Job Discussion Forums

[tazzers]

Hi everyone,

I have recently finished a TESOL certificate. I want to go to China to experience my first year of teaching. I am spanish nationality but have been studying in the UK for the last 10 years. I have a degree and a PGCE. I am sure that with this I'll have no problems getting a job even if I'm not native.

Can anyone give me some links about getting a job? or someone knows about jobs in their schools? Which cities are best to go and which ones arent?

I am appling to some universities and schools through chinatefl.com but I never get an answer.

I did got an offer in shenyang with EF, but after reading some of the emails in this forum i am thinking about it twice, it seems like a lot of hours, eh? any suggestions??

Want to go asap, can anyone help?

[shenyanggerry]

I would start by putting my resume on Dave's and see what response you get. I wouldn't be too worried about EF in Shenyang. The Director of studies is an American who has lived for the last eight or ten years abroad. While I've never worked there, the comments I've heard from L1 English employees has been positive.

Generally speaking, all private employers are in it for a profit. They expect you to generate revenue for them - that's why they hire you. Expect better pay, more flexibility but often poorer working conditions than in the public sector. Why not try it for a six month contract and then decide when you have a better feel for China?

Good luck.

[tazzers]

Do you think I'll be able to cope with the winter in Shenyang? I spent one year in connecticut and i was able to take it.......I come from sunny Spain and dont wanna have freezing pain!!!

It is good to hear that, I know that EF is not bad, it just depends of the branch. All the information they have sent me is for a 12 month contract, i wish they let me take a 6 months one. I will try on that.

I really dont want to look for more jobs as it is difficult to judge about any schools here from the internet and this job is almost certain I'll get it,

do you like shenyang?

thankyou

[lagerlout2006]

Do you mean the past few days? China has been on full holiday since last Friday. Also Uni's are a month into term so most are likely not hiring. But some will. Posting your name on chinatefl should fill your e-mail with replies. (Use a spare account.)

By the way there's alist of websites top of this page. As for Shenyang do a search---some love it and some hate it. Except for the deep south it gets pretty damn cold everywhere.

[NateM]

If you had a rough time in Conneticut, I would recommend looking for somewhere further South than Shenyang. Liaoning is like the Chinese equivalent of Minnesota or North Dakota, in terms of temperature, which is considerably rougher than Conneticut. At least those were my impressions.

There are plenty of jobs available, and more will be opening up in the coming months. Don't limit yourself to EF or Shenyang unless you know that is what you want or you have a bounty on your head and need to leave the country ASAP.

[Roger]

Shenyang is in China's rustbelt. Apart from the grim winters there, I don't think you would find life there very agreeable.
The most attractive places are in the sw and the s, and some in the E; I recommend Qingdao (East), Yunnan (SW) and Hainan (tropical island) and Guangdong (S of the country).
But I would have to warn you that jobs are getting scarcer the farther south you go. In Yunnan, there is next o no vacancy for newcomers, and in Guangdong the market is showing signs of fatigue.

[Giantbudwiser]

Try SW China, the cost of living is cheap and all the schools here are in dire need of teachers.

[wowzers]

Yes, jobs are aplenty in the south (especially Guangzhou) unless of course your name is Roger.

[tinythoughts]

Hi!
Shenyang is one of the good cities up in the north. It has the japanese embassy, US embassy, Russian Embassy, and (I'm not so sure of )the embassy of South Korea. With all these offices, we can say you are not living in a city which is out of touch. Though taxi fare is 7 yuan for the first few kilometers, in Beijing it's 10, in shenyang its 12. In Jilin city it's 5 yuan. Shenyang is not too bad a city. There are many shopping places and it has walmart shopping center. They have a combination of the old and the new city. The city is cleaner than some cities in Jilin province. See it for yourself!

The cold temperature is just okay. You would survive. I am from a tropical country where we never had snow yet I survived a 37 degress celsius below zero. So don't be worried about the weather. As long as you are wearing the proper clothes....you wouldnt die of cold.

Hope it helped.

[tinythoughts]

hello...

Im sorry i didnt mean shenyang is 12...I meant shanghai's taxi fare is 12 yuan for the frist few kilometers.

thanks

[shenyanggerry]

I agree tinythoughts, Shenyang is a good city. If you're still there in February when I get back, I'll see you then. I'm coming back for the third time. Obviously, I like it!

[2 over lee]

Tiny thoughts wrote:

[deezy]

Hi
EF is a franchise, so if you go to one, it could be vastly different from another. The key is the DoS and the CM. (Director of Studies and Centre Manager). If they 'get on' and the school is run sensibly, then the hours are not bad. They just 'look' bad on paper...but a sensible DoS will not allow his/her teachers to overwork and 'burn out'. And (I am generalising here of course) a good EF DoS would 'ease' a new teacher into the job ....you wouldn't get 20 academic hours in your first week (EF's academic hours are 40 minutes...very confusing since you may work 3 academic hours but 2 'real hours'.

The DoS at Shenyang is a very good DoS. Most of the DoS's are! There is the fact that it is a profit-making business, owned by 'investors' who want to see something back quickly. However, conditions are normally excellent, teachers get probably the best accommodation you could get (and I've seen the accommodation given to teachers at other schools! - example: one room with a bathroom which floods every day). You are also covered by insurance the moment you set foot in China. You have a career path (if you want) with training and professional development.

This may sound like an advert for EF <grin> and I am sure there are better places, there always are! I have a friend right now who is working in a small city, good accommodation, good working conditions, earning 100yuan an hour for 20 hours a week, loving it. But he also spent the last year on 3500 in awful conditions learning 'the ropes' before he spent time looking and actually visiting schools.

My suggestion is.... talk to the DoS of whatever school offers you a position. Get a 'feel' for what he/she is like...ask the questions which concern you, they expect that. And don't go too far north if you don't like the cold! You might also ask the DoS how many teaching hours the other teachers are doing (how many teachers, what they are like)....even ask to see an example of the schedule.

You are right to be cautious. I spent days and days researching before I accepted my posting.

Also, keep in mind that with the EF contract there is a 3 month probation period on both sides. And you can give a month's notice throughout your contract, although you'd lose your return airfare.

EF have a policy of employing non-native speakers whose English is 'native-like', because they feel that people learning English need to experience different accents and cultures, as most of the people they will speak to will not be native speakers. We have a German teacher, her English is excellent, and she's an invaluable member of the team. I think..but I don't 'know'...that the possible reason you've not had a reply from other establishments is that they prefer native speakers, which to me is daft. Provided your English is a high standard, you will enrich any school.

Good luck!

[tinythoughts]

dear 2 over lee,
i said that to let him or her think of what to find in shenyang. surely it should not be a generalization that if you have some embassies or special offices as such...you are not too much in a very dark side of the world.

i mentioned it as well since the person inquiring is from america. it would make her feel good to know that the embassy is just a few minutes away from the workplace...

i guess sometimes, we have to talk about the good things first before we tell them the negative feedbacks. there are times that its far better when we know the positive things, it helps us not to become too prejudiced of the people and places we visit or live in.

it's just that i dont want to tell how frustrating some places could be in china. anyway if china is that HELL OF A PLACE (as others would want to describe this country)...why is it that so many western people stay more than a year.

nothing serious.....this is just a regular forum.

good day!

[Ludwig]