Job Discussion Forums

Santos L Halper · Joined: 11 Oct 2004 Posts: 37 Location: Left Below

Is there any case where it's feasible to teach 1/2 year at a time, and then spend 1/2 year back at home? In particular, I am curious about college or university. My business stateside is seasonal, and I am trying to think of some creative ways to manage the slower time. Would any schools (or I) want the trouble of all the requisite recurrent permitting?

esl_prof · Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2015 8:29 pm Post subject:

I don't know if that's feasible in China, but I think it would certainly be doable in Latin America. If you're interested in pursuing that possibility, please feel free to post an inquiry over on the General Latin America forum. Of course, you wouldn't make the same kind of money in LA as you would in China, but it would certainly be an ideal way to split your time between two different jobs.

Santos L Halper · Joined: 11 Oct 2004 Posts: 37 Location: Left Below

Thanks for the reply! Latin America is a direction I had not thought of...I've spent a little bit of time in Mexico and South America and really liked it. I will have to see if my wife would be up for the ride!

Listerine · Joined: 15 Jun 2014 Posts: 340

I work with a lady who does one semester on, one semester off (goes travelling).she's been doing it for years.I guess many schools may baulk (sp?) At teachers initially applying for jobs and requesing this,but once u have put in a year or so,done a godd job and become a known quantity they might be more willing to help u out.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

If you look a bit more east it's possible. I get 20 weeks off per year.

toteach · Joined: 29 Dec 2008 Posts: 273

YES, IT IS POSSIBLE!

We have a summer seasonal business stateside. Finding a school that will accept a shorter contract can be challenging, but a good recruiter works wonders.

The freshmen in public university have military training the first part of school, so typically teachers of freshmen don't start until well after everyone else begins. Request freshmen!

Also, assure the school that you will complete the same number of semester hours AND have the marks to them by a set day.

Don't expect schools in the big cities to work with you, but if you search farther east, as Naturegirl suggested, you'll find something.

Clicker · Joined: 18 Sep 2014 Posts: 19

rtm · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 1003 Location: US

litterascriptor · Joined: 17 Jan 2013 Posts: 360

Gonorrhea???

Listerine · Joined: 15 Jun 2014 Posts: 340

I'd assumed diarrhea!

The K-Uni gigs are going downhill fast by all reports. The days of widespread gigs with full salary 5 months off have dwindled to a trickle. And a *major* catch is you have to deal with some of the most cretinous people on Earth for the *other* 7 months,

Apologies for the gibberish in my last message by the way...stupid dumphone combined with stupid sausage fingers at 8am makes for a bad combo.

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

I've found that each semester stands on its own and I get a fresh new batch of classes in Feb.
I think OP's proposal is doable and I would be interested to see how it pans out.
While I prefer direct contact with schools, an agent may be a good idea when looking for a non-standard gig.

Banner41 · Joined: 04 Jan 2011 Posts: 656 Location: Shanghai

I would think a language school would be more flexible since start dates are not concrete. You might not get visa paid for but they may sponsor it if they know you are coming back every 6 months or so.

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

You might want to seek out someone else who is looking for a similar set-up. He or she could switch out and work the semesters/seasons that you don't want to. Of course, the school would have to pay for two sets of paperwork (or if they balk at that, offer to pay for this yourself), but you could certainly share the same apartment.

Santos L Halper · Joined: 11 Oct 2004 Posts: 37 Location: Left Below

Thank you for all of the responses everyone! I have plenty to think about now. I had not thought of a recruiter, but that's definitely something to consider. I really appreciate all of the advice. We'll see if anything comes of it. My wife is a bit recalcitrant but I would like to be a little imaginative with respect to weaseling out of the typical workaday drudge.

Bud Powell · Joined: 11 Jul 2013 Posts: 1736

Some public and privatized colleges and universities send their FTs home for the summer at the school's expense. That has worked out for me on a couple of occasions. One school tried to make me move into a hotel ( at my own expense) for the summer to save on the utilities.

It's possible to find these schools. Recruiters who know the industry well are aware of these schools. I believe that this will become more and more common in the future. Colleges and universities want to completely shut down for the summers so they don't have the personnel and electricity expense. Plane fare for a handful of FTs is cheaper than keeping a school maintained, guarded, and lit for three months.

Then there's always the option of just going home for the summer on the school's dime, then reapplying for a Fall job before you leave China.