Job Discussion Forums

pohto9 · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 6

Okay, I have been reading this and many other boards looking for information on teaching ESL in China. I am seeing mostly negative comments, and am not finding the information I really need. I am going to try asking some of my questions and seeing where that leads.

First of all, I understand that it is a firm belief to most that you have to have a BA degree to teach ESL in China. I have however after days of research discovered that I have not seen anyone post a link to the location of this law, and also that people are teaching legally in China without a degree. From what I have found, it is allowed in some smaller cities, and the rules vary throughout China.

I have 30 hours of college credits in the major of elementary education, I have taught as a reading and phoneics tutor in U.S. elementary schools, and am finishing me TEFL certificate. I am interested in going to China for a year to begin with, with my husband and 4 boys. My children are all under the age of 7 and are and always have been homeschooled. I have looked into a few places and seen that they will accept teachers with families. What I am looking for is for several people who are currently working in China to advise me as to recruiting agencies that would be able to work with me, and are legit. I have found some that people say are legit, only to find on another board they are slammed.

I really would like to hear from someone who has had their family in China with them while teaching, and preferrably had more than one child. I understand that we would have to live a simple life, but seeing as we already do that in the US, it would not be a problem for us. My husband would stay at home with the children while I teach. I would like to know about the toys and children's DVDs availavle in China. Would I be able to find them things to watch
and play with that are in English? Also is it safe to walk down the streets with children. I should mention my children are not shy, and crave to be the center of attention.

I am not going to walk into this blindly. I am not hard set on going to China. I am going to search for a legit position, and if one doesn't come then I will not be going to China. I will not leave the US without a Z Visa, and a signed contract, I can't put my family at risk. This would be a good step for our family. We would sell our house and cars before going, and have about $10,000 in the bank when we left. We would not touch this money, and even though we wouldn't be able to save money in China, by putting our money in a 1 year CD would make about $500 from interest. I have looked at this from all angles, and if a legit job for about 4,000rmb or more could be found, it would be great for us!

If anyone is willing to help, by telling me their experiences, or a reputable company to go through I would be grateful. I should mention that I don't wish to go through schools directly, because I want to know someone is backing me up, and can help me if something goes wrong. That is why I am trying hard to find a good recruiting agency. Thanks so much in advance for any help given!

Kathleen

Edited for my huge typo!

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

pohto9 · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 6

LOL. It is my credit union in Florida, and actually the annual yield is 4.61 percent for a 1 year CD, but close enough.

Shan-Shan · Joined: 28 Aug 2003 Posts: 1074 Location: electric pastures

Personally, I think you would be better off completing your education degree before leaving for China. Being non-degreed, your opportunities for good work are limited. And as you appear to be planning to transplant your existence to smoggy China, why not at least have the competitive edge a degree in Education would provide? Working in the sticks of Gansu or Anhui requires little academic background: but I doubt those areas are the best places to raise four children.

pohto9 · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 6

I do understand where you are coming from, as to saying I should complete my education first. I am currently enrolled with WGU, an online teaching college, where I will be able to get my BA in Elementary education. Where we live now is not the best area to raise 4 children, and I wanted to give them an opportunity at living a life, that not only is probably better than our current position, but also different from what I had growing up. We live in an extremely small town now, and don't make alot of money as it is. With our housing paid for there, and a decent salary, we could very well live the same if not better than we do now. As to my education, I am fully prepared to continue my online classes from China on nights and weekends. The classes are self paced, and there are no deadlines to meet.

jeffinflorida · Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 3:28 am Post subject:

To give you a little help....

There are many "schools" that will employ a pretty white face without a degree. I have personally worked with several teachers who never went to college or used a forged or purchased degree.

However, these schools may not be able to get you a Z visa.

You may have difficulty living on a $500 usd a month for a family of 6. Food in china can be cheap - if you eat and (God forbid...) think like a chinese.

Your kids....

I have 2 boys ages 9 and 10 who live with their mom on the Treasure Coast. I have thought about bringing them to china for a summer.

Bad points... too many for little kids. The heat in china in the summer is pretty bad. 90's 100% humidity. They will get board...No Nickolodian, Cartoon Network, No 700 club if you are a bible thumper... TV in china is the pits.

Toys in china. Poor Poor selection. Even the Toys R Us in Hong Kong is just a so-so experience. Wal Mart's toys are not like the Wal Mart at home where there are 20 aisles of Power Rangers and Hot Wheels..

The only real notable toys are Playstation 2 and games. The games are about .60 cents US and Gameboy games are also cheap. Not DS games though - the chinese have not figured out a way to duplicate them yet so they are all OEM games from Japan.

Safety for your kids. A big bad risk for young kids. Open manholes everywhere. Mad frenzied drivers roaring down the street at top speed. No school zones... Sidewalks that have deep holes without warning. Cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, that drive on the sidewalk - and often the wrong way down a street. They often do not stop for a red light and zip through it at high speed - even when pedestrians are crossing.

China is not a safe place for young kids...

As far as predators, your children are safe. I see little kids maybe aged 5 or 6 walking by themselves or riding their bikes.

DVDs are everywhere and cheap. I recently found a store on Dongmen in Shenzhen that had every boxed series available for a good price. (It's in the metro entrance underground at the Dongmen station...). So DVD sets are cheap - even things like Spongebob and other children favorites.

DVD players are also cheap and the Playstation 2 system has to have a special chip in it to play the pirated disks. So if you have a PS2 them bring it and they can MOD it by putting in a chip to make it play the games - cost about 10 or 12 usd.

So, you should look for a higher paying job. The hours may be longer but you need to make more money to survive in China. Also, even if you husband has no degree he may be able to pick up some work as well. Many schools / companies look for English teachers for only a few hours a week and will usually pay you on the spot if you ask them (before you agree to work there).

I can give you the msn of a reputable recruiter if you want to speak to one.

pohto9 · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 6

I thank-you so much for your great answers to my questions. I won't take a job, or go over to China without researching any position I am offered, and make sure we will be able to live comfortably on my salary. If you could please give me the MSN of a good recruiter, I would be very grateful. Thanks again!

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

Good to see that you are doing research and exercising due diligence here. Whatever you end up doing I am sure that these efforts will pay off.

englishgibson · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 4345

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

Clark,

Non-English gibson doesn't bother to read any of my posts (or their referents) carefully. So what he writes usually misses the point by miles. He simply wants to bask in my shadow.

I've never encountered an "English teacher" who misunderstands the written word like our N-EG. His posts are invariably good for a hearty chuckle -- and the laugh is on him. Laughing

eslstudies · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

Suitable housing will be an issue. Take your English language educational needs with you: tapes, DVDs, books. There's lots on the net though. Your kids will be rockstars, but don't let them out of view: abductions, ransom etc. I did 3 years there with one under 5. He learned great Chinese by attending a local kindergarten.

The degree issue [any degree, not a BA] isn't a national thing. It varies by location. The prospective employer must tell you in writing that they will get you the necessary permit, based on your qualifications. Usually though, you won't find a uni position with anything less.

pohto9 · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 6

Thank-you everyone for all the great replies! Now that I look at it, it would defiitly be a great idea to take all their current DVD's with us, and buy a huge lot of used ones on ebay before we go for super cheap. I don't know how many toys we will be able to bring with us, but my kids are used to simple things so once we get their cheap cars, army men or something to that effect, along with their current electronic toys should do well.

As to never letting them out of my site, I don't even do that in the US. My oldest son is almost 7 and he isn't even aloud to walk across a parking lot without holding my hand LOL.

I am not worried about possibly not getting into a uni job, because I actually prefer to teach younger children, and would love to work with the pre K or K age children.

I don't suppose anyone would know if you could still sell items under your US ebay account when in China? I sell on ebay here in the US and usually make about $150 profit a week, and was wondering if I could continue in China. I also write for associatedcontent.com, and didn't know if I would be able to continue that from China, I don't know what sites they block. If anyone in China could check to see if NBC.com is blocked that would be great. Then I will be able to watch Grey's Anatomy online LOL.

Thanks again for all the help!

james s · Joined: 07 Feb 2007 Posts: 676 Location: Raincity

Comfy Chair · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 9

Even if NBC.com isn't blocked in china I seriously doubt you can watch the things on it. I live in Canada and when I tried to watch something it said "We're sorry but the current clip is not available in your area.", very annoying.