Job Discussion Forums

[S3r3nity]

Hey, im 18 and living in the UK. I'm quite good with languages and i really want to learn mandarin, and become an english teacher in china. My parents moved to france just after my GCSE's and therefore i failed to get the A-levels i needed to go to a uni. I've been reading alot of the posts and your all english teachers. I've emailed 100s of sites incl. the british embassy in beijing, yet noone is willing to give me a chance, to go to china and train with a teacher etc... to pick up mandarin and to teach chinese. As you all work in schools i was wondering if you knew of any vacancies for a trainee or any other way of doing it, I'm so desperate just to go back to china, I could say ive tryed everything to go but obviously i havent and i will keep trying until i finally find a way to do so. It's all about money these days, you can pay to go etc etc, im only 18 i havent got 6 thousand pound to pay so i can go for a year to study, if i did id happily spend it on that! If you have any info, please email me or post a reply, all i want is one chance.
Thanks Ant

[go_ABs]

In my opinion, do two things.

First, save some money in the UK. Use it to buy a plane ticket and come to China on a tourist visa. Go to a big city and look around for jobs in-country. You'll be more employable, despite the lack of qualifications, because you are already in China.

Second, work on your spelling and grammar. Yes, we are all teachers, which is why the phrase "your all teachers" grates (at least on me - maybe not everyone). Any job you apply for will appreciate a demonstrably literate candidate. Get into practice now.

Actually, if I were you I'd hold off coming over immediately. I'd save some money, do a TEFL course, and get some tangible qualifications. Though as you'll no doubt hear from other posters, a BA degree is the minimum qualification for teachers coming into China. That law is enforced erratically, though.

If the desire to learn Mandarin is strong, you could surely find someone in the UK to tutor you before you come to China?

But if you can't wait, do those two things I mentioned earlier. Good luck!

[ChinaMovieMagic]

Check out the Buckland program for Volunteers in poor villages. It can give you experience, and a chance to try out things w/out worrying about hyper-critical wealthy parents, as in private big-city schools. AND...if things work out well for you in the school, there can be many opportunities in the Buckland network, as well as many other schools on China. Follow your Dream!! Don't worry about writing grammar. You'll be teaching conversational English, and enthusiasm/rapport/creativity are the essentials. For some suggestions, check out the thread on this China Job-Related, called "Promote Change in China's Classrooms."

(BTW, in the spirit of full disclosure, I'm not now/never have been an employee of Buckland, but will meet him for the 1st time this May vacation to talk about possible projects.)

http://www.bucklandgroup.org/volunteer/index.htm


VET Program --Come and Help the Children of South China
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In China many many families live in extreme poverty. This is espesially true of the mountain villages of the Guilin/Yangshuo area of Guangxi Province where many farm families eek out a meager existence from a bit of land, struggle to pay the tuition for their children to go to the local elementary school. VET is dedicated to placing volunteers in these poor schools to expose the students to the English language, different cultures and the opportunity to mix with prople from all over the world. For a few days weeks or a month or more, visitors to this beautiful region will have the experience of a life time.

In return accommodation, meals, transportation and orientation will be provided free of charge for the time given to the children. The benefits to the children are many; besides the benefits mentioned above, children must pass schooling, the ability to speak even a little English and to feel comfortable around foreigners will assure them of a job in tourist rich Yangshuo. Even a few hours a week learning basic English and practicing what their Chinese english teachers have taught them will help tremendously.

Yangshuo/Guilin is ranked second in the most popular tourism areas in China, second only to THe Great Wall. Come and give your time and have a rewarding holiday in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Program Objectives
1.To enhance the English language instruction in poor elementary schools in Guangxi Province.
2.Place volunteer foreign teachers in these schools.
3. Create a network of international volunteers willing to give their time to improve the opportunities for these willing children.

[Roger]

Teacher trainee?
I guess this is a British term that reminds me of a concept in some European countries: they train their teachers (any subject) for primary schools. In German-speaking countries, teachers would attend "seminars" where they would get regular theoretical instruction on pedagogy and the subjects, and they would get a hands-on sort of practice in classrooms. No such thing is available in China, least of all for FTs!

You may also be misguided in thinking that you will "teach English" in China; you will not. You will be employed to practise oral English (in most schools, anyway). For this sort of employment you don't really need such a training though you should have some quals - your A levels would be a minimum, to begin with.

You can, however, still try to land a job, and CMM's suggestion of joining BUckland is not a bad idea; they won't pay you much, though. I don't know if you would be happy with a job in the boonies, though. Learning Mandarin takes dedication from both yourself and your instructor; few CHinese Mandarin teachers display the relevant skills you will have to display with your Chinese English learners! In the end, it's best to study Mandarin back home before coming here and get immersion!