Job Discussion Forums

[keymistress]

Hi all,

I'm Asian and just graduated with a CELTA Pass B. Also have a fast-track honors degree (i.e. 1.5 years instead of 4) in Visual Communications Multimedia from University of Middlesex. No English teaching experience. English is my first language, Mandarin second, but I'm still considered a non-native speaker.

May I find out from those who are currently teaching in China if you've met any Singaporeans? Also, what kind of salary range should I be looking at for different provinces such as Guangzhou, Shanghai or Beijing?

I'm open to exploring different cities, rural or urban.

Thanks in advance!

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

this thread is something you might want to read:

Hard for Chinese Looking Foreigners to Find Teaching Jobs

[Sinobear]

Why don't you try working for Raffles?

[alter ego]

Sinobear, that avatar of yours has to be one of the most offensive I've ever seen on any teacher's forum. Violently hitting, striking, or punching someone or something for making what you deem as "stupid" posts on Dave's ESL Cafe? Sorry, but it's not funny. In fact it's so rude and juvenile I hope the moderators here will consider asking you to remove it.

To the OP, you can find EFL teaching work in China, and there are posts and threads that discuss your questions including the one in Cleric's reply. With your B.A. and CELTA you have the basic credentials for employment. The hurdle is your ethnicity, which essentially means you'll probably have to work harder to get the jobs that you want.

I've only worked with one Singaporean, but he was a manager, not a teacher. Salaries for full-time positions in Shenzhen, including preschools, kindergartens, languages schools, colleges, and unis probably average somewhere in the 8,000 to 15,000 rmb range without housing. Just a guesstimate based on my 2+ years here.

[alohahapa]

keymistress,


I'm an Asian-American teacher here in China for the last two years and I agree with alter ego. Yes, your ethnicity makes things a lot harder to find a job but I believe if I can so can you. Many schools and language centers also employ teachers from the Philippines.
I sent you a pm if you like to hear some of my experiences.

[keymistress]

Thanks for your replies and PMs, everyone.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

I won't lie to you; if you are looking for a job similar in pay and experience, you will face an uphill battle.

Look, schools hire visible minorities for a reason, especially whites. Some schools even say "We only hire whites from North America with TESOL" and refuse Brits with CELTA....and vice-versa.

To be a Singaporean, Asian-looking, you are certainly going to have a hard time finding plum jobs. That's not to say you can't or won't get them.

I knew a few Canadian and American Chinese and Koreans working as foreign language teachers in private schools and public schools.

Experience would help, play up experience. Perhaps a Kindergarten would be easier to break into. Some Kindies shy away from visibly-looking foreigners because sometimes they can be "scary" to the more young kids.

I do wish you luck.

[keymistress]

Hey all,
I'm in Beijing right now after spending some time chilling in Huangshan and Hangzhou. Ready to start job hunting in the big city. Will appreciate anybody with contacts and recommendations for schools here!

[sharpe88]

Try thebeijinger.com

Try EF

And from personal experience, ignore those who say it's incredibly difficult or an "uphill battle" just to find work. Sure you can't just walk into any place and get an instant job like a "foreign-looking" applicant, but there's plenty of work to go around. The better employers are less likely to discriminate and more likely to recognize your credentials anyway.

[keymistress]

Thanks, I've looked up thebeijinger and EF and it seems like many of these centres would require me to be a native English speaker or hold an Australian, American, Canadian or European passport. Tough luck, but I'll keep searching.

[alter ego]

Try Web International English.