity of job offers), and/or ask for a demo lesson. The latter helps you in many countries where an onsite cert is expected and/or required for legal reasons.
Regards,
~Q |
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maj0915
Joined: 04 Feb 2013
Posts: 61
Location: China
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| Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 8:54 pm Post subject: |
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| I like the idea of the online cert. for now because it may give me some extra teaching ideas and possibly some help with the visa. I don't have enough money to afford the CELTA, especially because I already need to buy a laptop, smartphone, suits, etc. for work, but maybe that's something I'd consider after saving some money. It just doesn't make a ton of sense to me to set myself back $3,000 when I'm already spending a couple thousand dollars on other necessities for working overseas, owe student loans, and am going for jobs which only pay $1,000 a month or so. |
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ecubyrd
Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 172
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| Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Qaaolchoura wrote: |
| ecubyrd wrote: |
OP, take the online course if it is necessary to gain employment in your desired location. I do agree with the fact that it isn't going to teach you so much about ESL classroom teaching, but hey, if it is going to get you the job, then do it. |
What if the OP wants a job where the interviewer expects more than a pulse, white face, and Anglophone passport? That is highly unlikely for the average job in China. Or what if after a year of so the OP decides after a year or so that they don't much care for China? If that is the case, then seek more qualifications.
An online course gives you nothing that an onsite course doesn't while an onsite course gives you a small amount of observed teaching practice, and hireability in many more places. The former helps you in jobs that ask even the most basic interview questions about your teaching style (while those seem to be rare in China, we're after quality, not quantity of job offers), and/or ask for a demo lesson. The latter helps you in many countries where an onsite cert is expected and/or required for legal reasons. I agree with this, but if you read the op then you'd know that isn't what he/she is looking to do at this point.
Regards,
~Q |
Regards,
byrd |
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Qaaolchoura
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Posts: 539
Location: 21 miles from the Syrian border
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| Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:31 pm Post subject: |
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If it's the choice between a $300 (or whatever) online course and a $3000 CELTA, then I agree that the online course might be worth doing before going to China. However there are other onsite courses that are cheaper, depending on where you are. Though I guess I'm thinking from a loss-aversive attitude. (I wouldn't want to waste the couple hundred bucks and hundred + hours if there's a chance I'll do it over anyways.)
Any rate, best of luck to you maj, whatever you do.
~Q |
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maj0915
Joined: 04 Feb 2013
Posts: 61
Location: China
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| Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 10:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Qaaolchoura wrote: |
If it's the choice between a $300 (or whatever) online course and a $3000 CELTA, then I agree that the online course might be worth doing before going to China. However there are other onsite courses that are cheaper, depending on where you are. Though I guess I'm thinking from a loss-aversive attitude. (I wouldn't want to waste the couple hundred bucks and hundred + hours if there's a chance I'll do it over anyways.)
Any rate, best of luck to you maj, whatever you do.
~Q |
Thanks! I live in a pretty isolated area in the U.S. and there's not really anything too close (New York City is probably the closest), but part of the reason I'm interested in teaching is to save some money, so I don't think I could afford the setback of a CELTA or Trinity. It's still something I'd be interested in doing eventually though, as I may want to travel to Beijing or even Seoul later. |
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ecubyrd
Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 172
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| Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 11:12 pm Post subject: |
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| maj0915 wrote: |
| Qaaolchoura wrote: |
If it's the choice between a $300 (or whatever) online course and a $3000 CELTA, then I agree that the online course might be worth doing before going to China. However there are other onsite courses that are cheaper, depending on where you are. Though I guess I'm thinking from a loss-aversive attitude. (I wouldn't want to waste the couple hundred bucks and hundred + hours if there's a chance I'll do it over anyways.)
Any rate, best of luck to you maj, whatever you do.
~Q |
Thanks! I live in a pretty isolated area in the U.S. and there's not really anything too close (New York City is probably the closest), but part of the reason I'm interested in teaching is to save some money, so I don't think I could afford the setback of a CELTA or Trinity. It's still something I'd be interested in doing eventually though, as I may want to travel to Beijing or even Seoul later. |
If saving money is your goal then look to the little country to the east of China. You have solid quals for ESL teaching and the online course will be more than adequate to get a ps school job there that pays way more and gives much better benefits than here. |
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Javelin of Radiance
Joined: 01 Jul 2009
Posts: 1187
Location: The West
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| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 1:59 am Post subject: |
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| maj0915 wrote: |
| Qaaolchoura wrote: |
If it's the choice between a $300 (or whatever) online course and a $3000 CELTA, then I agree that the online course might be worth doing before going to China. However there are other onsite courses that are cheaper, depending on where you are. Though I guess I'm thinking from a loss-aversive attitude. (I wouldn't want to waste the couple hundred bucks and hundred + hours if there's a chance I'll do it over anyways.)
Any rate, best of luck to you maj, whatever you do.
~Q |
Thanks! I live in a pretty isolated area in the U.S. and there's not really anything too close (New York City is probably the closest), |
I'm just curious which part of the US is "pretty isolated" and where NYC is the closest place. Are you in the ocean? |
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maj0915
Joined: 04 Feb 2013
Posts: 61
Location: China
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| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 2:21 am Post subject: |
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| Javelin of Radiance wrote: |
| maj0915 wrote: |
| Qaaolchoura wrote: |
If it's the choice between a $300 (or whatever) online course and a $3000 CELTA, then I agree that the online course might be worth doing before going to China. However there are other onsite courses that are cheaper, depending on where you are. Though I guess I'm thinking from a loss-aversive attitude. (I wouldn't want to waste the couple hundred bucks and hundred + hours if there's a chance I'll do it over anyways.)
Any rate, best of luck to you maj, whatever you do.
~Q |
Thanks! I live in a pretty isolated area in the U.S. and there's not really anything too close (New York City is probably the closest), |
I'm just curious which part of the US is "pretty isolated" and where NYC is the closest place. Are you in the ocean? |
I live in a small town which isn't conveniently located relative to any of the CELTA or Trinity locations (it would take me a couple of hours to get there each class, and I have other obligations during the day which prevent me from staying in NYC.) |
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