Job Discussion Forums

[Aussiegirl]

Hi Everyone

This is my first post, though I've been reading the forums for months. Firstly, I'd like to say how fantastic many of you are in your excellent feedback to newbies. I have approached a couple of you by PMP with great results and also directly to a couple of people given to me as contacts. I have been gobsmacked by the fast, generous feedback and responses I have received from China foreign teachers.

Now I have an observation and a question. I plan to come to China for one semester in February, a forty something, married with grown up children, by myself - with, I might add, the full support and blessing of hubby and family. (God, how lucky am I?)These past months I have ridden the excitement/terror China rollercoaster many times in arriving at a final decision, but am still determined to come and experience what you are all enjoying, hating and experiencing for myself.

I have made a couple of enquiries at universities and one education group and received very fast feedback requesting passport, diploma, TESOL certificate etc - all way earlier than I expected. I won't complete my TESOL training until end November. I now think I should hold off on any more shows of interest until I receive my passport at least. I am very interested in one uni in particular, in Fuzhou, Jiangxi province. I'd love to hear any info on the area. Also, if for any reason this doesn't work out, is it too late to start applying in early December or should I continue to make enquiries before I receive my TESOL certificate? I don't want to tick schools off by being premature without the docs they need, but don't want to miss out by leaving applying until the academic year is nearly finished either. (I do also hold a Dip of Arts which I can send first.)

So what do you think? Wait or go for it?
Jiangxi yeah or nay?

With many thanks
Aussiegirl

[tw]

[Aussiegirl]

Thanks tw
I will make sure I let employers know I'm due to finish my TESOL next month. Feb is the only time I can come so if the best jobs have gone to those able to start September so be it. I'm sure something great is out there waiting for me.

BTW, if you have a sec, I was wondering: I see Chinatefl.com advertise uni's, Dave's seems to be mostly language schools, many of the others sites are full of recruiter ads, but can you tell me where do all the public middle schools advertise? These ads seem to be very rare. Or am I missing something? Do they not need to advertise perhaps?

Thanks again for your time.
Aussiegirl

[Volodiya]

[Aussiegirl]

Hi Volodiya

How simple and it works. Three schools I picked up immediately. Thank you very much, I shall keep trying that one and other variations too.

Many thanks
Cheerily
Aussiegirl

[voodikon]

hey aussiegirl,

good for you for starting so early and being so thorough in your research. i don't know about fuzhou specifically, but jiangxi is one of eastern china's poorest provinces, and you'll find that even its bigger cities are comparatively undeveloped. i suppose it depends on what you want out of china and what's important to you in terms of daily living (convenient shopping, nightlife, a taste of rural china, etc.) in deciding which area you should live in.

as far as the job search, you're getting a preview of what you'll be fully immersed in once you're here: the do-everything-at-the-last-minute method. you're probably in contact with schools who were trying to have teachers for this semester and who will try to get you over here asap. while it doesn't hurt to start contacting them early, don't feel pressured to make any commitments before you're comfortable. i think, really, you'll be able to find a job at any time you apply: the demand for foreign teachers is much higher than the supply.

hope that helps, and good luck.

[Aussiegirl]

Hi Voodikon

Thank you for your encouraging comments. I was afraid I might be a bit early in applying. I have a couple of queries out there, so I think I might leave it at them for the time being and see what happens, then start again once I have my TESOL. I think it's fantastic how supportive you all are to newcomers. When you read the forums from so far away, with no real idea of what life in China is really like, some of the stories are enough to scare you off completely. But, I really want this experience and I know it will be great.
Many thanks again.
Cheerily
Aussiegirl

[Super Mario]

Now's a good time to find a job for Feb. Middle schools don't advertise so much: they're in competition with unis and colleges, which most people prefer.
However, there is a reasonable sprinkling on
http://www.chinatefl.com/teach.asp
Just tell them when you graduate.


by the way, while there maybe a Fuzhou in Jiangxi, I suspect it's Fuzhou, capital of Fujian province; an entirely different proposition!

[carken]

[quote=by the way, while there maybe a Fuzhou in Jiangxi, I suspect it's Fuzhou, capital of Fujian province; an entirely different proposition![/quote]

Yes, yes, yes, there is a Fuzhou in Jiangxi! I was there in a summer English program about 10 years ago. Sorry I can't give you any current specifics about it, but I can verify that Jiangxi province is still a very poor province. However, the people there are rich in spirit! I spent three summers in Jiangxi, and had a very enriching experience.

[Aussiegirl]

Hi

Thanks Carken, you're right, it is Fuzhou Jiangxi not Fujian. So quite rural but sounds really great from what I've heard. I like the sound of somewhere not so frenetic.

Thank you Super Mario too, I do keep an eye on Chinatefl.com but haven't seen any lately that will accept the one semester. Maybe second semester might be better time to look.

Many thanks all
Aussiegirl

[voodikon]

by the way, if the advertisements don't exactly match your requirements (e.g., the start date is september 2005! ), i'd still query anyway; the line of work is such that positions tend to open sporadically, so you'll never know what's really available.