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nellychess
Joined: 25 Mar 2005
Posts: 187
Location: USA
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 Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 5:24 pm Post subject: My world turned upside down ! Hopefully temporary |
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Posted this in China jobs also
I guess that I was prepared that this could happen, but to say that it's disappointing would be a major understatement.
Maybe there is still a chance, but I don't know.
About me:
15 years tennis teaching experience.
BA in Sociology
USA Citizen no criminal stuff, perfect health check etc.
2 great letters of recommendation
The job seemed great. Big Uni in a smaller city in Henan province. 3 older FT's that were super nice and helping me, and had all been back many years. I figured that shows they are treated well.
Pay was 6k after tax. 19k flight, health ins, and all the general deal, but perfect for a newbie I thought.
I have spent 100 USD on mailing documents, 450 in xray/medical check even with insurance, and have been working with the school for about 11 weeks I think.
Everything seemed to be going perfectly until this step. I'm now told that the Foreign Experts Bureau in Henan says I need 2 years teaching experience, and that my 15 years tennis teaching experience is not enough. The FAO asked me to send teaching experience documents even though they know I don't have them.
Maybe there's still a chance, but it appears to be over. I have a few thousand saved up, and can last pretty well here in the states for a while 'til I figure something else out. I am hoping the Uni will send back my documents, although I have copies.
What do I do now? Should I give up on China? I really wanted to come to China, and thought a University in China was a great, safe starting point for a career in teaching English. I am open to anything at this stage if anyone has any ideas.
Please keep the attacks to a minimum for those who like to attack. I am pretty fragile right now.
Not terribly stressed though because I have money saved, and am staying in a cheap place as long as I need to.
Cheers to all. |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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| Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 5:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Sorry to hear that. I don't have any ideas for you I'm afraid. Just sending you best wishes that it will all somehow work itself out. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 6:28 pm Post subject: Re: My world turned upside down ! Hopefully temporary |
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| nellychess wrote: |
| What do I do now? Should I give up on China? I really wanted to come to China, and thought a University in China was a great, safe starting point for a career in teaching English. I am open to anything at this stage if anyone has any ideas. |
Sorry to read that you're experiencing difficulties. These things sometimes happen for a reason, but be assured, this is only a temporary hiccup. We've all been there at some point in our lives.
Some options and suggestions:
- Start replacing those documents you sent off to the university; you'll likely need them in order to apply to other positions.
- Apply elsewhere in Asia for positions that don't require a TEFL cert. Although Korea is an option, what countries were your 2nd and 3rd choices for teaching jobs? Check into the what qualifications you'll need.
- Continue to look for jobs in China but focus on those targeting newbies. Other posters on the China forum might know of some reputable places that you can apply to. You'll need to be open and flexible.
- Keep your expectations low (realistic) in terms of your teaching skills. In other words, don't play up your tennis teaching experience---it might give potential employers the false idea that you have the skills to also teach EFL.
- Just throwing this one out there... Do an Internet search on tennis instructor uae jobs.  |
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nellychess
Joined: 25 Mar 2005
Posts: 187
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 6:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Should I travel somewhere and get my CELTA? Maybe somewhere inexpensive? I'm free, and have some cash. I can do anything if it will help. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 6:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Sure, you could complete the CELTA course in one of the other countries you're interested in teaching in. Check cambridgeenglish.org for dates/locations/fees of available courses in your target countries. If there's a course in your current US city, that's a possibility as well if it fits your budget. |
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DavidMed
Joined: 11 Oct 2013
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 8:21 am Post subject: |
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| I am sorry to hear that. It can easily happen in the TEFL world. |
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coledavis
Joined: 21 Jun 2003
Posts: 1838
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| Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 11:35 am Post subject: |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| Sure, you could complete the CELTA course in one of the other countries you're interested in teaching in. Check cambridgeenglish.org for dates/locations/fees of available courses in your target countries. If there's a course in your current US city, that's a possibility as well if it fits your budget. |
Yes, the reason why your tennis teaching experience does not help you - and indeed experience of teaching many academic subjects would also not do so - is that language teaching has a number of quite specific skills. Until you do the training - and CELTA or Trinity TESOL are particularly recommended for job search - you will not truly realise that it is not enough to be able to speak the language. You need to understand the grammar rather than just 'know it', to grade your own spoken language, to order learning in a meaningful way from basic principles to fluency, to do effective boardwork, etc. |
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inotu-unotme
Joined: 26 May 2013
Posts: 197
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| Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 7:34 pm Post subject: |
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I read your story and feel for you...
I can't speak on uni schools in particular.
But, at one time I was seriously applying to schools in China.
Most of the schools I communicated with did not have a problem with where people get their ESL certification as long as you have something.
I was dealing with about 4 recruiters at the time who even told me if I didn't already have my esl certificate that an on line one would have been fine.
There will be people who disagree but what I'm telling you is based on my experience alone.
At the time I had gotten a couple serious job offers in locations of China I was interested in.
But, they never came through.
I even sent off all my information through mail as you did which is not cheap and they ended up hiring someone local anyway.
It made me feel like I could not fly all the way to China thinking I had a job waiting for me.
Based on my experiences with China I would and will not try with them again.
Thats just me but that is how I feel.
Since your already there I would totally try to talk to some schools in person.
And I don't think I would be afraid of recruiters if it comes to that point for you.
Keep in mind also theres a lot of language schools in Moscow.
I know it may not be what you were thinking of.
And I do agree people on the China forum may have details about jobs or schools that others don't have. |
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roseannanna
Joined: 15 May 2013
Posts: 20
Location: United Kingdom
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| Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 10:57 am Post subject: Re: My world turned upside down ! Hopefully temporary |
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| nellychess wrote: |
Posted this in China jobs also
I guess that I was prepared that this could happen, but to say that it's disappointing would be a major understatement.
Maybe there is still a chance, but I don't know.
About me:
15 years tennis teaching experience.
BA in Sociology
USA Citizen no criminal stuff, perfect health check etc.
2 great letters of recommendation
The job seemed great. Big Uni in a smaller city in Henan province. 3 older FT's that were super nice and helping me, and had all been back many years. I figured that shows they are treated well.
Pay was 6k after tax. 19k flight, health ins, and all the general deal, but perfect for a newbie I thought.
I have spent 100 USD on mailing documents, 450 in xray/medical check even with insurance, and have been working with the school for about 11 weeks I think.
Everything seemed to be going perfectly until this step. I'm now told that the Foreign Experts Bureau in Henan says I need 2 years teaching experience, and that my 15 years tennis teaching experience is not enough. The FAO asked me to send teaching experience documents even though they know I don't have them.
Maybe there's still a chance, but it appears to be over. I have a few thousand saved up, and can last pretty well here in the states for a while 'til I figure something else out. I am hoping the Uni will send back my documents, although I have copies.
What do I do now? Should I give up on China? I really wanted to come to China, and thought a University in China was a great, safe starting point for a career in teaching English. I am open to anything at this stage if anyone has any ideas.
Please keep the attacks to a minimum for those who like to attack. I am pretty fragile right now.
Not terribly stressed though because I have money saved, and am staying in a cheap place as long as I need to.
Cheers to all. |
I had a similar thing happen to me in Hong Kong.I had just over a years experience working in a school and the CEO told me I wasn't fit to be a teacher,yet he never even seen me teach.My brother works in SH as a art teacher and a school didn't like his curriculum ideas yet they used his whole scheme of work after he left! It's the eastern way of thinking. |
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dOhbOy
Joined: 04 Nov 2013
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 12:25 pm Post subject: |
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| I recommend looking into jobs in Japan. It seems to be much friendlier with foreign workers and the pay will be better. |
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fat_chris
Joined: 10 Sep 2003
Posts: 3198
Location: Beijing
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| Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 6:55 am Post subject: |
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| dOhbOy wrote: |
| I recommend looking into jobs in Japan. It seems to be much friendlier with foreign workers and the pay will be better. |
Agreed...and your timing is just right. JET Programme applications are due later this month.
If you are younger (south of 40*), you could put together a JET Programme application in time for the deadline.
http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/JET/
*Note--while the older than 40 rule is technically no longer on the books for the JET Programme, it does seem that people older than 40 will have much less of a chance of getting into the Programme.
Warm regards,
fat_chris
JET Programme ALT (Shizuoka-ken), 2007-2011
JET Programme PA (Shizuoka-ken), 2011-2012 |
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