Job Discussion Forums

[mrlg]

Hi guys,

I have a few questions some of which I'm sure already have been answered here at this forum. Nevertheless, here goes:

1. I am thinking of taking a TEFL course (online course) at http://www.teflonline.net
Are they for real or are they just out to empty my pocket?

2. I have a masters degree with a major in English and I've been teaching at a high school where I live for a couple of years now. Do I even need a TEFL?

3. I'm from a scandinavian country. I speak 100% fluent English with a very neutral accent. Most English speaking people I've met say my English is absolutely perfect.
Will it cause me problems that I'm not a NATIVE English speaker?

4. Based on my background, what can I expect to be paid over there in general?

5. Are there any good jobs teaching kids? Kids meaning kids, not wild teenagers.

6. What about giving private lessons to people? What's the best way to go if one wants to get say 5-6 students a week? How much can I charge them, generally speaking? Will I have any problems with the government/police?

7. How much will a decent life cost me? I've been numerious times to Thailand but I guess Thailand is Thailand and China is China. With a decent life I mean a decent place to stay (not a hotel but an apartment where I can actually have a private life) eat out 3-4 times a week, enjoy a few good beers, catch a movie, buy some DVD's, smokes, rent a motorbike etc. 200 $ ? 400 $? 500$ ?

8. Since the U.S dollar is dropping by the day and is considered quite a worthles currency in Europe at the moment I'm curious to know if China is like most other asian countries, that is $$$ is still considered to be almost like a god to them? If the price for whatever thing was 5$ a year ago is it 8$ now or are the prices pretty much left untouched?

9. How hard or easy is it opening up your very own bank account over there? How do most of you get paid? Cash, check, black money or directly to a bank account?

10. For me it's very easy getting a visa to China, but generally speaking is it easy to extend it?

11. What kind of documents do I need when applying for a job? Will they even bother with papers, I mean hand on heart you can buy a doctors degree in just about any city in asia for a few dollars and who the hell is gonna spend time calling your former employees? Or?
I'm asking because although I truly have a masters degree and I am working as a teacher rightn ow and have been for a couple of years all my letters of recommendation are written in my home language. It would be a pain in the ass making calls trying to get all papers translated before I come.

12. What's the people really like? All out to get my cash some say, others say they are very nice. Like the thai people or?

Thanks!

mrlg

[Roger]

At the risk of sounding "uptight" as that misanthropist put it in a PM to me recently, I am repeating here that you should get a sponsored job.
Once you have that mot questions you posed will take care of themselves.

Scandinavians don't need to be afraid of not being "native" speakers, whatever that means. Their pronunciation is widely admired.
But it is a problem with some hirers who go strictly by the book. You will still find a job if you persevere.

I don't know if you need that TEFL cert.

The U.S.$ (assuming that's the currency you were talking about) is not regarded as a "God" here. The RMB is, and the HK$ is highly appreciated, as are all major foreign currencies. Unfortunately, the RMB is pegged to the American dollar, which means you are losing out right now if you hail from a U.S.$ jurisdiction, but as a Scandinavian you don't. The euro, on the other hand, is getting more expensive bythe day - you get so many fewer every time your payday comes up.

As said in my first sentence, get a decent and regular job; if you can spare some of your time to do private lessons you will find self-paying students. Forget about renting a flat on your own - in most towns impossible, in big cities it is feasible though not always legal.
An employer will obtain your work visa. Without a work visa, youcan't get a FE certificate, and without that you cannot buy foreign currency from a CHinese bank.

[goeastyoung(ish)man!]