Job Discussion Forums

[kev7161]

I am getting ready to wrap up my FOURTH year at my current school in Suzhou. I'm a bit surprised as I never thought I'd go the distance. I'm signed for a 5th year already but it's not really a "year". I'm taking a leave-of-absence to go home for a few months and recharge myself. Will return next May. Nothing wrong with the school, it's life outside of the school that gets me down.

We have a few other teachers that have stayed for two years and a couple more that have signed on for their upcoming 3rd year here. I would never say my school is perfect, but I think (esp. after reading some of the horror stories here) that it's pretty darn good. I won't blurt out the name of the school because I'm not advertising for them, but if you're curious you can PM me.

Also, around this time of year (and near the Spring Break/CNY time as well), I see a lot of new names and even old-timers asking about this school and that and what do we think about the contract they've been offered, etc. My questions are, what would cause you to stay at a school long-term? How long was your original plan to stay in China vs. how long you've actually stayed? (mine was 2 years vs. 6 years) Regarding some of our long-term Davesters: why switch from school to school? I mean, how many places have you actually worked for and wasn't even one of them decent enough to just stay put?

We have teachers that come and go like the wind, often not even fulfilling contracts or sticking it out for even a semester. They find a million little things wrong with the school but never seem to manage to self-reflect and perhaps come to the conclusion that they are the problem, or at least share the blame. We've just had one self-professed "senior teacher" leave our school after only 4 months of grumbling and b*tching about pretty much every aspect of his job. From what I understand, this is pretty much his M.O. everywhere he's taught before. What kind of life is that, unless someone actually ENJOYS the nomadic life?

So, just an informal survey to read your thoughts on your time thus far in China and the jobs you've worked. For the newcomers, what are your goals and planned time to stay in China? For the record, in six years I've worked exactly two jobs (short of the summer camps). Who could've guessed I'd still be around to this day?

[bradley]

I'm finishing my fourth year and continuing for a fifth. I also never imagined I would be here so long but I'm happy.

[Mister Al]

Just ending my 3rd academic year here. There is talk of a 5 year offer from another department but will wait and discuss when the time is right.

[KidfromBrooklyn]

I am in my 11th year with my school. The semesters grind by year after year, the seasons change. The students keep coming. The students grow up and move on. The students go to work in the community. I go to the weddings of my students. It's a feeling of success to see them out and working and remembering the times we had in the classroom. Translate that into beautiful Mandarin it sounds great.

The other weijiao? I watch them come... and I watch them go. Life goes on and I do not ramble on how everything is perfect here. I speak my mind when the situation requires. I certainly am not a China promoter nor a China basher, I am a life liver. Or is that a Live lifer? Go figure.

Best of luck to you all. Live long and prosper.

Anyone notice how many of the Hospitals are expanding or growing new wings? What causes this?

[Hansen]

I have been hearing more and more about a 5 year limit on FTs in China. They must then return home for a year and then return to China if they want. The FAO raises this flag from time to time. I also have heard that this is true from a friend who works in another FAO office.

Any one else hearing or experiencing this "must return home after 5 years" rule?

I've been here more than 5 years but part of the time was not teaching.

[YankeeDoodleDandy]

In Hefei, I worked for two schools and stayed there for three and a half years. I just signed my fourth contract with my school in Xi'an and it looks like I will stay in Xi'an a little longer. I have so much stuff to move. I taught in America for eight years and I wouldn't go back and teach again. Classroom management was a major problem for me. I received an offer from a university in Hangzhou, however the pay was 1,000 RMB less per month and I have a few part time jobs that pay well. When I start to receive my Social Security checks in two year, maybe I will move then.

[kev7161]

I don't know much about that supposed 5-year rule thing. I usually go home to visit during my summer break, so maybe that counts? But my residence permit has been renewed consistently every year with no problems, so . . . ???

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

I had two jobs in ESL outside of China, six months each. My first job in China was 5 months (one term), second job here I lasted eight months before I left/quit. Third job I joined the school in October till years end in July, now my current job for the past four years. This one is by far the best of the lot.

[eddy-cool]

I put in two consecutive years in one place, then a one-year job that I was willing to extend but not myemployer, then another two-year assignment, and finally five years with the same employer.
I found that employers can be terriblyvindictive (on occasion, not always) if you quit against their own interests. Staying too long in the same place can be an impediment to your career, and not staying long enough can cost you trust.

[StephanieB]

I have been in China for three years. Generally speaking, I always finished my contract, sometimes I renewed it, sometimes I did not.

there was ONE glaring exception, however, and I only stayed there less than three months. I was cursed at; I was abused; I was shouted at; I was mocked and all of this by a boss who suddenly was the director of a large international section after having run a Papa John's pizza in the States. It was a horrenduous place. I won't name it here, though, not in the post anyway.

SB

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

I was just over 4 years in my old school, with a 6-month stint at another school in between for a break. I would have stayed for another 4 years as it paid very well and I was treated fine, but circumstances and marriage and family at home forced my hand.

That and I was starting to learn too much Chinese for my own good and understood the more negative and ignorant comments directed at westerners by the local populace.

[nickpellatt]

[quote="kev7161"]

What kind of life is that, unless someone actually ENJOYS the nomadic life?

quote]

I kinda enjoy the nomadic life, its one of the attractions of EFL to me! Im not a long termer EFL'er yet, This is my 3rd year of teaching, but I have no intention of staying in one place for any length of time.

Partly this is due to having a child in the UK, even though he is 18 this year, he is still my 'baby' so I always want to come back home to see him and spend time with him. My first China job was ideal for this as I spent the 9 week summer hols and 7 week winter hols at home.

Im actually in the UK now, and Im fortunate enough to have enough teaching work between April and October to keep me going with the summer schools and student school trips etc. This is great for me because it means I can work in my chosen field in my home country quite easily.

Im back in China in December, but I have no intention whatsoever of staying in my job there. I will complete my contract, but I will be coming home again before planning the next adventure. In an ideal world, that is how I will continue to work and travel. It doesnt mean Im not serious about my classes or my development as a teacher ... but I view being a backpacking teacher as a lifestyle choice, being a backpacker teacher isnt always a bad thing IMO.

I really enjoy teaching and being in class ... but I enjoy the adventure of a new place ands new experiences even more. Perhaps my circumstances are different to many people ... coming home again (to the UK) is never really a worry because I can work in EFL in England very easily ... and get the benefit of family and home comforts too!

[JGC458]

I'm staying a 2nd year at my current uni coz my circumstances this year make it really inconvenient to spend a month looking for a better job. Aside from that I've been treated well, my pay and benefits are ok, and the majority of students are good.

But I don't feel that I owe any loyalty to my current uni or the students (beyond my contractual obligations). I don't see why staying another year at the same school in China would necessarily suggest an FT is a "better" teacher. Having your contract renewed can simply mean that you haven't been too troublesome and the FAO can't be bothered to find someone better. I have always felt like, and been treated as, the outsider (currently) occupying the post of FT at the schools I've worked at here. I've always had the impression that the schools couldn't have cared less that it was "me" occupying that post.

And as regards the students, they are just 200 20 year olds I spend 90 minutes a week with for 16 weeks a semester (about 350 kids this academic year). I don't "hang out" with them, they aren't my friends, they're over half my age and they're predominantly immature.

I do my job i.e. what's expected of me. In return I get money, benefits and a residence permit.

[StephanieB]

[rogerejones]

Congrats to those of you completing multiple years at your schools. I'm just wrapping up my 3rd year at the same university, but will move next year to a different university (same city-Chengdu) next year, for higher salary and more class variety. I've enjoyed my time here, have by and large enjoyed my classes and my students, but the same "Oral English" class 7 times a week, year after year, has taken its toll.

Roger, Chengdu