Job Discussion Forums

[cj750]

Because most schools do not have cooperate credit cards or checks..it is difficult for the better schools to advertise on sites such as this (many of the good schools quit when Dave started charging)...want good jobs..learn how to "cold call"

[Shan-Shan]

The "good" little money is certainly an enticement.

Mental health reasons, however, prevent me from signing a 35 year contract with a university in China. As a previous poster mentioned, the limitations which accompany most FT positions start to feel too snug after a couple of years.

And the students (not all, but many). Today I had a little private chat with four motivated ones. They explained how "our classmates' bodies are 22 years of age, but their brains are still little boys". The clients themselves can make teaching a trial. This can be said anywhere, mind you, but rarely (or so I will assume) at the university level.

A good short time gig; but as a career, TESL in China seems intellectually stifling.

[jammish]

I concur 100% with shan shan's post. It is a good short term thing, but not a long term career. I even concur that the standard of living we can afford is good too. In one of the better jobs you can live comfortably and save enough to both put money away and go on holiday in the summer etc. But it's the lack of long term career structure that makes me want to go back and, as ESLstudies mentioned on the previous page, get better qualified.

[mondrian]

[sheeba]

[eslstudies]

Yes, this was the other bonus: being able to take on post graduate studies in the many free hours I had.
Then when I came back home to the 40 plus hour a week job, at least I was able to work in the area I'd specialised in, and am certainly happier doing that than teaching Shakespeare to classes of 30 largely disinterested 15 year old native speakers.
China's a nice diversion, and a break from the salary slavery we Westerners engage in. As others point out, its not really a career though. Its also something you can do in lieu of retirement........until six flights of stairs gets too much for you.

[Shan-Shan]

The job experience is excellent for those intending to pursue higher qualifications. And if doing dubious distance education is your prefered route, then a Chinese university position makes for a good lab as well.

[TESOUL]

Well said Anda

I have tried to explain the living costs of Australia to Chinese people and they just don't believe me.

A good job or bad job in China is still going to earn me a much more comfortable standard of living than Australia.

[Shan-Shan]

[TESOUL]