Job Discussion Forums

[leoteale]

Hi,

I am hatching a plan to go with my Cuban born husband to teach in China for a year or 2. I am a CELTA qualified English and American literature graduate with 5 years ELT experience in various countries.

I taught at the Ocean University of China for a year back in 2003 and had a great year. I am thinking of going back there, or perhaps somewhere else in China.

Our idea is that I will teach English as a Foreign Expert at a university, and my husband will teach Spanish. He plans to do a month-long intensive course in teaching Spanish as a foreign language (like TEFL / CELTA).

He doesn�t have a university degree. Does this mean he won�t qualify for Foreign Expert status? Or will the teaching qualification be enough to qualify?

In any case, I have read somewhere on this forum that husbands and wives of foreign experts can be granted a visa to live in China with their other halves. Does anyone know if this is accurate? Can the non-Foreign Expert spouse work officially on this visa? Can visas be obtained for babies of the foreign expert as well? (Our hope is to have a child, and then move out the China for a year or 2 as a family when the baby is around 1 year old.)

My husband would like to work giving Spanish lessons. I have read that there are a very limited number of places in China offering Spanish. Does anyone know of any private language schools which offer Spanish? Particularly in Qingdao? What are the possibilities of getting private tuition work teaching Spanish?

Another part of the dilemma is where to go� I love Qingdao, and would go back there happily. However, we are considering somewhere where it�s warm all year round. Can anyone recommend a nice city with a year-round warm climate, some culture and nice architecture, parks, maybe beaches, and preferably within not-too-difficult travelling distance of other nice places? Any recommendations of city will be very helpful, and if you can recommend a university where I could teach English, even better.

It would also be great to hear from anyone who has lived in China with a baby or toddler. How easy / hard is it to get the kind of clothes / food and other daily necessities I might buy in the UK? Is it easy to get together with other expats with young families? What�s it like from a practical and emotional perspective? Of course I have to have a baby first�which is another mission in itself�but I�d like to know if my idea of taking a 1 year old to China is at all practical / sane??!

As you can see, I have quite a few questions! In short:

1) Can my husband and baby get residence visas / permits with me as a Foreign Expert?
2) Will my Spanish speaking husband be able to find private language school or tuition work teaching Spanish?
3) Where should we go? Please recommend a nice city which is warm all year
4) Living in China with a baby � what�s it like?

Any advice on any or all of these things will be really appreciated.

For my part, I�m happy to tell my experiences about Qingdao and the Ocean University of China. Just private message me if you want some info.

Thanks!

[eddy-cool]

Guangzhou might answer your call. As for Spanish classes, there probably does exist a market since Guangzhou plays host to the biannual Canton Trade Fair.

Institutions to consider: The University of Foreign Studies (they do have Korean, Japanese, even Thai language and culture programmes, so Spanish should be quite high on their list).

Another option: Sun Yat-sen University (aka Zhongshan University in Guangzhou).

[Sonnibarger]

there is a school called "younger success foreign language school" the branch in Wuhan offers classes in spanish, german, french, korean, japanese ect... I know the head office is in Qingdao.... sure your hubby could get a job there... i can't recommend the wuhan branch.. pm me for details on that... i would guess the closer to head office u get the better the school would be..

[China.Pete]

"...I have read somewhere on this forum that husbands and wives of foreign experts can be granted a visa to live in China with their other halves." -- Leoteale

I have known FTs who have gotten employer-sponsored visas for their non-teaching family members. As for your husband teaching Spanish without a BA, a language school could be the most likely job option, possibly on a per-hour basis. Given the typical pay rates in China, finances will be something you should also consider, together with the provision of a family health plan.

[suanlatudousi]

[evaforsure]

I would also add that a sponsor still has to be had as you cannot sponsor your husband....your employer would have to ....

[naturegirl321]

[China.Pete]

"Can't wives get visas for their husbands?" -- Naturegirl

You are sponsored for the work visa by your "work unit;" therefore, they, not you, would sponsor any accompanying family members. (If you were Chinese, then by showing your marriage license you can generally get what amounts to a longer-term tourist visa than you might receive otherwise.) The "accompanying" family members would not be authorized to work, but could probably get casual, hourly work without too much hassle in many jurisdictions. I wouldn't ever recommend this for someone coming solo to China, but as a little second income on the side for someone who is unable to get a work visa at the same time as their spouse, it may be worth the risk.

[leoteale]

[quote="Sonnibarger"] there is a school called "younger success foreign language school" ... I know the head office is in Qingdao.... sure your hubby could get a job there.

Thanks all for the advice, and the tips on where my husband could find work teaching Spanish.

Anyone know of any other private schools in Qingdao offering Spanish classes?

Also, on getting a decent family health and general travel insurance policy for a whole year - does anyone have any recommendations for insurance companies to try? I am based in the UK, and the policy would have to cover me, husband and hopefully baby.

[China.Pete]

"[D]oes anyone have any recommendations for insurance companies to try?" -- Leoteale

You can get quotes on a variety of insurance products for either travel or expat living from http://www.insurancequest.com . I've found the U.S.-based companies to offer some of the best price-value propositions for the majority of those employed as teachers in China. They are generally more than happy to do business with Brits, and a number of the policies are actually underwritten by Lloyds of London, if that makes you feel any better.

[Hansen]

OP, I note a bit of Mary Poppins whimsy in your posts.

Perhaps my situation is unique; however, I feel that the situation in China is anything but ideal. For a young couple, the shock of living here might be overwhelming. A friend of mine, who had been married for several years to a really nice lady with a similar background to his, saw his marriage destroyed in China.

It is very difficult for me to understand why a young couple with a child on the way would want to come here. This place is brutal, in many respects.

I have reasons for being here so I suppose that you may too; however, you might want to consider other places as well

[colonel]

I'm here with my wife and two daughters.

As other posters have pointed out your family have to be sponsored by your sponsor.

You can then all enter China with a Z visa for each family member - having, usually, obtained the said visa in your country.

We saw this as an opportunity for my wife and eldest daughter to learn Mandarin whilst I 'attempt' to impart knowledge.

They are enjoying it and getting on with life - nothing is easy.

[Sonnibarger]

I knew a couple that moved to China together... lets just say yellow fever can do crazy things to a man...not that your husband is anything like that... but.... be prepared to see some of the most beautiful women in the world all over your husband...

[Hansen]

Like white on rice.