Job Discussion Forums

freakyaye · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 8

Hi, I have been interested in teaching In asia for ages, I have a ba in linguistics and will do a celta next month. But I have a question, I have 6/60 eyesight which means what normal sighted see at 10 cm I see at 1. I am not concerned about people talking about how close I hold things to my face to see (its something im used to) but since almost everywhere requires a medical check will this stop me from getting a work visa?

Thanks all!

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

nope, medical check ups are usually for things like AIDS and HIV. You should be fine.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

It shouldn't stop you from getting a visa, but have you thought about how it might affect your teaching? (That's an honest question, by the way, not a jab or anything.) Think about things like writing on the board, marking students' papers, etc.

d

edit: As far as I can recall from my own experience, I've only been required to get a medical check once (for my current job), and as naturegirl said, it was to make sure I wasn't bringing HIV into the country. I did have to get my eyes tested to get an Omani driving license, but not for the visa.

freakyaye · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 8

Hi denise. Yes I have considered the problems of teaching with poor eyesight. I didn't mention but i am short sighted so can read font sizes down to 8. Using projectors and written text has not been a problem in my own schooling thus far, and presentations usually go ok. The only thing I can point out as being disadvantaged at is reading over students shoulders. That I cannot do and I feel it would be too obsttructive to the class flow to pick up each students paper. So I've decided to be one of those teachers I hated and will ask students to tell me their answers aloud. Kind of confrontational but beneficial to the entire class. Some students will not enjoy this, if it becomes a problem I will be happy to review their workbooks. That will be time consuming but hopefully students will be there to try speaking and it won't be a problem.

Ariadne · Joined: 16 Jul 2004 Posts: 960

China is full of opportunities to trip and fall. Holes in the sidewalks, uneven pavement, metal bars protruding out of the ground or from over head. Bicycles, motorbikes, cars, and people on the same 'walkways'. Stairways without handrails. Stairways with steps of different sizes. Small rises or drops into buildings or rooms or at the tops of stairs. Dropoffs beside walkways. You really have to be careful around here.

.