| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
mdovell
Joined: 02 Nov 2009
Posts: 131
|
 Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 2:19 am Post subject: Some questions on working in China |
 |
|
I just finished my undergrad degree and I'm going into graduate school. They give about six years to finish but I think I'll finish mine in 2 to 2 1/2. I was thinking of maybe going to asia to teach English. I took Mandarin 101 so Pinyin isn't that bad although I'll admit the characters get a bit to get used to. It has put some things more in perspective (whole word vs phonetic for starters) I'm not looking to make any sort of large deal of money but I'd like to get an experience. I have a number of questions (my apologies if somehow these are in a FAQ)
I spent three weeks last summer in china. A few days in Beijing, a few in shanghai, the bulk of it in Wuyishan (two weeks) with a day in Hong kong (it was going to be longer but the oil prices spiked around this time)
In terms of the ease of working is China (mainland) easier to find work than say south korea?
My primary language is English. I have a few years of high school French and recently that year of a intro to Mandarin. Would something like a Oxford Seminar help me? I know obviously having the undergrad is the established floor but is there anything else that would help me stand out from other applicants?
I know a few that have taught English overseas mostly in Asia. From one one recommends is that a school would have housing. I take it that in hong kong this wouldn't be the case. Am I correct?
Beijing I thought was nice it was flat and dry. Shanghai the humidity was up there but there was quite a bit to see. Hong Kong I was really impressed with but I've heard the costs can be high.
How are things in terms of medical care in china? I know the mainland is different than HK.
I ask this because I did get conjunctivitis (pink eye) while in china. I had a Professor help translate to the doctor at the dispensary. I was in and out in five minutes. Two medications (3 yuan I think) and it worked great. But I'm not sure if it's going to be the same for anything else that might come up.
I wear contact lenses and under some US policies I can only buy a half year supply at a time. Has anyone ever imported medical materials to China? It would be odd to fly back just to pick up contact lenses.
I am thinking maybe next year or the year after to go. Are most assignments one year or are there half year ones as well? I know shanghai will be a bit crazy with the worlds fair and supposedly they are aiming to get the winter olympics at Harbin coming up.
Thanks for your help |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
The Ever-changing Cleric
Joined: 19 Feb 2009
Posts: 1523
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:30 am Post subject: Re: Some questions on working in China |
|
|
| mdovell wrote: |
I am thinking maybe next year or the year after to go. Are most assignments one year or are there half year ones as well? I know shanghai will be a bit crazy with the worlds fair and supposedly they are aiming to get the winter olympics at Harbin coming up.
Thanks for your help |
a lot of questions. you'll find the answer to many of them by looking thru the archives of this forum, but others will probably come on here and tell you what you need to know.
as for the olympics in harbin, the 2010 games open in vancouver in about 7 weeks, the 2014 games are in sochi and as for harbin, well i doubt it. china just had the olympics last year, so maybe harbin will get them in 2032 or so  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
cardboardbird
Joined: 15 Nov 2007
Posts: 30
Location: On the road
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:04 am Post subject: |
|
|
Agreed, it would be worth your time to dig through the archives. Your questions are not uncommon.
Regarding contact lenses. Is wearing glasses out of the questions. China can be a dusty place at the best of times so I would imagine contacts would be more trouble than they are worth. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
norwalkesl
Joined: 22 Oct 2009
Posts: 366
Location: Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-China
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:46 am Post subject: Re: Some questions on working in China |
|
|
| mdovell wrote: |
| In terms of the ease of working is China (mainland) easier to find work than say south korea? |
Yes. China does not absolutely require a degree to get a visa to get into the country to work. Although the best jobs are to be had with a degree. China is also a much larger market. It does not pay as well as Korea, however.
| Quote: |
| My primary language is English. I have a few years of high school French and recently that year of a intro to Mandarin. Would something like a Oxford Seminar help me? I know obviously having the undergrad is the established floor but is there anything else that would help me stand out from other applicants? |
The school expects that you do NOT speak Mandarin. It helps with buying goods and socialising but the school prefers that you NOT know it.
| Quote: |
| I know a few that have taught English overseas mostly in Asia. From one one recommends is that a school would have housing. I take it that in hong kong this wouldn't be the case. Am I correct? |
International Schools in HK will provide housing, but those jobs require experience and certification in your home country. They are just like teaching in a high school in the states, with the same benefits.
| Quote: |
| How are things in terms of medical care in china? I know the mainland is different than HK. |
Overwhelmed, cash only. If you cannot pay in advance or do not have insurance they will send you home. In major cities the care is as good as anywhere. Outside the major urban areas you will be far from care. Have a stroke or heart attack and you will simply die if you are in the outskirts.
| Quote: |
I wear contact lenses and under some US policies I can only buy a half year supply at a time. Has anyone ever imported medical materials to China? It would be odd to fly back just to pick up contact lenses.
|
YOu could have a friend or relative back home send you goods in a box via USPS. Those packages often get through unopened.
| Quote: |
| I am thinking maybe next year or the year after to go. Are most assignments one year or are there half year ones as well? I know shanghai will be a bit crazy with the worlds fair and supposedly they are aiming to get the winter olympics at Harbin coming up. |
Some contracts are 3 months, some 6 months some 12 months. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Laurence
Joined: 26 Apr 2005
Posts: 401
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:17 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| Would something like a Oxford Seminar help me? I know obviously having the undergrad is the established floor but is there anything else that would help me stand out from other applicants? |
Yes, TEFL certification is a good idea. Cambridge CELTA and Trinity TESOL are the two trump cards, but lots of employers don't know the difference between legitimate and illigitimate TEFL courses. Don't worry about standing out from other applicants, just keep fishing around and you'll find something (just don't set your standards too high - without qualifications or experience you're looking at entry level positions at less than 10 000 yuan per month).
| Quote: |
I know a few that have taught English overseas mostly in Asia. From one one recommends is that a school would have housing. I take it that in hong kong this wouldn't be the case. Am I correct? |
There's a separate forum for teaching in HK - it's that different from being on the mainland.
If you want to develop your teaching skills, I would recommend you work at a language school - you will work a lot and have to develop teaching strategies quickly and you will pick up a lot from your colleagues.
If you just want to come and have a working holiday, try to find a university contract with less that 16 hours a week. your classes will be huge and probably uninterested and you will get little professional guidance, mediocre working conditions and get paid less than a thousand US dollars per month. However, you will get vacations and you won't have to work evenings and weekend for the most part.
| Quote: |
My primary language is English |
Is it your first language? Or just the one that you use most frequently? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
zootown
Joined: 27 Nov 2009
Posts: 310
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:24 am Post subject: Re: Some questions on working in China |
|
|
| mdovell wrote: |
I am thinking maybe next year or the year after to go. Are most assignments one year or are there half year ones as well? I know shanghai will be a bit crazy with the worlds fair and supposedly they are aiming to get the winter olympics at Harbin coming up.
Thanks for your help |
I can not see Harbin ever getting the winter Olympics.
The mountains there just don't have the elevation to hold the premier event the alpine down hill.
Most of the Chinese winter Olympians do train near Harbin however.
Xinjiang has the potential to hold the winter Olympics (big mountains) but they are a long way off even realizing they have the potential to hold such an event.
That and the trouble they are having there. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mdovell
Joined: 02 Nov 2009
Posts: 131
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 4:19 am Post subject: |
|
|
"The school expects that you do NOT speak Mandarin. It helps with buying goods and socialising but the school prefers that you NOT know it."
Just out of curiosity why would they prefer you don't? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
thefuzz
Joined: 10 Aug 2009
Posts: 271
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 5:38 am Post subject: |
|
|
| mdovell wrote: |
"The school expects that you do NOT speak Mandarin. It helps with buying goods and socialising but the school prefers that you NOT know it."
Just out of curiosity why would they prefer you don't? |
Why do you think?
Because when students know that you speak Mandarin they will speak in Mandarin to you...and not in English (you are paid to speak to them in your native language and not practice your Chinese skills). Simple. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mdovell
Joined: 02 Nov 2009
Posts: 131
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 3:54 am Post subject: |
|
|
| I guess I can understand that to a certain degree. I'm just used to more of the western approach to a language. For example in taking French the teacher technically knew French and English so we would go over things and be asked to put things in French or translate etc. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
norwalkesl
Joined: 22 Oct 2009
Posts: 366
Location: Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-China
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 4:03 am Post subject: |
|
|
| mdovell wrote: |
| I guess I can understand that to a certain degree. I'm just used to more of the western approach to a language. For example in taking French the teacher technically knew French and English so we would go over things and be asked to put things in French or translate etc. |
Definitely different in China. You will be eliciting from students constantly and it is an hourly challenge to get them to talk. L2 compounded with cultural issues. Having a translating assistant helps but the admin wants as little Chinese translation as possible. If the assistant is doing all the talking then why are you there, hmmm? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
CNCwt
Joined: 23 Dec 2009
Posts: 1
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 1:03 am Post subject: |
|
|
norwalkesl wrote:
| Quote: |
| Definitely different in China. You will be eliciting from students constantly and it is an hourly challenge to get them to talk. L2 compounded with cultural issues. Having a translating assistant helps but the admin wants as little Chinese translation as possible. If the assistant is doing all the talking then why are you there, hmmm? |
Exactly the point. The above statement sort of contradicts itself. Also, it is a know fact that schools there encourage you to learn Chinese by offering free lessons.
In other words, I do not think knowing Chinese will be a disadvantage in applying for an English teaching job. What they do mostly want is a Western white face if possible.
Personally, I believe an English teacher with a "good" command of Chinese will be a great teacher there in China as he/she will help accelerate the students' English learning experience. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
