Job Discussion Forums

[3701 W.119th]

I mostly enjoyed working at a 'mill'. They were serious about teaching, with serious adult students who wanted to learn, and there was plenty of support there, if required. The money was good. The only thing I didn't like was the schedule. Not the total hours (a 40 hour week is par for the course 'back home'), but just the scheduling. Working 12-9, and Saturday and Sunday. Not for me. Give me 9-5 or 8-5, Mon - Fri, and i'm happy. Some like the mill schedule though.

I reckon most (but not all) of the negative sentiment around 'mill' jobs comes from people who hopped on a plane to China to 'teach', but lacked the skills or basic training to do so.

This year at a university job, I'm working hard, but really enjoying it. I love the freedom to create my own course based on student needs, motivations, etc. But I wonder how the fresh-off-the-plane, 24 years old gap-year crowd, can do a university job effectively. Show movies and sing songs?

[OhBudPowellWhereArtThou]

"...I reckon most (but not all) of the negative sentiment around 'mill' jobs comes from people who hopped on a plane to China to 'teach', but lacked the skills or basic training to do so..."

Unfortunately, this is often the case, even in public universities. FTs are required to possess a minimum of a BA in something--- anything--- yet when they arrive, they demonstrate no concept of how a class is to be conducted. One must wonder what they did in college.


"...This year at a university job, I'm working hard, but really enjoying it. I love the freedom to create my own course based on student needs, motivations, etc. But I wonder how the fresh-off-the-plane, 24 years old gap-year crowd, can do a university job effectively. Show movies and sing songs?..."

The original question centered around whether the up-front expenses in coming to China to TEACH was worthwhile to the prospective teacher. Few express a consideration of the value of their presence in China to the student as you have.

You wonder how well a 24 year-old new graduate can perform in the Chinese class room. Unfortunately, the ones who might make the most effective teachers seem not to come to China to teach in a university. University teachers with whom I have worked in China are attracted to the low class load. Sure. Sixteen to twenty hours of class seems like little work. They don't realize that showing up for class is just half the responsibility. The other half is designing and implementing their curriculum, most of whom I have met appear to be thoroughly incapable of doing so.

So what do they do?

One supposed lawyer sang songs in class (in a university English class! A lawyer certainly should be able to shed insight into the English language in a unique and interesting way).

Another played games.

Another played his guitar.

Another (who was well beyond twenty-four years old) taught his class insults and obscenities).

It is good that you are spending your time working on creating an effective curriculum and a student-centered class room. You are making your efforts to come to China a worthwhile experience for the student.

I applaud you.

[RiverMystic]

It's about being smart, and patient. You can end up working forty hours a week for 10000, which is a bad deal, IMHO. Most likely cram schools. But you can get jobs for nearly or around that much which require no more than 20 total hours. You can then do privates if you like or work on writing the great American novel, or whatever does it for you.

Spend a year or two developing skills and a reputation. Get CELTA or the like.

I have a good gig, nearly 20K after tax, nice free apartment, often very little work. During busy periods I work four days a week, about four hours each of those days including prep. They make me sit in the office six hours a week, but I just write my books and study Chinese.

[hdeth]

[wangdaning]

[Mikeylikesit114]

[Mikeylikesit114]