Job Discussion Forums

johnfriendly · Joined: 03 Nov 2015 Posts: 5

Hello all,

I am interested in relocating to China this August/September and am seeking advice on jobs to apply for based on my experience. Ideally I would like to teach in a university.

I am in my late 20s and am an Irish citizen. I have a BA in History, a CELTA and an MA in TESOL. I have 5 years experience teaching in an international school in Dubai. I completed my MA on campus in a major Irish university and graduated last summer. Since then I have been teaching EAP in the same university. This June I will have one year post MA TESOL University experience.

Which jobs should I be seeking based on my experience?

Thanks in advance!

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

Do you have an accent at all at all? Laughing

It's my experience that true international schools here want registered/certificated classroom teachers with some years of exp.
My advice is phone one (pm me for a suggestion) and talk it through with a senior person.
The one I have in mind favours Nth American accented English but your Dubai stint will have tended to internationalalise your speech.
It's a helluva drop in salary to where us bog standard FTs dwell.
Best
NS

JB140767 · Joined: 09 Aug 2015 Posts: 135

ETA · Joined: 14 Jun 2010 Posts: 60

Being Irish won't help you at all in East Asia...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2823952/Teacher-turned-job-South-Korea-assumed-drinking-problem-alcoholism-nature-Irish.html.

China2 · Joined: 04 Jun 2015 Posts: 56

What utter nonsense! I teach here and am surrounded by Irish people.

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

Not nonsense at all.
As DTA I turned away applicants with broad Irish or Scottish accents.
Sure we all have accents but most serious teachers neutralise them for working internationally and regard that as part of the cost of doing business.
My interest is in delivering a good education to students, not pandering to wounded national pride.

danshengou · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2017 5:04 am Post subject:

danshengou · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2017 5:08 am Post subject:

bograt · Joined: 12 Nov 2014 Posts: 331

danshengou · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2017 7:21 am Post subject:

jimpellow · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 913

All these posts, and nobody was kind enough to offer actual advice!

To the poster, you have a ton of opportunities with your qualifications. One has a ton of opportunities in China with poor qualifications! The "true" international programs offer the highest pay and prestige for your resume. I am not sure why you stated university work. I would generalize that they offer a decent chance at not getting jerked around, lower pay, lower hours as well as unmotivated students like the Gulf.

I have worked PRC and then the Gulf. There are a couple other regulars who have done it like you intend to, so perhaps they will chime in.

Best of luck!

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

In my time as a recruiter I routinely turned down those with RP accents.

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

It's about delivering a quality education to students, not picking on specific countries.
My problem was with Scots and Irish so maybe they are not self-aware enough to appreciate the problems their accent can cause.
Hell if I've got 20 calls to get through to applicants I don't agonise over whether I should pursue a candidate whom I cannot understand.
Northern England and Southern US accents are also problematic.

RiverMystic · Joined: 13 Jan 2009 Posts: 1986

Yep. It is rumoured Steve Irwin (RIP) only went into the zoo and show biz because they wouldn't take him on as an ESL teacher. "Crickey! Check the siiize of that sentence. It's huuuuge!"

Pure discrimination.

Markness · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 738 Location: Chengdu