Job Discussion Forums

[lexicon21]

Hello everyone,

I am currently situated in the Sichuan region and expect to graduate within the year with a BA in Mandarin. I was wondering, has anyone had any luck finding a public school which is willing to sponsor a Z visa without the two years pot-grad experience?

[johntpartee]

Happens all the time. Depends on the school; if somebody in administration knows somebody......

[Non Sequitur]

Not being a 'pot grad' may work to your advantage.

[maxand]

[lexicon21]

[BlueBlood]

This is just me, and no offense meant to OP, but I don't understand these types of questions.

I've met and know FT's that don't have bachelor's degrees. They just submitted some copy of something or other and were hired.

As for "advanced degrees," who's kidding whom? While most of us on this board love China for one reason or another, the vast, massive, overwhelming majority of Westerners would never consider moving there to teach English. They can "demand" advanced degrees and ESL certifications all they want. In the end, they'll get what they get.

[Bud Powell]

[BlueBlood]

Agree on all points, Bud.

As for teaching in the US, I can definitely say it's a "feast or famine" deal.

On one extreme, I know a couple who teach at the same California public high school. Summers off. Two weeks for Christmas. Spring break for a week. Oh yeah, and they're days aren't exactly long, either. More or less 8-hr days with about a 10-minute commute. Their pay? Don't know for sure, but they're fairly senior and made over $50,000 US per annum about a decade ago. I think that says it all...

The chance either of them would consider moving to China to teach ESL even for one year only, even if their current job would be waiting for them upon their return? Significantly less than zero.

On the other end, my good friend in the Midwest. He's basically a permanent substitute teacher. Hasn't been able to secure a permanent position, despite trying for years. He's paid by the hour; no benefits. No summer work. No one calls in sick, he doesn't work and he doesn't get paid. Thank God he's able to live at his elderly mother's house. Suffice to say he'd consider moving to China to teach if I go with him.

[choudoufu]

remember that "two years experience" is merely a suggestion by SAFEA
that the provincial authorities can incorporate in their set of guidelines.

...............or not.

some provinces demand two years of TEACHING experience post
graduation.
others require two years of any WORK experience.
still others have no work experience requirement a'tall.

and don't forget.......this is china. there is a different concept of 'law'
here. laws/rules/regulations can often be waived in order to ensure a
more harmonious countryside......or if the school owner knows a guy.

and what is teaching? there's no written definition in the guidelines.
it could be classroom teaching, it could be tutoring, it could be safety
training at a construction site. jinkies, it could even be training fry
cooks at mcdonald's.

just "sex up" your resume to highlight anything you did that could be
remotely considered teaching/training/instruction (kevin bacon style).
the school will translate (and massage) your resume for submission to
the local FAB/PSB when applying for work permit and expert certificate.

your job is to apply in locations where you will meet the local
requirements. i'm thinking sichuan is sorta kinda strictish on the
two-years teaching experience requirement. i believe they also have
a five-year teaching limit which be irregularly enforced.