Job Discussion Forums

[tomrs]

I posted this in the newbie forum but someone said I might have better luck here

Backstory: I will be graduating from college here in the United States in May and I am seriously moving to China to teach English. I can't speak a word of Chinese. My degree is in Economics and the only EFL experience I have came a summer ago when I worked at a student center for international students. I didn't teach any classes, just helped students with their homework.

I guess I don't know where to begin. I have gathered a few things through browsing these forums, but I still feel sort of clueless. Most people on this forum speak ill of recruiters, so what is the preferred route to landing a job in China? What type of salary should I expect? (I know it varies) What about housing? Pretty much any other information that would help a newb would be appreciated.

Also, as far as location, I have no real preference beyond a city that does not completely freeze over in the winter. I'm aware that in many cities central heating is not common, so I guess I'm looking for a city in a slightly warmer locale.

[7969]

as far as location, have a look in guangdong, fujian, and guangxi. winters are short (6 weeks or so max) and temps go down to the single digits but with a couple of space heaters in your flat you'll be fine.

for a first timer try to find a job in a university. they will provide a salary, an apartment, and reimbursement of airfare along with a light workload of about 14-16 hours per week. that will help ease you into the chinese ESL lifestyle without too much stress. after a bit of time in country you'll begin to find ways to improve your situation.

[kev7161]

When I first came to China I too had no background with ESL, EFL, TESOL, etc. However, I DID have an education degree (with experience) under my belt and I think that got me through the first couple of years as being only an EFL "spoken English" teacher. Now I am in a situation where I use my experience and it's a much better situation. But I do think that my classroom experience in general helped me with those more challenging first years. Just some food for thought.

[RBJfaraway]

I'm a noober myself, I haven't gone yet. However, I've been researching, saving, and just getting ready for the better part of a year now.

My advice to you is to get a TEFL, in-class not online. Some will disagree, saying its a waste of money (I dropped over a grand on my course). Especially so for a Uni job, in which you aren't provided with much in the way of curriculum from what I've heard. However, having taken a course and logged some observed practice teaching hours, I feel much more confident about being a rookie teacher in front of a class.

The best jobs in China have tons of would be teachers contacting them directly. Also the best jobs in China tend to get snatched up by people who are in China. Recruiters, therefore, tend to peddle crappy jobs. Hence, most people say pick a place, pick some schools, contact them directly.

When considering a job from a recruiter -and there's no reason not to talk with recruiters and have them offer jobs to you imo- try to find out why nobody else wants that job. Either it's a bad private school franchise, or the town sucks, it's always something. If something seems to good to be true, it is. BUT, if you can identify the crappy thing about the job and you're okay with that, consider taking it.

[BrightonChris]

[RBJfaraway]

[nickpellatt]

I think Guanxi was mentioned a few posts above me .... I was there last winter and I can tell you winter is a lot longer than stated. It was bitterly cold from December until into March, and felt a hell of a lot colder than winter in the UK does!

Ths is based on experience in Guanxi last winter, 2009-2010.

I will also disagree on the advice on working in a University. I would suggest this should be the last place you should consider working considering your experience and qualifications. Yes, the work load may be nice and light, but class sizes may be large, student abilities may be mixed, support is likely to be non-existent, and materials and help are unlikely to be offered.

Are you ready to walk into a class of 45 students whose abilities range from Beginner to Upper Intermediate, with no material, no support and after asking what to do, someone says, 'Just speak English to them'. A lot of Uni work is to be avoided IMO.

My advice would be to get some decent training in terms of a proper in-class certificate program. Try and find a decent training centre that will offer some sort of support, development, materials and teaching program. They do exist, and they dont all ask you to work long hours, evenings and weekends.

[7969]

[MisterButtkins]

If you are applying for jobs over here while still in college you may have some trouble applying for jobs, as a lot of schools and recruiters will want to see a diploma and won't consider you if you don't send them a scan. I was in the same situation applying my last semester of college and a lot of places wouldn't consider me, although I still found a few that did and managed to land a very easy Uni job. But unlike in the US, where you can send in your transcript to a job and they will give you the benefit of the doubt that you will graduate, in China many places want to see your diploma, so be aware of that.

[nickpellatt]

[ForeignTrainer]

The last few winters in Guangxi have been anything but mild. December can be quite nice (I've had Christmas dinner outdoors) but Jan to March can be bone-chillingly numbing and very, very damp. Add to this, that many places have inadequate or zero heating. The average temperatures quoted are just that: averages.
Nick is quite right.

[7969]

yes average temps are only average. the MEDIAN temp in a place like Nanning is about 17C, which of course means half the days are above that and half the days below. nick, if you question the veracity of the numbers I posted above then do some research on your own just to confirm them.

in the end how cold or how warm a winter in south china is really depends on where you come from as a reference point. i visited Beijing one November weekend and found the weather to be pleasant enough for a jaunt out to the Great Wall for a day (about 5-8C). but on the other hand I met a woman from the UK in the hotel who had just arrived from Thailand who didn't want to go outside at all because she didn't have a parka, gloves and hat with her.

Winter in south China is easy to deal with if you employ the following common sense ideas:

1. wear thin layers of clothing that you can either add to or subtract from; and

2. buy one or two space heaters for your apartment that you keep running in various rooms, or if you have only one, then move it from room to room. One good heater will cost you RMB150.

Anyone who can't deal with the "cold" in south China in winter hasn't tried to deal with the problem and maybe you're in the wrong country.

[ForeignTrainer]

Actual temperatures Guilin Jan 2009:

http://www.tutiempo.net/en/Climate/Guilin/01-2009/579570.htm

Actual temperatures Guilin Jan 2008:

http://www.tutiempo.net/en/Climate/Guilin/01-2008/579570.htm


Not mild.

And carrying those space heaters to school every day gets a little tedious

[kev7161]

I think this thread has gone way off-topic . . . and I'm happy to continue doing so!

The problem isn't really temperatures through most of China, rather it's the building construction. Most if not all buildings are not insulated. Many homes (and many hotels) don't have carpeting on the floors. Central heating? What's that? Thermostats to regulate the heat throughout the day and night are almost non-existent (turning heaters on and off as you come into or leave a room seems a bit absurd. Saves energy? I don't know if I would agree with that. A low-set thermostat seems the way to go, but I'm no expert.). Also, in my school, teachers just LOVE to fling open the windows in the middle of the coldest days to "air the room out" while the students huddle with their seven layers of clothes. While we can't do anything about the weather and the coldness, it seems there are ways to combat it - - ways that seemingly haven't been discovered as of yet in this "developing" country.

[nickpellatt]

7969 - I think temperatures only tell part of the story. Ditto with warmer weather, the temperature may look great, but the humidity can make the weather unbearable. My opinion is based on being there during the last winter, working in a school, sleeping in a typical teachers apartment etc. As I mentioned, I was wearing many layers, and the gear I wear is oudoor/hiking gear that I have used in places normally recognised as being extreme in climate.

I didnt arrive in China from a hot place like Thailand either. I arrived on Dec 20th direct from the UK. Typical UK temperatures for December are possibly lower than those in Yangshuo, but China feels a lot colder. I am only guessing, but I think the high levels of humidity add a damp feeling to the air that makes it feel colder than it is.

As Kev says ... the buildings make a big difference. Buildings in Yangshuo (and perhaps the rest of Guanxi) are designed with the summer in mind. Probably also designed with a budget in mind to be fair! They work great in the summer, because entering my apartment and school then was bliss, the temperature was much cooler inside that out. Unfortunately, during the winter, they seem to have the same effect...they are at least as cold as outside is.

As far as this meaning I was in the wrong country? I dont know, I did have a contract to work in Poland this year (which I declined late in the day but thats another story) and I was talking to some Polish friends I have in the UK. Naturally, I was worried about the weather. They did say that yes, its bloody cold outside, but you wrap up to get to your destination, and then enter warm buildings, warm classrooms, and it feels nice and cosy. This is the key difference I think. During my first few weeks I struggled a lot as I spent most of my day away from my apartment, watching classes, teaching classes, discovering the town, eating out etc. Some day I would leave my apartment at 8am, and not return until 8pm. That would be a 12 hour period in which I would be bitterly cold.

I dont think we have gone miles off topic. If the OP is still here, or anyone else is thinking of a destination, this stuff is useful to know. I looked at the temp charts before going there, and thought the winter would be fine, and summer (average temp 28c according to Chinatravelguide) would be great. Fact is 28c in southern China is not like 28c in the UK, ditto with winter and low temperatures.