Job Discussion Forums

[Tarkus]

Are there any agencies actively recruiting for teaching positions in China?
Does anyone know of any useful links regarding this? I do have a valid passport, birth certificate and Social Security Card.
The problem is funds, or the lack of them.
If I sold everything I owned, the resulting income might add up to a thousand dollars, but more than likely seven or eight hundred.
Is there an agency that would pay my flight and allow me to pay off the resulting debt via payroll deduction?
Perhaps it is asking too much to have someone give this level of trust, but for the sake of argument, assuming that I wanted to renege on the agreement at some future date, where would I go?
At six feet and two hundred pounds, not very far. Even in America my appearance seems to attract attention, so it would probably be more so in China.

[SocratesSon2]

Tarkus the answer to that is no. You see the was a time a while ago when schools would actually pay to get you here, or send you a ticket. Those days are long gone. There are plenty of teachers and people out there who want to teach nowadays, so why bother.

In your case to be honest you should do some research. I have helped friends in America find plane tickets to china as cheap as 500 dollars. Coming here and asking others to do your homework is kind of lame. Do your own research an cheap airfares online. It might take you many days of work, something I know you detest, but thats what you have to do though. Work will yield you the cheap ticket you need, just might take some time and searching.

I can tell you this though, no school in china will pay your airfare, at least not to hire someone with no qualifications, no matter how many looks you get. Theres plenty of overweight white guys over here, one more don't mean a hill of beans to the Chinese.

[Tarkus]

SocratesSon2, I hate to disappoint you, but I am not overweight, and don't recall asking anyone to do any "homework" for me.
But its very probable that someone knows something I don't, so is anything wrong with asking?

[eslstudies]

Tarkus [ an ELP fan, right?], you haven't mentioned qualifications. post high school that is. You write well, so hopefully you've got a parchment.
In addition, you need to be pretty well bankrolled to start off with, and that's more than just airfare. Start-up costs can be considerable. Reputable schools will reimburse things like airfare at the end of contract, but may ask you to pay for your medical and visa/permit costs initially, until you're all legit. The stories here focus on teachers getting ripped off, but it's a two way street, let me assure you. And bear in mind you won't get paid for a month, at best.

You need many more $$$$, sad to report.

[SocratesSon2]

Also, while your writing may be good, and I don't know if I would say that, Chinese don't seem to know good English writing. Thats especially true of Chinese school owners, so that doesn't really matter.

ESL studies is right though, it's not a good idea to come here without some money, depending on where you go. As for covering your own visa costs. Most good schools will cover your visa costs. If they won't that makes me skeptical form the get go.

As for airfare, you can ask for half after a few months, the rest at the end of your contract.

ESL studies really ignores the fact that the biggest problem is bad schools taking advantage of people period. If a school takes care of you, pays you well, and deals with you in an honest and fair way, why would you leave?

Yeah ESL studies, it's a two way street, in theory, but usually not in practice. The problems source is the school and the system which supports the schools, at least in large part. The bad teachers and people who take advantage are a symptom of this problem, not the problem itself. I doubt I need to go through the cause and effect with you, you seem smart enough that it's not necessary.

Anyhow Tarkus, many do come here without a stake and do just fine. If the school is a good one, and good luck on that, then you may be fine. Also depends on how resourceful and how much of a go getter you are. From what you have told us so far, those qualities are practically non-existent. Hard to say how well you will do. However, if your white, 6 feet, and 200 pounds, but not a fat guy, one begs the question. How can you be so fit, which takes a lot of work, but not find a regular job and work for a living?

Good luck in your search, you won't have many problems, just have to be careful. Oh, and don't use a recruiter, enough schools out there, recruiters just care about getting paid, not about a schools quality. They will tell you anything just to get you to come.

[Tarkus]

Thank you for the warning, SocratesSon2.
As for the physically fit part, its not that difficult, but need to get back down to 195 and thirty inch waist again.
If you have any experience with life in a small southern town, you would be aware that you have to be a fall under some sort of heading and/or know the "in crowd". I do not go to church and have no family in the military.
Also, when people ask,"Have you ever been married?".
Translation: May I see proof of your heterosexuality?
One prospective employer rejected me for the following reason,"I don't know what you might be doing away from work.".
This was given despite knowing me for four years from Martial Arts class.
As for the "go getter" aspect, yes, you do make a valid point there.
Playing online Bridge is a lot easier than fighting with the panel hook up on a motherboard, but the latter would help to increase my computer skill such as they are.
There is a huge difference between working with people and working in solitude. When working with or among others, its very important to carry one's share of the load, to make a contribution. The respect of coworkers and students does matter an awful lot. This is accountability.
When a person is almost always alone, that person has only themselves to answer to.
SocratesSon2, may I ask approximately where is this "here" at?

[sojourner]

Tarkus,

From what you have mentioned above, as well as to what was covered in your thread to the Newbie forum ( http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=58196 ), you appear to be very sensitive regarding the subject of your current marital status. However, I need to point out that should you ever find yourself working in China, many Chinese people will ask you about your marital status, how many kids you have, etc. Should you mention that you are single, some might even ask why ! Thus, you should expect the local people to ask you some very personnel questions - and, you should always be mindful of the need to give a tactful, friendly reply. Never, ever go off your head - " mind your own f...ing business ", sort of thing !

I should point out to you that it appears that the Chinese authorities now require that foreign teachers (FTs) should hold at least a bachelor's degree. However, don't despair, as the regulations are not always rigidly enforced; especially in the more remote parts of the country.

Some people have said that you need not deal with a recruiter in order to find a job. However, for your first time, I would recommend seeking the assistance of a recruiter, especially in light of all the visa requirements, etc. However, after 12 months here you could bypass recruiters altogether.Once you start to settle down in a job, you'll soon learn, from your colleagues, ex-colleagues - as well as from Dave's ESL Cafe ! - about vacancies at other schools/colleges, places to avoid, changes in regulations, etc.Thus, networking is crucial to surviving in our walk of life. So, for your first job, you could get the names of recruiters from Dave's China Job Board. If, however, most of the jobs being advertised appear unsuitable, contact those recruiters anyway and ask if they have any other vacancies.

In your two threads, you mentioned that you have very little money. Another poster stated that you would have to pay for your own airfare to China,and that you probably won't get your first salary payment for at least a month after commencing work. (In most cases, the airfare allowance (around 8 K RMB) is not paid until the end of your 12 months contract).Consequently, before heading off to this part of the world, it might be a good idea for you to work for a year to save at least 10 K USD; even if it's just a crap, boring dead-end sort of job ! In your spare time, you could prepare for your future teaching career by doing some pertinent reading, such as books by Jeremy Harmer and Tom Scrivener. Also, check out Dave's for ideas about lesson preparation ("Stuff for Teachers" ? ). Try to get hold of a book called "Lessons from Nothing" (check Amazon.com ) for additional ideas about lesson planning. In order to give you a "feel" for real English language teaching, consider doing some ESL volunteer work at your local community centre.

After you have saved some money, either contact a recruiter, or post your CV on Dave's "Post Your Resume" board. If you are offered a job, fly to China via Thailand. Try to enrol in a CELTA course, there - much cheaper than doing it in the US ! Such training would not only give you the confidence of standing in front of people, but also provide you with the basics of lesson planning, classroom management and 2nd language acquisition.

Apart from China, you might also want to consider teaching in Vietnam - I've heard of a number of non-graduates who have picked up teaching jobs there.

On the subject of your non-degree status, you should enquire about enrolling in a legitimate distance education/on-line degree programme. The Chinese authorities might be a bit slack now regarding the enforcement of its requirements; but, that may not always be the case !

Good luck !

[jeffinflorida]

6 feet 200 pounds? I'll be there if I lose 2 inches and 58 pounds...

Dude you need to sercure a job and some money. If you come here broke you are in for a long ride...And I don't mean Mr Toad's Wild Ride...

[Anda]

Get a credit card and us it to get a return ticket for China. Contact institutes here and state your details. You will find some that will take you but they will supply you with a fake degree and you would have to tell your students that you have a degree. Most will give you an advance on your salary after a week or two.

If you get a job in Northern China then you will find that is very cold now and you will need to spend quite a lot on clothes, warm stuff for your bed plus heating.

You can live easy for a month here provided you don't have to buy things on 1,500 RMB. But just arriving, you will probably have to buy some things.

[Shan-Shan]

Try Korea for a year. Both times I went there to teach, plane tickets were provided (not reimbursed). I also met quite a few ELP fans in Seoul (Koreans, not foreigners). Chinese knowledge of music is about as wide as a knife edge.

[jeffinflorida]

[SocratesSon2]

Unfortunately Korea is out, because the OP does not have a degree. There, unlike in China, they will arrest and deport you if you don't have one. Be wary of using a fake also, heard recently some guy got 6 years in prison for doing just that.

[arioch36]

Very few of the foreign teachers I know needed the services of a recrutier. I don't think it is all that difficult. You look up schools on the internet. I would always recommend unis or legit public school. Contact them direct.
Visas are only complex if you want them to be. Go to the Chinese embassy website, and do it the way they say. You tell the school you are coming. The school sends you a work invitation letter. You take the letter (or a faxed copy) and your passport to the Chinese consulate/embassy, pay your money (if you arrive in the morning, can usually be done same day)
Yes, you really must purchase the plane ticket. You really don't need that much money. The school provides the apartment. When you arrive you can ask them for an advance if you really need. Might need enough for a hotel room for a night or two if there is some kind of screw up. I would be quite comforatble telling someone $500 U.S. is quite sufficient to take care of any problems on the way to your school

[canada_katie]

What about EF English First? I remember when I worked for them, they were paying for the airpalne ticket to get the English teacher to China
(I paid for my own to get to China).

When I went to China, my husband and I bought our own plane tickets and visa but arrived in China with only $100 (this was in 2002);
EF English First gave us a 800RMB cash advance when we first got there for the first month.

KLL

[SocratesSon2]

Ugh, English First? Better he shoot himself in the head now and get it over with, then work for that outfit. Hope you had a fine experience, but the majority who have worked for them have not. Just google EF and you'll see what I and most everyone else means.