Job Discussion Forums

ChrisInCanada · Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 12

I'm 27 years old and I recently graduated from college with an Associate of Arts Degree in Criminology and I am about to be TESL certified. I hope to go to China to experience its culture and language while I support myself by teaching English.

Zhuhai looks incredible from the pictures I've seen and Mandarin is apparently their main dialect, which is important to me. My questions are, for anyone who has lived or who is currently living in Zhuhai, what schools would you recommend? Do you know any that are looking for English teachers and if so, can you direct me to their websites? Any connections would be extremely helpful.

Will it be difficult to find work with my lack of teaching experience and when I return from China, I plan to be a police officer, so it's important that I work legally since I can not risk deportation. Will having a 2year degree + TESL allow me to get a legal working visa in Zhuhai?

I think thats about it

Thank you for your time
ChrisinCanada

Steppenwolf · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 1769

While Zhuhai is photogenic on pictures it isn't a holiday destination. It's failry well developed, yet has preserved green lungs within the urban sprawl; it's devoid of cultural sites of interest and it has virtually nothing that represents traditional China.
I assume you are not interested in working in a school but in atraining centre; the best-known ones are TPR, Fountain, Royal, Santana. EF is in the town too, I suppose.
I don't actually live in Zhuhai but have visited it uncounted times over the years en route to or from nearby Macau or Jiangmen. These neighbours make living in Zhuhai interesting; Zhuhai itself can be kind of boring.

TravellingAround · Joined: 12 Nov 2006 Posts: 423

joey2001 · Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 697

Steppenwolf · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 1769

Like over in Shenzhen - the RESIDENT Cantonese-speaking native population is numerically insignificant; you won't need Cantonese at all. And of the natives, some have migrated away while Cantonese speakers from elsewhere may have moved in. Those local vernaculars tend to be vastly differing from locale to locale so that speakers of two or more different Cantonese varieties won't necessarily speak to each other in Cantonese

jammish · Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 1704

A word of caution: I have heard that generally Fountain School is to be avoided like the plague.

TravellingAround · Joined: 12 Nov 2006 Posts: 423

Plan B · Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 266 Location: Shenzhen

I have been in Zhuhai for over 2 years, and although I agree with much of what has been said already, I must have my two penny's worth.....

Zhuhai is an extremely comfortable place to live, and I always feel a sense of relief when I return here from places such as Shenzhen and Guangzhou. It is indeed a cultural vacuum - but on the otherhand, being one of China's "melting pots" it is a place where you have the opportunity to meet people from all provinces in China.

Despite the fact that the slight majority of people here are probably Cantonese, virtually everyone speaks Mandarin, and it is the Linga Franca over here.

There are plenty of opportunities over here. Unfortunately, the non-exploitative options are limited to those who reside here, and are able to pick and chose.

My advice - land a job at one of the more stable language mills - such as TPR, EF, or Oriental, and use your time to find something more suitable. The best options are probably in the public sector.

Malsol · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 1976 Location: Lanzhou

An A.A. degree? Associate of Arts? 2 years of college? Criminology?

What qualifies you to teach anything, particularly English as a Foreign Language?

You want to get paid to be a tourist. China has enough unqualifieds like you already. Stay home. SAFEA requires a B.A. or B.S. at a minimum, plus 3 years teaching experience.

You are just another disaster story waiting to unfold.

Just because you speak English does not mean you can or should teach it.