Job Discussion Forums

[AsiaTraveller]

[Long ai gu]

Well, you haven't found out much about China, but you sure have found out about the type of people who teach here. The question is: Were they like this before they arrived here or became this after they arrived here. Come on over my friend, you'll love to hate it here...

[babaoreiley]

That is the question. What were they like before? Maybe I'll ask that on my next asinine thread. But you got to admit, any country that can make people this agitated and nutty can't be all bad. That is, of course, if they were not like that before their China adventure.

As I should have expected, this thread has taken on the uneven quality that struck me when reading past threads on this forum. Oh well, thanks for at least responding to the original post. It is definitely a nice mix of various personalities teaching in the PRC. My guess is that while an individual teacher's experience, whether positive or negative, will vary considerably from person to person; at least, I believe most of you would say your time in the PRC hasn't been boring. Maybe that's one commonality?

[Volodiya]

Baba, did you get a little comfort out of that? I, and a few others, have been the only ones to engage you in a serious way here, with your best interests at heart. Some others, seeing your neediness, are just playing with you.

Have you come up with a single question for this forum, since you acknowledged that you understood my point about doing some research and getting more concrete?

I'm still sensing a lack of seriousness on your part. Your course will wrap up soon. Isn't it time to make some decisions about the future? What is it, really, are you just nervous about leaving home?

[peggiescott]

babaoreiley,

I've posted a couple of topics on the main page that may be helpful. Please keep in mind that they reflect my preferances and needs and may not dovetail with what you're looking for.

Again, I wish you luck with your job search.

Peggie

[babaoreiley]

I definitely appreciate the postings you have recently put up. They will be helpful in the search.

I'm not sure where you are getting this "neediness" vibe, though. The thing is that I am just starting the broad sweep of gathering information for prospective places. I have done a pretty substantial amount of preliminary research, but its definitely still in the formative stages. Like I said before, this was a way to pick-up some general themes or hints. I was not fishing for specifics. I figured that I would give more pointed questions later. It was just a tactic in the ongoing process, not an end-all, be-all maneuver.

To be perfectly honest with you, I have pretty much been preparing myself for this forthcoming situation for at least half of my life. Maybe this is not the way it has always been envisioned, but I am very pleased it has come about this way. Am I a little nervous? Yea, but I think that is perfectly natural. Am I getting cold feet? Absolutely not. Do I need any of you to reassure me? No, I've been sure about this for years. Would it be nice to pluck some of your personal insights and experiences from "on the ground?" Yea, it would be pretty cool to gain some perspective from your experiences.

Look, I won't be ready to depart until at least late August or early September. Until then, I have some ESL work lined up to keep me sharp. I would like to have at least some idea of where I am going in the next few months. I'll tell you what; I am still at the stage where my questions will obviously be far too general for your tastes, so I won't ask them at this time. When I have something more focused to ask in the future, I would like to be able to approach this forum w/o any repercussions from this obvious total failure of a thread. If you would be open, I would be appreciative.

But please, in the future, the belittling commentary could definitely be checked. Do not assume that you know me or my psychology from a series of posts. And about the "seriousness-factor," I am serious about becoming a really effective EFL teacher and I am serious about finding the right situation for myself.

One more thing, was it just not obvious that this was something created as a potentially fun way to pull out some general info? I thought it was pretty clear. Wasn't expecting the negative waves, that's for sure!

[Volodiya]

Thanks for the informative post, Baba. Sounds good to me! Go for it.

[peggiescott]

babaoreiley,

Late August or early September should be a great time to arrive in China as that's when the new school year will begin. But if you've been following some of the posts here you will have noticed that now is when many of the positions are filled for the fall. Please don't wait too long to start sending out your resume.

Peggie

[gregoryfromcali]

Baba,

It seems that you want it all.

Which is understandable because it sounds you want to move to one country, set up and stay there for the long haul.

Again I would recommend coming to Europe. Over here you'll get a lot of holidays off and be able to hop on a train or plane to another country and go away for a few days then come back and teach.

Your qualifications are also very high therefore you shouldn't have any problems finding work at a school with high standards.

I have taught in China and it is interesting.

I think in the end if you want adventure and something that is completely different then go to China. If you simply want to go someplace that is slightly different but at the same time familiar then go to Europe.

As someone who has taugth in both I can definately say that you'll love Europe. It may sound strange but in Europe you'll get to see where "our culture" grew from.

Again I only say this because it sounds like you have cold feet and I think if you're unsure about China then you probably shoudln't go because once you're there you'll find a lot to complain about.

I like China because I am fascinated with everything about it. I do Chinese martial arts, have Chinese blood, study Taoism and Chinese history. But even I would rather go to Taiwan. Simply because I can't stand the censorship in the mainland.

[Mugato]

it's nice to check in at dave's every couple of months and see the same old losers write the same old drivel here.

will check back in late summer. i have a life to live. and it's not in Hong Kong-imagine that

[Volodiya]

Mugato, thanks for paying us a visit, and adding your drivel. Come again, when you have time. We've always got room for one more loser, here.

[andrew_gz]

"Mugato, thanks for paying us a visit, and adding your drivel. Come again, when you have time. We've always got room for one more loser, here."

us?
speak for yourself!