Job Discussion Forums

[nellychess]

I have a few questions here. The first is that I may have an all expenses paid opportunity to teach tennis in Hohhot for the last 2 weeks of August.

I have not applied anywhere yet, but would like to attain a Uni job teaching English. Based on what I have researched so far, I can't tell if that would cut into any start date.

I also have a good summer tennis job in the US each year if I want it from around June 10 to August 10.

Should I apply to Universities and ask them as I apply if I can come back to the states in early June?

Thanks

[choudoufu]

according to our 2012-2013 university schedule:

(chinese) teachers were to be on campus aug 28 (tue).
classes began sep 03 (mon)

i'm guessing you'll be arriving on the work visa tied to your university?
might have questions when registering with hohhot police. might not.

you'll have 30 days from entry to submit your RP application. if you go
this route, once you get to the uni, you'll have less than 2 weeks to
register with police, get healthy certificate, get FEC, then apply for RP,
all while settling into your apartment and giving classes the first week
of the semester.

lectures end june 21. the final week of june is for tests, the first week of
july is for exams. (they're different somehow, the chou don't know why)
grades are submitted and recorded over the weekend. summer vacation
for teachers officially begins july 08 (mon)

in practice, us FT's can leave as soon as we have submitted final grades.
that could be anywhere between 24 june and 05 july.

last year i wound up with a couple weeks free, as i had submitted my
grades during test week, but my flight (booked months in advance) was
scheduled for liberation day.

what will affect you is not applying yet. most unis will have
firmed up their fall roster by now. better start applying tonight.

you should be fine with your summer coaching job, especially if you plan
on returning to the same school.

[doogsville]

I don't officially finish till July 20, but my last exam is July 11th, so if I mark the papers quickly I'll be done by the 12th or 13th at the latest. I don't need to be back till September 1st, which is when we usually have the big meeting and the new teachers that are coming are introduced.

Nellychess, I would suggest your cutting it too fine, unless you happen to land a job in Hohhot. It's a very long way away from almost everywhere else, so I doubt you could travel and be on campus ready to teach by the 3rd. Also, as you're a new start, they may want you there at least a few days early to process your paperwork, show you the accommodation and the campus etc. You'll also want a few days to look at any books you'll be using and do some lesson plans. Would you give a job to someone who tells you they can't be there for the first week, or one of the many other candidates who can? I think you just need to decide which is more important for now, the tennis job or the teaching job.

[roadwalker]

I too think the Hohhot tennis gig will cause too many problems with starting at a university or any school on a similar schedule. If you come to China this Fall, and decide to renew your Residence Permit at the end of 2013-2014 school year, you wouldn't have to worry about obtaining a visa for September 2014 (or pay the cost). Theoretically you could give lessons in Hohhot or elsewhere that summer, but you'd be under contract with your then-current, or new university and should check with them about it. But for this summer, it will really cause you a lot of hassle since you don't already have your working papers set.

[nellychess]

Definitely sound advice everyone. Would a language institute of some kind be a good idea? This would be my first English teaching job. Perhaps after my 2 week tennis gig, I could look for a language school job somewhere. Would I be able to obtain a language school job on a rolling basis, any time? Would I be able to set terms of a contract where I could go back to the states for the summer? I'm still pretty open to everything, so just trying to figure out what the safest move is. 100%, the English teaching job is the most important, and that is where I want to head with my career. I like the idea of the summer tennis job in the states because it is a big chunk of money for about two months every year, and I would have the flexibility of being able to do any teaching job that was fulfilling and not have to worry about money as much. I know it sounds like I am a mess and I have no idea what I want, but I just want to figure out what the best way to go here is. I'm anxious to get my first English teaching job, but I like the idea of having that big chunk of money back in the states. It would be about $10,000 for about eight or nine weeks, and no expenses whatsoever.

[choudoufu]

[nellychess]

You're right, but as I'm going to send out loads of email resumes, should I stipulate this (that i need to be done around june 10)as I apply? I suppose if the guys in Hohhot could help me line up an esl job for afterwards, then it would be worth doing. Otherwise I suppose I'll have to pass.

[roadwalker]

[nellychess]

Roadwalker, I haven't heard all the details, but I suspect you're right that there may be a dodgy set up with the lack of visa etc on the tennis job. It's an American guy who wants e there. I am guessing now that they'll fly me out on tourist visa, and probably pay me cash for the tennis.
The thing is, I know they are connected in the area, so I was thinking that if they knew my situation, and goals, that they might be able to easily hook me up. I will get all the details probably today or tomorrow.
Probably will pass. I never like to go into any situation less than 100 percent honestly, so I think I will be up front about my scheduling needs. With the amount of money my summer in US will make me, I'd be willing to lose money if a school would be flexible with my dates.
I guess I should just start sending out my resume, and see what happens. If nothing comes through, maybe a different strategy on 2nd round of resumes.

[doogsville]

I think you're unlikely to get a uni job if you need to finish by June 10th. That's right at the beginning or the exam season for most universities. If you have to leave then, who's going to write the exams for the courses you've been teaching and mark the papers? That's a big part of the teachers job, since you taught the course so you know what the students should know by then.

A training centre might be a better bet, but it's still tricky, since most of them will still have several weeks left of their Spring semester. I thought you said in a previous post that you only needed to be back in the States for about 8 weeks in the summer, from July to August, which would be doable for some, but not all universities. I must have misread your post.

To be honest, if you absolutely have to be out of China by June 10th it's hard so see you getting a job unless the company is really stuck for teachers and it is willing to let you leave early.

[Javelin of Radiance]

Most schools aren't going to be interested in your wishes to leave in early June and most school admins don't even think that far ahead so asking about it is probably a waste of time. University contracts usually terminate at end of June or on 15 Jul and in theory you belong to the school till that day since they're paying you right to the end. The date you actually finish will be up in the air because every year it's different. Chinese school timetables are affected by the lunar calendar and the second term can finish early or late depending when Chinese New Year occurs. Someone correct me if that's wrong. If you finish in time to go back to your tennis job somewhere else, good but if you don't you're stuck. You might be able to make this work if you stick around the same university for a second or third year because by then you'll have a better idea when all your work will be done.

[nellychess]

What about another type of teaching job? Could I get a shorter contract at a language school? I really want to keep the summer job in the US if there's any way. Am I dreaming? Or is there something I can do?

[doogsville]

I think it's going to be really, really difficult. Think about it. You're talking about leaving the school before the end of the semester. It doesn't matter which type of school it is, they all work to the same calendar. Would a school in the states let you leave before the end of the semester? Would your tennis summer school be happy if you told them you had to miss the last week because you had to go back to China?

Perhaps it's time to think about which of the two things is most important to you. You said before