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BiancaT
Joined: 15 Feb 2007
Posts: 74
Location: Toronto
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 Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:52 pm Post subject: Student-too many options and not enought time-Recruiter? |
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Hi, this is my first time posting. I'm a fourth year graduating univeristy student who by june will have an honours (I'm Canadian) B.A. with a major in English Literature and minor in Women's Studies. I'm fully bilingual in English and French with some subsequent understanding of Spanish and Latin. I've tutored elementary and university students.
I'm looking to teach in China next year but with school I don't have the time to sift through every forum and all of the job postings. I've been searching since September and there is an abundance of information and opinions out there. I was hoping you all could impart some wisdom as to if I should use a recruiter or keep at it alone. I've already spoken with career counsellors at my school and they don't seem to be as up to speed as I am. I'm feeling very overwhelmed and I don't know where to start. I love children, the english language and change. I'm really excited yet also weary about being taken advantage of like so many others have in the past. I'm afraid that if I go with something I pick off of the internet myslef that I'll end up in a bad situation. But on the other hand I don't want to be limited to jobs only in the recruiters job bank. The one I've been considering is Footprints.
What do you guys think I should do?
Thanks,
Bianca |
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Steppenwolf
Joined: 30 Jul 2006
Posts: 1769
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| Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 2:24 am Post subject: |
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Cherissima Bianca,
in your case a different job situation might be envisaged: teaching a language OTHER than English can be much more rewarding than teaching English often is!
Le francais etant une langue enseignee en Chine, avec nombre d['etudiants la maitrisant eventuellement, tu auras sans doute plus de satisfaction dans ton boulot que si tu enseignes l'anglais!
That is because English is a compulsory subject that requires next to zero interest on the part of learners; in fact most people think it is their right to be taught English - and they also expect miracles to absolve them of the need to actually learn the lingo!
Those that take French normally have an excellent command of English as their first foreign tongue; they are far easier to teach and motivate! |
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clark.w.griswald
Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 2056
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| Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 2:31 am Post subject: |
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Bianca, no matter which method you use for finding a job here be sure to invest your own time in researching the company you will be working for, the city that you will be working in, and the lifestyle of teaching in China itself. Don't leave things up to others.
Using a recruiter is fine if that is what you want to do. As others will tell you, you don't need a recruiter, but if you would like someone to help you out a bit then a good recruiter can do that.
My advice recruiter wise is to stick with the companies that have a company name that you can check up on.
Try to find a recruiter that has a good reputation and that has at least visited the schools that they place you in. Footprints is pretty good as far as not being a company out to rip you off, but I think that their downside is that they are not so familiar with many of the schools that they may place you in. I am not sure about that, but I believe that it is something that you should check with them.
Other than Footprints there are a number of other outfits that also get recommendations including New Times, Bucklands, and Reach to Teach.
If you decide to go the direct route through the school then the same rules apply to a certain degree. Check the name of the school to see what others have to say about it, and get information from them about the accomodation etc that they are offering you, the number of 'teaching' hours and pay etc. |
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BiancaT
Joined: 15 Feb 2007
Posts: 74
Location: Toronto
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| Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 3:03 am Post subject: |
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Je vous remerci de m'aider (I thank you both for helping me).
I'm waiting until I finish school before I fully immerse myself in this. Even though I'm fully bilingual, I'm still a little self-conscious about my French. I could teach it to younger children but when it comes to the older crowd I get worried.
I'm a good worker whose very dedicated so my main concern is not being taken advantage of and being relatively comfortable in my home. I've been searching the boards and one predominant opinion seems to be that my best bet is to go with a univeristy. Mind you I don't have any TEFL,CELTA,ESL,EFL,etc,etc. training. I heard that in some cases you can get this once you're there and for free or paid by the institution, is this true? Also is it to ambitions to be looking for jobs that pay at least 5000 or 6000RMB per month with paid accomodations included?
Une autre grand merci, hier j'avais peur que personne voulait m'aider.
(Another big thank you, yesterday I was worried that no one would want to help me)
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NathanRahl
Joined: 31 Aug 2006
Posts: 509
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| Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 3:10 am Post subject: |
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Bianca your going to hear the same self serving twaddle from 20 different people. Do your own research, you'll learn a lot more then you will asking here.
Last edited by NathanRahl on Sat Feb 17, 2007 5:36 am; edited 1 time in total |
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HunanForeignGuy
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Posts: 989
Location: Shanghai, PRC
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| Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 3:37 am Post subject: Recruiter |
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| NathanRahl wrote: |
| Bianca your going to here the same self serving twaddle from 20 different people. Do your own research, you'll learn a lot more then you will asking here. |
Bien chere Bianca,
Recevez, je vous prie, toutes mes excuses quant au comportement de ce nefaste monsieur Rahl. Je vois avec une grande stupefecation cette reponse idiote qu'il a osee vous faire.
The advice from Clark and Steppenwolf is quite pertinent. First consider location, then choice of language. While there is not a plethora of jobs teaching French here, they do exist and between now and September, you should have no trouble in finding one and yes, Steppenwolf is correct -- they do pay more than ESL jobs here.
You might wish to post a resume and a notice seeking employment on www.eslteachersboard.com. It's completely free and you may be surprised at the number of answers you receive.
Voila, tout cela etant dit, je ne pourrais que de nouveau vous demander pardon pour le comportement de certains de ces messieurs plutot pietre que vous risquez de trouver ici.
All the best,
HFG |
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DistantRelative
Joined: 19 Oct 2004
Posts: 367
Location: Shaanxi/Xian
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| Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 4:55 am Post subject: |
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Nathan Wrote
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| Bianca your going to here the same self serving twaddle from 20 different people. Do your own research, you'll learn a lot more then you will asking here. |
Not true Bianca, although it can get dicey in here at times, this is probably one of, if not the best resource on the web for ESL.
As far as your questions go, research is the the key. A good starting point might be as simple as deciding which city you'd prefer to work in, that's where I generally start. Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Chengdu etc... Soooooo many options. Are you looking for a serious cultural experience or a more western lifestyle? What kind of weather suits you best? Would you prefer to have a lot of Ex-Pat company in a serious party mode, or can you handle a more isolated, integrated, and solitary lifestyle? All these considerations should play a part in your decision making process in order to get the most out of your time spent here.
Are you going to be burdened by financial considerations such as paying back student loans or other obligations?
You also need to consider what type teaching situation might please you the most? Young adults. teens, pre-schoolers. Large or small classes? What age range, and class size you are teaching can absolutely effect your experience in a positive or negative manner.
I'm just saying I hope you'll consider all this carefully before making any decision.
With regards to your question about a tefl. tesol, celta cert? In your case because of your type degree you most likely won't need it. Sure it's nice to pad your resume, and depending on what you learn some of the knowledge can be helpful in getting you through the first month or 2, but IMO nothing fully prepares you for what you actually encounter once you get in a classroom. It's all about you, teaching is either going to suit you or not.
You say you graduate in June? One option for you if your not cash strapped would be to simply make the trip over. Spend a few weeks in a fun town like Yangshuo. In between partying, work the net. That's how I did the last city I chose. Hung out, worked the net and the phones, and had a half dozen possibilities lined up before I ever set foot on the train. Then it was simply a matter of cruising up, doing some face to face meets, looking things over, negotiating from a position of power, and making a choice.
In any case, teaching in China can be a fun and rewarding experience, and I for one wish you all the best.
Zhuhao,
Shawn
Dam*  Over 2 years here and I finally hit 100 
Last edited by DistantRelative on Sat Feb 17, 2007 5:03 am; edited 1 time in total |
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BiancaT
Joined: 15 Feb 2007
Posts: 74
Location: Toronto
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| Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 4:57 am Post subject: |
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Merci beacoup et ne vous inquiet�s pas les hommes. Avant de m'inscrire i�i j'ai lu beaucoup d'autres messages. Il y a plusieurs qui ditent que Monsieur Rahl est un peu gricheux et malcontent.
But with all of the information from these posts I'm going to spend the weekend looking around somemore and taking everyone's advice. I'm glad that I came here. I also took others' advice and I contacted a friend who knows someone in China already who I will be able to contact as well.
I'm going to take a look at a map of China and try and find some information about some of the cities.
Thanks |
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BiancaT
Joined: 15 Feb 2007
Posts: 74
Location: Toronto
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| Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 5:10 am Post subject: |
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Yeah, I'm really lucky that I won't have any school debts to pay back. My mom covered everything, love being an only child. I'm definitely there for the experience, but I would like to remain fairly comfortable especially when it gets difficult having a nice refuge will help. I do understand that I won't be living as I am here, but I would like the best I can get.
I would like to be there with other 'ex-pats' (figuring these are other esl teachers?) who would help me adjust and show me around, but I don't do the hang-over teaching stuff that others have talked about. I'm fairly mature for my age, in my opinion (IMO?). I can be anti-social at times so a place where I can get out on my own and make friends when I'm ready sounds good to me. I do want to experience the city life as well, so something close to an urban centre would be nice, but I don't need to be in the centre of it.
The two major centres that I know are Shanghai and Beijing, so I'll look for something on their outskirts.
Thanks. |
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NathanRahl
Joined: 31 Aug 2006
Posts: 509
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| Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 5:37 am Post subject: |
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| You were warned. |
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Steppenwolf
Joined: 30 Jul 2006
Posts: 1769
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| Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 6:36 am Post subject: |
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| NathanRahl wrote: |
| Bianca your going to hear the same self serving twaddle from 20 different people. Do your own research, you'll learn a lot more then you will asking here. |
"Twaddle"...I see... if no one had offered any "twaddle" Nathan could monopolise this thread with his brand of "twaddle"... which would probably put Bianca right on the perfect path after just one reply... |
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BiancaT
Joined: 15 Feb 2007
Posts: 74
Location: Toronto
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| Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 6:54 am Post subject: |
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Ok serious question:
If I get an apartment that is paid for would I still have to pay the security deposit and the key money, which I've heard can be anywhere from 3-6 months worth of rent? Because if I don't pay rent then theoretically there would be nothing to pay. Maybe I'm just naive and hoping for the best. |
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clark.w.griswald
Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 2056
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| Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 9:25 am Post subject: |
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| BiancaT wrote: |
| If I get an apartment that is paid for would I still have to pay the security deposit and the key money, which I've heard can be anywhere from 3-6 months worth of rent? Because if I don't pay rent then theoretically there would be nothing to pay. |
Assuming that you are referring to school provided accomodation then no there is nothing for you to pay.
If the school is just helping you to find accomodation then there may be costs to you so you need to ask that of the school.
Generally speaking school provided accomodation is the way to go as it is free and the school will manage things for you. You just move in when you start and out when you leave - no deposits, no bonds etc.
A possible downside to school accomodation is that it can sometimes be somewhat simple and you obviously have to move out if you change schools. |
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NathanRahl
Joined: 31 Aug 2006
Posts: 509
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| Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 9:30 am Post subject: |
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| Actually as usual clark is wrong. Just because a school provides a place does not mean there will be no costs for you. It is very comon for a school not to pay your utilities, computer, phone, electric, water. Expect 200 to 300 a month on average. |
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cj750
Joined: 27 Apr 2004
Posts: 3081
Location: Beijing
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| Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 9:50 am Post subject: |
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| Assuming that you are referring to school provided accomodation then no there is nothing for you to pay. |
some schools charge for housing..Geely near Beijing charges 1500 per month for housing..some of the programs pay for the housing and some don't...
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| Generally speaking school provided accommodation is the way to go as it is free and the school will manage things for you. You just move in when you start and out when you leave - no deposits, no bonds etc. |
Up side and down side as well..the school has more control over a tenet than a employee..
When you leave the school ..you have to leave the apartment..at their schedule
if you want to stay in the same area over a term of employment..it may cause some problems..
most apartment the school will help you find is idea for the school but may not suit you..such as location.
Also I have an apartment in the capital city and did not have to pay 3 to 6 months rent up front or a large deposit..month rent to move in secured by 500RMB..not much...then you take a bus to work..cost less than a dollar a day to commute...
cost can incl. charges for the telephone..maybe elec. and water..but water is often incl. as well as heat is often incl. as well...Internet may also be charge..find out what extras they may want you to pay..
but 200 to 500 hundred sound excessive..I have never used 500 RMB in elec. cost per month since I have been here and I run and ele.. heater in the winter..large apartment..cost of Internet should not exceed 150RMB per month ...but the Chinese FAO is often a scammer and may try and charge you more than deserved for utilities.. |
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