Job Discussion Forums

[timothypfox]

Hello!
I'm looking into the possibility of moving from Japan to China to teach English. I see there are numerous jobs, and I was wondering if anyone had some tips (given my experience and credentials) as to what I'd be best qualified to do. I am ideally looking for a place that would be one airplane flight back to New York City where I can see my family, but I would consider something 30-40 minutes outside of a major city center. Likely this would put me in or near Shanghai or Beijing.

Am I better off at a conversation school, public school, or a university? I'd personally like to steer clear of private international schools as they tend to have a demonic work load and high pressure on the teachers.

Here are my credentials:
BA Dance
BA Anthropology
MA International Relations
MS Teaching English as a Second Language (K-12)
New York State Public School License - ESL (K-12)

Here is my experience:
- worked in ESL conversation schools 1997-2006 - this work included 2 years in Kyoto and Osaka, a year in Montreal, and the 5 or 6 years of the same work in New York City
- 5 years of teaching ESL at a high school
- 3 years of teaching ESL at a private junior and senior high school in Japan

Financial needs:
- send back $300 US a month to cover student loans
- 1 trip back to the states ideally every year - but I could live with once every 2 years
- be able to save some money every month

Thanks in advance! I look forward to any advice or suggestions!

[johntpartee]

For a first timer in China (regardless of experience), a government university is probably the way to go. They usually provide housing, they walk you through all the paperwork, there will usually be someone assigned to show you the area, etc. With the right contract, you can probably swing your monetary needs (might be a little tight for the vacation to NYC, but if you're a non-partier.........).

[Non Sequitur]

If your NY licence is current you are looking at international schools.
Us FT hacks will just sit back and drool.
I know of one in Guangzhou that has a lot of US staff.
PM and I'll give you the details.
A friend worked there and she only left when she turned 70 as there was no way she could get a new residence permit.

[WLamar]

Teaching license?

"Four university degrees" ?

Only $300 a month in student loans?

Why not use that teaching license back home? New York has gotta be filled with non-English speaking students needing ESL instruction.

[timothypfox]

WLamar wrote,

[mw182006]

^ Thanks for the insight about teaching in NY, I enjoy reading perspectives from certified teachers and will have to check out the NA forum. You should have the pick of the litter when it comes to job openings, so you really just have to narrow down locations in terms of acceptable pollution, climate, etc. Ability to save depends on where you are but also how much entertainment you need. This is my first full month and I'm on track to spend only about 20% of my salary, and that includes eating out 2-3 times a day as well as enjoying adult beverages. But I'm a good 20-30 minutes from a major city. Good luck and beware of the troll(s).

[jimpellow]

First, I understand your concern about travel time. I am from upstate New York originally and it can be a long voyage back and forth. Having said that, I don't think you should limit yourself to just the Beijing and Shanghai areas. For a once a year voyage, the extra time demands from most places in Eastern China to a major airport are not too bad by either bus or high speed train. Hence a provence like Jiangsu becomes available to you to explore opportunities.

If you want to stay out of the true international private schools like Maple Leaf, then I think a position teaching English/IELTS to rich spoiled high school students (most of whom who will flunk out or be expelled once overseas) in one of the quasi international prep programs is the best way to go. Lots of time off like the universities but pay is much better. Usually at least some token Western management to ensure a modicum of quality control and sanity. The pay is particularly good if you can teach subjects like the sciences and economics.

Not saying they are perfect. China is a teeth grinder all around. But you have the credentials to get in with one of the better ones.

[Bud Powell]

With your background, you'll make a LOT more money if you sign up for Teach for America. This is a government program that relocates teachers to where they are needed most, and they are paid well-above LOCAL starting teachers' salary. You'll have to take the state praxis (unless your NY praxis is transferable-- they're not all transferable. Yours should be).

My cousin's girl graduated with a BA in economics in the spring, and now, she's teaching 7th grade English and Literature in New Orleans for $41,000 per year. She had to make a 2-year commitment. I think that the program even pays off your college loan.

If you can pull up stakes in order to work elsewhere to pay off loans, you'll be better off with Teach for America. It's a No-Brainer.

[jimpellow]

I always enjoy Bud's level headed and insightful advice. I guess here though one would have to ask the poster to weigh in on paying off his student loans more rapidly versus experiencing life overseas. He does state that living in an Asian country is important to him.

I guess another option for the poster, if he indeed sees paying off his loans as a priority, would be to take a position as I outlined above or perhaps even a position in a university (though caution urged as there are some mighty bad ones). Something where he had a lot of spare time. The thinking being if he were to choose one of the Eastern cities with large Korean and Japanese expat communities then he could make a good penny by tutoring them and their kids. I am sure the Japanese would really be enamored with him considering his background.

Cities like Qingdao, Weihai, Lianyungang and Dalian are rife with Asian expat tutoring opportunities for those with a little drive. My friends who worked there said in short time they had more work than they could possible handle.

Plus they are not too terribly far from major airports as the poster desired.

[Non Sequitur]

[tangal]

[Non Sequitur]

To the OP, based on the credentials and experience you've supplied here you could pretty much write your own ticket in China, but the question of why your promising teaching career hasn't been working for you back home is a valid point, because there are pros and cons of every job and situation and many of us common hacks would jump at the chance to have your education and licenses to pursue teaching ESL back home.

This is pretty much what I said.
I also offered OP a real school contact plus a former teacher to vouch for the 'on-the-ground' reality.
If that is useless information from a self appointed 'uberposter' then so be it.

[revilo]

If I might add: you have a great resume and experience to get hired at a good job overseas. Why not stay overseas? Default on your student loan. Move all your bank accounts to overseas banks. Tell Uncle Sam to naff off.

The U.S. is gonna go bankrupt sooner or later. They will make a grab for your $$. Why not move all your $$ out of Uncle Sam's reach?

[tangal]

[Didah]

Greetings,

In my opinion, as a licensed teacher, you may want to try at an international school that has a lot of expat students such as the Shanghai American School. There are also a number of schools for Chinese students that teach a U.S. curriculum often offering the IB program. A number of these schools have sprouted up and teach many subjects in English or are preparing students for English medium instruction. I went to three international school job fairs last year and many of the schools represented were from China. I went through the International Schools Service www.iss.ed Even if you don't go to their job fairs, you have access to the database of international schools and can contact them directly. They act also act like an hr/vetting service for these schools by verifying your credentials. There is also a site called The Online Educator that lists jobs for licensed teachers with many jobs in China.
Good Luck