Job Discussion Forums

[bcooke]

I'm planning on arriving in China in early-mid April, having obtained TEFL certification in March through a Trinity-sponsored program in Prague, and that will really be my only language and/or teaching related qualification. Will university work starting mid-semester be diffifcult or impossible to find? I do have a degree, but it is a BS in math, which will further limit my options if the lists of required qualifications on the university websites are hard and fast rules (are they, by the way?).

My current strategy is to begin sending out my information to individual schools within the next week or two, stating somewhere in the materials my wish to start in April and my willingness to sign a contract for the following year. All things considered, will this work?

Another thing: I've noticed that a lot of schools provide on-campus housing, and that many of these campuses are islands in themselves located far from city centers. The prospect of being relatively confined day and night to the sterile school grounds isn't thrilling, and I wonder how one would go about independently finding an apartment in a more urban setting and whether or not a school would be willing to make a housing allowance in that event. Any advice?

[tw]

[kev7161]

Probably not. Unless someone has pulled a runner and a school is frantically looking for a replacement, odds of landing a job only a couple of months before the end of term may be very difficult for you.

Most schools will (or have) hire for the Spring semester that begins mid to late February. You may have to do some time in a language mill to "tide you over" for this time through the summer. Of course, there will be summer camps in about mid-July, but I would say to prepare for no in-school teaching gigs until September!

(I could be wrong, though)

[Super Mario]

[Roger]

Your best chances are with training centres, not schools - if you insist on coming mid-semester. I'ts not totally unlikely a public schools will hire you in March, but just not very, very likely! Their problem would be: the term ends 3 months later, and a work visa for 6 or 12 months would go underutilised throughout the summer holidays during which they would most likely not need you! 3 months is sometimes a wee bit tight for them to get you legal status!

I don't understand this complaining about "living on a sterile campus" so long as you haven't seen it! Do you think living in a downtown highrise makes for genteel living? YOu will be surprised by the low quality of life you have to put up with there! Noise levels guaranteed 24 hours a day, nosey neighbours, and an ever enterprising police and watchman looking how you do in your four walls!

I think living on campus offers serenity and serendipidty sorely missing in most urban parts of China! Plus it's a lot safer too on campus!

[frank d]

My two experiences of living on campus were terrible! I will never do it again! The first one offered anything but serenity! People were constantly knocking on my door, arriving at all hours; calling my name from outside the window when I was trying to sleep. My apartment was on the ground floor of a girl's dormatory (I am an older man). The girls were constantly knocking on my gate so they could retrieve fallen bras, panties, and other "girl" things from my "yard." I remained friendly about it all -- but I was miserable!

[vikdk]

hey frank your experiences sound like heaven to an old codger like me

[frank d]

Yeah, after typing these comments I began to wonder if my circumstances might appear a bit more appealing to some other, old FTs!!! It was not as wonderul as it might sound to you! More annoying than anything else!

[Midlothian Mapleheart]

Edited to remove offensive content.

Middy

[frank d]

Oh, yeah! Thanks Mapleheart! You reminded me about the screaming between classes, the relentless and ear-splitting distorted wake-up music and early morning rallies! Thanks (but no thanks) for the memories!!!

Yes, when I had a problem in my living quarters (which was often), when it was addressed, it seemed to always require a parade of workers: one to actually fix the problem, and about six others to stare at and discuss the problem. This work "process" usually required 3 days minimum repair time (and they always requested that I be at home to witness the madness).

[tw]