Job Discussion Forums

Sarariman · Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Posts: 9

We'll start with the easy one. You have to do a medical to work in China, but there are many kinds of medical. I tried 'phoning the Chinese embassy, but the relevant department is only open at certain times on certain days, and they never answer the 'phone. Can someone please tell me what kind of medical I need?

The other problem is eccentricity. I think people in Thailand disliked me for this reason, e.g. university students said I was "too enthusiastic". A recruiter told me Chinese students aren't like Thai students and a friend knows eccentric people who got along fine, but I'd like to hear from anyone with an opinion.

suanlatudousi · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Posts: 384

Check the "sticky" posts -- medical exams are fully covered there

In general, Chinese students (and people) are fairly reserved.

Jayray · Joined: 28 Feb 2009 Posts: 373 Location: Back East

Define "eccentric."

foreignDevil · Joined: 23 Jun 2003 Posts: 580

"Eccentric" is pretty vague. Can you give some examples of how you think you are eccentric?

Sarariman · Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Posts: 9

In the General Discussion Forum there's a thread on medicals, but it isn't specifically about China and I thought it may be talking about medicals in-country, whereas I'd do mine in the UK. The thread contains song lyrics and remarks about New Zealand, so I thought it was better to start a new thread. If there's a more relevant one, please do tell with a URL.

Define eccentricity? I go in for funky ties, cufflinks and braces/suspenders. I read that in Japan it's bad to wear distinctive clothes and I imagine it didn't help in Thailand. Thai university students said they didn't like my mannerisms. Basically, I stand out.

China.Pete · Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 547

OP, you seem to be looking for insights into two issues. One is, will Chinese students be more accepting of your persona than Thai students? I have certainly seen examples of how Thai students can be tolerant of things that would normally disqualify someone for teaching in the West (like being really stupid), if the foreigner has the right look (say, blond and blue-eyed). Chinese students, at least the better ones, may be much more tolerant of geekiness (being somewhat prone to this themselves), especially if they see this as a symptom of higher intellect.

The other question seems to be, if your personality issue spills over into the clinical, will the medical pick it up? And the answer is probably not. But you should be very aware that the pressures of adjusting to a foreign culture, one with little capacity to understand not alone deal with a foreigner's psychiatric problems, is not the best place to check yourself in to. So, if you are looking for a foreign environment to mask a persona which simply does not play well at home (having some experience with living abroad already), then China might suit. But definitely not if you are confronting more serious problems.

Humbug · Joined: 05 Jan 2009 Posts: 18 Location: Australia

I did not need to have a medical in my home country (Aus) to get a Z-Visa. I had the medical in China before getting the Foreign Teacher Permit. It was a blood test, chest X-ray and blood pressure check. That was it, no problem.

Sarariman · Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Posts: 9

I'm not THAT bad, i.e. clinically. I'm geeky, so what you said about that was encouraging.

Having done 20 months in Thailand I have experience of very foreign culture.

Sarariman · Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Posts: 9

OK, some more detail:

When I met fellow members of a certain Internet society, one guy said I was the oddest person he'd ever met. And I thought I'd been normal that evening.

In Sydney, I was turned down for an IT job for being "too flamboyant". A friend says my mannerisms are extreme, and the Thai students said they didn't like my mannerisms. My friend adds that I'm overly theatrical and dramatic when I explain things, and in Prague students complained that I was "too theatrical".

Itsme · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 624 Location: Houston, TX

Is this you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXgdSOxaCGI

robot · Joined: 14 Dec 2008 Posts: 25

http://www.visarite.com/images/otherforms/physicalExam.pdf

that's the same as the one i did, cost 150 GBP.

As for eccentric, I'm imagining a very camp thesp? I think it wouldn't be a problem, but then again...
If you decided to not teach at university level it sounds like little kids might like you.

Jayray · Joined: 28 Feb 2009 Posts: 373 Location: Back East

Dress modestly. Your white alone face will draw attention.

Enthusiasm? It depends upon the degree of enthusiasm and how you express it. An occasional joke or funny face will often lighten up an otherwise sour class.

I advise against turning each class into a drama or a play. Remember: their education is about the student, not about the teacher. University students see right through teachers who use class as a personal psychodrama, and they resent it.

The Ever-changing Cleric · Joined: 19 Feb 2009 Posts: 1523

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

OP you almost certainly will have to get a medical exam in China, no matter where in the UK or other non-Chinese country you are examined and no matter how thoroughly. As stated above, it's not difficult and it's quick.

The Chinese like to sing and dance and they really love it when the foreigner entertains them, but they like to be entertained by us DOING something, not wearing something etc. I don't know how well eccentricity will go over, but it's really hard to tell without trying. The benefit or curse of being flamboyant is that shortcomings as a teacher will be overshadowed by the more obvious eccentricity. So instead of critiquing your teaching methods or style or appropriateness, they will focus on your looks and eccentric behaviors. Do you show empathy to your students or merely put on a show?

Sarariman · Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Posts: 9

Thanks to all who contributed.

I would say the Youtube video is a caricature of me - I go in that direction a little.

I'd prefer to work in another country rather than dress modestly or otherwise change my game plan. I don't go to work to dress down. Hey, I like to show my plumage.

I hope I don't use classes as a personal psychodrama, but I'm not best placed to judge. All I can say is that nobody has made criticisms of that nature, or anything approaching it. I hope to God it isn't true.

I've worked in the Czech Republic for two academic years and only had those two classes complain about my style, so there are places where I'd be fine.

I have been known to sing and dance in classes, although I have usually had the sense to not think it appropriate in the Czech Republic.

When the Thais said what they did, I always wondered if they were masking deeper criticisms of my teaching style, which is a very Thai thing to do. "Too enthusiastic" is a bit suspicious. A couple of British people told me it could be a problem in Thailand, but a Thai guy said it wasn't.

I was fine at high school in Thailand and only had problems at a university, so sticking to that age-group is one way forward, but I think I prefer teaching adults because the classes are longer and better behaved and you can swear (occasionally).

I've had students say I'm kind, I'm the coolest teacher, I'm their funniest ever teacher and more. Hence I believe I'm strongly empathatic in class and that I'm generally popular - I'm leaving my present employer, and at least one class says they don't want another teacher.

I wonder if my question about medicals has been answered. Robot: if I do a medical in the UK that answers these questions, are you saying that will be enough? I like to think I'm not camp, but I'd better ask a friend.

And will a medical in China include a drugs test?