Job Discussion Forums

[EuroGuy]

Now this might be a funny post coming from a guy that just signed up and is pretty much a "newbie" himself haha ... BUT: Im a newbie on here, but I'm "teaching" for a bit now. To be honest not for long, just a year, but thats enough to see whats going on.

First - I'm in China, so it might vary on countries...

I'm also aware that a lot of people will disagree or take the jobs all serious, but hey - its an open discussion, right?

Fair warning:
THIS IS FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO MAKE MONEY! If your main interest is to be a REAL TEACHER, don't read this... this is for the $-oriented people out there!

So here it goes...

If your goal is to make EASY CASH, become an ESL "teacher". Honestly nobody at those schools gives a sh@# about your experience, the entire thing is a HUGE ripoff for "students". Sure they learn something but I can only laugh at the "teachers" they hire.

FIRST:
Get the CHEAPEST TEFL certification you can get. It must be 120h tho! But DONT spend 500-1000 bucks on i-to-i or whatever. I went with Teflmadeeasy and spend 150 bucks. DONE.

SECOND:
Lie about your experience, they don't check, they don't care. Have you ever helped ANYBODY understand ANYTHING in school? Yea? Put that down as "tutoring".
BUT you should look decent. If you're "ugly" China won't hire you. It's all about appearance here!

THIRD:
Go with the "school" that pays most. Obviously go to the city you like, but then care about the cash next!!! All the schools are the same (been there, done that!) - the management is a JOKE. Nothing runs smooth anywhere. Your schedule is a mess all the time - you always gotta wing it.

FOURTH:
You're important in China. Being white and a foreigner opens all the doors! You don't want to work? Just tell them: "Im not coming" - NOTHING will happen. You're in total control over your "boss" - that's awesome. As a matter of fact you will make more money as well as your "supervisor" which is funny.

FIFTH:
What will you really be doing? Well, you won't teach, thats for sure... and once you're here, you will laugh at that too. Centers give you 15 year old lesson plans you read down and guide them through some stupid exercises. OR you do your own thing and just wing it every time - just talk... about anything. Students dont care, hell they love it if you tell them stories! Literally just wing it. Do that for 5h a day, go home. Sidenote: Picking up students at those centers is totally normal as well... so bam: another nice extra

Now - is everybody shocked yet!? Thats reality... I'm in Shanghai since February!

LASTLY:
Don't stick with "schools"! Hang out there for 2-3 month then bouce - go into corporate teaching ASAP. Use the schools to make contact. Almost all of them have VIP students with some serious pull in corporations and the government. BS them and tell them that corporate training or private training would be so much better - eventually you got a gig lined up.
I can only tell from my experience - I was with a well known school for 2.5 month then I bounced - went straight for the corporate department in the same "school-network'. My salary tripled the first month - I started at around 17000 in the center - I'm sitting at probably 60k per MONTH right now ... PLUS I only "work" 25h a week. (Note: I have 2 real Masters degrees in Business, so I actually do educate them (I'm not doing ESL, but business training now)).


CONCLUSION:
- Go with the school that pays the most money
- Get the cheapest TEFL you can find: I recommend Teflmadeeasy.com - 150 bucks and you get it done in a week
- Make up a nice resume. Put down years of experience, nobody checks, nobody cares
- Stick w the school for 2-3 month, then go into corporate on your own
- Do sidestuff whenever you can ... China has money, serious money
- Network, network, network! Thats the reason I came here. Meet people. China is THE economy to be in right now. Hands down!

Now... this is MY POINT OF VIEW. I'm not a teacher, I never claimed to be one. I'm here to make money.

I dont mean to offend anybody - if you are a real teacher and want to help students, thats way cool. I respect that. I'm glad there are guys around that take it serious. Im just offering a new point of view.

[spiral78]

Thankfully, what 'works' in China (according to this post) isn't applicable worldwide.
I'd take issue with the thread title, which implies that the thread will advise newbies globally.

1st. : it's not the 120 hours, it's the supervised teaching practice with actual students that is considered the key element of reputable entry-level training courses (in most regions of the world).
2nd.: not recommended in any job market with standards; as someone who's served on hiring committees for over a decade, I can assure you that we do check credentials.
3rd. : ....sure, all management everywhere is a joke. (perhaps some truth in this statement: who else would hire guys like this??? oh, except he wouldn't get hired anywhere I've ever worked....)
4th. : yes. recipe for success. Just be a white foreigner. 'They' all think we're gods and goddesses
5th. : again, unlikely to work ('even' in China) longer term. How many months has our OP worked to amass this stock of wisdom?
Lastly : got out of EFL after 2.5 months. Surely able to speak with authority on the subject with all this experience!

As for offensive, the only part I find really annoying is the notion implied in the title that this approach would work globally, or even actually in China. Sweeping, unsupported, and unsupportable generalization.

[EuroGuy]

As said... this is for people that want to make money, not actually become a teacher
So I understand your point of view as it seems you take it serious. Let me assure you, MOST of the "teachers" I know in Shanghai don't ... we milk the system for cash, like it or not. It works FLAWLESSLY

It really only takes 1 week to realize how it works! So yea - after 2.5 month I figured it out lol


Appreciated your post and let me assure you again every single word I wrote is true.

Out of interest: May I ask where you work? Probably not China?

[santi84]

Whatever floats your bloat, I wouldn't sleep much at night

[sparks]

I've never worked in China so don't really know what is expected there. I would say that as long as your students don't complain, go with it. Here, you can easily tell if you're doing a good job. Students would go right to the admin. if they weren't satisfied.

[Sashadroogie]

I thought this was a site for EFL teachers?

In any case, this thread belongs on the China boards. Or perhaps the delete bin...

[nomad soul]

[Sashadroogie]

I was wondering about two MBAs as well. Why get two? Was there something wrong with the first one? Was it awarded by some place only in the business for the money?

[spiral78]

...vote for delete bin.

[EuroGuy]

guys, everybody relax

Like I said: If youre in the game for being a teacher, go for it!
I'm in the game of cashing out - I do not care about teaching whatsoever, what counts is my bank accounts

Let's be frank here... MOST people ware in for the money. Don't lie to yourself. What's more valuable? Teaching some random guy English or buying yourself a new car every year?

I was pointing out my MBAs since they contribute to my current income - I know others make around 35-40k per month in corporate training, I put another 20k on top, since my resume looks better. And no - they were awarded by one of the TOP10 universities for business worldwide. Believe it or not, I also published a book on a marketing subject. This however has nothing to do with my post.

All I was trying to do is to let some newbies know what REALLY do expect and how China works. Again: From a perspective of someone that likes CASH, not teaching

[spiral78]

You're aware there is a China forum?












Since your post has no links to reality in most of the world.

[santi84]

Not everywhere in China. My uncle is teaching there right now with an MA in Education and 30 years experience. Just because you work with clowns doesn't mean the whole country is a circus.

[nomad soul]

[Big Worm]

Total BS.

Obvious troll is obvious.

3/10 for effort.



Been in China five years. Absolutely nobody involved in teaching/training makes that money. (That's like $120,000USD) MAYBE if you are in the middle east and a qualified teacher willing to live a shit life you can get that...maybe.

There are just too many white faces in China willing to work for 1/10th that for that to be believable. Chinese aren't exactly known for being stupid with their money.

Not feeding the troll, just don't want all the kids back home reading this and getting their hopes up.

Vote delete.

[Bud Powell]

The OP's post is offensive.