Job Discussion Forums

[dhammasf]

I really enjoy reading the posts from the people teaching in the various corners of the world. Such varied opinions and experiences.

I know that basically the advice given in these forums is experience, as well as opinions. I am hoping for some of each...

Well, I have been drawn to TEFL since I did a short gig as a volunteer here in San Francisco. I have always led a sort of gypsy/non traditional life style and wanted to see the world instead of finishing my BA. Well when I turned 40 and realized that the states wasn't for me anymore, I returned to school to finish my BA. My BA will be in Humanities from New College of California. I will then do a TEFL course so I can round out my qualifications.

How much emphasis is placed on ones age? Also, does it really matter that I will have just finished my degree? I plan to work in Asia somewhere.

Also, many years ago I contracted Hep B. I know that certain countries want a health checkup to be performed. Is that something they check for? Will it hinder my chances at a position? Which countries?

Finally, I have the option of doing my last college year as independent study through a BA completion program. I can pretty much write my degree focus. What do people think I should focus on that would look good on a resume.

Thanks in advance!!

[tedkarma]

I'm 54 and going strong - don't worry about the age thing. Some people want younger teachers for kindergarten - but I happily let the younger teachers have that!

The only country I ever had a serious health exam for was Saudi Arabia - and I've also taught in Korea (never had and exam there), Taiwan (short easy exam), and Thailand (a check to see if I was alive - cost US$1.25!).

When you know exactly where you want to go - ask on the board for that country. Generally speaking, the exams are usually looking for HIV and or STDs. Even countries where you are supposed to have an exam - you often end up NOT having one.

Come on, get in the water!

[JDYoung]

I started in TEFL at 55 and am now 58. At our school with 6 foreign teachers, two are older than me and the school has hired people in their mid-seventies. Good health is more a prerequisite in China than age. By good health, I mean will any health problem interfere with your ability to teach, climb stairs and manage squat toilets. I don't know about China's position on Hep B. They do have you do a medical and I know they check for general health and HIV/AIDS.

In many countries the degree requirement is to first satisfy the government of the country, not the needs of the school. As a guess, and it's just that, I would say any focus to do with English or cross-cultural communication would look good on the ol' resume.

PM me if you want further info on older folks teaching in China.

[acwilliams]

In China, when the doctor completes the 'Physical Examination Record for Foreigners' (during a medical check-up that you have to undergo to get your residence permit), he/she will ask you:

'Have you ever had any of the following diseases?

Typhus fever
Poliomyelitis
Diphtheria
Scarlet fever
Relapsing fever
Typhoid and paratyphoid fever
Bacillary dysentery
Brucellosis
Viral hepatitis
Puerperal streptococcus infection
Epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis'

You could lie and say 'no'. However, they do take a blood sample during the examination. I'm not sure how carefully it's analysed, but hepatitis (or rather, its antibodies) would show up on a blood test.

There's also an ultrasound examination of your internal organs during the check-up, so if you had obvious liver damage the doctors would spot it and ask why.

A pdf of the 'Physical Examination Record for Foreigners' can be downloaded at:

http://houston.china-consulate.org/visa/bg14.pdf

It would be horrible to come to China, spending all that money on airfares etc, and then be turned down for a residence permit because you'd failed the medical. Forewarned is forearmed!

[snorklequeen]

i considered moving to China for a few months for work-study in 1989; i was told that hepatitis is a very common disease IN China because in China the culture is not heavily into hand-washing; having had a very mild case of Hep A in 1969, i chose not to go

any idea what the situation there is now re likelihood of contracting any variety of hepatitis? and hand-washing?

thanks for the info,

Queenie

[acwilliams]

Queenie, yes. That's odd, isn't it - why would the Chinese health authorities be trying to protect their citizens from foreigners bringing in a disease that's probably (I have no statistics) more prevalent in China than in the West? (I doubt if food hygiene standards have improved since 1989. Horror stories upon request!)

Looking at that list of diseases again makes me wonder... Meningitis for instance - my sister had that ten years ago - it has left her with reduced hearing, but she's certainly no longer contagious! The only thing these diseases seem to have in common is that they can leave permanent damage to the body. Perhaps the doctors ask about them so that they can then ignore physical symptoms that are not infectious to others.

On the second page of the Physical Examination Record, it states which contagious diseases the doctors are looking for: cholera, yellow fever, plague, leprosy, venereal disease (though they've never asked me to get my girly bits out, so how would they know?), TB and AIDS; they're also looking for signs of mental illness and drug addiction. Quite reasonable as a public health measure.

Do forgive me for posting in haste before and not thinking clearly beforehand! I really don't know, though, whether someone who currently has hepatitis would get through the blood test.

[JDYoung]

If you don't have hepatitis, make sure you get your vaccines before coming here. I don't know if getting a vaccine would be dangerous for someone who already has the disease.

[stillnosheep]

Hep A antibodies don't show up on a standard blood test once sufficient time has elapsed after contacting th edisease. I don't know about Hep B but have no reason to suspect that Hep B antibodies would either, unless someone was specifically looking for them. Ask a sympathetic doctor for his or her opinion.

Some countries insist on a medical check. It is often either not carried out or cursory. Any hep B antibodies still floating around would just aid your resistance to hep B in the future and so are a health benefit, not a problem.

Good luck with your degree, and your future career.

[mlomker]