Job Discussion Forums

[Bro D]

Hey all,
I'm a long-time reader, first-time poster to ESL cafe and as I'm heading over to Nanjing in October I had a couple of questions about finding a decent teaching job.

Long story short I'm 22, Australian and a graduate with a BA in Media Studies (encompassing creative writing, critical thinking, journalistic process etc) so feel that I would be reasonably qualified to teach general written and spoken English. This year I've also been studying a 2 semester intensive course in Mandarin. In the final phase of our course we'll be going to Nanjing Normal University for two weeks and will finish up with our final exams. After that I'm free to start work.

Looking around, most schools want you to start in in september which unfortunately isn't viable for myself, thus cutting down a few of my options. I've also posted my CV on Abroad China and had plenty of offers from primary and junior high schools however I'm much more interested in Senior High/University jobs.

Eventually an offer came from a group called the Beijing International Education Institute (BIEI). Apparently their main office is attached to Beijing Normal University (I confirmed this by running a couple of google searches) and their usual role is to run a BTEC HND program before their students go on to study overseas. What's more the position they had on offer began in November, ideal for me.

I emailed back and forth with the contact (Frances Yang), after seeing my detailed CV, degree copy etc he said that I'm welcome to visit his collegues in the Kunshan brach where they're running a BTEC HND program at Jiaotong University. I understand that this is about a 40min express train from Shanghai City Centre?

Basicly I just wanted to know what you guys think of the situation? I'm not going to commit to anything until I've seen the campus, where I would be living etc and confirmed that it's all in the contract. I'm also still open to other jobs if they look promising.

Any advice you guys can give me would be great.

Thanks,
Brod

[Super Mario]

Kunshan's a quite modern, relatively clean, boring place that's grown up like many similar cities in Jiangsu. Its close to the Shanghai infrastructure, but the land and labor are cheaper, so its attracted lots of Taiwan, Japan, S. Korea and a touch of US investment.
There's nothing sinister sounding about what you've said so far. If they'll let you talk to/give you the emails of some current/former teachers, that would be a good sign. And of course, an absolute commitment to providing all the necessary documents for working and living legally!
Hope it works out. First time is a buzz, and with some language in hand you should do well.

[HunanForeignGuy]

Bro D,

No, it's as difficult as you think and it's actually easier than you think.

First-year students in Chinese universities spend the month of September in military training. Many universities only hire their teachers that will be teaching the first-year students from October and then you would work until the end of July instead of the beginning.

Any good agent could set you with those kinds of unis.

Please be careful with this Beijing bunch your dealing with. A bell goes off in my head and I will need to cogitate a bit more to see if I can remember the details.

Make sure that you are actually working for the University and not for a training centre or some third-party outfit using the uni's name (it happens and it even happened to me once). Make sure they give you a SAFEA Contract so your salary will come from Beijing and not elsewhere. Next, make sure that you have all of the particulars as to where you wil be working, etc., etc., -- not that they won't change -- this is China and that is given. Also find out whom your boss is -- if you are hired by the uni, will the uni be your boss, or if this is a joint-venture, will you have a uni boss and a foreign boss.

Please be very, very business-savvy. It's to your advantage. Let us know.

All the best,


HFG

[Bro D]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I'm being as cautious as I can with this process, partly as it's in my nature and partly from the horror stories of FT's having sneak away from their schools in the night, escaping the hells of substandard housing, poor pay etc.

I looked up Shanghai Jiaotong University's website (http://www.sjtu.edu.cn/english/index/index.htm) and scoped things out. The university looks good however that might just be the Shanghai branches? That aside I emailed the foreign affairs office mentioning that I was invited to apply for an English teaching position at their Kunshan Campus BTEC HND program etc. and that I was just wanting some more information. With any luck they can confirm if the offer's legitimate.

[frank d]

Everyone so far, has given you good advice.

Just remember -- and this is VERY important -- you must convert your S (student) visa, to a Z (employment) visa in order to teach and collect salary LEGALLY in China. Don't play around with this. Any potential employer that tells you "it doesn't matter" is to be avoided! Yeah, "it doesn't matter" to them, because they will not be the ones in trouble and facing fines and/or possible deportation when the visa violation is discovered. Insist upon provision of all legal documents (at the school's expense) before you make the transition from student to teacher.

Good luck!

[no_exit]

[Super Mario]

Shanghai Jiaotong Uni is highly regarded as the number two [of many] in the city. I doubt they'd lend their name to anything shabby. All advice on relevant visas is to be taken most seriously.

[Bro D]

Am still doing my homework on this partcular offer however Kunshan isn't my first choice of place to live and work.

Can anyone recommend some schools in Shanghai or Nanjing that I could apply to directly? They can be Primary Schools, High Schools, Private Institutes or Universities as long as they have a good track record. Even better if you've worked there and know them first hand.

[saint57]

I lived in Kunshan and I had a great time. It's close to Shanghai and Suzhou. Yes, the expat community is small and old. Personally, I didn't go to China to meet expats.

[Bro D]

I definately feel the same way about the expat scene, one of the key reasons I'm going to China is to improve my Mandarin so mixing with the locals is what its all about. However I prefer the buzz of living in a big city, the eateries, shopping, nightlife etc.