Job Discussion Forums

[apc25]

Hello- I am moving to Munich in Jan 2008 and I would like to explore the possibility of teaching either Mandarin Chinese or English. I have been accepted for a PhD position in Ludwig-Maximilians University, although the starting date is pending funding from a submitted proposal. I need to find a way to support myself financially before the start of my PhD program (best estimate � October or later, 2008).

I am a Taiwanese-American, fluent in Mandarin Chinese and English, and I am an US citizen. I do not have any formal teaching certificates, although I have over six years of experiences teaching science and math to college students in the US and two years of experiences teaching business Chinese to an American. I also have BSc. and MSc degrees. By Jan. 2008 I will have had 4 month of German language training (class in a community college).

After reading up on some previously posted discussions, I was wondering if anyone can give me more advices on (1) proper channels for finding business Chinese teaching jobs, (2) whether I should get my TEFL certificate while I am still in the US vs. get CELTA after I have arrived Munich, (3) other ways besides teaching for supporting myself...

Many thanks, any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated!

[Hod]

I�ll reply as someone living in Germany who previously tried learning Mandarin in the UK.

There are many many Chinese students in Germany now, so speaking Mandarin is no novelty. But a lot of people in Europe are obviously interested in paying to learning Chinese, at least to a lower level before it starts getting too hard.

My Chinese classes in the UK were utter crap. The teacher spoke for 90% of the time (in English) whilst the students, crying out for practice, sat there bored out of their minds. But this 20-hour course cost me 250 UK pounds and there were fifteen or so students! There�s money to be made teaching Chinese.

Anyway, enough waffling. Most English teachers teach only in English. To try and teach Chinese by speaking only Chinese, even using Pin Yin, would prove impossible. You would need at least good German to explain stuff.

But with passable German along with some training such as the CELTA, you would be in a position to prepare Chinese lessons to standards previously unseen in Germany! Saying all that, a school wouldn�t be imaginative enough to take you on, so you�d have to do this freelance.

[scot47]

I would imagine that most Germans tackling Chinese would already have a reasonable level in English.

[Hod]

Without a doubt. Well at least in Munich, where apc25 is going.

It a bit much, though, charging Germans for a Chinese course done in English. I bet there's Chinese courses in the VHS's, and given the choice between instruction in German or English, German will win every time. There's also no shortage of Chinese students and working people living in Germany, and the few I've met have spoken far better German than me.

[apc25]

Scot & Hod,

Thanks for your input, I really do appreciate it! It seems like the time required for me to establish myself as a Chinese or English teacher is a lot longer than my situation permits..

Recently there is a job advertised on MELTA from The Munich International School for a Science teacher position - I have no way of gauging if I stand a chance. Do you know anything about the school and/or the job?

Thanks!