Job Discussion Forums

[vikdk]

with what's going on in the ashes (a brit -aussie thing) - I also think this is wonderful thread. Please feel free to bash the aussies

[Cathy OB]

Sorry, I really should have been specific from the start.
I have a degree, have worked professionally for quite a few years, am 48, have a TESOL certificate, and have taught in Japan and Taiwan.

I agree that teachers work for low pay and bad conditions, the only remedy I can see is don't take the jobs, ie industrial action.

I personally would advise new grads not to work O/S on a gap year or for travel or whatever. I've rarely met any that are happy in these circumstances. Listen to your Aunty Cathy - get a real job, and travel on your vacation - you'll have a much better time and probably be better off financially.

Anyway, that's what I think. Go Warnie! Goodonya Gillie! You could get sunburn on the roof of your mouth watching the sixes he hits off Monty. (OK, cool down, I rarely watch the cricket, but who can resist dangling a line when the fish are biting?)

But seriously, my main concern is finding a good job.

Out for a duck!
Bless you possums
I hope Santa brings you something nice.

[No Moss]

[vikdk]

[prof]

One of the best posts I've read in a long time.

[Plan B]

[No Moss]

Oh, jeez, it was that Prof thing, wasn't it. Sorry about that. Kneejerk reaction and all that.

Never mind him. If there's a goat to be gotten, prof'll get it.

[adamsmith]

aah, thank you No Moss, I always wondered what he was a Prof of. It must be greek mythology - he is good at geting goats and tells a great story.

[eslstudies]

[cj750]

[No Moss]

[supervisor133]

As a teacher of university entrance here in Australia I can understand what Prof is saying regarding how the Chinese see Australian university degrees. However I think he's failed to look at the reality of the situation. The number of Chinese coming to Australia to study at university over the past 5 years has increased steadily, perhaps dropping a little somewhat over the past year . Many, if not most, of those students tend to stay in Australia after this because of permanent residency status - often they are pressured into this by their families when in fact they would be happy enough to remain in China.

Those that do go back, especially in the last two years have found themselves in a situation where a foreign degree (not just Australian) is not as valuable as it may have seemed in the late 90's due to the number of students that complete university in foreign countries and then do indeed go back to China. They are often going back without any significant work experience and competing for jobs with students that were educated locally but able to gain work experience. This tends to count against them.

In this sense, the degree itself is devalued. I don't see that it being a degree from an Australian university has much to do with it. More that it is becoming more common for people in China to have been tertiary educated in other countries and thus it's no longer a guarantee for getting a job once they return home.

As for the other ridiculous statements about the ability of Aussies to get the well-paid jobs in China... well, that just reflects an innate bias rather than any kind of reality, as many Aussies tend to do well in China - especially those with appropriate qualifications.

[djny10003]

[eslstudies]

Of course, the theory that students take on teachers' accents is nonsense. A few passable CCTV newsreaders aside, I never heard a Chinese speak with anything other than a Chinese accent or, what they imagined to be, a N.American one. To me it was excruciating, sounding like they'd been brought up on a diet of Maxwell Smart/Inspector Gadget.

[Bayden]

Two Chinese girls I know.
One the girlfriend of an Australian, has developed an Australian accent, and the other, the wife of a NZer has developed a noticeable kiwi accent.