Job Discussion Forums

[aotearoa]

Hi Roger and Anyone Else Who Can Help Me ,

I'll tell you a bit about myself first. I'm a 22-year-old American guy from San Diego, California. I've been studying to be an elementary school teacher in New Zealand for the past two years (with lots of classroom teaching experience and other experience with children) and I plan on finishing my studies in New Zealand next year (it's a three year degree). I am thinking about teaching English in China for six months from July 2003 to December 2003. I've emailed my resume and documents to lots of places and I have gotten a lot of offers back. My most promising offer has come from a (I think private) preschool center--- Cindy Center Dadi Education Union. I would be teaching 20 hours a week, four hours a day, and eight 30 minute classes per day. They are providing me with what I'm guessing the standard foreign teacher benefits are (paid apartment, Etc.) and are offering me a salary of 4000 RMB per month with the option of working at other places/doing private tutoring. They are willing to let me speak to/email some of their current teachers also and they also may be able to provide me with free breakfast and lunch daily. I've begun to research teaching English in China a lot and I think that this is my best offer so far. I see that you are quite knowledgeable about teaching English in China and from your posts I also see that you work in a preschool.

I wanted to ask you some questions specifically about Kindergartens in China as well as some general China questions. I hope you don't mind answering them...:

1. What is the Chinese attitude towards foreign (male) teachers being 'cuddly' with little kids? I tend not to be as cuddly around kids as most women are, but I have no problems with hugs, appropriate touching, Etc. So what is the Chinese attitude towards physical contact between adult teachers and kids?

2. What is the grocery shopping situation like in China? Are the grocery stores in China similar to Western type grocery stores in some ways?

3. What are the telephone and postal mailing systems like, particularly for calling and mailing to/from overseas?

4. How will I be viewed/treated by the Chinese kids/their parents/my supervisors/Chinese people in general?

4. Here's a vague one--- could you please give me some advice on surviving/adapting to 'culture shock' in China?

5. How is the water supply in the bigger Chinese cities (specifically in Nanjing, Chengdu, and Nantong)? Is the water from the faucet safe to drink or should it be boiled first? Is bottled water easily available and affordable?


6. What sort of legal help is available to foreigners if they have problems with their employers/anything else? Is there any legal help available at all even?

The school is also offering to take care of my working visa for me, but I am wondering what I myself might also need to do in terms of organizing my working visa.

Like I said above I have taught kids before, and so I realize that teaching is not always a happily-ever-after-fairy-tale-job. I know the ups and downs of teaching, how it can stress you out, how you can have discipline problems with some children, Etc. Of course I also realize that teaching/pedagogical methods will be different in Chinese schools. Do most Chinese schools/preschools want their foreign teachers using Chinese or western teaching methods? I also understand that teaching English in China seems to be a bit of a game for most people involved. I don't say this to be judgmental but I myself would definitely have a commitment to professionalism in my job and I would not be the 'backpacker' type of teacher.

I'm also getting a good idea of what China is REALLY like on these message boards. I know that teaching English in China will be a challenge for me but I am at a point in my life where I definitely do need a challenge . I'm beginning to understand very well that China is not for inflexible, narrow-minded weak people who like to complain.

I'm not sure what else to ask now as there is so much to learn about this since I am totally new to it. But I so greatly appreciate any insight that you Roger/anyone else out there may have. And of course I would totally love it if you could share with me your personal experience in teaching English at a preschool in China Roger .

Okay, I will end it there for right now. Please respond if you want to--- either by my email at [email protected] or by PMing me here at the ESLCafe or just by responding to my post (I've PMed this to you Roger and posted it for others to see here.). Well thank you so very much Roger and have a great time teaching those little tykes !!!

[Roger]

Dear aotearoa,

here my reply:
4000 RMB is enough for you to live comfortably, although you could easily ask for 6000 for this amount of working time. Kindergartens that offer less may be more congenial, and those that offer more may be more commercial-minded - in which case working is less fun!
I also deem them rather generous in allowing you to moonlight! Make sure they actually know the ropes about how to get your work visa (they will have to take you to a designated clinic for a medical exam before they can apply - ask them if they know about this!).

YOur questions:
1) Cuddling: Oh, don't worry! It is inevitable, and the kids often come to me for exactly that! Be commonsensical!

2) In big cities, it is now quite easy to shop for groceries! In the south and in Shanghai, it's almost like in Hong Kong! What do you need in particular?

3) Communications: If your school has an agreement with the local post office, you can receive your mail with English address labels. The post office will use a chop to affix its Chinese address for the benefit of the postman that brings the mail to your school.
I personally don't trust the Chinese post services and pick up my mail poste restante in HK!
Telephone service is a bit onerous except for local calls.
If your computer has Internet access via a split line, there will be an ugly screeching sound when you use the telephone!

4) Attitudes of CHinese to Westerners: Much to speculate about, not much to actually "know" as the Chinese will tell you one thing while you inevitably suspect the opposite! Note that they don't have their own ideas - what they believe has been planted in their brains by the government.
Do they "respect" you?
I don't always believe that. Since I am teaching my language I feel I should be allowed to tell them how to do that, and who has acquired proficiency to pass an exam. The Chinese, however, feel you should obey them as only Chinese "know" how to do things!
I wonder why they need expats (chuckle).
But, on the other hand, living in CHina is like extended holidays. You live in a foreign country for which you don't have to pay and stay at expensive hotels. You pay your way.
Socialising can be quite fascinating, at least for a while. Too much of the same, though, can quickly lead to frustration! Note that they have some rather weird preconceived ideas about the world at large and about themselves!

5) Culture shock?
I had none! But that was because I came here first as a tourist, and spent almost one year and a half traipsing around. That was a good time, although it was different (shortly after the '89 massacre!). I have since experienced a number of mental transformations in China. The people today are no longer the people I used to like!

6) Water?
It is safest when drunk boiled. You can also buy bottled water (although I sometimes feel the water has a strange taste).
You cannot swim in rivers and on the East coast!

7( Legal recourse - that's by far the most problematic issue! I have no cut-and-dried answer! We all are a kind of pioneers! But if your would-be employer allows you to be in touch with their current teachers you can sound them out!
Your first place to seek help is the local education bureau, then the PSB, lastly a court near Peking that deals with issues involving foreign nationals. You would need a lawyer, and those lawyers are not always knowledgeable or courageous enough!

Work visa: See my introductionary remarks!

Good luck,
Roger

[chog]

Just a quick note as i'm off to class. Be very careful about offers saying you are allowed to work for other schools as this is normally illegal. It might be worth referring to other threads on this subject.

Good luck!

[aotearoa]

Thanks for your help guys, its really appreciated. Im probably gonna' take the job with Dadi Kindergarten Centres .