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HigherEdJoe
Joined: 10 Oct 2010
Posts: 16
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 Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 4:05 am Post subject: Newbie seeking advice on landing a job in China |
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Hello All,
Ive just recently graduated and would like to teach abroad in China. Ive read much of the information about teaching, but would still like to see if anyone would like to suggest a path for finding work in China given my qualifications.
Ok here's my background.
Male - 25 year old - Native English speaker - USA
Two BA's in Poli Sci and Intl Relations, MS in Higher Education Administration
At least 1-2 years of instruction experience but in other subjects (not TESOL) ie, Leadership, Transition courses at the university level.
No TESOL, CELTA or Trinity certification. But am looking at LinguaEdge and Onetesol online cert as a start.
I would like to work with older Chinese students, preferably college age given my background. But, would not mind working with high school students at the start.
I know this is pretty sparse on specifics. In any case any general advice would be helpful. I am more than happy to clarify anything just ask.  |
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 5:14 am Post subject: |
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| Do you have a Caucasian face? Do you have a pulse? If you can answer "yes" to both of these questions YOU'RE IN! Sad, but true. |
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HigherEdJoe
Joined: 10 Oct 2010
Posts: 16
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| Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 6:37 am Post subject: I'm Hispanic |
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| I'm hispanic. And without a TESOL cert can I still get a job? I plan on taking a cert course there in China. |
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 6:56 am Post subject: |
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| Yes, you can get a job without a TESOL cert. Being Hispanic MIGHT be a slight hindrance, but so long as you don't have Asian features, you can still land a position. What country is your passport? I've heard a rumor that at least one province (Henan, where I am now) will require teachers to be from an English speaking country beginning in 2011. Being non-Caucasian means you won't be an automatic shoo-in, but you can still find something. Hang in there. |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 9:13 am Post subject: Re: I'm Hispanic |
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| HigherEdJoe wrote: |
| I'm hispanic. And without a TESOL cert can I still get a job? I plan on taking a cert course there in China. |
Hold a passport from one of: USA, Canada, NZ, AUS, UK, Ireland?
You are good as gold.
A TESOL cert is just gravy on the plate (and gives you some idea when you are dropped into the classroom) - the BA gets you the visa (and the job).
. |
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Old Surrender
Joined: 01 Jun 2009
Posts: 393
Location: The World's Largest Tobacco Factory
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| Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 9:26 am Post subject: |
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I met two dudes from Mexico teaching English. If you're a hispanic from the USA, no worries, really, especially if your complexion is on the lighter side of the spectrum.
With your qualifications, don't worry about getting a job. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 10:01 am Post subject: |
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I met two dudes from Mexico teaching English.
Linguistic sidetrack: do people really still say 'dudes'? Where?
I haven't heard this in....well, a really, really long time! |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 12:45 pm Post subject: Re: I'm Hispanic |
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| HigherEdJoe wrote: |
| I'm hispanic. And without a TESOL cert can I still get a job? I plan on taking a cert course there in China. |
DO you have a Spanish last name? If you do, be prepared to be asked, "So, how did YOU learn English?" by many employers. Sigh. |
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Old Surrender
Joined: 01 Jun 2009
Posts: 393
Location: The World's Largest Tobacco Factory
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| Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 4:09 pm Post subject: |
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| spiral78 wrote: |
I met two dudes from Mexico teaching English.
Linguistic sidetrack: do people really still say 'dudes'? Where?
I haven't heard this in....well, a really, really long time! |
Midwest. |
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Old Surrender
Joined: 01 Jun 2009
Posts: 393
Location: The World's Largest Tobacco Factory
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| Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 4:19 pm Post subject: Re: I'm Hispanic |
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| naturegirl321 wrote: |
| HigherEdJoe wrote: |
| I'm hispanic. And without a TESOL cert can I still get a job? I plan on taking a cert course there in China. |
DO you have a Spanish last name? If you do, be prepared to be asked, "So, how did YOU learn English?" by many employers. Sigh. |
Perhaps in Korea where the level of employer's sophistication may be higher, however, China is still the Wild Wild West in many aspects. I don't think the McEnglish school headmaster will even ask as long as the passport says "The United States of America" on it and he isn't black, Asian, or addicted to tanning beds.
To expand upon the Mexican guys I met: both were pretty light-skinned and had virtually no accents when they spoke English. In my time here, I don't think the OP will have any problems landing a job. |
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HigherEdJoe
Joined: 10 Oct 2010
Posts: 16
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| Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 11:04 pm Post subject: Thanks |
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Thanks everyone for the replies.
I'm hoping to find something for the coming Jan/Feb/March term in china. I really wish however that there was one site that had reviews on each organization so I wouldent be completely lost as to who is reputable or not. But then again it seems that any reviews must be taken with a pinch of salt in any case.
Any suggestions on where to look for opportunities aside from DEC would be much appreciated.
Joe |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2010 3:11 am Post subject: Re: I'm Hispanic |
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| Old Surrender wrote: |
| naturegirl321 wrote: |
| HigherEdJoe wrote: |
| I'm hispanic. And without a TESOL cert can I still get a job? I plan on taking a cert course there in China. |
DO you have a Spanish last name? If you do, be prepared to be asked, "So, how did YOU learn English?" by many employers. Sigh. |
Perhaps in Korea where the level of employer's sophistication may be higher, however, China is still the Wild Wild West in many aspects. I don't think the McEnglish school headmaster will even ask as long as the passport says "The United States of America" on it and he isn't black, Asian, or addicted to tanning beds.
To expand upon the Mexican guys I met: both were pretty light-skinned and had virtually no accents when they spoke English. In my time here, I don't think the OP will have any problems landing a job. |
I just went through heaps of interviews with places in Taiwan, Korea, CHina, Oman, and the UAE. The fact that I was living in Peru and had a Spanish last name nearly almost always made the condescending quetion, "HOw did you learn English?" COme up. Some even went as far as to ask me about my parents and grandparents. 
And I always sent my passport along with my CV> Maybe next time I''ll have to send my birth cert. |
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