Job Discussion Forums

offtoasia · Joined: 24 Sep 2010 Posts: 1

Hi Everyone. Where is the best place to teach so that I have plenty of time to write? Something not exceeding 25 hours a week would be best. University teaching seems the way to go, but then there can be all that prep . . .

I'm 32 male from the US, have an MFA and 5 yrs experience teaching lit, creative wri, and eng comp at the comm coll level. I'm currently working on a PhD in creative writing and mostly am in need of time and some extra--$7,000 a year--to cover my tuition and fees.

Any thoughts?

wailing_imam · Joined: 31 Mar 2006 Posts: 580 Location: Malaya

China will offer you the time. Just be careful. I have met plenty of people that come to Asia to teach, finish off a doctorate, but then they meet a woman, teaching hours get longer, commitments double...

sojourner · Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 2:35 am Post subject:

Offtoasia,

The Iman is right . China would probably be your best bet !

As a first year uni teacher here, the salary will not be too great - 5-5.5 K RMB per month, but depending on where you are, the cost of living will probably be v.low. Also, you will most likely be provided with an on-campus, rent-free, furnished flat;and, probably, free utilities. Each year you will be given 8-9 K RMB towards an airfare back to your home country (if you decide not to go home you'l l probably still get the money !).

In my current uni job , I work only 14 "teaching" hours pw (at my uni, a teaching hour is only 40 minutes !).Also, as my classes are held on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, I have a 4-day long weekend each week !

Most teaching jobs here involve Oral English. However, some of us are asked to teach other subjects,eg: Intercultural Communication, Western Culture, Business English, and Writing.In your post you mentioned that you have a background in Creative Writing.If applying for a job, here, mention that you would be willing to teach writing.(Many FTs are often reluctant to teach that subject as it involves too much of their precious time marking homework !).Also, at Chinese unis, FTs are often given a lot of freedom in how/what they teach.

Thus, because of the low cost of living, plenty of spare time and a reasonable degree of freedom in your teaching style/content, you'll think that you're on Cloud 9 !

Good luck !

Peter

1st Sgt Welsh