Job Discussion Forums

[nateliu99]

Ok guys,

so I have been a science teacher in Los Angeles Unified for 6 years, I'm 27. I'm just getting that itch to travel and teach and learn chinese better. I'm Chinese by the way. I have no TEFL. I want to move to china in either august or september to teach. I don't even care about making savings, i just want to teach and sightsee for like a year

I keep looking online at dave's and networkesl, I keep replying to all of the ads but I'm not getting any responses, and maybe I'm doing something wrong, I just don't know why.

1. Anyone have recommendations as to a great place to live? God, I love LA weather, and someone recommended Hainan for me, I've got a buddy trying to use his connections in Shanghai for me, but I'm kind of open. I just hate hot humid weather and mosquitoes, but i realize this may be unavoidable.

2. Where is the best place to look online for a job? Is Dave's really the best? Why aren't any of them replying?

3. This whole thing about the postings asking you to send a copy of your passport? Is that fishy, considering you have not even talked to them yet? Can I make a copy with the passport number blotted out?

4. Does it help to call the schools to inquire instead of emailing? I bought an international calling card just in case.

5. Do you guys just have any advice at all? I'm getting a little worried at the lack of help I've seen concerning teaching in China

Thanks for any help!!!

[kev7161]

I'm Chinese by the way.

That's your "problem" (not a problem for me or pretty much any other foreign teacher - - just the school's you are applying with). Most schools want a white face. It doesn't matter your mastery of English, your experience in the education field, or any degrees you carry. Obviously, if you DO have a white face and have experience and high degrees, etc., then you may land a better job than one who doesn't, but you're facing an uphill battle due to your ethnicity. It's a shame, really it is, but it's the reality.

If you want to PM me, I can give you contact information of my school where they actually DO hire those of different color and origin. However, no promises, just a contact. After that, it's up to you. I live in Suzhou, near Shanghai.

[Totemic]

Check this job ad, OP: http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/china/index.cgi?read=20157

With your science teaching experience, they'll make you an offer easily, regardless of your ethnic background.

[nateliu99]

thanks totemic for the PM, I will get in touch immediately!

kev7161, please PM me, I cannot PM anyone until I get to 25 messages or something according to the site (kinda lame), but I almost laughed at the bluntness of your message. I appreciate the truth and did not realize that my ethnicity was holding me back. I would very much like any info or contacts you can give me, PLEASE PM me!

Boy, the last 3 messages are the most help I have gotten since starting to look for jobs 2 months ago!, I really appreciate this forum

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

[Katja84]

[naturegirl321]

go to www.ibo.org and www.tes.co.uk there are jobs there for you, better paying than English teaching ones.

3. I send my passport, maybe I'm just too trusting. But basically they just want to see that you're whatever nationality that you say you are.

[alter ego]

[nateliu99]

That is really interesting advice alter ego. I am chinese american and english is my first and really only fluent language. I have an actual teaching credential. I want to travel more than teach yes, but I guess I'm just not sure about traveling for so many months without any kind of job or income. I have a lot of savings but I don't want to just blow right through them. Plus I would really like to experience the culture by living there, making friends, etc. If I was traveling the whole time, I don't think i could do that.

[alter ego]

Sounds like you're looking for a change, new adventure, etc. With your teaching credential you can go for the jobs at private bilingual and international schools, either teaching English or Science. These schools usually offer longer paid holidays when you can do a lot of traveling.

There are public school jobs in Hong Kong and Taiwan for teachers with certificates from their home countries. The salaries are higher and you'd get the longer holidays for traveling.

I think you'd be better off sticking to the bigger cities, where more jobs are available for non-white native speakers (like American-born Chinese or ABC). Others will disagree with this, saying you should stick to the smaller cities, but if you're looking to work, make a decent salary, and travel as much as possible, I'd focus my job searches in the metropolitan areas.

Having a valid teaching license should help get you past the ABC hiring hurdle, especially for jobs that require this kind of credential just to be shortlisted. Good luck!

[sahilsondhi]

I am Indian (New Zealand citizen) living in Canada and am facing some difficulty. I went to English schools all my life and recently graduated from a university here in Canada, so there have been responses- albeit it less than I would've expected.

[chon nom]

Go to Taiwan. Good climate, and public schools there only hire certed teachers. Way better money. Cleaner
By the way, my wife taught LA Unified for 12 years. My sympathy.
You can get around the White Face thingy