Job Discussion Forums

[PyRoT]

I came to China 7 weeks ago and though my current teaching job aint so great, I have realized that there are many good teaching jobs out there. Also, it appears that I am actually a good teacher. The adult students at the company I teach at during weekdays, as well as the company�s training manager really like me and think I do a great job. I actually enjoy it quite well too.

Now, my crazy idea is that perhaps it would be better for me to stay in China as a teacher instead of go back to Australia. In Australia, I could have a bright future as I have 3 degrees and have been accepted into a good Masters degree in Business Economics. However, in Australia, even the best job will mean I will work a full-time week. Here in China however, it seems I could quite easily work a lot less, starting with 4 days and eventually, being able to earn a comfortable salary, perhaps 5000+ on just 3 (half) days a week. One day I could maybe even do 2 days (If I fill up time with private tutoring classes) .. who knows.. This to me is an amazing thing as I really value free time and to have a comfortable life (I don't need much luxuries) with so much free time is better than any job in Australia that forces me into a Mon-Fri 9-5 life.

The fact that I enjoy teaching and that students really like me and my relaxed / humorous attitude is a bonus of course. I am unsure if I would like the business type of work I would do in Australia and I am sure I�d be under more pressure.

So I was curious, if anyone has any thoughts of my idea of staying in China. Are there certain things I have overlooked which should convince me to stay in Australia? I have considered things like friends, family, a lot of English around and the general familiarity and ease of getting around but the promise of a life with twice as many days off per week as in Aus, in a job that I know I like and can do well is just like a fantasy becoming a reality. Being a foreigner and the friendliness I receive is of course a bonus and I would never have trouble making more friends though I already have many good ones.

I�d like to mention that ideally I would like to get jobs teaching adults and older teens / uni students as I feel I can do a better job with them. I haven�t taught any young classes on my own, just some short 15 minute visits so I am not sure if I would also like this but I�m not optimistic.

I guess I should also mention that I am not teacher. I'm just a fresh student graduate. I have a BA in Psychology/Psychophysiology, BSc Honours in Psychophysiology and a Graduate Diploma in Economics. I did over a year of private tutoring in Australia and have just been teaching in China 7 weeks now. I know some of you view people like me with skepticism but there are some people who are great teachers without all the training and teaching qualifications. I have good English skills and good pronunciation without much of an Aus accent. Sorry if I seem a little proud but I really believe I'm a good teacher. I may not have perfect skills yet (though my students and bosses think I'm really good) but I do have a good attitude and personality for it. I know I would stay in Aus a few years to save some money and get some small qualifications to make it easier for me but after a few years here I could surely get a really nice job here in China which would match my fantasy. I can probably get one right now even...

SO yeah..what do people think�

[AussieGuyInChina]

[kungfucowboy83]

i say don't make any final plans for much longer than 7 weeks. once you have been here longer (long enough to realize all the disadvantages to staying as well as all the perks) make up your mind.

also consider that while you may think 5000 is enough for you now. consider about what happens if you get sick for a month, start to want to get a car, save for retirement, get married (her parents will think your poor on 5000 in BJ and yes it does mater here). you should also consider that there really is a limit to how far you can go here in china as an esl teacher.

so my personal advice is stay loose and think about it. We often get people who sound like you then 3 or 4 months later they post how they can't stand it here anymore. I am by no means an old timer, i've only been in china a

year and 3 months but i can tell you my view on the place is much different than it was when i had been here less than 2 months. I still like it here but i understand a lot more of the downsides and faults of china as well as all the fun things about it.

[PyRoT]

Thanks for your reply. It would be nice to know some of the pros and cons that you know, which I may not though. I know I really dislike the language (its really inefficient lol IMO) and some other things (like price of technology, travel, less laid-back culture) but doubling my free time and life triumphs the disadvantages I know. The one worry is that I am trading quality for quantity but I really feel I am not suited for working full-time lol.

I definitely want to stay here longer, like hopefully till June and get to know China more. However, I really don't know what could come up that would make me hate it enough. I don't mind the dirty and broken nature of many things here. The place I live at now looks really bad compared to the beautiful home I live with my mum in, in Australia.

The only thing I can think of now is that I may end up seriously disliking teaching. However, I like it now and my classes go by very quickly. I have the exact same fear about my Australian economics / business career except that it may be more likely there since I would work full-time and might be under a lot of pressure. So thinking about it that way, its more likely that I will enjoy teaching than economics.

I am unsure what you mean by how far one can get as an ESL teacher. Earning 200RMB per hour or more as many people do seems like a great 'end-of-the-road' place to be heading. With money, while I would like to get just a 3 day part time job in the end, to support me with staying and working legally, I could always just take on private students or even a second job to get more money when I want to save for a car or something like that. I also would plan to live in Australia for a few more years to save up enough to maybe buy an apartment here.

Otherwise, I'd love to hear more thoughts. Hopefully challenging ones!

[vikuk]

[beck's]

I think you should stay. Yes I do. As you know, our China is a developing country so there is lots of competativeness. You can succeed. Yes you can. A laid back life you can get. Not too much work if you want. May I ask you a question?? Do you like our Chinese food?

[vikuk]

[judgedredd]

Simple. If you are happy, then stay. When you stop being happy, go!

[therock]

[Anda]

You sound / write like at least part Asian and from the US not Australia. To answer your question one can make a life here but having enough to buy an apartment in say a small city for around $50,000 Australian would be a big advantage but saving up in Australian cities is not so easy. Saving here on low money like 5,000 RMB for a home will take a very long time while living a very simply life.

Some make up to 40,000 RMB a month here teaching for companies but you have to be tops for that. Anyway it is for you to decide but big money in ESL doesn't come unless you put in the hours and prepare well.

[PyRoT]

Beck: Yes I like Chinese food. However, I find the price of western food here ridiculous. I think the companies are making insane profits as the pizzas are much more expensive than in Australia, both relatively and even if you convert the currency. Expensive chocolate also strikes fear into my hearts.

therock: I don't know about this low pay rate. It seems you may be able to find these low paying job if you want but there are plenty for me to get taht pay at least 100 per hour. My parade continues!

Anda: How observant of you. I am actually from Poland and have lived there, Spain and then in Australia from the age of 8 to 23. Most of my friends are Asian and I don't tend to have much in common with the common aussies.
Anyway, back in Aus, I can live at home with my mum so I could save quite a bit of money I think. I am a good saver as I really don't buy much things. Also, I can always put in extra hours to save up more money here.

So it looks like my idea is actually not crazy. It is a big decision though as it won't be easy for me to return to Australia and resume my career there if I have to. Also, I am unsure how feasible it is for me to stay here permanently. The thing is, I would ideally like to keep my dual citizenship of Australia and Poland so how could i go about staying in China forever without losing it? Or at least keeping it until I'm old with a Chinese wife after which I could just become resident.. hehe

[vikuk]

[Anda]

Keeping an Australian passport etc, isn't that hard provided you keep your passport valid and do a trip back every so often. Just don't loose your Australian tax file number or other ID.

[kungfucowboy83]

to stay here you just need to keep renewing your RP when you get it as i believe you said in another post you were on an f visa. As for staying here you can theoretically get a permanent RP (good for 10 years and easily renewable) if you are married for at least 5 years as well as having lived in china for 5 consecutive years after marriage and have a "stable source of income and residence" which is vague so they can deny you as they like. seriously staying here 2 or so with just an open mind will not hurt you job prospects in Aus that much you can decide then and until you have been married for 5 years (or invest 2 million usd, less if you invest in the poor areas ) don't even worry about permanent residence.

[vikuk]