Job Discussion Forums

[wawaguagua]

...Another suitcase, another hall. Take your picture off another wall.

I'd convinced myself since college that an ESL career in Asia was the right move for me. Gain international work experience, save money, and explore another culture all at the same time? Where do I sign up? I took a 100-hour TEFL course with 60% of it in class. It wasn't CELTA and it didn't have an actual teaching demo component.

After saving up at a minimum wage retail job for a year after graduation, I got very eager and jumped at the best of five offers in China. I was hesitant about coming over on a tourist visa but I was very tired of waiting around for the next big thing.

My first week was shaky but I felt I was getting the hang of things. At the end of my probation period, I was unceremoniously fired due to complaints that I was boring and inexperienced. I was told that I worked hard and did everything right from a technical standpoint, but I'm not experienced enough and I lack a certain "spark" needed to be a teacher.

I was given advice to find a job that focuses on older students and then go back to kids after I was comfortable there. Unfortunately, my job search isn't turning up much else but private language schools and franchises working with kids.

The whole thing has been very discouraging to me and I'm not sure what to do now. I don't want to give up, as I invested so much time, effort, and money into this, and it's been my dream for several years. I also don't want to relocate all of my stuff to another city just to have history repeat itself. Should I just cut my losses and go home? Alternatively, as I still have money saved up, I've thought about flying to Thailand and taking the all-inclusive CELTA course there... Would that be worth it?

[Javelin of Radiance]

Don't despair too much. Your teaching was probably no worse than many others who hold down jobs here, you just ran into some bad luck at that job you were just let go from. You were working legally at this place, right? Z visa, residence permit and all?

You could try the country to the east of China. We can't mention it's name here or discuss it but they have a separate forum if you want to join and inquire there. You could also try university or college jobs in China, those are older students, but right now isn't a very good time to land one of those jobs I'm afraid. All on holiday and openings are scant in mid year.

One piece of advice, try to avoid jobs with a probation period. It just gives the school another reason to dump you if they don't like you.

[rogerwilco]

Where in China are you now ? How old are you ?
Are you still here on only a tourist visa ?

If you can wait a few weeks until the next semester starts then you might be able to get hired at a college or uni. There might be some universities that have found themselves without a foreign teacher for the new semester.

This is one of the few times that a recruiter might be useful since you are already in China and you need a job quickly.

[wawaguagua]

I'm in my mid-20's, in a third-tier city on the eastern seaboard. I'm sorry, I want to be more specific than that but I'm a bit shaken at the moment.

Yes, I'm still on a tourist visa. It's a multiple-entry one good for a year and I still have about a month and a half before I'd need to do a Hong Kong reentry.

[Javelin of Radiance]

[bharrell]

One thing I learned about teaching in China was to not take the employers too seriously, They are often not qualified to pass judgement on a teacher. Everybody I know has had at least one problem with a school; one guy leaves every job ranting about what a crappy school XYZ is. And yet he is always finding work.
I'd take that school off my resume and just apply as if you were just now looking for work. What have you been doing? Just sightseeing, relaxing.
There are some of the strangest humans on earth teaching English, and some of the crappiest employers posing as English schools. Screw 'em. You are better than them. Just jump back in. Getting fired and/or having major disputes is just part of the experience for most of us. Persist, and you will be fine. The first year is the toughest. Don't give up.

[wawaguagua]

[wawaguagua]

[Big Worm]

I wouldn't take it too hard.

There are many reasons why a person might get laid off like this. Yeah, you might not be a polished teacher, but guessing a random school wouldn't know a "good" teacher if it walked off the plane and fell in their lap.


Just move on, everything will be fine.

[rogerwilco]