Job Discussion Forums

Zozo · Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 8

Hello, I am a new poster to this forum although I have been reading it constantly over the past month and find everyone�s discussions extremely helpful. I'm not going to be a one off poster as I have plenty of questions (like any first timer!) But don't worry it won't be about the stickys that you have already discussed a million times before.

I decided a few months ago that I really want to teach English in China and am doing a CELTA course in January 06 and hopefully flying to China end of February. I am Australian, 22 year old female from the Gold Coast. I have a Bachelor of Business Management and had experience working within a school on the Coast although not teaching as I was the Development Coordinator (still worked with kids though).

I guess the main thing that I am finding really hard about this whole moving to China for a year or so is where do I want to work? There are a few places that I have been looking at but just skimming:
1. Chengdu
2. Guangdong
3. Shanghai
4. Wuxi
But I'm not sure where to really start. For a first time English teacher in China, what are the main things you should be looking for if you are traveling by yourself? I really don't want to be the only foreigner and want to have a few Western alliances to show me the ropes.
Is there anywhere that someone would recommend for people like me? Weather doesn't bother me too much (one extreme to the other) neither does pollution, although I wouldn't mind seeing a clean China (well as clean as it gets). The main thing I would like to accomplish is to experience China and teach, make a few Western friends to travel and have some fun with on weekends and see as much history and culture as possible.
I know this is a question that only I can answer in the end but any information at all would be greatly appreciated, even if you have started off somewhere not listed above and found it a great place to begin please let me know.

In addition, my sister is getting married in August in Australia and I really want to fly back for this - would it be possible to get a week off during this time once a year contract has been signed?

Thank you very much for your help.

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

Zozo · Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 8

Thanks tw for your info. I'm looking at signing a contract with a public university - do they have the same holiday as public schools?

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

Yes , you will get those days off if you work at any public school ( universities included).

As a first timer, it's not a bad idea to work for a uni so that you can have some time to look around and discover the country. There's also less chances of you being d|cked over.

As far as which city, i would recommend Wuxi and Chengdu from that list. Neither is huge or extremely polluted. Both of them are conveniently located around many spots of interest and will present plenty of opportunities for travel.

sheeba · Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 1123

I work at a University. I get July and half of August as summer holiday plus two months at Christmas. I was supposed to start August 16th this year but I didn't get here until 23rd August. They started me working in September but of course I didn't get paid for August. Just tell them if the wedding is in Late August and they'll probably be cool.

I also have a BSc in Business and am teaching the Business students here. I did the CELTA just before I came here too. I really rate the CELTA course but I think you'll find things a little different when you teach in Universities. That PPP, TTT theory that got drummed into me went straight out the window.

I really like the hours at University. I do about 18 and as a first TEFL job I've found it a nice steady way to get into the teaching. Plenty of time to plan, study Chinese and actually enjoy your time here.

Zozo · Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 8

Thank you so very much nolefan and sheeba.

Nolefan have you been to Chengdu? This is would be more appealing to me then Wuxi, are you able to state any of the major differences between the two?

Sheeba - The holidays sound great for university, do you get paid for your holidays? I think university is definitely a go for me because it sounds like you have plenty of time to get used to teaching and planning plus you can look around China at the same time. May I ask what the pay is like for 18 hours a week - are you able to live off this and maybe save a little at the same time?

Thank you again for your help.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

From your list I would also select CHENGDU ahead of any other place; the reasons are:
Chengdu is quite big, yet it has Chinese features unlike most other places, and it is reasonably westernised: you get excellent coffee and you can also sample some of China's best foods and teas.
Of all the big cities, Chengdu seems to have the friendliest citizenry. This may be due to its newcomer status among the newly-developed cities: it has fewer resident migrants than Guangzhou or Shanghai.
And there are many interesting sites and scenes around Chengdu that will keep you busy touring them.

Nolefan mentioned WUXI; I prsonally find little in that city's favour but then again, I haven't been there in years.

Shanghai is the most hectic, the least accommodating and the most highly developed city. Living there is almost the same as living in any other former British colony, except that now Shanghai's economy attracts migrants not just from China but internationally.

As for Guangdong, it's the province with the most jobs, I guess, but it's also the province with the highest pollution nationwide, the craziest motorists and the most inconsiderate city dwellers. .

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

sojourner · Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 2:24 pm Post subject:

Zozo,

With a Bachelor's degree, you should be offered around 4 K. RMB per month, for about 18 "teaching" (or 13.5 "normal" hours) hours pw. Hopefully,you would be paid 12 monthly payments for the year; which means, in effect, you'll get paid for the vacation periods. Sometimes, one might even be offered something like 5, or even 6 K. per month. Such amounts would, indeed, be regarded as very generous -especially if they are offered to a newbie who holds only a Bachelor's degree. Should you be offered such a generous salary, go over the contract very carefully - it's possible that one could be required to work, say, 20 (or more) "teaching" hours pw or/and be entitled to only 10 salary payments p.a.

Also, check the contract carefully for details re airfare reimbursement and utilities. Because of the increasing competition for "good" (ie uni/college) jobs, it is gradually becoming a buyers'market. Consequently, conditions at many tertiary institutions have been whittled down - apart from contracts that involve only 10 salary payments, many places are offering reimbursement for a one-way flight, rather than for a round-trip. However, in most cases, apart from the salary, for a 1-year contract you would also be entitled to an annual 2 K. RMB "travel allowance", as well as 20-30 RMB per month "taxi" or "phone allowance".

In the uni/college sector, you may be "invited" to partake in an English Corner session or a speech contest. You are normally not paid to attend such activities; and, I suppose, you would be within your rights to refuse. But, personally, I think that it would be a good idea to attend such activities- apart from helping to develop closer relationships with one's students, such attendance would look very good in the eyes of the "leaders"; which could mean a good reference when your contract expires !

When a recruiter or college sends you a copy of the contract, check to see what subjects you'll be teaching. As you have a degree in Business Administration, you might well be asked to teach Business English, Management Studies - or, even Western Culture. Such subjects are far more interesting to teach than Oral English ! If the contract merely states Oral English, enquire as to the possibility of teaching other subjects.

If, after a year, you feel like spending a few more years in China, you should contemplate enrolling in a D.E. or online Master's programme - in order to give you a competive edge over all the other young EFL hopefuls who are beginning to flock here.You might as well take advantage of our country's wonderful HECS scheme - while it lasts !

Someone has already commented on the CELTA programme. There is much that is useful in that course, eg: lesson planning, classroom management, the teaching of the more intricate rules of grammar, etc. But, as the other person remarked, many of the things often emphasised by CELTA trainers may need to be jettisoned once you start "real" teaching !

Before leaving Australia, you should consider bringing some pictures or slides of the G/Coast with you, to be used as "ice breakers" in your first classes. Maybe, also, bring along some pictures of your family - including your sister's wedding - the "kids" (which our students, basically, are) will be really fascinated - believe me !

Incidently, which part of the Coast are you from ? Prior to leaving Aust for Asia, almost 4 years ago, I was living on the Isle of Capri (Bundall, actually, but the locals prefer the more exotic-sounding name ! ). Re, your proposed CELTA training, will it be taking place in Brisbane, or on the Coast ? I believe that a few years back, UQ (St Lucia campus) provided such training - but there could well be other providers, now. It would be great if you could attend a training course on the Coast - commuting everyday to Brisbane is a real hassle !

Best of luck with your CELTA training , as well as in finding a good job in China.

Peter

Zozo · Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 8

Thanks Roger, I think I will stick with Chengdu and hopefully get a contract organised from there.
I suppose the main reason why I did have Guangdong on my list is because I have already 3 offers from universities there but this part of China was not appealing to me.

tw and sojourner - Would the payment of 4000 - 6000 be paid in Chengdu? Also, is the cost of living in Chengdu cheaper then say Shanghai?
I'm quite sure I read previously on this forum someone saying there would be no way that you could live off 4000 in Shanghai. Is this different in Chengdu?

Sojourner - We were almost neighbours! I live near the Broadwater at Labrador. I have already burnt a dvd of a bunch of photos of the coast, especially quite a few when I was living in Burleigh on the beach. These were mostly for me to remind myself of how beautiful the Gold Coast is but now they will have another use as well. Thank you.
I'm glad to hear that I will be able to teach Business as well as English, as Business is what I really know and feel comfortable with (well compared to English!)
My course is at UQ on the St Lucia campus, I have decided to spend the four weeks up in Brisbane staying with a couple of international students who are doing their MA in TESOL! So that could be very helpful to me. I just really hope I get through the CELTA course because I've heard it is extremely intense, hence me moving to Brisbane. If I do really enjoy teaching then I will enroll in a D.E or Masters program - before I was enrolled in CELTA I was enrolled in MA of TESOL via correspondence but soon realised this wasn't the way to get hands on experience.

If I was to receive a contract and thinking of signing it, would it be possible to forward it onto anyone to also check through with me? I know the bare basics of what I need to be looking for but I'm so scared that I'm going to fall in a trap somewhere.

Thank you again for your help everyone it is really appreciated.

Babala · Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 1303 Location: Henan

I'll just throw in a last few words about Wuxi (as I lived there for 3 years and still go back every weekend). I think Wuxi is a great city to live in, especially for a newbie. There are quite a few FT's, you can get almost ever western product you would find in Shanghai and it's location is very convenient. You are next door to Suzhou (which is a great city) and less than 2 hours away from Shanghai and Nanjing.

mavazah · Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 21 Location: East Beijing

Hi Zozo, I did my TESOL cert at UQ and it was just excellent, experienced trainers with lots of o/s experience, very professionally done. Yes, its gruelling, the pace is unbelievable (and I've worked in some high perfomance places in my time!) but its also exhilarating and you will pass if you do the work. I agree with the other posters that a lot of what you learn will not often be used in the Chinese education/language system, but its a great framework. I could not imagine how I would have felt standing before my first class without that theory standing with me. I also work in a Uni now and its great. Hours are excellent and the Uni run in an ethical way, which unfortunately is not always the case here. Bring photos, bring a toy kangaroo and a koala, also if you have pictures of other Australian icons such as Uluru, Sydney Harbour Bridge etc these would be great assets in terms of lessons and conversation starters.
On a personal note, I wish I had brought some depilatory wax with me (not here in china anywhere!!!) and I am ashamed to say that I miss Vegemite (I am a cultural ludite......) Enjoy and good luck with the course.

Zozo · Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 8

Hey Babala, Thank you for your input on Wuxi it does sound like a very central place and I will hopefully go there after Chengdu.

Hey Mavaza, I'm glad to hear that my CELTA course at UQ is a good one. I will put my head down and bum up over the four weeks!

Do you have any suggestions of websites to look up university jobs - I have gone to a couple of places daves esl and chinatefl.com plus a few others but haven't come accross too many uni jobs.

Thanks for the extra tips on what else I should bring to China, I will do so! I think i'll have to bring over a large supply of vegemite and get more sent over to me when i run out. I love vegemite!!

Cheers again for all the help guys!

mavazah · Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 21 Location: East Beijing

When I finished my job in Jiangsu this July, for personal reasons I wanted to work back in Beijing, so I used www.chinatefl.com I scanned it for email addresses/contacts for Unis and Colleges in Beijing. Often on this website the job vacancies are not updated regularly (unlike others such as daves or tefl.com which usually have application closure dates). So I sent off an expression of interest and my c.v to their contact person, indicating an interest in any current or potential vacancies. I received a reply back from my current Uni, who interestingly did not have a current vacancy posted. This worked for me as strategy to 'test the waters' about vacancies. January is a good time to start applying as by then most schools have an indication about forthcoming FT vacancies. Unis and Colleges usually start again in late Feb dependant upon the dates of the Spring Festival holiday (changes with the lunar calendar). For an off shore contract, remember that it takes about a month for a school etc to get legal visa/employment authority from the PSB.

dajiang · Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 663 Location: Guilin!

Hey Zozo,

I'd say go there first and have a look around before signing up without knowing where you'll be working for the next 12 months (a year can be very long).

You can still arrange for flight reimbursement in your contract, even if you're already there.
Go and travel around for a month or so, and try to see those places you mentioned. Anywhere you think you like the place just go and look for a position at a school/university. (At private uni's you can often get a higher salary btw.)

If it's your first time in China prepare for a hefty, not always positive experience. But remember it takes time to learn to appreciate this place.

g'luck
Dajiang