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TapRed
Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 24
Location: Los Angeles, CA
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 Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 2:18 am Post subject: Simply don't go to China |
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The best advice for anyone considering teaching in China is simply don't teach in China. Why would you accept some BS low-level, low-wage position tolerating all kinds of BS and fraud that is written off as a "cultural difference"? Tell China to shove it, and keep on walking for a better position and let the Chinese be taught by the "ESl schools" and their bar fly "teachers" with fake degrees. That way, China can stay where it ought to be, and that is 100 years behind Taiwan.
China is not worth it from any perspective. I learned that the hard way, but fortunately I did not lose my assets while doing it and got out while the getting was good. China is the the enemy. Know it, realize it, accept it, and act accordingly. Wait until the anti-China postures kick in with the new American President trying to save the US economy and see how "friendly" the Chinese really are. |
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bradley
Joined: 28 Mar 2005
Posts: 235
Location: China
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| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 2:41 am Post subject: |
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| Honestly, I would much prefer my first teaching job to be in China over back home in the USA. I did my teaching practicum at a high school in the States and didn't enjoy it at all. I did enjoy teaching university students in America though. |
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killian
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 937
Location: fairmont city, illinois, USA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 4:41 am Post subject: |
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taiwan has better wages, higher standard of living, better health care but the same language as the mainland.
i always recommend that folks thinking about china look at taiwan. then if you like taiwan then you can always jump the ditch. |
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eddy-cool
Joined: 06 Jul 2008
Posts: 1008
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| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:12 am Post subject: |
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So China gets the 'TapRed' treatment and anyone wanting to experience China as it is rather than as it should be had better bugger off to Taiwan?
I thought the Cold War had long ago ceased... |
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Itsme
Joined: 11 Aug 2004
Posts: 624
Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 8:07 pm Post subject: Re: Any recommendations for a Newbie looking to work in Chin |
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| KHS08 wrote: |
Hi all,
I'm a newbie and I'm currently in the application process for finding a job in China. I've heard back from a few schools in Huzhou, Guangzhou and Taipei. Yet, every time I search the school in the forums, all I find is reviews from angry teachers who hated their experience at the school. All the bad reviews are making me feel like I may never find a school that isn't corrupt and doesn't cheat teachers out of time or money. Have I just had bad luck, or do people who have positive experiences just not post about it?
Since I'm new, I don't want to sign my life away for a year to the wrong school. Can anyone make any positive recommendations for me for schools in South East China (cities larger than 1 million) or Taiwan?
I am posting this in the China board too.
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Well to make things more difficult for you I can say that I have worked at great schools (in my view) that had teachers that hated the place.
You should look for repetition in the reviews... not just a single poster venting his/her outrage.
If you see 80 people telling you to stay away from the place then, by all means, stay away. If, however, you see that one person hates the place and 79 others like it then do not let that stop you.
The best thing to do is to show up.. Since you have never gone before that's impossible to think of right? No way. how on earth can I survive unless everything is already set up?! But you would be amazed at how easily things happen in China. Find yourself a nice youth hostel to shack up in and then hit the streets with your CV. find job postings online and start calling places up. You will have job offers in a matter of days while you are paying $5 a day to stay in a nice hostel with lots of people from all over the world.
Thanks for your help![/quote] |
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7969
Joined: 26 Mar 2003
Posts: 5782
Location: Coastal Guangdong
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| Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 1:45 am Post subject: |
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| NateM wrote: |
| I think one thing you need to learn in China is to control your temper. This isn't to say that you should just put up with all the BS your schools may put you up to, but you need to find a way to deal with it and not let it get to you, without looking like everyone's most-hated angry laowai. I've seen a lot of people who were good teachers lose it because they let silly unimportant crap build up in them and drive them nuts. |
i've seen this a couple of times too. even worked with one guy who got angry because the server in the local KFC didnt understand English when he ordered food there.
even if things dont work out your way in the beginning, have some patience and you'll find that you can turn things in your favour here quite easily. |
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Itsme
Joined: 11 Aug 2004
Posts: 624
Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 2:11 am Post subject: |
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ohh yea and one more thing.
don't get caught up in the "I should be making X amount a month" cycle.
It will only cause misery. The Chinese are usually willing to negotiate a little but not if you fly a huge sum above what they are offering. |
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7969
Joined: 26 Mar 2003
Posts: 5782
Location: Coastal Guangdong
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| Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 2:17 am Post subject: |
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| Itsme wrote: |
ohh yea and one more thing.
don't get caught up in the "I should be making X amount a month" cycle.
It will only cause misery. The Chinese are usually willing to negotiate a little but not if you fly a huge sum above what they are offering. |
its a good idea to find out what other teachers with similar qualifications are earning at any place you want to work.
schools can and do offer more money to a foreigner, not always based on qualifications, but based on how desperate they are for a FT. if you sign on when the conditions are in the schools favour you could find yourself making fewer RMB than someone who is less qualified than you are, simply because of timing. |
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