Job Discussion Forums

level · Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 34

Before I ask questions I�ll give you a little background:

I�m a white, female, English, 26 years old.

Education:
A levels (I think they're like US High School) all at grade A, including English Language
BA Hons degree in Philosophy
Post Graduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice Course
I intend to do an intensive TEFL (Cambridge) course this Summer, finishing very late in August.

Work Experience:
3 years IT consultancy. Part of my job included training client staff in new technologies. This included seminars and some one to one teaching.

Other:
I spent a year travelling India and South East Asia. I know new countries takes a while to get used to but I'm expecting not to have any/many problems with the culture shock.
I need to be back in the UK by September 2006 to start work at a law firm.
I would prefer to work for only 6 months as I want to travel North West China/ Kyrgyzstan/ Kazakhstan before I have to go back to the UK.
I love big cities and would prefer to work in Shanghai.

Questions:
What are the chances I could get a job teaching English at an IT company? Does anyone know of any I could try?

Is it going to be a problem finding work for only 6 months. Will this affect my salary/chances of getting airfare paid?

There seem to be so many resources on the internet. Where is the best place to start? (apart from this place!)

I won�t have my TEFL certificate until the end of August. Will it be possible to get a job based on the fact that I will have the certificate when I start?

I would prefer to teach English to adults. Are most jobs at schools/universities? What is the competition like for private institutions and what are my chances of getting a job?

When does the Chinese school year end? If I want to work in a school/university have I left it too late to apply for this academic year.

Given my lack of relevant teaching experience is it going to be difficult to fulfil the above?!

On a different topic, and I really don�t expect anyone to know the answer:
My partner works in IT. He is highly experienced and an expert in his field (XML). Does anyone know if there is much short term contract work in Shanghai (as opposed to fixed term permanent jobs). Will it matter that he is half Chinese by blood (not by nationality), as I noticed that in teaching there seems to be a fair degree of racism against non-whites.

Sorry this is such a long post� I just wanted to give you all enough information to make a judgment.

Thank you so much in advance.

level · Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 34

In the 2 days since I decided to apply all the places have filled up on my local CELTA course. Crying or Very sad

I'm on the reserve list but am not holding out much hope. I'm a bit worried that this will severely affect my chances of finding work. If I do an online course will this be accepted? Which is the most respected online course I can do?

Zero Hero · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 944

Personally, I would not bother with online TEFL courses. The reason for this is simply that countries that require you to have a TEFL certificate do not accept online variants, and, obviously, you don't require a TEFL certificate for countries that don't demand one.

Unless you are to be teaching online I do not see how an online certificate could ever help.

Whereabouts on the reserve list are you? I ask as when I did my CELTA a few dropped out at the interview stage and a few more dropped out (indeed, ran away at full speed) after a few input sessions when they suddenly realised that teaching meant standing up in front of people.

Don't be too surprised if you get a call saying you can begin the course. Don't count on this happening, but don't be too overly surprised if it does happen.

level · Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 34

But if I can't get on to the intensive course and I don't do an online course then I have no teaching certificate at all. Surely I can't get a job without some form of certificate? Also I wouldn't really want to work without some training.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

For IT jobs you should look at ugly, boring Shenzhen (with the redeming advantage of its proximity to Hong Kong). Not sure whether you will find a job just for such a short time frame, but it's worth a try... I wouldn't care too much about your qualifications since teaching adults isn't a particularly intellectually stimulating challenge.

danielb · Joined: 08 Aug 2003 Posts: 490

OP, is it normal to have a Postgrad Diploma in Legal Practice without a degree in law? I'm no veteran or expert here (in China) but you might like to try language schools that offer Business English or even Legal English courses.

level · Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 34

Yes, you do it if you want to get into law but your first degree is not law.

Do you know of anywhere that offers legal English classes?

gulam2 · Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 137

Which countries don't accept online TEFL courses?

level · Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 34

sorry to bump this!

any hardened veterans got any tips?

cheers

frigginhippie · Joined: 13 Mar 2004 Posts: 188 Location: over here

Hi Level,

I wouldn't call myself a 'hardened veteran', but I can tell you that you will have no trouble finding a job. You might have difficulty in being OVER-qualified. Your multiple and advanced degrees demand higher pay (along with more respect) in this field. Whatever you are offered, the employer knows you are worth more, and you should ask for. Teaching experience is not required, but helpful. TEFL/CETLA certificates serve to comfort the employer. If you can find an IT company in need of an English teacher, your current CV should get you the job. Some police universities might have legal English. Six month contracts are common and should not be a problem.

So my recommendations: if you don't have a job, GET IT NOW. If you want university, the Fall semester begins end of August/beginning of September. Don't bother with the CETLA, it's not worth the money. If you've learned teaching methods from observing your good professors, you'll do fine (teaching adults).

Good luck and let us know how things go.

-fh

frigginhippie · Joined: 13 Mar 2004 Posts: 188 Location: over here

one more thing

www.thatsbj.com

go to employment-> jobs available-> IT

level · Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 34

How much money do you think I should be asking for?
Many thanks

level · Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 34

I forgot to say... I spent 3 weeks teaching English to Tibetan refugees in Dharamasala, India. I'm assuming that I shouldn't put this on my CV even though it is relevant experience?

frigginhippie · Joined: 13 Mar 2004 Posts: 188 Location: over here

Haha, yeah, you might want to leave out the "tibetan refugee" term. You can just say ESL in India.
Your pay depends on location, hours, and a dozen other things. Try a search for "salary". You can easily pull 200 with your qualifications in Beijing. Never accept less than 100RMB/hr. It hurts us all.