Site Search:
 
Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Landing In China Jobless
Goto page 1, 2  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> China (Job-related Posts Only)
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
buddy bradley



Joined: 14 Jul 2004
Posts: 89
Location: The Beyond

PostPosted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 8:32 am    Post subject: Landing In China Jobless Reply with quote

Well, looks like I'll be flying to China in about two weeks' time as opposed to the end of February thanks to the incompetency and inefficiency of my boss here in Korea.

I heard that it is a lot better to get a letter of invitation before flying to China, and that some provinces require a visa run to Hong Kong whereas other provinces don't. Seems like I will soon be finding all this out the hard way I guess.

The next step is location, there are a lot of flights to Beijing, Nanjing, Qingdao - all the large cities on the east pretty much.

Any recommendations for a good province (one with decent cities with a lot of jobs)? Tough call I know, but I am thinking about going to Shanghai, checking out the scene there, and it is also close to Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.

Another concern is funds, as I'm pretty sure I'm going to get screwed on the deposit on my apartment as I'm leaving early and without much notice. Funds will be a little scarce I fear so any recommendations for places to stay in the afore-mentioned provinces and Shanghai would be greatly appreciated as first-hand accounts are always good for me.

Thanks, and toodles!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
therock



Joined: 31 Jul 2005
Posts: 1266
Location: China

PostPosted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Now is probably the worst time to come to China to look for a job with an immediate start. However now is also the best time to look for a job for a February start. If you come now you can have a look around and line up a job for next semester which begins late February. If you are really lucky you could find a job now and move into the accommodation immediately then start work next semester. However you would need to negotiate with the school on this. I would say most schools wouldn't allow this, your chances will increase if you are willing to work in a more remote province.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
kev7161



Joined: 06 Feb 2004
Posts: 5880
Location: Suzhou, China

PostPosted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 11:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Before asking for recommendations, why not list some of your teaching qualifications? Experience, education, etc.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
buddy bradley



Joined: 14 Jul 2004
Posts: 89
Location: The Beyond

PostPosted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 11:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

kev7161 wrote:
Before asking for recommendations, why not list some of your teaching qualifications? Experience, education, etc.


Sure. I have a BA in psychology (not that useful, I know), and about six years' worth of experience teaching EFL in Asia; slightly over two years spent in Taiwan, six months in Vietnam, and three years in South Korea.

I am thinking about doing a TEFL certificate sometime in the future, as I had no idea I would be doing this job for so long when I first started out.

China is important to me because I enjoyed learning Mandarin during my tenure in Taiwan and would like to take that up again as I've forgotten so much; I can't say the same about Korean and Vietnamese though, just couldn't pique enough interest in those languages.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
danswayne



Joined: 23 Apr 2006
Posts: 237

PostPosted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 12:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Couple of things open down here in Changsha if you don't mind spicy food.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Loop



Joined: 07 Sep 2005
Posts: 178
Location: NE China

PostPosted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 12:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Might be a longshot but you never know: why don't you try PM'ing Simon M of this forum? Looks like he's leaving his school at the end of Dec. (his wife's visa came through so he's going back home):
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=58095

Apparently he's in Shanxi Province.

Just trying to help out a fellow "Hate" comics fan (as your screen name suggests)! I loved "Hate" but was partial to "Steven" comics. I'll have to learn how to say, "Eat some paste!" in Mandarin...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
timtastic



Joined: 05 Oct 2007
Posts: 14
Location: Beijing

PostPosted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 3:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

therock wrote:
Now is probably the worst time to come to China to look for a job with an immediate start. However now is also the best time to look for a job for a February start. If you come now you can have a look around and line up a job for next semester which begins late February. If you are really lucky you could find a job now and move into the accommodation immediately then start work next semester. However you would need to negotiate with the school on this. I would say most schools wouldn't allow this, your chances will increase if you are willing to work in a more remote province.


With regards to this, are most jobs (especially in large cities) going to start in late February?

And if I get hired by some school that does start in late Feb, would I be able to get my visa all squared away right away after getting hired (say I got hired in mid January), or would I have to wait until a week or two before I start to get legally settled in?

I ask this because I'm going to get the L visa tomorrow in Prague (hopefully) as well as buy my outgoing ticket, and I want to know if I need to ask for more 'tourism time'.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
therock



Joined: 31 Jul 2005
Posts: 1266
Location: China

PostPosted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 5:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jobs at public institutions will begin late February, jobs at private language schools hire all year round. If you are planning on getting a tourist visa then you better get a 3 month one. Once you have landed the dream job depending on the school and province you will then need to make a trip to Hong Kong and apply for a Z visa.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
kungfucowboy83



Joined: 25 Jan 2006
Posts: 479

PostPosted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 12:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Once you have landed the dream job depending on the school and province you will then need to make a trip to Hong Kong and apply for a Z visa.


as with everything in china this depends on your employer's guanxi. but it's a good idea to plan on having to take the trip.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
arioch36



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 3589

PostPosted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 2:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cities with decent jobs... well, surprisingly, the most desirable cities are the ones that also have the most foreign teachers and mclaowai all looking for jobs. Not sure why. Easiest to find better jobs in cities no one wants.
As someone said in another post, Qingdao, especially Qingdao university, has obscenely low wages.

I have found tefl certs to be worthles, other then perhaps giving some confidence to would be teachers. If you have a current teaching cert good for your home country, this opens some opportunities. Which of course sucks for Americans, because we don't have such certifications
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
timtastic



Joined: 05 Oct 2007
Posts: 14
Location: Beijing

PostPosted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 3:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Where would I go if I need to extend my Chinese visa or get a Hong Kong visa? I'm getting one for 6 weeks as it is right now, starting next week.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
danswayne



Joined: 23 Apr 2006
Posts: 237

PostPosted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 4:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

arioch36 wrote:
Which of course sucks for Americans, because we don't have such certifications


Either the above quote is sarcasm or Florida really isn't part of the good old USA, as I sometimes joke with friends. I am certified in 3 different areas of teaching in Florida and my certifications are good for 5 years and pretty easy to keep even if I never teach another day in my life.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
danswayne



Joined: 23 Apr 2006
Posts: 237

PostPosted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 4:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I now know 3 different schools in Hunan who need at least one teacher now.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
therock



Joined: 31 Jul 2005
Posts: 1266
Location: China

PostPosted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 4:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

timtastic wrote:
Where would I go if I need to extend my Chinese visa or get a Hong Kong visa? I'm getting one for 6 weeks as it is right now, starting next week.


I thought tourist visas only come with a duration of one month, 3 months or 6 months.

Chances are you probably will not need a visa for HK. Where are you from? USA, UK, Canada, Australia passport holders do not require a visa for HK.

The PSB will extend your tourist visa in China.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
arioch36



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 3589

PostPosted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 4:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Danswayne
Either the above quote is sarcasm or Florida really isn't part of the good old USA


Neither, but shows the truth of a thread a while ago that in the U.S. it is all about what state you are in. You would have to apply to have your cert accepted in most states I know of (thinking Cali, NY and Ohio), and here in NY there are a lot of strings attached, things that need constant renewal, etc. For the public school system, of course. I could apply for a job and ask for a waiver, but I am no longer good to teach in New York.

If I was I NY cert teacher, would that be accepted in Florida?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> China (Job-related Posts Only) All times are GMT
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

Teaching Jobs in China
Teaching Jobs in China