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offwego
Joined: 04 Jun 2014
Posts: 4
Location: United States
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 Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 12:33 am Post subject: Tips & insight? First time teaching ESL |
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Hi guys,
I've received a contract to teach English in China in August. I got into the program through my community college so it's legit. Without getting into too much detail, The apartment is paid for, and I get 4500 RMB/month on top of that. I have no previous teaching experience, been to college for a couple years without finishing a degree, and am 24 years old. Anyway, is this enough for living comfortably you think? it seems totally fine to me, but what would I know. This is just a temporary gig for 6 months.
Also, are there things I should watch out for, or certain stuff to bring? Is it worth trying to learn Mandarin if there are so many dialects? What were your first teaching jobs like here? I'll be browsing the forums a lot for other answers. Thanks for any help. |
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roadwalker
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Posts: 1750
Location: Ch
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| Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 4:21 am Post subject: Re: Tips & insight? First time teaching ESL |
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| offwego wrote: |
Hi guys,
I've received a contract to teach English in China in August. I got into the program through my community college so it's legit. Without getting into too much detail, The apartment is paid for, and I get 4500 RMB/month on top of that. I have no previous teaching experience, been to college for a couple years without finishing a degree, and am 24 years old. Anyway, is this enough for living comfortably you think? it seems totally fine to me, but what would I know. This is just a temporary gig for 6 months.
Also, are there things I should watch out for, or certain stuff to bring? Is it worth trying to learn Mandarin if there are so many dialects? What were your first teaching jobs like here? I'll be browsing the forums a lot for other answers. Thanks for any help. |
Yes, read through the China forums, on- and off-topic. Nothing in your OP that isn't covered extensively. I responded mainly to question why "it's legit." Was it a free referral? Or did your college collect a fee? What assurances did your college give you as to whether it was legit? I'd guess it's a money maker for your college, just as similar programs in Chinese universities bring in cash. Water under the bridge at this point.
4,500 RMB is usually more than enough for me to live comfortably in China, especially now that I've been here a while and settled in. I spend more when I travel in or outside off China. Shouldn't be a problem if you are careful with money and don't live extravagantly. Learn some Mandarin no matter where you will live in China. The more you learn, the less you will feel like you need a friend or student along to accomplish mundane tasks like shopping. Good luck. |
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Larry Legend
Joined: 12 May 2014
Posts: 172
Location: China
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| Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 7:05 am Post subject: |
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Not enough information to really say...Do you plan on getting another job in China after 6 months.?
Everyone is different of course, but 4500 would not be enough for me to live comfortably personally...it is doable if you stay away from bars and western food but like I said, I don't know enough about the situation to really say. |
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offwego
Joined: 04 Jun 2014
Posts: 4
Location: United States
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| Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 7:04 pm Post subject: Re: Tips & insight? First time teaching ESL |
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| roadwalker wrote: |
| offwego wrote: |
Hi guys,
I've received a contract to teach English in China in August. I got into the program through my community college so it's legit. Without getting into too much detail, The apartment is paid for, and I get 4500 RMB/month on top of that. I have no previous teaching experience, been to college for a couple years without finishing a degree, and am 24 years old. Anyway, is this enough for living comfortably you think? it seems totally fine to me, but what would I know. This is just a temporary gig for 6 months.
Also, are there things I should watch out for, or certain stuff to bring? Is it worth trying to learn Mandarin if there are so many dialects? What were your first teaching jobs like here? I'll be browsing the forums a lot for other answers. Thanks for any help. |
Yes, read through the China forums, on- and off-topic. Nothing in your OP that isn't covered extensively. I responded mainly to question why "it's legit." Was it a free referral? Or did your college collect a fee? What assurances did your college give you as to whether it was legit? I'd guess it's a money maker for your college, just as similar programs in Chinese universities bring in cash. Water under the bridge at this point.
4,500 RMB is usually more than enough for me to live comfortably in China, especially now that I've been here a while and settled in. I spend more when I travel in or outside off China. Shouldn't be a problem if you are careful with money and don't live extravagantly. Learn some Mandarin no matter where you will live in China. The more you learn, the less you will feel like you need a friend or student along to accomplish mundane tasks like shopping. Good luck. |
There was a $50 fee to apply. It's got a rep from buckland international who works in the international programs department at the school. theyve ran it for a couple years now. the college sits in the very central of seattle.
thanks, i thought it was enough, but ppl online seem to demand a shit ton of money. it makes me feel bad thinking of chinese citizens not even being able to make that much. but anyway. thanks |
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offwego
Joined: 04 Jun 2014
Posts: 4
Location: United States
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| Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 7:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Larry Legend wrote: |
Not enough information to really say...Do you plan on getting another job in China after 6 months.?
Everyone is different of course, but 4500 would not be enough for me to live comfortably personally...it is doable if you stay away from bars and western food but like I said, I don't know enough about the situation to really say. |
no i don't, but i don't know if ill enjoy it either. i'm not a drinker nor do i like mcdonalds & stuff so i guess i should be fine! i won't be placed in a major city. |
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doogsville
Joined: 17 Nov 2011
Posts: 924
Location: China
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 1:19 am Post subject: Re: Tips & insight? First time teaching ESL |
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| offwego wrote: |
thanks, i thought it was enough, but ppl online seem to demand a shit ton of money. it makes me feel bad thinking of chinese citizens not even being able to make that much. but anyway. thanks |
Some people demand a shit ton of money, as you put it, because they want to go home eventually and the exchange rate means that even if they make a lot here, it won't translate to a lot back home.
Others do it so they can try to live a little like those Chinese citizens that have vast amounts of money, by any standard, and often squander it on expensive food they don't even eat in restaurants, multiple mistresses and teaching their children to behave like scum.
I would save the whole feeling bad part until you get here and experience it for yourself. |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 4:53 am Post subject: |
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If you've signed up to Oral English classes that's the easier option.
However, prepared to be blown away by a sea (could be 50+) of faces, all expecting to be wowed.
The golden rule is 'TTT' which means Teacher Talk Time. Keep your talking to a minimum. It's the student's time not yours.
Identify a monitor for each class that speaks better English and use him/her to relay messages.
Have a high impact game like a word race to get things underway on that first day.
If you are going to be awarding grades, set up a performance grading system right at the start. Assessing oral skills is subjective and opportunities are fleeting, but you must try |
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davelister
Joined: 15 Jul 2013
Posts: 214
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 5:33 am Post subject: |
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| thanks, i thought it was enough, but ppl online seem to demand a shit ton of money. it makes me feel bad thinking of chinese citizens not even being able to make that much. but anyway. thanks |
It's socialism / communism, but not as you know it, Spock. It's socialism / communism "with Chinese characteristics", so you'll meet by far the poorest and richest people you'll ever meet in this land of extremes. Some of us need to try to earn enough to afford to support (and save for) our families in expensive (especially in terms of accomodation) tier 1 cities. Three times what you're willing to accept isn't a lot of money. The amount of money I and my workmates generate for our language school management certainly does not make me feel I'm overpaid in the slightest. If you feel bad, then you should earn more and give it away to the needy. If you're here for just a year or maybe two and you don't need to worry about saving and you're happy with the basics, then good for you.
As for teaching there's quite a nice book that may be useful for you; Learning Teaching by Jim Scrivener, that's free online somewhere.
Yes, learn at least a little Mandarin to begin with; thank you, hello, numbers ... (please is rarely used).
| Quote: |
| I got into the program through my community college so it's legit.....I have no previous teaching experience, been to college for a couple years without finishing a degree |
It doesn't sound legit to me.
Best wishes. Enjoy. |
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roadwalker
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Posts: 1750
Location: Ch
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 5:47 am Post subject: Re: Tips & insight? First time teaching ESL |
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| offwego wrote: |
| roadwalker wrote: |
| offwego wrote: |
Hi guys,
I've received a contract to teach English in China in August. I got into the program through my community college so it's legit. Without getting into too much detail, The apartment is paid for, and I get 4500 RMB/month on top of that. I have no previous teaching experience, been to college for a couple years without finishing a degree, and am 24 years old. Anyway, is this enough for living comfortably you think? it seems totally fine to me, but what would I know. This is just a temporary gig for 6 months.
Also, are there things I should watch out for, or certain stuff to bring? Is it worth trying to learn Mandarin if there are so many dialects? What were your first teaching jobs like here? I'll be browsing the forums a lot for other answers. Thanks for any help. |
Yes, read through the China forums, on- and off-topic. Nothing in your OP that isn't covered extensively. I responded mainly to question why "it's legit." Was it a free referral? Or did your college collect a fee? What assurances did your college give you as to whether it was legit? I'd guess it's a money maker for your college, just as similar programs in Chinese universities bring in cash. Water under the bridge at this point.
4,500 RMB is usually more than enough for me to live comfortably in China, especially now that I've been here a while and settled in. I spend more when I travel in or outside off China. Shouldn't be a problem if you are careful with money and don't live extravagantly. Learn some Mandarin no matter where you will live in China. The more you learn, the less you will feel like you need a friend or student along to accomplish mundane tasks like shopping. Good luck. |
There was a $50 fee to apply. It's got a rep from buckland international who works in the international programs department at the school. theyve ran it for a couple years now. the college sits in the very central of seattle.
thanks, i thought it was enough, but ppl online seem to demand a shit ton of money. it makes me feel bad thinking of chinese citizens not even being able to make that much. but anyway. thanks |
Ok, $50 is $50 too much, but not the kind of blatant ripoff that some seem to have experienced. Many threads on Buckland here, both positive and negative. Whether he's "legit" or not, he's a known quantity, at least. As for the poor Chinese, yes there are plenty, relatively speaking. There are also a growing number who will spend 4500 on a night out. You'll meet all sorts. |
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direshark
Joined: 12 Apr 2014
Posts: 90
Location: Qingdao, China
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 5:58 am Post subject: |
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| davelister wrote: |
| Quote: |
| I got into the program through my community college so it's legit.....I have no previous teaching experience, been to college for a couple years without finishing a degree |
It doesn't sound legit to me.
Best wishes. Enjoy. |
I had been looking into teaching with Buckland. Apply directly to the site and you'll have no need to put in an application fee, I think. They seem to be a legitimate business with a huge portfolio of current and former teachers who all have pretty good things to say about them (their Facebook group page is pretty active with some 500+ members). And I know they have/had some partnerships with certain stateside colleges...
That said, it was pretty well known that, for those who didn't have college degrees, they do the come-in-on-an-L-or-X-or-F-Visa deal. For students in the midst of their degrees (is OP in the midst of a degree?), I have no idea how legal or not that is. They look established enough though, having been in the game for a couple decades, so maybe they have guanxi? I dunno.
Bear in mind, however, that they are a recruiter with a selection-by-need process, which means unqualified/uncredentialed teachers are probably heading way out into the deep rural areas of China, where the vast majority of their posts are. |
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Larry Legend
Joined: 12 May 2014
Posts: 172
Location: China
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 8:35 am Post subject: |
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| offwego wrote: |
| Larry Legend wrote: |
Not enough information to really say...Do you plan on getting another job in China after 6 months.?
Everyone is different of course, but 4500 would not be enough for me to live comfortably personally...it is doable if you stay away from bars and western food but like I said, I don't know enough about the situation to really say. |
no i don't, but i don't know if ill enjoy it either. i'm not a drinker nor do i like mcdonalds & stuff so i guess i should be fine! i won't be placed in a major city. |
I live on the outskirts of Shanghai and on a normal day where I don't go to a bar/western restaurant..I'll spend less than 100 rmb a day pretty easily. |
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Bud Powell
Joined: 11 Jul 2013
Posts: 1736
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 10:21 am Post subject: |
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If you got into the program through your community college, i assume that the CC has had success in its relations with Buckland. Find out who has gone through the program and talk to them.
I know people who have good and bad things to say about Buckland.
If they try to bring you in on an F visa, don't do it. Those who had bad experiences with Buckland came in on F visas and then went through h3ll when things went south and they needed to get another job. |
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Larry Legend
Joined: 12 May 2014
Posts: 172
Location: China
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 12:23 pm Post subject: |
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When I was waiting to get paid for the first time and had no money...I managed to live off like 30 rmb a day for 2 weeks...definitely wasn't fun but it's manageable.
My first job was with DD Dragon...maybe 20 teaching hours....no office hours ..9,000 rmb salary...It was a good first job in my opinion- learn some ways to make things interesting/fun and i had no idea what I was doing so being hired to be a clown kind of masked up that fact. Had no problems with the Chinese management there. They honored everything in the contract.
As they don't require a degree or experience, I'd recommend this to you. I mean, why not double your salary if you can? |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
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| Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 2:23 am Post subject: |
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Interesting that almost all responses have focused on hours, pay and spare time activities.
There is also a professional teaching task to be done. |
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fat_chris
Joined: 10 Sep 2003
Posts: 3198
Location: Beijing
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| Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 3:41 am Post subject: |
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| Non Sequitur wrote: |
Interesting that almost all responses have focused on hours, pay and spare time activities.
There is also a professional teaching task to be done. |
This.
Warm regards,
fat_chris |
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