Job Discussion Forums

interpreter · Joined: 01 Jun 2009 Posts: 16

Hi, everyone
I am considering going to China in June in order to do a TESOL four week classroom based certificate program in Beijing. The International TEFL Corporation runs the certificate program and awards you a certificate upon finishing the classes. http://www.teflcorp.com/tefl-beijing-china.htm

My plan is to go to Beijing and to do this program for four weeks. After that I would like to find a job teaching English somewhere in China.

Although I have experience formally teaching English and Spanish, I feel the certificate might help me find a job.

What do you think? Is it wise to go to China on a one-way ticket without having a job already lined up?

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

Lots of discussion on here about that. It is very easy to find a job. It might be a stinker, though. Best NOT to show up without an escape plan. Meaning money.

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

interpreter · Joined: 01 Jun 2009 Posts: 16

Thanks, johntpartee and Zero. I guess I plan to go with a Turist Visa (L Visa). I would like to do the certification program for four weeks and then I want to begin my job search. I don't have a lot of money, but I do plan to support myself for a month while I am taking training classes.

Do employers not like to talk to future teachers who are in China with Turist Visas? Is it not possible for them to help me obtain a Z Visa? I read the discussion on teaching illegally on a Turist Visa, and I'm not trying to do that. I'm just wondering if it's best to look for a job once I'm in China or if I should try to find one online while I'm in the US.

Thanks so much for your input. I really appreciate it.

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

I think you mean "tourist" visa.

Don't come here with your head in the clouds. You will definitely need money in your pocket for everyday expenses and you'll want a wad in your bank account to be able to return home if things don't work out.

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

Seems like a plan to me, as long as the money holds out.

interpreter · Joined: 01 Jun 2009 Posts: 16

Thanks a lot, kev7161 and Zero. I'll try to save up as much money as I can before I go to China. I appreciate your taking the time to help me.

seamallowance · Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 1:21 am Post subject:

I am brand-spanking new in China. Since it was clear that, no matter what school I chose, I was (in effect) buying a pig in a poke, I chose to buy a round-trip air ticket. If the naysayers prove correct, then I can bail.

But not before I eat my fill of pork dumplings!

choudoufu · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 3325 Location: Mao-berry, PRC

still seem to be plenty of jobs available, and many don't require
a certificate. why not come over on a work visa, and schedule
your cert program during the 6-week spring break?

another option is choosing one of the certification+employment
programs, where the training organization will place you in a
school upon completion of the course.

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

Delltron · Joined: 03 Sep 2010 Posts: 54

I had a friend who did something similar in Korea and Japan.

His venture in South Korea was successful: he bought a ticket, without a job before hand, and had a job within two weeks. Of course, his full-time job while he was there was finding a job, not going to school. And as I recall he did not know much of the language, which must have made it more difficult.

He is now in Japan, and I'm not sure if he was successful there. But he did the same thing, bought a ticket and went there without a job. From what I understand this was a rather audacious move since Japan tends to be a much more competitive market than that of China and Korea. China is one of the easier places to find a job, if that helps reassure you. You should find it quite easy, especially with that certificate. Even if you started responding to some job posts on ESLcafe and started coordinating times to start, I think you could aggrandize prospects before you fly.

I'd cast a wide net: don't limit your search to China unless you have a special reason for wanting to teach there, such as wanting to learn Mandarin.

If you lack access to a reliable phone in China, make sure you secure access to Skype, a webcam, and a microphone so that you can more easily conduct interviews while you are there. This is much cheaper than using a phone overseas, and any basic laptop these days should have that.

Teatime of Soul · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 905

Do let us know how it all turns out.

Miles Smiles · Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 1294 Location: Heebee Jeebee

Go for it. Don't let anyone talk you out of it.

seamallowance · Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 7:53 pm Post subject:

That's right.

Don't let all the misanthropes on this site paint your picture.

Paint your own damn picture, and use brighter colors!

Miles Smiles · Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 1294 Location: Heebee Jeebee