Job Discussion Forums

[7969]

..

[Synopsis]

Thanks for varying views to this. It would appear that an explaination to my reasoning is still required.

Since grade 3 my best friend has been chinese. My second home has been that of a chinese persuasion. I've never known my own grandparents, they all died before I was born. The only grandparents I've ever known are those of my friend. His grandfather would teach me traditional breathing exercises, as well as Taichi. I had spent so much time in their home that his grandfather had learned one word of english, and that was my name. I was even at his bedside when he passed on.

I've been immersed in the chinese culture and way of life for a very long time. His family is very traditional, and treated me the same. I've studied chinese history, law and traditions. I've recently begun training in the chinese language (both mandarin and cantonese), and have been a practitioner of Wushu for many years now. I cook traditional dishes, and respect their way of life.

I am more chinese than you give me credit for. Traveling there is my final piece to it all.

As for referring to it as 'out there' such as anything outside of Alberta to be foreign. Would that be so far off? Just because I don't use it's name every single time I try and refer to it in my posts simply displays my varying use of the english language. On a side note, I've never been to Alberta. I'm from Manitoba, and I've been nowhere else.

My parents both had extensive injuries to regions of their backs which prohibited them from travel. My mom, was also frightened of flying. And as such, I wasn't privileged enough to travel in my youth. Now later in life, there are many things, especially job related at the moment that keep me from it now.

If I was just trying to 'get away from it all', then like you said, I could have decided on anywhere.

We all have our own reasons to travel.

[Anda]

Um, for a start I wouldn't be turning up here in China without a working visa in your passport. If you turn up here without a work visa then you will most likely have to fly out to another country to have your work visa processed. Being a new bloke on the block you will find all this difficult and expensive.

If you get an open return ticket to say China, South Korea then South Korea China then return to your home country things will be cheaper. Here in China you have to wait 6 to 12 months before you get any airfares back. As 7969 has stated you can do a trip to Hong Kong from China to do the work visa cheaply once here.

For a new bloke on the Block you might get as little as 3,000 RMB a month which is not a lot.

Go to http://www.teachcn.com/ and have a look at the pictures and conditions at goverment jobs and start applying. They will take you most likely in the sticks / bush.

Take my advise please and don't arrive here without a work visa. I'm an old hand at this game and I can tell you that China runs on paperwork and nothing happens quickly or how it should so you will probally go mad trying to do things if you have no experiance here in such matters.

[Synopsis]

Thanks for the advise Anda!

[englishgibson]

[Henry_Cowell]

Synopsis, your most recent post does indeed explain a lot about your reasoning. Your decision is not nearly as weird as it seemed earlier!

I'd recommend a nice long visit to China to visit your best friend's relatives, travel to some cities, and visit some English classes. You'll have a good idea of what's in store for you if you do decide to move there.

[tw]

[mlomker]

[Itsme]

[Anda]

Um, the four year degree thing is the same in South Korea. Australia for instance has one year more of high school so only three years are needed to get a bachelor's degree. The States has one year less of high school so they have a four year bachelor's degree.

In South Korea you can get a job one year but then the next year they can reinforce the four year degree thing that is always on the books. However this they only do if you are changing jobs in the country so you can get stuck with whatever job you have in such a case.

[englishgibson]

Yes, Anda. Although is China the degree thing isn't being enforced as much as in countries as South Korea etc. Salaries in China are lower than in say Korea, Taiwan or some other countries, so Chinese employers have troubles finding those realy qualified ones that would fit the actually written Chinese standards for getting the work permit. So, legal work permits with no degree are rather common around. Then, I'd say that those demands for degrees in China are, hmmm..unjustified due to the expectations or roles of foreign teachers in China.

[Lobster]

Synopsis, you'd better think this through a bit more. I know from firsthand experience how desperate some people can be to just get out of Winnipeg, but if you act with too much haste you'd be better off hurling yourself off the Slaw Rebchuk onto the tracks.

Please consider these things:

No matter how traditional your friend's family is, it won't prepare you for the reality of modern China. Lots of people read about China and think it's fascinating - then they come here and hate it.

By selling your belongings to move here, you have no financial safety net and will be open to abuse.

Your lack of education will restrict you to the worst jobs in the worst locations and won't allow you the freedom of job changing most of us have. You won't be competitive in the teaching field here. If you are accepted by someone willing to bend the rules, perhaps you'll wind up working here illegally.

Winnipeg is a secondary Canadian city with about 250,000 people, which is a village by Chinese standards. A secondary Chinese city like Nanjing has over 6 million, that's a shocker for one who's never travelled.

It's not an easy matter staying in China "for the rest of your life". Now you're talking about immigration. Want one of those Green Cards given to top executives or a D Visa? What do you have to offer China that's so special? Some of our elder sages have managed to hang in here for over 10 years, but they have very formidable constitutions.

My advice? More preparation; more time. Sell your belongings and borow some cash from your family. Head off to British Columbia and enroll at UBC, SFU or UVic. Get a degree in 3 years by doing summer courses in addition to the regular semesters. Study ESL, Applied Linguistics and Teaching. Throw in some Chinese studies to hone your language skills. Get a part-time job teaching at a Vancouver language mill. Now, after that you'll have experience living in a new environment, more exposure to Chinese-Canadian culture and solid credentials, After that you can get a really good job here that will make you more sought after by employers and capable of doing a good job as a teacher. If you miss Winnipeg after that, you can go in live in WuHan, the Winnipeg of China. If you're determined to come here, start perusing job postings and see what's on offer for someone with your background. It may take a lot off weeding through the sites, but maybe you'll have a lucky strike. Good luck to ya. Keep us informed of what happens. We love a saga.

RED

[Henry_Cowell]

[chufeng]

I second Lobster's advice. Coming without a degree may not be impossible, but it certainly puts you in a very bad position in terms of getting a decent job, maintaining legal status, and not getting exploited/cheated by schools once you are here. Why would you want to do that?

You will also be a much better teacher with more education and experience. You may not be the worst teacher China's ever seen (I'm sure you wouldn't be), but do you really want to be anywhere near the bottom of the barrel? With your current qualifications, you won't get any respect from employers, other teachers, or students in China, and that can really wear a person down.

Get a degree. If you are certain you want to go to China, include Chinese language in your studies and major in English or Linguistics or TEFL. If you are studying Chinese you may even be able to do a semester or year abroad and try it out, without selling all of your worldly possessions and putting yourself in a very bad position financially.

Having a degree will give you more options while you are in China, and certainly more options if you ever choose to move on to a different country. What's the rush?

[Babala]

Putting aside the visa issue for a minute...

To the OP, many posters have given some good advice but I'd take some of what's said with a grain of salt. I think very few FT's came here for a visit first to check things out. I too felt that ESL was my calling before I had ever taught a class. I came here to China with the idea that I would make ESL my career and if it didn't work out well then hey, I had an experience. It's 5 years later and I am still in China, still loving teaching and being here.

If you choose to come now, here's a bit of advice
- make sure you bring enough money with you so that if you find yourself in a bad situation, you aren't stuck
- do your research on jobs and make sure to check sites likes Dave's and Nate's School Reviews