Job Discussion Forums

dohdohburd · Joined: 17 Mar 2006 Posts: 8

I'll start off by saying that I am 21 years old. I have been going to school for a couple years part time while I work full time. Can't say I have got much accomplished in school yet, mostly because I didn't really figure out what I wanted in life in terms of a career. I have always wanted to teach, I have tutored a few students in math a couple years ago, and I have always wanted to travel to different parts of the world, so I figured that teaching english in foreign countries would be an interesting career that I would probably like.

Well I have been offered a job teaching English in China. I have no degree, minimal teaching experience (tutoring). They are offering 5000 yuan a month for teaching 90 hours, plus free apartment, free internet, reimbursement of travel when I am finished with the 1 year contract. I was wondering if this is a good deal. Also wondering if I should take this opportunity or would it be wiser to finish up college before attempting to take this on. The school is relatively new, only been open for 4 years. Will be teaching children and adults. I am just seeking some advice on what I should do, I don't want to end up doing something I will regret.

Calories · Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 361 Location: Chinese Food Hell

You could find a job with close to the same pay and bonuses working half that but, 90 hours isn't even that much. I work 48 hours a month and most people I know work even less!

Eh, about school. It's your choice really. I haven't finished my degree yet either. Universities will always be there but, then again so will China. What do you feel like doing?

I came to China because I was going to uni for the sake of learning not career advancement and I see it as a waste of money and time since no one really needs a teacher or an institution to learn. When I figure out what I want to do besides collect degrees and trivial thoughts, I'll return. Maybe I never will and in that case I'll simply correspondence my way to a BA and keep doing this teaching thing.

Super Mario · Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 1:18 am Post subject:

I'm assuming "school" is American for post-secondary studies. Otherwise my seven year-old son has been going to school for two years as well.
It could be a good experience for you. If you like it, you can get properly qualified and look at richer fields. China isn't a bad starting point, and the conditions you describe are reasonable for an unqualified newbie: no insult intended there. In fact, there are more experienced [but not necessarily better, or more qualified] people scratching around on less. 5000 will give you a good lifestyle in most places, plus you should save some or, a better idea, do some major travelling.

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

in north america university is often referred to as school.

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between

entde · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 65

Go to China and teach English because that experience will top college almost everytime. I know people who are getting ready to retire and still have no clue on what to do with their life. Many people from the USA go to school (college) and in four years they are about $50,000 debt thinking about bankruptcy totally unaware that they can't file on school debt. Next thing you know they get that disease called factory work that eats them from the inside out living pay check to pay check and maxing out credit cards. Go to China and get a taste of what you are going to be talking about for the rest of your life.
It is like going straight to the NBA from high school and I wonder how many people with college degree think that this is wrong. If there is anyone who thinks that something like this is wrong they better check on themselves because that isn't college thinking.

dohdohburd · Joined: 17 Mar 2006 Posts: 8

Thanks for the advice guys. Still trying to make up my mind if I want to or not. The only thing I get nervous is about is that I am a pretty underqualified newbie, never really taught in a group setting let alone in another country. Also another thing I'm worried about is what if a couple of months it isn't what I expected and wanted to get out, etc. Thanks again guys.

jeffinflorida · Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 2:32 am Post subject:

dajiang · Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 663 Location: Guilin!

I'd really advise you to finish your degree first and then start teaching in China or elsewhere. Not because starting off in ESL would be a bad choice -- it isn't -- but because it's much harder to come back and finish that degree sometime later in life. Trust me, I know. I did the same thing a few years ago.

As to being nervous about teaching groups and going off to China that's of lesser concern. It's a hurdle you just got to take, and once you've done that you'll see it wasn't much of a hurdle really.

I would recommend you do some research on what kind of place you'd like to work in. I mean, North or South, big or small city, private or public school, kids or college or uni, etc etc. I met people before who were being sent out by a recruiter to Harbin for instance, and they had no clue as to what kind of town that was. They might have had a great time there of course, but if I were them I'd check out some background info on the city I was going to be staying in for a year.

So, my advice is to get a degree first, and after that you're all finished with nothing to worry about. And in the holidays you can go to China and travel around a bit, see if you like the place at all.

It's all up to you,
Dajiang

woza17 · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 602 Location: china

So a school has offered you a job, so what can you offer. If you are serious about this then find out as much as you can about teaching in China prepare yourself. Think about what it will be like teaching in a classroom of 70 odd children how will you cope with that. If you come here, prepare you will have more confidence in what you are doing.
Read all the websites look at this as a very professional job otherwise stay at school,