Job Discussion Forums

[coolrcdad]

I'm interested in hearing from FTs who are 50 or older, or those FTs with knowledge of this topic, about your experiences teaching and otherwise. Are you treated differently by admins, staff and students? I am 50 and I assume most FTs are younger.

[deezy]

Hiya
Well, I'm in my fifties and thoroughly enjoy teaching in China. There are quite a few of us 'wrinklies' and what I find is that I'm treated (both by Chinese management and students) with more respect, taken more seriously and the grey hairs help! Your life experiences will count for a lot, and as long as you are adaptable and flexible I don't think age holds you back.... quite the opposite. Oh... and you need to be fit, as most buildings (certainly where I am!) don't have lifts... I have to climb up 5 flights of stairs to my school.

I say go for it! Just make sure, as always, that you thoroughly investigate the school you go to!!

[Guest]

DITTO to everything Deezy had to say.

I was 56 when I arrived in China and I am 58 now. I am treated very well by my School and have been from Day 1. I now also have some very good Chinese friends - away from the School.

As I have said before on Daves, I think age can be an advantage - living in China. With age, you seem to become more tolerant of other cultures.

In Australia you are virtually on the scrap heap if you go out and try and find work - even in your 40's, let alone your 50's. Also, Chinese people seem to treat their older people with more respect - so we reap the benefit of that.

The fact that female Chinese teachers usually retire at 55 does not seem to concern them here as they have stated to me that they wish me to keep on teaching here for as long as I would like to.

[brsmith15]

I'll be 66 in June (the Age of The Beast: 666). Age is what you make it to be. You can give in to what others expect and get yourself a walker, false teeth and a hearing aid or you can try and keep a spring in your step as well as your heart.

I know my actual age; that's nothing I can hide nor lie about. What I do about it and how I feel inside are what counts. I teach a very boring subject -- accounting -- and so try to maintain a degree of humor with my undergrads. I've had over 2,500 students here in China and I don't think I've ever had a bad report: except possibly for my lousy jokes.

I exercise regularly and am within a few kg of my high school weight -- although my waist has somehow expanded. My only bow to vanity has been the coloring of my hair, but that was done on the insistence of my 38 year-old Chinese wife. "You look old!"

Forget the numbers. While the back-packers have the energy and youth, you've got the experience. If you were a student, which would you pick?

[coolrcdad]

Thanks to all.

[sojourner]

Coolrcdad,

I'm in my late 50s and in my 2nd job, here, in China. Age is no big problem in most parts of China; although, I have heard, that some of the more up-market language schools in Shanghai have a preference for young Nth Americans.

If you are looking for a job in China, it would be best to work in a university or college, rather than a language school. The salaries offered in language schools might be higher than what the tertiary sector pays, but you would probably have to work longer hours ( often with split-shifts), have less holidays, and have to deal with the principal or D.O.S. should the parents or (adult) students ever complain about your "boring" approach to teaching. Surely, at this stage in your life you don't want to put up with that sort of crap, do you ? You might also wish to consider working in state schools.

Sometimes, you'll come across an ads for teachers where the school or college in question wants a teacher "no older than 55" - don't be put off by such a stipulation; just apply, if the job appeals to you. I've come across FTs in their 60s - and, occasionally, even in their 70s ! - working in China. I am hoping to work until I'm 70. When my current contract expires in June this year, I'm hoping to land a uni job in Sth Korea. But from what I've heard, ageism is a problem in that country - and apparently, in many other potential ESL markets, too, such as the M.E./Gulf region. However, I'm hoping to get over the line due to my almost-complete MA (Applied Linguistics) degree, my other qualifications, and my work experience. If I'm not successful in getting work in other countries, I'll be content to stay on in China for an other 11, or so, years !

On the question of qualifications, do you have a degree ? Competition is becoming more intense now, especially for jobs in Shanghai and in many other large cities. Have you had any teaching experience ? If you haven't, it might be a good idea to enrol in a CELTA or Trinity TESOL cert course. Yet, people without degrees or CELTAs have been able to find work here - but having such qualifications would certainly enhance your chances of getting the job of your choice. What about your work experience ? If you have worked in business and administration, you may wish to apply for jobs involving the teaching of Business English, International Trade, etc, besides the usual Oral English. If you expect to stay in this game for a number of years, you may wish to consider upgrading your qualifications , eg to a Master's in Applied Linguistics. Apart from Oral English, Business English, etc, such a qualification could possibly even help you to get a job teaching something like E.A.P. in a good university - especially, if you also have a relevant work and academic background, eg in business administration. A degree in TESOL would be very helpful if you want to work as a D.O.S. in one of the better language schools.

In both jobs that I've had, here, in China, I've had few, if any, problems, with my age. I get on quite well with my students and my younger colleagues. Come on over - you'll like it,here !

Peter

[coolrcdad]

sojourner - thanks for the insights. I have a BA but no teaching experience save for some substitute teaching in private middle schools for two years when I was unemployed. My professional background is in journalism and PR. I don't worry about getting a job with these credentials. In fact I sent my resume to New Times in Hebei and was told they could place me when I'm ready.

[ChadinChina]

I'm only 26, but I've been in China for about a year and a half now teaching and I have had experience with teachers of all ages from a company that places teachers (new times int'l www.teachinchina.cn). My general experience is that anything beyond say mid 30's or so, you can expect a slightly higher salary, and a lot more respect. It seems that Chinese people haven't forgotten the lessons about how to respect their elders, and they most certainly know well enough to listen when they speak (My grandfolks lived next door when I was young and both of my parents worked, so I've grown up being able to listen to their good advice and have a good appreciation of it).

Coolrcdad - the best recommendation I can give you about New Times is that I've used them twice so far, and if I come back for a third time after this stint is done, I'd use 'em again. I've seen a lot of other companies and how they opperate, and if you're at all like me, then the last thing you want to be dealing with all kinds of BS and run-around games from the time you set foot off the airplane. So far that's all I've ever gotten or seen from other companies (And I know of 8 other prominent ones, but there's only one I dislike bad enough to name and that's New Century), but when you go wth Hebei New Times you get an escort to and from the airport to wherever you're going, they have free lodging while they place you, plenty of people to help out with just about anything you need, I really can't say enough good things about 'em. I'm stammering so I'll leave it at what I should have left it at earlier, I've used 'em before I'd use 'em again Feel free to contact me if you have specific questions.

[TESOLman]

I'm 64 and have taught in China since 2002. I have not encountered a problem getting a job. As far as how I have been treated by Chinese staff, The Chinese, for the most part, do not know how to interact with foreigners. They don't know whether to be in awe of us or to despise us. Each sitaution is different.

Hope this helps you.