Job Discussion Forums

[AsiaTraveller]

Funny that the OP has never returned to this thread.

She says on another thread (early October) that she's in Xinjiang. Teaching? How are things turning out for her?

Manasketa???

[Manasketa]

hi everybody, i'm sorry i haven't been come back here for a while, but i've been busy.

To AT and SNS: yeah i'm teaching in Xinjiang now, and its pretty sweet stuff so far. I've gotten my dose of shitty chinese administration and homesickness, but all in all, I'm real happy I came. Not making much money, but that wasn't the point anyway.

I'm teaching at a primary school (i'm not sure "teaching" is the right term for these kids though, more like babysitting...), and also doing english and french classes in a middle school, close to my apartment. The kids are loads of fun even if loud, but the funny thing is that my older students (some are older than I am) seem more comfortable with me since they found out I was 17, and not 25. The first few weeks I was plagued with the apparently common chinese mass silent treatment, but now things are much better, because I'm almost considered a peer. Almost.

Oh yeah, I actually AM teaching them -the older students, I mean- and I think they are actually learning (especially the french classes), so that relieves me a bit with regards to the performing bear-business. The only time I really feel the burn of being entertainment is when the school reps take me to dinner to show me off to their buddies, and then again I'm usually pacified with lamb... Being meat-deprived helps alleviate the burden of pride.

As for travelling, I haven't seen very much yet, but I have been to Shuixigou, Tianchi and to Turpan, which I enjoyed a great deal, and I'm planning on seeing Kashgar, Hotian and Almaty (if possible) during Spring Festival.

A great big Thank You for the encouragement, to those who kindly gave it, and also thanks to everyone else for the extremely varied but thoughtful opinions, I might have read them a little late, but nevertheless I take them all into serious consideration. It's very true that my actions today may -no, lets not dodge- [i]will[/i] limit what I do in the future, but I'm willing to climb a few (or many) extra slopes to get where I want to be later. But at the moment I very strongly feel that one can have too little education -or too much. I like to learn by my own schedule, and, for now at least, to he,ll with the diploma I'll never get for my troubles. Being meat-deprived aleviates the burden of pride. (Or is it the other way around?)


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Oh yes, to answer a few questions before I trot off... To Lagerlout2006: I chose China because I can work here legally. I've considered both Taiwan and Korea, both of which I've received offers (though not very good ones), but I want to keep as clean as possible to start off on the right foot. I already had enough going against me, so start off with China, then I'll see when I get a feel for the job and all its implications. (By the by, I may very well pm your collegue one of these days, I'd like to teach in Europe some day, I wonder how he did it?).

Take care, thanks again!

[Sinobear]

Manasketa: Good for you! (I'm being genuine here). It's the maturity of the teacher, coupled with the passion for teaching that's important - not the piece of paper or how many grey hairs you have. A 17 year-old English teacher is a 17 year-old English teacher. I don't think I need to write the converse - although it would involve less typing.
Just like drinking adult beverages though, know when to say when.


Good luck!

[stillnosheep]

Game and First Set to enthusiasm and maturity over age and cynicism.

New balls anyone?

[dudesky]

i was just reading the chain responses on this site in reference to the age barrier. i am very surprised that you are legally allowed to work in china because when i was applying it said you need to be of 20 years of age and an undergraduate degree. i have an associates degree in paralegal studies and a certificate in international languages and ive been told that itll be impossible to gain legal addmition because of my lack of education and my age (21). could you please give me some tips as to over come these obsticles? thanx so much

jeremy
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