Job Discussion Forums

[travelgirlut]

I and my husband are interested in teaching in China and we would be bringing our 5 and 3 year olds with us. Since China is such a large place, we don't even know where to start in pinning down where to look for jobs. Ideally we would both be able to teach on opposite schedules so someone was always home with the kids. Also, my husband only has an associate's degree, but he would have a TESOL certificate. I have a BA and would also have a TESOL certificate. The biggest factor for us is we would need a shorter contract, 6-8 months, rather than the full 12. We may end up being able to stay longer than that, but won't know until the time comes.

As far as what we would look for in a place to live, we would obviously want it to be kid friendly (parks, etc.), and my husband would want nearby access to outdoors activities (running, hiking, etc.). I just want modern amenities nearby (access to food, books, movies, etc.) So all these together may be impossible in any one place, but I thought I would get our ideal out there.

So my question is do any of you know of an area or specifically a school that is family friendly and would allow us to work opposite schedules with a short contract? Thank you all in advance for your help!

Amanda

[tommchone]

Your ideal is easy: Beijing. Cost of living is much higher than in other parts of China, but so are wages (usually).
My contract will expire in January; it was a one year contract, but the renewal option is for six months or a year (that was my request, I'm still deciding), so at least the shorter contracts are possible.

[Chris_Crossley]

My immediate family will be joined by a fourth member very soon, thus completing the quartet.

I have been in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, for roughly eight years now and it is a typical Chinese city stuck in the middle of the country (by which I mean nation, not countryside) with extremely hot summers of up to 40 degrees Celsius but mild winters with the occasional cold snap (we have just had one with temperatures "plunging" to minus 3).

As for natural beauty, the East Lake (really a collection of lakes) is basically like a national park and it is where the locals like to go and relax in pleasant weather. For the more adventurous, there are mountains within about an hour's drive of the centre of Hankou, the northwestern district of the city.

Alongside the Yangtze River (known as the Changjiang by Chinese), there is a Riverside Park, which opened just last year, and many people congregate here daily for things like walking, dancing to traditional music (very slowly!), etc, etc.

It is not a particularly well-known city and most expats here are French-speaking university students, but one can get used to life here, as I have managed to do. Indeed, I will probably be remaining here in Wuhan for at least six more years until such a time as my daughter is old enough to start attending secondary/high school.

We will decide then whether to up sticks and return to the UK or whether we will send her to boarding school, allowing us to remain here with our full-time jobs.