Job Discussion Forums

[NilsA]

I am a 41 year old guy with a degree in English literature, and I will be earning TESOL certification this winter. I expect to be entering the job market next summer or fall, and would very much like to begin my ESL career in China.

So, is China a good place to start for someone with no teaching experience? Realistically, how difficult is it likely to be for someone with my credentials (or lack thereof) to get a job teaching English in China? If I had reason to have even a modicum of confidence in my job prospects, I would begin studying Chinese now. I am a very adaptable and resourceful person, and look forward to the challenges involved. I am prepared to go after this with purpose if I can just sort out what course to plot.

Also, I have seen posts that say 2 years experience is required to get a work visa in China. Is this true? Can it be gotten around?

Any comments on my chances as a newbie for China employment, or considerations I should be aware of, would be greatly appreciated.

I wish you all the best, wherever you may be in the world.

[Non Sequitur]

Welcome to the world of ESL!
My thoughts:
1. Fall has the most public school/college/uni jobs, so that's about a year away, if I understand correctly.
2. Your TESOL course should involve some practical although probably not the big class experience you'll have in China. If you 'get' the communicative approach and Teacher Talk Time issues out of your course, than you're as prepared as you can be.
3. As others have pointed out language schools hire year round.
4. As a place to start, a uni/vocational college is hard to beat. They generally have experience of hiring/visa issues. The accom and access to on-campus cafeterias is generally a given. Teaching schedule is relaxed ie max 20 contact hours pw. Paid return airfares or substantial allowance towards.
5. Once you are settled you will pick up Saturday language school fairly readily and you can assess if you want to go down that route for your next gig.
6. Be prepared for poor or no texts, so even if you're as resourceful as you indicate, you will be a bit stretched at first. That said, once you have your own grab bag of stuff you've acquired, written, or picked up, lesson content won't be problem.

[NilsA]

[naturegirl321]

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

[Non Sequitur]

I think Nature Girl is a little pessimistic about lack of experience, but she is right about applying and seeing how it goes. There is no such thing as the perfect (truthful) CV!
I notice here in early June most of the uni job ads for Sept start have dried up. At least on the sites I monitor.
So, next year get those applications going by mid March.
Chinese won't hurt but as a former Director of Teaching Affairs I've had bad experiences of FTs who are learning Chinese using the English class time to polish up their skills not teaching the students.
See if you can get unpaid work teaching refugee/migrant groups - it will count as practice.
I'll PM you some thoughts.

[naturegirl321]

[Schnappi]

[marmot]

[nickpellatt]

Im not so sure Uni/College is the way to go for a new teacher TBH. Especially one who is investing money into training beforehand. I wont disagree that the schedules are often nice, but the teaching may not be.

Ill assume you are going to follow the recognised course route, and invest something like �1000 into a CELTA/Trinity type course. On that type of course you will learn how to teach small groups of adults, using communicative methods, often using set material, and in classes that are graded by ability.

Then a very typical Uni job will thrust you into a class of 20/30/40 or even 50 students, who are not graded by ability, without any material and often without any teaching support.

IMO, a new teacher, who is keen to learn the ropes, would be better off seeking language school/training centres jobs where you have a greater chance of working in a more structured environment, using materials, with greater support, in smaller classes grouped by ability.

Not all Uni/college jobs are as I have described....but many, many are. Not all training centres will be as described either...but many are. Its a far better place to start IMO and if you can complete a year in a half decent training centre you'll be better as a teacher for it and (if you desire) can comfortably move to another setting later.

In my limited experience, and this experience is just based on what I have done/seen...its much harder to move the other way.

[Non Sequitur]

An eloquently argued counter view

[steve b]

You will not have any problems getting a job and 2 years experience is not required. Just don't aim your sights at major cities as job spots are hotly-contested.

[lwccn]

4 year degree
2 years teaching experience
TEFL type certificate (now widely required)

All of the above are required, and without them, you will be working illegally.

[steve b]

Really? So my Z visa issued by the government following a full disclosure of the facts is suddenly illegal? Whoops, perhaps I had better stop now and flee.....

[The Great Wall of Whiner]