Job Discussion Forums

chickyabroad · Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Posts: 33 Location: Turkey

I've been reading this forum for awhile, trying to research different places to work in China, but it's getting to be a bit overwhelming... I spent a month traveling around China almost 10 years ago, so my sense of Chinese geography is a bit shaky. (Plus, even with a month, we didn't get to see more than a tiny part of the country.) So I thought I would ask for some suggestions of what cities to start looking in for jobs from people who are actually living there and know what daily life is like.

Here are my preferences:
1. Somewhere with decent teaching jobs, of course. I have about 1.5 years of experience, including a year in Korea teaching kids and volunteering at home teaching adults, a CELTA and a BA. I don't have a preference over teaching kids or adults, or both, though I would ideally like to find somewhere that would have a bit of teacher development.

*2. Somewhere to learn Chinese, preferably in a structured class.

3. Can save some money - doesn't have to be a lot (i.e. I don't expect to save as much as in Korea).

**4. Easy to meet people, both locals and other English speakers.

**5. Plenty of social activities available, other than just going out and drinking or playing poker. For example hiking groups, yoga, martial arts, movies, cooking classes, etc.

6. Fairly temperate weather, though I don't know if this is realistic. I'd rather cold than hot. I'm not a hot weather person at all, especially if it's hot and humid, though I don't like hot and dry that much either. Too hot to me is over 85 F or 30 C.

*7. A city that's easy to get around, without needing a scooter or car. I wouldn't mind needing a bicycle, but me on a scooter is dangerous and a car is too much hassle.

I think that's it for now. If anyone knows of good expat sites/forums for China or cities in China, those would be great too. I've found a couple for Shanghai, but they seem more international business people oriented. Thank you for reading and for any advice!

Edited to highlight my most important preferences.

lf_aristotle69 · Joined: 06 May 2006 Posts: 546 Location: HangZhou, China

chickyabroad · Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Posts: 33 Location: Turkey

Thanks for those links, that's great information.

From what I've already read and heard, I know I'm not likely to find my ideal weather in most of the major cities in China (or really anywhere else these days) so that's definitely not my main criteria for choosing a place. How would you say the places you suggest are for things like social activities and ease of meeting people, especially Changchun? I don't think I've noticed that city listed very often on job sites. What province is it in?

Jeff3 · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2

How would you say the places you suggest are for things like social activities and ease of meeting people, especially Changchun?

eslstudies · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

While the places recommended in Guangxi Province are all good, it absolutely swelters in summer, with extreme humidity.
A city like Qingdao might meet your criteria. You should have no problem finding work anywhere. Universities will often arrange Chinese lessons for interested FTs, and short teaching hours mean you have lots of time to pursue other interests, even other work if desired.