Job Discussion Forums

[hewachter]

Hi there. I've been researching this forum in detail for the past few weeks and have learned a good bit. Thanks to all who contribute--it is appreciated.

I'm mid-thirties, white, American male with an on-campus MA-ESL completed in December in the States, BA in International Studies. I have about 5 years of ESL experience, including Korean hagwons, adults in Palestine, and a year at the English Language Institute at the University of Texas. My girlfriend (31, white, American) has similar quals/experience, same MA, plus has a Bachelor's in ESL and a teaching cert. We're both hardworking teachers, professional, nice folks.

We're interested in uni jobs in China for our crucial first post-MA positions. We need to find jobs that will add to our CVs internationally, essentially schools that are known entities in China and further afield in the ESL world. With that said, we're not limiting our search to only the very top tier uni jobs (like Nottingham Ningbo, for example). We are both excited to learn about China, study the language, etc, so are a bit hesitant to pursue those high top tier jobs this first year, as they seem to have very demanding schedules (though they pay great). My girlfriend could do international schools, but she's more interested in a uni career.

Hefty student loans, so we're looking for positions that pay more than the average Chinese uni oral conversation gig, and/or plenty of moonlighting. So, perhaps a happy medium for this first year or two.

We prefer hot weather over cold and really, really want to avoid the more heavily polluted cities. We don't need to be in the most happening nightlife region, but do like to have beers on the weekends and a foreigner based social life. Not looking to be out in the sticks, nor downtown Beijing, basically.

We are ready to come as soon as May (though we understand that uni jobs tend to start in August). We'd like to piggyback a summer/summer camp posting into an August uni start if anyone has thoughts on that.

So, that's us, that's our deal. Can anyone recomend schools, cities, regions that sound like a good fit for the factors listed above?

We'd love to hear some actual uni names/recomendations if anyone could be so kind. A general sense of our options, given our quals, etc, would also certainly be very welcome.

Please feel free to PM me if you prefer. Any help is much appreciated, thanks in advance!

[roadwalker]

I don't think a Chinese university gig in general will add value to your CV. An international program with Nottingham for example would definitely look better. Perhaps Hong Kong? (I don't know about their ESL programs, but their unis are more esteemed.) On the other hand, one or two years probably wouldn't be too negative.

Depending on the size of your loans, you should be able to save and wire home enough to keep current. Of course that will be money you might want to spend on traveling or buying western comfort food or going out on the town, etc. In most areas you should have no problem finding side work at language mills or with private students. Your university may have strict rules forbidding it, or they may find you work (and get a cut of the action).

Climate wise, you are probably looking at the Shanghai-Jiangsu-Zhejiang, the Xiamen, or the Pearl River Delta (Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Zhuhai area) regions. All will be hot in the spring to at least early autumn. The Shanghai area will be a bit cold in the winter and many places won't be heated. Snow is possible. The other areas mentioned won't often go below 10C /50F in the winter.

Coming over in the spring or summer is probably a problem. The university will expect you to arrive in late August but if they arrange a working visa invitation for you, they are responsible for you and don't want you to arrive too early. Once you arrive on a z-visa, they have 30 days to get you a Residence Permit and that takes some running around. They want the summer off too! Most of the campus will be a ghost town in summer.

Summer camps do hire and it is possible that you could get a working visa to do a summer camp (another poster on another thread had heard of it happening) and then transfer the all-important Residence Permit to the new school without leaving the mainland after that job is completed. I would think most short term camp work will ask you to arrive on a tourist visa or business visa though.

It is still possible in some areas, apparently, for you to exit the mainland to Hong Kong or Korea and to apply for the z-visa (working) but the general rule is apply from your home country. That is a question to ask prospective employers.

Alternatively, you could spend the spring and summer studying Chinese in the States while working your day job. If you want a foreigner based social life it will take a lot of discipline to learn Chinese while teaching English. If you get a jump on it from home, it might be easier and less daunting when you arrive.

[hewachter]

Thanks roadwalker! That was helpful.