Job Discussion Forums

coolrcdad · Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2005 1:38 am Post subject: Is orientation useful?

As a first-time, would-be teacher in China with only some substitute teaching experience, I am leaning toward agencies/recruiters who offer some orientation, especially in TEFL techniques. (CIEE is one that does.) Has anyone here been through such an orientation and was it useful and worth the expense? Thanks for any feedback.

tofuman · Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Posts: 937

Crcd,

You mention that your agency is offering "orientation" and wonder if the "expense" is justified?

Are they offering any lubrication?

Think about it. I have had many jobs in my life and except in commission sales work, I have ALWAYS been paid to attend orientation.

If you want ESL training that will help you work in China, good luck. Class sizes and student inertia make some pedagogic techniques irrelevant. I took CELTA training before coming here. Certain elements are applicable, such as grading, concept checks and their basic approach to introducing data, practicing it, clarifying it and reviewing it, but the expense involved was hardly worth it.

CELTA is an excellent program, but its application in this context is problematic. I suppose that if I was really conscientious and devoted, I could implement more of its principles. Do I want to turn a fourteen hour a week job into a forty hour week job at the same pay rate? Frankly, No, but your question has caused me to think about being a better teacher.

Good luck. I would get some other viewpoints on this subject

smalldog · Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Posts: 74

I arrived in 1999 through CIEE. The week's orientation was good in that it gave me a week to get used to being in China in a less stressful environment than if I'd gone directly to my school. I wouldn't say I really learned anything useful about TEFL techniques though. In some other ways it was useful as I was a bit green back then. I don't know how a "non-profit" organisation can justify the price they charge though. How much is it now?

coolrcdad · Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2005 3:16 pm Post subject:

smalldog -- CIEE is charging $1,500 now for the full-year option.

smalldog · Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Posts: 74

I think I paid about 500 pounds for the application and placement fees and the orientation. If you paid me $1500, I would happily find you a job, meet you at Beijing airport, put you up in a nice hotel for a week, pay for all your meals, take you round the city and give you a much better introduction you to teaching in China!!!

Or you can get the same benefits at almost no cost by:
1) finding out about teaching in China by reading posts and asking questions on this board,
2) finding a job by yourself (adverts on Dave's are a good way to start),
3) arriving a week early in Beijing, staying in a hostel and meeting other people in your situation.

coolrcdad · Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2005 4:16 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the advice. I know there are placement agencies that do not charge the teacher and I think that for a first timer it would be helpful to have the kind of help the agencies provide. I wouldn't know which schools are good if I just relied on job ads, or know which part of the country or which city to live in.