Job Discussion Forums

kanjizai · Joined: 29 Jun 2003 Posts: 69

I was wondering if there are any japan vets who have made the transition to China. If so, could you give me comparison on the two countries. The basics will be fine: general experience with the students, quality of life , saving ability, health care, and immigration issues.

Thanks in advance.

Alien1982 · Joined: 27 Aug 2013 Posts: 59

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=104945

The above forum addresses that. But keep this in mind. It is a bureaucratic nightmare now.mevery situation is different depending on what province you go to One poster on this thread has been trying for 6 months to get everything in order and his school had such a hard time. And he fot tired of waiting. He withdrew. I also spoke with others personally who also have a really hard time getting things ready for China. Just phone conversations with people back in China that I knew, they all know of some foreigner who's being bullied by the bureaucratic system. I personally decided it wasn't worth my time. Now I'm looking at Taiwan, possibly Thailand.

Applying the Z visa, you need the work permit and invitation letter. You must do it from within your home country. And it's a nightmare getting those. Waiting times and the hoops to jump through, not to mention waiting weeks at a time to find out what the next hoop is you gotta jump through.

D-M · Joined: 30 Nov 2013 Posts: 114

Nothing is absolute in China.

I have just returned from dinner tonight with an American teacher who arrived back in China on Friday night. He had his Z visa processed in Bangkok last week without a medical or criminal background check.

He will do his medical in Guilin later this month.

mw182006 · Joined: 10 Dec 2012 Posts: 310

Javelin of Radiance · Joined: 01 Jul 2009 Posts: 1187 Location: The West

zactherat · Joined: 24 Aug 2011 Posts: 295

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

Simon in Suzhou · Joined: 09 Aug 2011 Posts: 404 Location: GZ

The bureaucracy for would-be teachers is no worse in China than any other Asian nation, and less than a couple prominent places I can think of. If you are qualified to teach ESL under the law, it's generally not a problem AT ALL. It IS getting more difficult for the backpacker with no degree and no experience to get a visa these days.

Chinese students are lovely and generally eager to learn and very well behaved. They are as good as any students in Asia. Generally, the desire for actual fluency is greater here than in some cultures where cramming for the English exam is the final goal. English is a marketable skill in a hyper-competitive culture. There are many more opportunities to teach adults and college aged students if you're tired of teaching kids.

Quality of life is very hit-and-miss. After coming from other ESL locales, some people love it here, some people hate it. I love it. If you want to live in a major city, pollution, traffic, and people everywhere will always be an issue. If you aren't stuck on living in a metropolis, you can avoid all of these issues. China is a big country with lots of variety. Chinese people are very friendly and generally warmer to foreigners than the Japanese are. China is diverse and has lots to see and do. Interesting culture. China is dirtier and less civilized in many ways than Japan. There's much more of a rough-edge to things here unless you are in downtown Shanghai. People really don't like the Japanese much now. If you are fond of Japanese culture, this sentiment could be really annoying. If you are frustrated and bitter about your time in Japan you might fit in well!

Cost of living is WAY less here, but so are the salaries. Saving depends a lot on the individual, where you live, and how much you're making. Hard to say. I don't pay rent, don't drink, buy foreign food, and I spend 3000 a month without ever really trying to scrimp and living comfortably. Everything after this is savings. I could spend about 1000 less if i tried at all, and would spend probably 1000 more if i was a drinker.

Health care is abysmal, for the most part. Ok, it's getting a little better in the big cities, but any kind of insurance you have through your job won't pay for the "better" healthcare, in all likelihood. If health issues are a major concern, I'd give China a pass.

As I said before, immigration is not bad IF you are actually qualified to be a teacher, AND you are not going through a shoddy private institute who doesn't have the permits to get you a work visa. ANY job that tells you to come to China on anything but a Z-visa they are providing- run away. Never come on a tourist visa, etc. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. It's a little difficult to get a good job from abroad. The best jobs are not hiring over the net. I think if one has their heart set on China, it's good to take a university job from abroad, even at lesser pay, and line up a better job on the ground 6 months or a year down the road. You have a far better chance of not getting screwed over on visa issues by a university than a private academy. IMO.

Alien1982 · Joined: 27 Aug 2013 Posts: 59

Yes I have been to China before. And going back again, I started my visa process in August only to find that mine also took a long time to start.

kanjizai · Joined: 29 Jun 2003 Posts: 69

Thanks guys for the posts.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

For all the exceptions mentioned from time to time, like above plus the 'still available visa run to HK', err on the conservative side.
Assume newbies that you are going to apply for jobs and then your Z from HOME.
Make sure you align yourself with the hiring seasons and always
have 2 or 3 job conversations on the go at the one time.
Only when all the job conditions are in a row, sign and get your Embassy/Consulate processes going.
If starting teaching after Spring Festival, you should be well advanced in the process now.
If starting in Fall/Autumn (Sept) you should be looking at jobs April/May (2014).