Job Discussion Forums

Captain Planet · Joined: 12 Jun 2013 Posts: 11

I recently graduated with a degree in Elementary Education, and am interested in Xinjiang.

I was wondering if anyone has taught there, or has any advice on how to get a job out there. (I have looked on this site and others for jobs, and the advertisements have been hard to come by). What advice would you give to someone interested about teaching in Xinjiang?

I appreciate your help.

Shroob · Joined: 02 Aug 2010 Posts: 1339

Captain Planet · Joined: 12 Jun 2013 Posts: 11

I think that Urumqi would be a good place for me to start. Since it is a relatively large city, it should be easier to find jobs in right?

I think that I would prefer to teach at an international school, but I will not be too picky. I also was not sure where I would be qualified to teach, since I have no real job experience. I do have about to years worth of part time and teaching internships though.

I will try emailing some universities and see what happens. Thanks for the idea!

Fanyi · Joined: 01 Nov 2011 Posts: 47

Have written about this elsewhere, but very quickly: Xinjiang's countryside is absolutely beautiful (although Urumqi has usually seemed rather polluted when I've been there-though a Chinese friend argues otherwise). Taught 3 hours away from Urumqi 3 years ago. Really cool mix of cultures. There have been political problems there, and 3 years ago we were without internet (all of Xinjiang) for 10 months due to one incident, though the odds of this happening again are small. All in all, if I could go back to Xinjiang (can't because of relationship) to work, I would in a heartbeat (though because of pollution, I'd try for Yili,not Urumqi).

SeldomSeen · Joined: 07 Feb 2013 Posts: 40

I did a year teaching at a language mill in Urumqi. It's OK. Several language mills there to employ you if you want that and they aren't bad to work for (PM me if you want more details). There's a big and growing demand for teaching kids.

The pollution is a lot less than a few years ago and I didn't find it a problem in winter.

The city itself is fairly unattractive like many Chinese cities but if you make the effort to get out of it it is worth the effort. Get a mountain bike and there are some good trails in the hills and some good walks too a short (ish) bus ride away. In winter you can go skiing for the day and it's very cheap. With a week off and if you're prepared for long bus rides you can see some fabulous places.

The food is great and the locals are kind. I never got stared at for being foreign and it's easy enough to make friends with some locals who want to practice their English.

Captain Planet · Joined: 12 Jun 2013 Posts: 11

Thank you for all your help! I would definitely PM you for the details, but as I have done more research into this, I have discovered that I will not be eligible for a work visa as I am only 22.

I still appreciate your help, and I am sorry that I will not be able to use it right away. Going to China is still in my long term plans, but for now it is looking more like Taiwan (That way I can get a legal teaching job). Thanks again.

Fanyi · Joined: 01 Nov 2011 Posts: 47

Maybe/maybe not on the legal visa comment. I was 22 going on 23 when I signed to work in a city three hours from Urumqi in 2009, with 6 months of work experience (and that work experience was not conducted on a work visa), but was still able to get a legal working visa. I later worked for a recruitment agency in Beijing, and some teachers as young as 22 are able to get legal working visas, it really depends on the city/province and location and prestige of the school (I seem to remember Urumqi being more strict about this, but am not entirely sure) So it might be possible, the main thing is you'd have to be careful and be sure that whatever school you're talking to could really get you the visa.

Dedicated · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 972 Location: UK

You should be aware of tensions between Han Chinese and Muslim Uighurs as riots broke out yesterday in Lukqun, about 120 miles from Urumqi, and 27 people are reported killed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-23050288

Captain Planet · Joined: 12 Jun 2013 Posts: 11

Thank you for all of your help! I am aware that there are a lot of tensions between the Uighur and Han people groups, but thank you for your concern.

Also, it appears that I will no longer be going to China to teach. I got a fairly out of the blue job offer from Vietnam, and it is pretty enticing.

kungfuman · Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 7:51 am Post subject: