Job Discussion Forums

[JRJohn]

HI! I am an English teacher. I have lived in more than one country, and had some interesting experiences along the way. However, one thing I really wanted to do was visit China 中国, teach there, and even learn the language　漢字. I nearly　 went-a college in Henan Province actually sent me the application for a Z-Visa, the visa that teachers are supposed to have. and they sounded interested in me, but something came up. .
However, I have heard bad reports about teaching in China(mostly in the private sector, and from people on a tourist visa).

I would like to know people's experiences of Chinese Universities, good and not so good.
Also what kinds of activities tend to work in classes? I expect to have to teach big classes. I want to come armed with a full range of lesson plans. I noticed universities expect us to teach writing. What are these classes like? Some even suggest we teach literature, but I studied Spanish at university.

I want to go to an interesting part of China, and make a real contribution, and I want to go to an area where there is some chance I will be welcome. I want to travel during the vacations.

1) How much teaching and preparation do you do?

2) Is the salary enough to live on?

3) What are the vacations like?

4) what kinds of activities tend to be useful?

I look forward to your replies!

[fitzgud]

What's It Like To Teach English In A Chinese University?


Just like trying to pull your top lip over your forehead!

[Lorean]

Chinese universities spell quality with a 'K'.

Nowadays, there is a common phenomenon in Chinese universities where foreign teachers are given a class schedule and expected to sing and dance for hours.

I have it on good authority from my friend Mr. Wang that all Z-visas issued to foreign University teachers will be converted to Entertainment (E) visas. Effective now.

Back to the original discussion. Good and bad Universities are easy to differentiate. Good Universities have classrooms with blackboards.

[u24tc]

Some uni's are good.. some are really bad.

[eslstudies]

I've PMd you a link where you can speak to people who are happily working in the same universities they started in several years ago. Their students do take English seriously, and the teachers gain a lot of satisfaction from their work.
I seriously wonder about people who do jobs they clearly hate. Are there no alternatives?

[Anda]

Yep some are good and some are bad. A lot will depend on what equipment you get to use, if in fact you get any. Also if you have access to getting stuff printed for class.

In China students are interested in daily life stuff like stuff in Western Soap Operas. Your job is to entertain and teach something at the same time. You are expected to teach oral English which is how to be able to enter into a conversation. Grammar is taught by the Chinese teachers. Your students here you will find lead very simple lives so don�t come here expecting to be able to discuss issues unless you are at some supper elite Uni.

Wages are enough to live on but not save or get ahead on generally.

Holidays and everything now is up to you to strike a deal. In general most pay for the one month winter holiday but not the summer break.

You have to earn your welcome by being an interesting teacher and getting on with your students plus the Chinese staff. The students will welcome you when you arrive but that will vanish if they find you boring.

[vikuk]

[bendan]

[tw]

It all depends on whether it is a certified university, a four-year university that still calls itself a college in Chinese, and how good of a school it is, i.e. first-tiered, second-tiered, or third-tiered. First-tiered schools', like Beijing University, Tsinghua University, and Fudan University, have students who did really well on their college entrance exam to get into the major and school of their choice. Second-tiered schools have students who passes their college entrance exam, but not good enough to get into the major and/or school of their choice. Finally, third-tiered schools have students who are just basically paying money to get a degree since they failed their college entrance exam. Of course, it is important to keep in mind that, in order to make money, many universities will have third-tiered students -- even if the school is not not a third-tiered school.

Other factors to consider are your students' major: English majors tend to have better speaking ability and more serious about improving their spoken English than say, science students are. Lastly, it can also come down to what kind of teacher you are and if applicable, what kind of FT's they've had before. From personal experience, even English majors can be difficult to teach if their previous FT did nothing but played word games every week.

[Nemesis]

[Nemesis]

[beck's]

Teaching in a public university in China can be a very rewarding and relaxing experience, it all depends on your attitude and experience and your stage of life.

You will find that the emotional level of a Chinese university student is at about the western equivalent of a junior high student. They are very naive compared to western students. They don't know much about life outside of China.

I teach oral English at a low pay public university in the sticks. Seven 90 minute classes a week. I use the same lesson plan for all the classes. It takes me about two hours to prepare a lesson. The main job is to get the kids up and talking. They need to practice their English and so our job is to make them comfortable with making mistakes. One of our tasks is to give them confidence and to help them overcome their shyness. Their Chinese teachers take care of the grammar,

I do a lot of role plays, story telling activities, simple debates and discussions on topics of interest to them--dating etc. I play music and have them read and sometimes sing the lyrics. They love the Carpenters and the Back Street Boys. The more romantic the better. Think junior high circa 1955.

Yes, you can live on the money. Public uni jobs are, however, not a place to save money. Uni teachers in public schools make about 4000 RMB a month. The salaries are very low by western standards and every Yuan you save is a Yuan wasted. This is not a good job for those in mid career. It is not a good thing to stay too long (more than three years). It is a great job for retired teachers who want to chill out in a so-called "developing" country and to hobby teach for a year or two or for those on a GAP year. It is a fantasy land, a world devoid of serious responsibilty and a trap for those who are in mid-career or for those who stay long term.

You will read a lot of really cynical and bitter posts on this board. My feeling is that the people who write these posts feel trapped. They have a B.A. and a white face, are not qualified to teach in "developed" countries, are aging and see few prospects for themselves in the west. What ever you do, don't enter that swamp.

[arioch36]

[Nemesis]

A bit off topic, but...

[arioch36]