Job Discussion Forums

[china_gurl]

I've been trying for weeks now to find teachers to come to my school. I'm having absolutely NO LUCK! Where are the teachers who want to live in *authentic* China, Shanxi province?

Does anyone have any advice for me in my impossible quest?

The school doesn't offer much, but it's a good school and I'm trying to sell it in the best light I possibly can. No one's biting.

[7969]

i' looking for a job in china right now.
[email protected]

[PrimaryTeacher]

What is your offer? I have found that schools in China offer less pay than any others, with the exception of Turkish schools.

[Joe C.]

Not sure what the best way is, but the worst way is to pay to advertise the job vacancy on an EFL / ESL site. You'd be surprised at the incredibly high number of losers and morons that apply.

[Egas]

China Gurl,

It's probably salary and location that are the problems. I'm looking for a job now, and as I get older I am becoming more fussy about these things (I'm 37) When I was younger I just saw it as an adventure, but now I want quality of life. But there must be people out there with a greater spirit of adventure than I! Most schools in out of the way places that don't have too much cash to throw around, try to sell the "Experience the real China" angle. But for experienced China ESLers, that immidiately reads as "We suck and have nothing to offer you." But others overseas may read it differently.

In short, I'm not ure how to help you!

[cheekygal]

i was looking for teachers as well. it's quite hard to find good teachers though. but make sure that whoever applies sends you a pic, is over 18 years old, has some educational background, have a phone or personal interview asking all sorts of tricky questions, make sure the person [if in china] gives you at least 10 mins demo class to see how he/she handles the class - and it better be smth the person doesnt really know in advance, cause he/she would act more natural in the situation
oh and of course, look at the appearance in general: i dont mean pretty/handsome, but accurate in dressing [let it be not the best clothes ever and no suits, but clean and tidy ] be sure you are clear in what you are offering

some students look for jobs, try to get into some unis with foreign students. there are nice folks as well

-cheekybabe

[Gordon]

I thought you just needed a pulse.

[Roger]

It should be a piece of cake to get your hands on a real and good English teacher - have you thought of employing a bilingual, reliable, young teacher speaking excellent English and perfect Chinese?
No?
Why not?
It's a shame that some of this country's best teachers remain unemployed because some morons insist on hiring non-Chinese only for certain jobs!
I know the mindset of Chinese is wrong...
But don't tell me your school is "good", yet you can't find "good" teachers...
You are acquiescing to certain market forces that have absolutely nothing to do with teaching success.

It may interest you that I have been trying to find a job for a Chinese graduate who speaks better English than almost any Chinese English teacher with 100 years of speaking experience! She can't find a job because
a) she has no experience;
b) she can't gain any experience because
c) she has never been hired;
d) she can't be hired because no principal or headmaster/mistress is educated enough to assess her English teaching and English mastery!
And - I am a waiguoren - they don't take a waiguoren seriously, especially if he says this CHinese lady is an ideal teacher candidate.

Have you ever thought that we are not even taken seriously enough in making our assessments of the English proficiency of our students?

[Egas]

And I seem to be seeing a proliferation of those "White guys only need apply" ads on various esl sites. I mean, what does that tell you about the Chinese schools' understanding of ESL? It tells you they are not really interested in English teaching or learning - they are only interested in selling the idea of it, and that idea includes a white face. It sucks big time.But maybe it would make for a good Monty python skit or a sit com.

[combchick]

Egas is right.
Why else do you want teachers to send in a photo?
You say that they don't have to be handsome or pretty!
Aren't you just trying to find out what skin colour they have?
Does having white skin make me a better teacher?
I guess for a lot of these English schools, having a white face on the promotional literature is a marketing ploy. It's not only sheer discrimination, it's moronic.

Yeah, it would make a good sit com - but more like Black Adder type.

[NumberOneSon]

[khmerhit]

They are giving the customer what they have brainwashed them into asking for. That's a bit different, and it's deplorable. I knew a lot of Cambodian teachers who were quite good, and in many ways a lot better than me, viz grammar. They could be working in China.

[arioch36]

Does your school pay more for teachers with experience? Most Chinese schools do not. So they get what they pay for. If your school had decent apartments that someone my age would want to live in (I'm pushing 40) and is willing to reward me slightly for my experience...

I'm not down on packpackers, but I won't share an aprtment, or stay in an apartment only a backpacker could love. I am ( sometimes) mature. Give me a apartment and salary that reflects my experience, I would try teaching almost anywhere.

I won't be holding my breath though. So your school will probably continue to get inedxperienced kids or old retired businessmen looking for a change

[Joe C.]

[MartinK]

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