Job Discussion Forums

[MrWright]

Ok. So the end of this school year is in sight, and contemplating my options. Teaching oral English and learning about China has changed some opinions and ambitions of mine. With my qualifications, I've decided that the place for me is teaching History or Biology to Chinese High School students. I know I can get into the big IB international schools, but don't want that level of pressure. The oral English thing is ok, but I think I'd like to teach subjects, as that is my background. So I've been in contact with some recruiters and they've talked about finding me positions at these Chinese "international" schools. So I'm wondering if recruiters are the only way to find these kinds of school. TIE online is more for legit IB intl schools. Not my target. But most esl job boards don't have them either. These schools seem to be somewhere in the middle, and I'd like to be able to find them direct. Thoughts?

[hdeth]

Most will have an HR department with English-speaking staff, but also use recruiters. You might try just looking up the schools and contacting directly. They might also post on some job websites...I know mine does.

You're going to be at a really low-end school if you want to teach history with no certified teacher status. Biology would be much easier. Still...I'm at one of those schools and I think all the science teachers have advanced degrees and/or are certified teachers.

[tlkdmc]

I'm curious, as you state regarding your background, abilities, desires... why are you not teaching in your home country? Why come to China and stay in China under these circumstances?

[MrWright]

Sorry I didn't mention that I am a certified teacher. 7 years experience in the states, subject endorsements in History and Biology.

[MrWright]

[hdeth]

Biology shouldn't be a problem then and will pay nearly twice as much. They're always looking for science teachers. There's much more emphasis on science and math as compared to history and the arts, at least at my school. History falls somewhere between literature (which is seen as worthless) and science.

Look for AP biology or AP history jobs on the ESL job boards and you should find something.

There are downsides to every job. You will have to deal with rampant cheating, students who have never done a research paper and don't know what a citation is, administrations that make it so you can't fail or punish students.....and so on....but it's better than most jobs. The people at my school who don't like it are the ones who got totally screwed on their pay and are making 9k rmb as a certified teacher working full time. A science teacher can earn 30k gross pretty easy.

[MrWright]

hdeth, what kind of school do you teach at? Are the students chinese or expat?

[hdeth]

I teach at one of the more famous "international" schools. Mostly rich Chinese kids but a couple foreign students. Not expats' kids usually but exchange students. There might be an expat kid or two but I don't think there are practically any....most expats don't have that kind of money. I think the tuition is something like $30k usd per semester.

My understanding is that other schools like this are more similar to an American or UK high school (depending on which universities they are targeting for grads). The AP classes here are like at an American high school but the teachers have a lot more control of their classes and the grades are fudged so students look good. But the English classes are more like a language mill.

[kev7161]

Instead of searching for "international" schools, try Chinese "foreign language" schools instead. You'll get a bunch of Google hits and you can start doing some research. My school is a "foreign language" school that has international departments with many certified (and some not-so-certified) teachers earning a variety of salaries, depending on qualifications or who can pad their resume the most and schmooze with those in the international office.

[asiannationmc]