Job Discussion Forums

hfpardue · Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 19

Hello, I was wondering if anyone has any information about teaching Spanish in China. I am a Spanish major right now and I am trying to find out more about teaching in China after I graduate. I also wish to teach English in China, but I really want to put my spanish knowledge to good use. My long term goal is to learn Chinese fluently (writing and speaking) so that I may be able to translate some day. I realize that learning chinese will take several years, but it seems like teaching in China is one way to get myself into China, be immersed in the culture, and earn money, even it is very little money. If anyone has any comments, I would really appreciate it. Thanks so much for your attention and concern.

boxcarwilly · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 85

Sorry to tell you but the demand for Spanish is extremely limited here; and I mean everywhere in China. I have been trying to find work as a Spanish teacher in both the North and the South for a year now. I am native Spanish from South America and I have had to teach English here to earn a living. Even though I am native bilingual, my darker face and slight Spanish accent has kept me from some English jobs. If you do manage to get a Spanish teaching job here, count yourself as very lucky and one of the very few. BTW, look for something in the South of China closer to Hong Kong, the cost of living is greater but there are more opportunities for unusual skills.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Why should a Chinese employer hire a native English speaker to teach Spanish? You must be pretty good at it - or else.

IT's not entirely impossible but extremely difficult to imagine. Concentrate your search on universities or colleges in WUHAN, XI'AN, Peking, Shanghai, perhaps Guangzhou, Tianjin. I doubt Spanish can be studied anywhere else (though who knows? Maybe yes). I reckon your chances are highest in the places I mentioned; I rubbed shoulders with a Chinese Italian speaker from Xi'an (they have a relatively famous Translators' College there now called the Xi'an Fanyi College, privately-owned).

hfpardue · Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 19

Thank you, boxcarwilly and Roger. I appreciate your help. About the learning chinese part, do you all have any suggestions on how to go about learning chinese? Is teaching in China is a good way to learn the language? I know some people spend years a China and never learn much Chinese, but do you think that, if you are dedicated, you can learn the language? I realize a lot of work is involved. What do you think is the best way to learn Chinese?

Drizzt · Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 229 Location: Kyuushuu, Japan

My university (Shanghai Industry & Commerce Foreign Languages College) recently opened a Spanish department just this year, but they have yet to hire a foreign teacher.

Interestingly enough I am in your same position. My major in college was Spanish, and I tell you after almost a year without speaking almost any Spanish I can tell you your ability will diminish quite quickly (provided you are not a native speaker).

I've met a few native Spanish speakers here in Shanghai, but all of them are from Spain--I've yet to meet one Latin American Spanish speaker. I'm sure they're out there, I just don't know where.

Anyways, I agree with the other posters, unless you are in one of the bigger, more cosmopolitan cities of China, your chances of teaching/tutoring/practicing your Spanish is almost nil.

Anyways, good luck! PM me if you have any more questions.

Drizzt · Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 229 Location: Kyuushuu, Japan

My university (Shanghai Industry & Commerce Foreign Languages College) recently opened a Spanish department just this year, but they have yet to hire a foreign teacher.

Interestingly enough I am in your same position. My major in college was Spanish, and I tell you after almost a year without speaking almost any Spanish I can tell you your ability will diminish quite quickly (provided you are not a native speaker).

I've met a few native Spanish speakers here in Shanghai, but all of them are from Spain--I've yet to meet one Latin American Spanish speaker. I'm sure they're out there, I just don't know where.

Anyways, I agree with the other posters, unless you are in one of the bigger, more cosmopolitan cities of China, your chances of teaching/tutoring/practicing your Spanish is almost nil.

Anyways, good luck! PM me if you have any more questions.

boxcarwilly · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 85

I was offered a Spanish teaching job in Shanghai at the Shanghai Bangde Vocational Technical College. The offer was for 6,000 RMB but I had to pay my own tax. They wanted 26 contact hours and a 40 hour week. They provided an apartment and lunch during the week. They were unwilling to negotiate for a more realistic Shanghai salary or cover any moving expenses such as a 700 RMB air ticket to Shanghai, not 7,000 just 700. I laughed at this. I have a part time job teaching English in southern China that pays me 5,000 RMB per month for 10 contact hours a week. I would not touch Shanghai for under 10,000 a month and that was if I really liked the place and was having an exceptionally good day.