Job Discussion Forums

[sainthood]

Ditto TheRock and Bradley.

The last teacher to come here arrived mid- to late- October... The one before that was sometime latish September (maybe early Oct).

If it does go all bad, just have some spare cash for a hotel and travel (train or plane), then look on the boards. You'll get one easily!

Of course, getting a good one is a different matter :p

[bradley]

Just do your research. And choose a geographic location. I would look at the end of May/early June. That is when most schools ask if their current teachers will stay or in January (before the Chinese New Year)

[nickpellatt]

I can understand your fears. All the bad news you read on forums can make you nervous!

I secured and agreed my last position in April 2009, and started in DECEMBER 2009! 8 months in advance, and to be honest, I shared the same fears you have! 8 months was a long time for my employer to find someone else, change his mind, even lose his business!

Increasing my nervousness was a change of FAO shortly before I was due out there, but everything worked out fine in the end. I made sure I kept in touch with my employer on a frequent basis through email, and I shared photos from a few significant occasions etc whilst keeping in touch.

When I arrived I had created a reputation for myself as being extremely keen to work for, and be supportive of, my employer. Every employer in China has had their fare share of wasters, complainers and incompetents, I think my boss was really pleased to have someone like me. I was perceived as being very very keen, keen to be in China, keen to be in that location, keen to be with that employer, which perhaps showed a commitment that isnt seen with someone who turns up scouting for work just because a) they are in the area and b) they havent got any other work.

Ultimately, it always takes a leap of faith tho!

[Rooster_2006]

[louis.p]

＠ Rooster_2006:

I recommend finding a list of universities and just send them emails with a cover letter in the body and a CV and photo attached. I would do this around June. I did just this June 2008 (after working at the Buxiban I mentioned). I was all set to move and then the the following happened:

[Rooster_2006]

[The Edge]

Yeah, it's a bit like those No Smoking areas that seemed to have all but vanished overnight now the recent World Expo has ended.

[nickpellatt]

Now you're qualified I would think your application would be more attractive, but in honesty, I wouldnt focus on Universities. Chinese University experience is often worth ZERO when it comes to applying to jobs elsewhere, especially in Europe etc, although I dont know about other Asian countries. To be honest, I believe Chinese Uni experience is actually worth less than zero and detracts from a CV in some situations.

At the end of the day, you have invested time and money in a qualification, wouldnt it be better to put it to use and at least attempt finding a good language school where you can put your skills to good use? GOOD training centres do exist, and some offer classes with adult students only. I can understand you wanting to avoid kids again, so choose your employers wisely.

Not much point in investing in a CELTA and taking it to a typical Uni setting IMO, pretty much for the reasons pointed out in this thread, and many others, about typical Uni teaching.

Of course, there are good Uni programs where you may be preparing students for overseas study and IELTS exams, but most Uni jobs arent like this. 40 students in a class you see once a week, mixed abilities, no material or teaching plans and zero support and guidance isnt the way to go, and if it is, then the CELTA/BA and certainly an MA would be wasted IMO

[Rooster_2006]

[nickpellatt]

I dont know about Japan, but I do know that the better places in the EU are less than impressed. You can read why just by looking in-between the lines of this, and many other threads about Uni work. Its common for people to say they are left to their own devices, no one interferes (or monitors), and they can teach what they want, often to large classes of mixed ability students. It doesnt take a genius to realise that environment isnt likely to be conducive to quality teaching practice, and it isnt likely to equip a teacher with the skill set to step into a classroom at a respected EU University to teach ESP or get small groups of adult students (paying high fees) to pass Cambridge CAE exams. Its not going to help a teacher who takes a job with the British Council in UAE to teach any aspect of present perfect using adverbial markers either. And most places outside of Asia are looking for ESL instructors who can do that kind of thing. I honestly dont know about Japan though, perhaps things are the same over there?

You can just read countless posts on here that refer to Uni work, and that paints a fair picture IMO. CELTA courses dont teach you the whole skill set of course, but they let you look into the door of what an ESL classroom should be like. The glimpse a CELTA gives you is very different to the glimpse of Uni teaching in China that you glean from these forums. China experience is often classed as zero experience in the eyes of many employers. Employers in Japan may, or may not hold the same view...I really dont know what its like there.

Of course, there are good Uni programs, and good people teaching at Uni jobs throughout China, but I would suggest this is perhaps not the norm. The same also probably rings true at language schools, some good, some bad. I would definitely suggest that someone who appears keen to continue and succeed in EFL (and taking a CELTA and considering an MA suggests you are serious about it) would not be best served by working in an environment that offers little support, no curriculum, no teaching material, no observations, and little in the way of pressure .... all things that are often regarded as the advantage of working in the Uni system for many people.

[Rooster_2006]

[nickpellatt]

Like I said, I really dont know a thing about Japan, and if you want to go there, and stay there, the checking the Japan forum would be your best bet. In your initial post in this thread, you said you didnt really mind what Chinese Uni you went too, and that you werent picky. I reckon you need to be, because I dont think Uni work in China is the Holy Grail of ESL/EFL, far from it. I expect to read a few posts disagreeing with me when the forum is busy (weekends are always quiet), but Ill stand by my comments 100%. Like I say, reading between the lines from people who post about Uni work doesnt always paint a pretty, professional picture.

[Trifaro]

"...I'd spend several years wondering what it would have been like...."

Pretty Good.

Good Luck.

[Hadit]

Have you taught at a Chinese Uni before Nick?

Personally, I think China Uni work would look as good as other beginner type work on a CV, but may agree about career development. It also may be a low stress environment to complete an online Masters. I was considering taking a job to fulfill the three years experience entry jobs in Oman and Saudi Arabia require. It seems as good as Korea or Taiwan work.

[nickpellatt]