Job Discussion Forums

tom davis · Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Posts: 9

I will be travelling in asia for six months starting in January. In would like to teach for a few months to stretch the funds so to speak. I am skeptical about signing a contract before I go.
Where would the best place to go for work?
Should I just get a tourist visa and hope that I can find a school to change it, or would a business visa be more helpful?
Is it possible to contact some schools in advance? Are there some schools who hire from abraod and who do not use recruiters?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

badtyndale · Joined: 23 Jun 2004 Posts: 181 Location: In the tool shed

If you intend to travel in Asia for a period of six months then spending a few months teaching will severely curtail your travelling opportunities.
Schools in China do not hire overseas directly, as a rule. To obtain a working visa you will normally be expected to commit to a six month contract, minimum.

My advice is that you abandon the idea of teaching and just enjoy yourself.

(One day I shall take my own advice.)

struelle · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2372 Location: Shanghai

I'd recommend seperating the teaching and traveling experiences. That is to say, avoid fueling the perception (true or not) of a teacher who does it for a short time in order to get funds for traveling.

This is a particularly nasty perception that, in China especially, can really damage the reputation of teachers. I'd suggest sticking it out for a long-term contract, then going for long vacations in between teaching jobs. So long as you finish one before you start another, it's no problem.

Steve

tom davis · Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Posts: 9

I guess it was just a recruiter talking when he said working for a couple months would be no problem. But it was someone I know who gave me the idea. He went there for a short time and worked and then he came back.

Certainly no disrespect to the profession. I've been teaching for the past five years. Sometimes its good to kick it in one place for a while and get a feel for how things work. I figure the semester only lasts four months, maybe I'll go there sometime in February or March with my tourist visa and if someone wants to hire me, great, if not, no biggie. At least I'll get to see the place.

Thanks for the advice.

cj750 · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 3081 Location: Beijing

Many schools will have two month cources (lang. Mills) and it is easy to work without Zvisa or books. Keep in mind that this is "agin the law" and you would have to be careful but not too careful..it is easy to find someone to stay with and to work for a few months and to get some cash together and then go. If you come in on a z visa and then do a runner to travel....that is what does harm, real harm to the admistrative procedures that the goverment imposes....and to those that come here later on and try to live with the paperwork inposed on the FT because of examples from the past. Workin on a Travel Visa can be a good experience as you can (as you say) make a little coin while you wander....take caution and only work at a place for two months...get paid daily....live with a friend or go to a hostel...dont tell any other FT that you are workin on a Travel Visa as many fancy themselves "cops" or protectors of the "ESL Profession".
I always work on my vacations as it helps to fatten the pocket and cut the cost of leisure.

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

it just really depends on how much time you can stick around. unless you're planning on doing some sort of camp, you need to plan on staying for a good 2 months if you're hoping to get a teaching gig.

More often than not, you'll end up being farmed out to a few schools that need teachers right away and if you're lucky, you might be able to get a regular gig with a schools whose teacher just vanished....