Job Discussion Forums

[pierre]

My 51 yo partner is just completing a CELTA course in Melbourne, Australia with the idea of teaching in China in the new year. She has no previous teaching experience but does have an arts degree. I�m a 57 yo actor (don�t laugh, I�ve made a living out of it for almost 30 years) who taught at NOVA in Japan for 6 months about 15 years ago. I have a Diploma in Civil Engineering. Neither of us has ever been to China ( except for a week in Hong Kong).

Our plan is for my partner to get herself a job, maybe in Shanghai or somewhere cosmopolitan, on the basis of her new qualification. The two of us travel to China together, and I find some kind of casual work. I would teach if necessary but would prefer to do something I am more suited to.

Questions:
Is her age going to be a major factor in finding a good job?
Is our age going to be factor in anything?
Would I be able to travel to China as the spouse of someone who has got a job lined up?
Would we be likely to find accommodation that we could both fit in to?
How hard would it be for me as an unqualified teacher to pick up casual teaching work?
Does anyone know what chance I would have of picking up occasional acting or voice work with no Chinese language ability? English language radio?

[sojourner]

Hi Pierre,

Welcome to Dave's !

It would be a good idea for you to also post your queries to the China (Job-Relted) Forum - you would get far more replies there, than at the Newbie Forum. Anyway, I'll try answering some of your queries.

Re age, unlike some other countries in the region (eg Sth Korea), Chinese employers, generally speaking, appear quite happy to take on people in their 50s - and even older ! In fact, many schools and colleges might even prefer to have "mature aged" teachers, rather than kids. The only places that might prefer v.young teachers would , POSSIBLY, be some of the more upmarket language schools in Shanghai. Occasionally, in job ads for college and uni positions , an age limit of, say, 50 could be specified - but DON'T be put off by that; go ahead and apply, anyway !


Yes, I agree that Shanghai is a very cosmopolitan city - I really love the place! But, it appears that everyone wants to get a teaching job there - thus, through the operation of the law of supply and demand, the salaries being offered, while probably being a bit higher than elsewhere, won't be enough to compensate for the higher cost of living.

If you can't get a job in Shanghai, you might want to consider Hangzhou, which is a little over 2 hours by bus from Shanghai. It may not be quite as cosmopolitan as Shanghai, but it is definitely not a hick town ! Apart from being reasonably modern, it appears to be a , sort of, "fine arts capital" of southeast China. Consequently, there are many art galleries, as well as a large art academy - attracting connoisseurs of Asian art from all over the world.


I've noticed in postings to these fora over recent months, comments of reports that the authorities want all new FTs to possess a degree. I'm not sure how accurate those reports are. However, if there is, indeed, substance to those reports, don't worry too much about it - it would appear that both recruiters and employers have ways to get over such obstacles !

If possible, try to get jobs in the college or uni sector, rather than in language schools. In your case, with an engineering qualification, do a search for those institutes that have engineering faculties.You may well be offered a job teaching something called "Engineering English " ! In unis and colleges. the salaries may not be as high as in language schools, but the hours and vacations are much better. In unis and colleges, your teaching load would vary between 12 and 16 hours pw (a teaching "hour" here is only 45 minutes ! ).Thus, you'll have plenty of time to do do some pt tutoring - or to search for an acting job ! Also, in unis and colleges, you'll probably be offered a rent-free flat.

On the question of acting, why don'tyou enquire with Actors' Equity, before leaving Aust ? They might be able to provide you with the names of contacts in Shanghai.

Check Dave's International Jobs site for vacancies. Many people deal through recruiters - although, some posters to these fora warn against being involved with them. If you are having trouble in finding a job, PM me and I'll provide you with the email address of my own (Beijing-based) recruiter. I have found her to be most conscientious and efficient.

BTW, did your partner do her CELTA training at Holmes Institute, in Melbourne, by any chance ? That's where I did my training, over 4 years ago - an excellent, but very hectic programme. As you , yourself, haven't taught for many years, it might be a good idea for you to undertake some TESL training, as well. If you intend to spend some time in Thailand before entering China, you might want to consider doing your CELTA training, there - much cheaper than doing it in Melbourne ! I'd imagine that many (most ?) acting jobs would be very intermittent - thus, you would need something more substantial, like ESL teaching, to keep you going. If you manage to get a uni/college job involving, say, 12 or 14 "teaching" hours pw, it might be possible for you to arrange, before signing the contract, to do all of your teaching in 2 or 3 days; thus, providing you with the opportunity to make much better use of your talents.

Good luck !

Regards,

Peter

[pierre]

What a great response! Thanks Peter, really appreciate the time you put into that. You've eased any doubts about the viability of the plan, and given us a good alternative to Shanghai.

I'll follow your advice and post on the China forum, although it's hard to imagine a more thorough response.

Sometimes the obvious ideas are the ones you never think of. I'll talk to Equity for sure.

Would your recruiter in Beijing be able to help with uni work in Hangzhou?
Is there a particular time of year when most uni recruiting is done?

My partner is doing her CELTA course at RMIT. She quit her job to do the course part time and finds it very demanding. She's very glad she didn't take on the full time one.

You might not be able to answer this one, but if my partner gets a visa to come and teach, would that entitle me to any sort of right to travel with her, or will I have to apply for some other sort of visa? I guess if I travelled on a tourist visa that would prevent me working legally.

[Super Mario]

If your partner is your spouse you'd qualify for a resident's visa.
Look at www.shanghaiexpat.com in the classifieds: all kinds of different jobs appear. The Shanghai international TV station [Dragon TV I think its called] run several programs for expats using native English speakers. Lots of dramas for Chinese TV are also made there, usually set in the 30's and there's a recreated section of "old Shanghai" that's a permanent set. Westerners appear as stereotypical cigar smoking capitalists.
On the teaching side of things, it is competitive. Uni jobs are the best: short hours, accomm provided. Life in a uni district is inexpensive, as businesses are geared to student budgets.
Suzhou is an alternative, close to Shanghai with a lot of "old China" charm not yet destroyed by industry.
Recruiting for next semester would be happening now.
For a reasonable listing of colleges and unis, look at
http://www.findaschool.org/index.php?Country=China

[JDYoung]

I'm 57 with a degree, a long time ago in physics, a 120 hour TEFL certificate and had no formal teaching experience before coming to China in August 2003. I think that unversities offer the easiest life style with fewer hours, better housing and somewhat more mature students than most language schools. My university specializes in electrical engineering and does have English courses that place some emphasis on the vocabulary of engineering.

I'm in the north east in a large city that is not particularly cosmopolitan but send me a private message if you are interested in this part of the middle kingdom.

[bjwellgo8]

[adventuramust]

I am teaching in Hubei, China. Last year a couple from Australia were teaching here. One had some experience, the other had none. Both were over 50 yo. Both were given teaching schedules, and the one with some experience was given the students that had less English knowledge than other.

I know I won't be renewing my contract due to my mother's health so I know they will be recruiting for next term and more than likely the summer as well.

I can speak quite highly of gentlemen in charge of foregin affairs. This is my first time and I really lucked out with the school I found.

[tw]

Here's the short end of it all: do you have a degree? Do you have a non-Chinese face? If you answer yes to both questions, then welcome to China. If you answer yes to one of the two questions then MAYBE you can get a teaching job in China -- depending on where you go. "Hot" destinations like Beijing, Shanghai, and many provinces require a university degree but a CELTA/TESOL will suffice as a substitute. Age is NOT a real issue in China even though many job ads specifically ask for applicants of no older than say, 45. That is because Chinese students and employers like the "youthful" looking foreign teacher.