Job Discussion Forums

LaurenceR · Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Posts: 13

Ive been reading tons of the threads on this website and trying to organise all the questions in my mind which are giving some doubts so here I am...It might turn out to be a pretty long post. Sorry!

Right so Im a 22 year old Australian with BSc Maths, Im learning Chinese, and love China from 3 months I spent there earlier this year, so in the interim between uni and proper career I want to go and teach in Beijing. Or at least I think I do! I really want it to be Beijing because 6 of the 12 weeks I spent in China were in Beijing and I love it there, and also have a few friends there already. Another thing is that the job back in Australia ill be applying for (foreign office) has a written exam on the 24th May which can be done in major cities round the world, inc Beijing. So i wouldnt need to get any time off If I was already in Beijing. Im hoping to start in February.

I also have no teaching experience and still no TEFL certificate. Im blonde haired, and dont really care if im just singing to kindergarten kids all day as long as the money is ok, and everything is very transparent from the start.

Ok so I have a whole bunch of questions (and yes many of them have been tackled before in other threads but id like to hear your oppinion in the context of my particular situation)

1) Beijing, February 2008...just how hard is it gonna be to get a job?

2) I get the impression the best thing to do might be to turn up with no job and a bit of savings, that it should be easy to get a job there, and most importantly I could see it all in person! But the visa conversion is a tricky business right? It really seems if I can make sure im dealing directly with the school (how do you do that from overseas?!) then itll all be better.

3) Do you know of any other jobs other than teaching I might be able to do? Any way I could make use of my maths degree?

4) Has anyone done the i-to-i TEFL certificate? Is it considered to be any good?

5) Ive seen this one discussed before for sure...but more points of view are always welcome...Taiwan vs China. (the exam i mentioned can be done in Taipei )

6) Do you like teaching in China? Do you regret it?

7) Is it common to be able to book a few days off during term times? I mean if I need to come back to Oz for a job interview.

I coulda sworn I had more questions before I started typing! My minds gone blank but I can always come back later. Im really just after lots and lots of information, anything and everything to do with teaching in Beijing, in order to help me decide if this really is the right thing to do with my life. Im a bit nervous about making the final decision!

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

Beijing Olympics???

You won't be the only foreigner trying to do the same thing next semester. Hope you can sing good. 'm guessing you will have a little competition

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

Come with some cash and do a home stay! You are probally only going to get about $1,000 Australian a month if you work, so do a homestay and get some practise with teaching English and do your exam and take it from there.

Beijing homestay english

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LaurenceR · Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Posts: 13

Thats an interesting idea...but unless ive misunderstood thats aimed at foreign students? So they have to save all the money they need beforehand? Trouble is I cant really afford that, I was hoping to teach in order to fund my stay in China while I learn Chinese (incidentally ill be doing this largely myself, with some private lessons to move things along, but definately not a full on Uni course). Or are you saying I should still do the teaching thing, but choose to live in a different environment in order to pick up the language faster?

Also dunno if I really explained myself very well, Im not coming to China to do the foreign dept exam, you can do that in Australia as well (its got nothing do with China or the Chinese language), it just so happens you CAN do it in Beijing which works nicely for me as I wanted to come here to learn Chinese and spend more time in one of my favourite cities ever.

Thanks for the reply though its given me another angle to look into.

kungfucowboy83 · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Posts: 479

about using your math degree, there are a number of, international schools and bilingual schools who teach math in english. Many places will hire a FT for teaching math as long as they have a degree in it. a little tutoring or teaching experince helps too. the top teir schools will want a teaching cert. or lots of experince but all the others need anyone they can get who is halfway competent. beijing may be a tough nut to crack for international schools but keep your eyes open and send out your resume. Since they don't need just an dancing monkey but someone with a math background you will have a little bit of pull and get a bit more respect.

LaurenceR · Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Posts: 13

That sounds awesome! Now I know it seems I just wanna be spoonfed...but where can I start searching? Google searches are gonna be so broad its almost not worth it (of course ill try anyway in just a sec). Does anyone know a place to find schools which might want to teach Maths/Physics in English?

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

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