Job Discussion Forums

[oldboy]

At the moment I'm looking through different cities to go teach in.

First of all, it may be an idea tell let me know if I could actually find a job in a place like this! But.. this is what I'm looking for:

A small perhaps farming town/city in China where I can teach that is surrounded by mainly natural beauty (as in lakes, mountains, rice fields etc) and is also more traditional (old styled buildings, less cars more bikes)

Preferably one where the dialect is a form of Mandarin as well.

I am asking this mainly because China is such a huge place and I'm sure people on here know much more than I do about it!

Thanks guys

EDIT: I was unsure if this counts as job related or not. To me it is as it depends on where I will apply for a job, but I can see how it's not directly relevant. I'll leave this up to you Mods, sorry guys!

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

[oldboy]

Thanks Cleric, Guilin looks absolutely stunning! I would love to work there

[nickpellatt]

Im in Yangshuo, near Guilin. Its very easy to live here although its a small town, due to its popularity with tourists. The natural countryside is very accessible and close by too. Lots of private language centres here and jobs are fairly easy to find, although the salaries are hardly the most generous in China.

Im enjoying it a lot though, and I reckon its a good destination for a first timer.

[andreaj]

Hey 'guys'...I too looked at Guilin and Yanshuo after reading your posts - and both look breathtakingly beautiful. I was orginally interested only in Shanghai, but have fallen in love with pics of Yanshuo.
I found postings for jobs at Oral English College in Yanshuo - just wondering if anyone knows the school and can share their impressions/experiences there. Nick, you mentioned the pay wasn't very high - as it is with this school, altho they provide free accomodation and meals during cafeteria hours. What kind of lifestyle can one have on 4000rmb? sounds too low to travel AND save? I'd like to do both if possible.
Any tips on other schools (to look into or avoid) in area would be greatly appreciated.
cheers, Andrea

[MisterButtkins]

[Renegade_o_Funk]

..

[nickpellatt]

Im not wanting to save...and in honesty, Im not that fussed about travel really. As long as I can see things of interest in my area, thats enough. As far as what kind of life can you live? Well, I eat in good restaurants every night, and I often treat my friends too. I drink whenever I want, and I probably smoke too much too. Basically...I never, ever worry about how much cash is in my pocket, becuase everything I want to do...I can. Long termers, and those with travel plans may view things differently...but I am neither of the above.

I am here a) for the teaching, and b) for a fairly stressfree life. I have both.

[SnoopBot]

Look at Guizhou province area too, cities Libo, Zhunyi, Guiyang and other areas in that province.

Some interesting position exist teaching Miao and Dong hill tribe people.

We are talking pretty remote, but beautiful and almost a rock star treatment in these small communities.

Guiyang would be the center capital.

An interesting note is the lifestyle of these places, Guiyang is the city that almost never sleeps as families walk around in the parks even at midnight.

Some of the smaller areas, you might be the only foreigner around for miles.

Very beautiful, mountain areas, some high levels of poverty and unspoiled beauty and unique culture outside the normal Han Chinese culture.

This area (if teaching poor hill tribe people) would be probably the most rewarding position you could find in China. You would be in a position that has the unique ability to make a lifetime impact upon the lives and future of your students.

However, the pay wouldn't be exactly top pay in these areas as others mentioned above.

The personal satisfaction that you made some difference in this world would last a lifetime though.

[MisterButtkins]

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

mr buttkins, next time you want to spend 300rmb on nothing, give me a call

[Von Dut]

I am teaching in a small mountain town (I say village!!) in Guizhou. Beautiful mountains, clean rivers, great people, no McDonalds, no KFC, the list goes on. I am the only foreigner here, the closest one to me is a 4 hour bus ride to Tongren (which is also nice).

I am excited about the spring to take photos of the surrounding area. There are also many places around Guizhou for amazing photo ops. Kaili is another beautiful city to live in (I've only visited), as is Guiyang, Tongren, and Zunyi. Wiki Guizhou for more places and ideas.

All in all, I vote for Guizhou!! It's a poor province but the people here more than make up for the lack of western things and ways to spend your money. But I am not in China to save money either but working in such a small place makes it kind of hard to not save any. I did manage to spend most of it traveling for the Spring Festival holiday though!! Good times...

[stillnosheep]

It seems everybody is voting for the South West.

Having lived in Guangxi and travelled Guizhou and Yunnan my instinct says either of the latter. Guizhou perhaps as the road less travelled, and without even a Yangshuo, or a Dali (or a shangri-bloody-la!), while Yunnan (for Lijiang, the Yangtze, Pearl, Mekong, Salween and Irrawaddy rivers and the border country with Burma) would run it a very close second. Both have huge and fascinating ethnic minority groupings,

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

[stillnosheep]