Job Discussion Forums

[Roger]

Answering poof's question (for a change...):

There are a number of self-employed taichiquan and Chinese boxing masters in Yangshuo; one of them published a book on martial arts (got a copy here). I would say it's becoming a lucrative business line; not sure whether it's worth investing in it, but you can't lose much money. SHAOLI, however, has run its course, or so it would appear. It's too touristy and too pricey - hence you can forget about ethics when you enrol for a course there.

Our university offers Mandarin courses for foreigners; by accident I learnt that they have an option of taking a kungfu lesson once a week. The tuition fees (for Mandarin) are pretty competitive. Could FTs take part? It's a little tough getting your Mandarin & kungfu lessons around your own classroom activites with your own students though some of us managed to attend every single Mandarin lesson over the past semester. .

[vikdk]

jammish - culture isn't merely a tangible entity, such as bricks and mortar, than can be torn down, pulverrised or burnt, No it's something, far more elusive, but ever present, found in ever nook and crany of that we call society. But that don't mean it can't be changed, attacked, eroded and bullied - so it's moulded into something a lot greyer and blander than the old version.
But if you get out of those aweful Chinese cities - colourful culture still exists here - just getting to it can be the problem

[Gorm]

Gorm is going because he is fascinated by the exotic and gets bored staying in one place for more than a few years. This trait he inherited from his Viking ancestors in Jutland.

[vikdk]

ohh so you're going raping and pillaging
Jylland er alt for kaederlig!!!!!!!

[Gorm]

[vikdk]

Jeg nedstammer fra svend twinskaeg - actually I'm English - but I lived a long time in Jutland. Which makes me want to point out, that the cultural differences between social control zone Denmark to society in free-fall China - well mere words just can't do it justice
But plenty of scope for rape and pillage here for the right type of viking

[Shan-Shan]

A little support for the idea of why many employers see us as happy travel seekers, and not language teachers. The following is from a Q and A found on a recruiter's website (china-tesol)

5. 应该支付多少薪资给教师？

欧美国家物价高，因此教师到中国教授英语通常为了体验不同的生活，但是我们建议过低的薪资很难聘请到教师。

The implication being we're only here because the world contains but two cultures to be experienced: the Chinese and the Other. However, offering too low a salary could prove problematic. The drawing power of China has yet to reach the point where foreigners will welcome the idea of indentured slavery to experience Chinese civilization.

[TEAM_PAPUA]

[Ger]

As many of the posts attest, at this time of year (the time that teachers should be receiving their bonuses, flight reimbursements or flight tickets, and travel allowences), CHINESE CULTURE partially involves getting cheated out of what you are owed and having the contract broken by the school leaders.

So not only does CHINESE CULTURE mean that you get a low salary, it also means that the low salary (and extras) can and sometimes are withheld and go into the pockets of the Chinese (probably those who defined the meaning of Chinese Culture)!!!

CHINESE CULTURE is great if you are Chinese!

[Mr D Improbably]