Job Discussion Forums

entrynmbrv · Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 5

Hello to all,

I am pursuing a move to China after my graduation (BA in International Studies and Asian Studies) this May. I have some experience in tutoring young children, and sometimes their parents, in the US and in Japan. I will not have a TESL or other similar certificate.

I understand from reading this board that the best and most secure jobs are at the universities in China. However, I am having trouble locating universities in this region and getting some independent feedback regarding the quality of instruction and life there.

Can anyone please educate me as to which universities I might focus on, or avoid? Is it possible for someone with my qualifications to attain a position at a university? Since I fear the answer may be no, are there other schools (like the "cram schools" in Japan) that offer a similar experience?

The cities I am researching the most are as follows: Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Macau and Zhongshan.

Thank you for any help you might be able to provide.

Steppenwolf · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 1769

There aren't many universities in those towns, buddy;. Macau is outside of Guangdong anyway and under a separate jurisdiction. You will need far bettter quals than in the mainland.

Shenzhen University and Shenzhen Polytechnic both have a foul reputqation.

There is a university or college in KAIPING, a small town between Zhuhai and Zhongshan. I don't know its exact name but know of a Brit teadching there.

Jiangmen is another town with a university.

Foshan also is on the west side of the Pearl River; on the east side some mention Dongguan's new college or university with high respect.

You may also consider working in ZHAOQING, west of the Pearl River - but much nicer than anyhthing downstream. There are tree or four tertiary institutions there.

Malsol · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 1976 Location: Lanzhou

TravellingAround · Joined: 12 Nov 2006 Posts: 423

entrynmbrv · Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 5

Thank you for the considered responses Steppenwolf and TravellingAround. I�ll take a look at those universities you suggested. Zhaoqing looks like a pretty interesting area I hadn�t considered before. I�m much obliged.

I had hoped, Malsol, that the two Bachelor of Arts degrees and the previous experience tutoring English to East Asian students might qualify me for a decent job in this region, at the least at a mill. Are there some other qualifications I might consider, or are you just the resident jerk on this board (you know there has to be at least one).

Also, thanks for that great link of the Donna Summers video. Things were a lot gayer in the 70s weren�t they? I bet you had a blast. Any good stories to tell?