Job Discussion Forums

[Scarlet_UK]

Hello!
I'm new to this forum and am looking forward to sticking around and finding out more about working overseas.
I graduate this year and then plan to teach in China for a year with EF, starting at the end of the summer. I've been accepted on a trinity cert TESOL course but it won't be completed until June. I've already decided whereabouts in China I want to live, so I don't know want to be stuck with whatever is left come summertime.. when would be a good time to apply?
Will they be satisfied knowing that I will have been TESOL certified by the time I go to China, or do I need to be qualified before applying?
I hope this makes sense. Thank you!

[arioch36]

Many, really, most schools will accept you without anything. So the TESOl cert is not neccessary for applying. Saying you are teaking one won't hurt. A very few schools state that you need such a course.

When to apply? Not to early, but not to late. Actually, you could apply in August, and still find many jobs. I would recommend after the May holiday, about the middle of May is when most schools get serious about actually doing the paperwork for hiring teachers. I would say start contacting some schools in April, that wold be okay. No hurry. Have to see what others say.
When you apply can make a small difference in how much you can get, but just a small difference.

[therock]

Why not apply to work at a public school? There have been many people who have had a bad experience with EF. If you want a September start, then apply around June or July, August is a hit and miss month. Remember if applying to a public university they usually have August off, so applying in June or July is a must.

[Scarlet_UK]

Thanks for your advice. Arioch, EF state that you need a TEFL certificate, maybe they aren't too strict with this equirement but I would like to include it on my application anyway.
I have read a lot of negative posts (particularly on this forum!) about EF but then I know some people who worked in China with them and really enjoyed it, too. It's tough to decide what to do because every single company and school seems to have warnings posted about it somewhere.
My main reason for applying to EF is that they offer jobs in the cities I want to live in, and most importantly they pay for your flights and accommodation. I guess I would not be able to sort this arrangement independently with a public school.
If anyone can recommend someone other than EF that also include flights and accommodation in the contract, then it would be great to have more options.
It looks like I will apply in April/May then - thanks again!

[eslstudies]

[Anda]

Okay here you go. contact these people and have a talk for a goverment school job. You can also do a TESOl cert with them for a fraction the cost of doing it in the West. The school year starts on the 1st of September but people come and go all year round here in China. The government crowd below employ over 400.

Some public schools offer a ten month contract where you are stuck at the end of the contract for work in the summer holidays otherwise good. I get the best part of three months of paid holidays a year and got my job through them. However I started on a ten month contract but my college wanted to keep me so they found that they had to pay me the summer holidays to keep me. That was my condition by the way to keep me!

Jiangsu Education Center for International Exchanges (JECIE)The Affiliated High School to Jiangsu Education Institute. Nanjing No.14 Middle School. Nanjing No.1 Middle School. No.2 high School Affiliated to Nanjing ...
www.chinatefl.com/jiangsu/teach/jecie-2.htm - 59k -

[arioch36]

ESL

[dialogger]

My advice is to get a 20 pw contact time gig at a university as your baseline job and then add language school/private work as you feel inclined.
China is hard for the first 6m and the more regular university situation - generally living on campus, in your own apartment and not sharing as you will with a language school, has a lot to recommend it.
Good luck.
PS If you are not Caucasian I'd start looking sooner rather than later.

[Scarlet_UK]

Thanks again for your replies!
I'd been searching websites like teachabroad.com so didnt have much idea of finding work outside of a company like EF (though I did like the idea of having some sort of ready-made support network and being amongst others in the same situation as me).
I'm not so keen on teaching solely at a university as I only have experience in teaching younger people. Thank you for the link Anda, I ideally want to work in Hangzhou and found a couple of names of public schools after poking about on there for a bit. I intend to get a TEFL certificate in the UK though regardless of spending a bit extra because I want it to be Trinity cert.
Despite living alone quite happily, I have no qualms about sharing accommodation and wouldn't actually mind the company considering it'd be somewhere completely new to me and all that. As you can see this is the great unknown to me, so all your information and tips are very helpful!

[dialogger]

Your job will likely be oral English skills anywhere you go.
Actually 'teaching' English is best left to Chinese teachers as they can use Chinese as the 'language of instruction'.
As long as you are say mid twenties+ the uni sector shouldn't hold any terrors for you.
Chinese students generally have a lot of respect for their teachers.

[Scarlet_UK]

I will have only just graduated so I'll be 21. If I was a university student maybe I'd be a bit wary of me

[arioch36]

Age doesn't matter that much, though honestly it does help. experience helps in knowing/guessing the best way to react to a given situation.
My own strong opinion; everyone must teach within their personality. But it is much better to start off a little too strict, and then lighten up, then vice versa. There are some rare classes that are almost unteachable. But overall, I have found that if I expect the students to work, they often will. Bring pictures, may be some video of your school life, they will be interested.
You might want to teach at a high school or private k-school. Plenty of such jobs

[dialogger]

Yes 21 might be a bit young for Uni.
High School - good.