Job Discussion Forums

lukebrinkworth · Joined: 13 Apr 2011 Posts: 4

Hello,

I'm sure this question has been asked before, but the search option doesn't seem to be working for me.

I'm looking to head to China and my first tefl job around mid/late August, which seems to be a good time to find a university job. I've already applied to EF and a couple of other language schools. My question is, which is better in terms of sociability, a university job or language school job? As I'll be in China alone, it would be good to know that there are other tefl teachers to socialise with.

Thanks in advance.

Luke.

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

unless you start looking right now your prospects for a fall university job are going to be slim. On the other hand you'll have no problem with the other kind of school, the privately owned language school. They hire all the time.

Any school is fine for sociability. It all depends on where you end up and what kind of person YOU are.

Riviello · Joined: 12 Apr 2011 Posts: 66

I think it depends on where the university is located. If it is in or less than 30 minute taxi ride to downtown, then a university would be better, in my opinion.

Why? No nights or weekends, as well as other teachers to possibly hang out with.

Most training centers are in the city, which is good, but, you will work nights and weekends and may not have much time to enjoy yourself. Most training centers, such as Wall St., will give you just 1 weekend day off = not much time to recuperate if you are young and want to hang out in the local bars on Friday night, rest Saturday and then work Sunday morning.

On the other hand, if you are a bit older (30 - 40), you may be able to socialize with your adult students from a training center.

Basically, how old are you? If under 30, I say look for a university job in or very close to the city. Most universities are located an hour or so outside downtown though. If older, you may prefer a training center job.

Lister · Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 264

I'd say both options offer decent potential social opportunities.

A better way to approach this could be to look at the jobs that most interest you first, then when you have some options to choose from you could look at the social life variables such as location, hours,days off, co - workers etc and make your decision based on these.

It would have to be a really good social life to make up for a job you took which you're unsuited to and hate.

slareth · Joined: 29 Jun 2010 Posts: 82 Location: Shandong

[quote="DosEquisX"]

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

bradley · Joined: 28 Mar 2005 Posts: 235 Location: China

I would suggest a university if you value free time. You'll get long holidays.

Mr. Kalgukshi · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 7:27 pm Post subject:

A Korea focused posting has been deleted and another edited for the same reason. If such comments continue, this thread will not and be accompanied by sanctions.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=85563

Lobster · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 2:50 pm Post subject:

You should probably think about these two things as being quite separate. For one thing, you may find that you have little contact with the other FTs you work with. For another, they may not be people you want to socialize with, or you may realize that it's best to keep these two aspects apart.

I've always thought that good social relationships had a basis in mutual interests and compatibility. After you settle into your job, you can go and check out the bars, restaurants or coffee shops and find the ones that suit you.

Bigger cities seem to be harder to make friends in. Nanjing was a lot of fun, but man we burnt through the cash and got into trouble a lot. Now that I'm a coffee-drinking homebody, I don't think about it as much.

RED