Job Discussion Forums

John101 · Joined: 01 Feb 2006 Posts: 9

Hi all

I would be greatful if u could help me out.

Im 23 with masters degree and tefl cert (no experiance). ive pretty much settled on going to china over the other asian countries. (I think for future career it better option) Shocked

dont plan a career as a FT Rolling Eyes

Im planning on going for about a year and want to travel around as much as possible-
can you pick up jobs for 3 months easy enough Question

Prob better to get this type of work when i get there yes Question

What can i get away with visa wise Question

when is best time to go Question

Also for some one who is musically challenged and can only speak one language what are the realistic chances of being able to learn mandarin ?

are those lessons the schools advertise as a perk any good Question

Whats the deal with all the dialects can people who speak mandarin not understand other people who speak mandarin Question

I dont want to freeze my ass off in harbin. I could handle Beijing i think but im a fan of the sun. dont know if sun will be possible as south is mainly cantonese speaking Question

Oh and most importantly how much can i expect to get Question

thanks i know its long and disjointed but hey what can u do Exclamation

neets · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 1:18 am Post subject: Re: info please god info

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

The best advice is, in your case, one that you will not appreciate for the realism in it, but it comes from the bottom of my heart:
You should save some money - if that is at all possible back home - and tour China for one year as a tourist.

Your intentions are not in line with what this market expects from foreign teachers!

pc-pocket · Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 218

To the contrary, I think we have here a perfect match!
Why not teaching for those folks...
http://www.blcu.edu.cn/english/jobs/job1.htm#VACNCIES%20FOR%

As they do not deserve better....!!!
Their 2600RMB salary will support your copyrighted DVDs and fake nike addiction!!!

Please send immediately your email, to those qualified civil servant workers, with your outstanding qualifications:
[email protected]
[email protected]

Beijing Top Of The Line:
http://www.blcu.edu.cn/english/index.asp

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

Here's my advice:

1. Come to China August 1st with money in pocket. Take the month of August to sight-see and travel. Hopefully, you'll have already lined up a job, if not, use part of this month to find a job.

2. Once you've found your job, sign a half-school year contract. You'll probably get a week off on October 1st due to the national holiday. Go travel and sight-see some more at this time.

3. Many schools will give you a day or two off for Christmas. Since Christmas this year will again fall on a weekend (right?), you may get a nice 3 or 4-day weekend. Use this time to do some more traveling and sight-seeing.

4. Wrap up your job at your current school in time for Spring Festival/Chinese New Year. Some of us get up to a month off for this very important Chinese holiday. Use this time to do some more traveling and sight-seeing and pack up your belongings in preparation of moving to the next school you've lined up (although with all these holidays, it's beyond me why you'd want to go to a different school - - assuming your current job is satisfactory).

5. May 1st brings us another National week-long holiday. Use this time to do some sight seeing and traveling.

6. Come June 30th (or so), you'll be done with your second job and you could travel around (to the north where it's cooler?) and do some more sight-seeing before returning home.

Please note that all of this advice is about traveling and NOTHING about actually teaching English here in China. That seems to be less important to the OP so why bother wth that kind of advice? If you are lucky, you may well land a job where you have every weekend off. Lots of opportunities to take little day trips here and there.

Have fun!

John101 · Joined: 01 Feb 2006 Posts: 9

Cheers Kevin, neets, tw, and Roger

Thanks for the advice. I thought trying to get 3 month jobs was a bit ambitious but if you dont try it will never happen. Think i will try and get 6 month contract sorted out now, get there and accustomise!! my self to the culture then see about the second six months. dont think the financial penalty for doing this will be too great.

Thanks again
john Wink