Job Discussion Forums

[Clara]

Hello,

I'm new to the whole ESL game and have a couple of questions:

First, this may be a bit premature, but I was wondering if a person could start a job in the summer--more specifically, i'm looking at coming to China towards the end of June next year, so are there non-summer camp type jobs available then? It should be noted that I'm also looking to teach in a private school, and that my leaving date is flexible if this should help to answer the question. Also, how soon should I start looking/applying for a job?

Second, I will have a B.A. in history by the end of the school year, and was going to get a TEFL certificate soon after that, but I lack teaching experience. But I have volunteered at tutoring a Chinese girl in English here at my University--I know it's not alot, nor the way that English is probably taught in China, but I guess it's something. So anyways, what do I exactly put on the CV/Resume that I see employers ask for in their job descriptions if I don't have it?


Thanks in Advance,

Clara

[tw]

[Super Mario]

There are private schools: 5 day a week operations for well off 7-18 year olds. Some are shonky, but many are fine.
There are "language training centres": Most work is weekends and evenings, many are shonky.
I'm not sure which kind you're thinking of. Proper schools would kick off in early Sept., so go looking 3 or so months before. The centres, or "mills" recruit all year round, because people keep leaving or getting sacked.
Public is best IMHO, as a 3rd option.

[Clara]

Hello Again,



Thanks for your replies. The main reason why I want to work in a private school are, for one thing, they don't have official starting/semester dates like they do at a Public School, and if I am to go to China when I want to, then starting a job in September will not really work for me. Also, from what I hear, public schools are often more overcrowded then private schools, and pay less. But feel free to correct me if my impressions are wrong on this.

Clara

[Roger]

You mustn't delude yourself in terms of student enrolment: during summer months a training centre's main paying clients are ordinary public school students whose parents want to get rid of them and who believe putting their darling emperors and empresses through extra cram sessions will make them more intelligent... Thus you are essentially going to end up doing summer camp. Summers are the peak seasons of this type of "schools" (not the right name, they should be referred to as "training centres").

As for perceived better pay and less crowdedness, true to a major extent; then again you mustn't compare apples to pineapples! Teaching at a public school differs somewhat from teaching at a training centre.