Job Discussion Forums

piglet · Joined: 26 May 2004 Posts: 22

I am a 50 year old Native Speaker (UK) with over 20 years experience in high school and adult EFL, a teaching certificate and an MA. I am interested in teaching in China for a year and bringing Hubby a non native speaker.I have a million questions of course but for now:
1. what would be the best place for me to teach- high school /private school or University?
we principally want to work a bit and see the country.
2. could hubby get some kind of job? he worked for the government over here (Israel) in social services and has principally managerial skills??
3.if we are not concerned about social life where would be a nice place- Guangzhou, Quindao, Hangzhou??
thanks and any other useful info greatly appreciated

vikuk · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1842

If you're only here for a year or so - and want a nice place to live - and nice things to do. I'd advise you not to go near the east of China with 20,000ft barge-pole. Better to go west - Kunming or Chengdu - since these destinations offer nearby areas of scenic beauty - together with a few western style retreatrs when Chinese about China starts to get a little too much.

Wages aint that high - but I don't think you guys are too worried about that. But just for the sake of the next FT who comes along please bargain for the best deal.

Sounds like a uni job would be the best - fewer hours, less stress and more time to take in China.

As for hubby - if he can speak English then it'll be teaching for him as well. At the moment there's a great demand for FT's - and not that many seem to be coming over any more.

Remember if you're coming just to experience teaching then you could be in for a wee dissapointment - many of the employers can be difficult. So plan with a view to cutting your losses - where going for a nice location at least gives you a good holiday if the job turns out bad.

Go west!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

An international School should pay enough for both of you to live well in China.

International School Jobs
More Money, Less Stress. Teach at
an International School Now!

http://www.teachoverseas.info/

To live pretty good here out of the big cities you need about 7,000 each or a bit more per month plus free accommodation and airfares. The big cities you need considerably more.

Your age is not a problem.

vikuk · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1842

Anda your link is a sales pitch for some iffy looking book -

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

not only is it iffy, but that link is being flogged by another "teach and travel" expert, with the emphasis on the travel Laughing

go west, spend six months or a year in china in a decent location at a university, and if you like it and want to stay on, then perhaps move on elsewhere.

your husband might not qualify to get a Z visa and residence permit but i've seen ocasions where both husband and wife both had jobs and only one had the Z visa, the other was employed off the books so to speak. but the schools dont mind since they kill two birds with one stone.

piglet · Joined: 26 May 2004 Posts: 22

thanks guys can anyone recommend a specific town/uni?
we were in Kunming but only to change planes on the way to Lijiang this year. Is it ridiculous to dream of working in Lijiang ??
thanks again

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

you could start here:

China Jobs

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

I just listened to the site a bit. It was the idea of teaching at an international school that I was trying to give nothing else including the book.
This reads that Piglet can teach in international schools:
20 years experience in high school and adult EFL, a teaching certificate and an MA.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=+Lijiang+English+teacher&btnG=Google+Search

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&newwindow=1&q=Lijiang+English+teaching&btnG=Search

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&newwindow=1&q=Lijiang+English+teaching+Universities&btnG=Search

piglet · Joined: 26 May 2004 Posts: 22

THANKS A LOT such prompt replies yippee! Very Happy

beck's · Joined: 06 Apr 2003 Posts: 426

It sounds to me like you are not too concerned about money. If so, you are in a fortunate position. A public uni job would probably be the best for you. Last year I was teaching 12 hours a week. The salary was pathetic but it was enough to live on (not including extensive travel in China, HK and SEA). International schools (real ones) pay well but you need to commit time and energy. Any professional teacher can do a uni job without breaking a sweat, especially if you have spent 20 years in western high schools. For you it would be like a holiday.

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

Piglet to give you a bit of an idea on teaching ESL here in Public schools. First off the money is small around 5,000 RMB a month. Some pay for the Summer holidays and some don't. If you get one that pays for the Summer and winter holidays and gives you the time off then you have three months that you can travel in. Most only have you teaching 16 hours a week with quite a bit of time off for exams, sports etc. In general most schools only have you seeing the same class only once a week. The school I'm with at the moment however I see four of my classes three times a week. This means that I need to do three lesson plans instead of one.

You will see offers sometimes for middle schools but most middle schools include a high school section here.

Universities give you big holidays like the public schools. The jobs at institutes however only normally give two weeks off a year.

piglet · Joined: 26 May 2004 Posts: 22

thanks Anda I was really thinking in terms of Uni as well ,since I have had enough of high school kids. Can you recommend any specific ones? I believe there is a lot of difference from one Uni to another and also there are Public and private Universities??
how about technical colleges/medical ?are they also any good ?
YOu have been most helpful so far...
Can we live off that salary if hubby doesn't find a good job?we would be happy to live on campus and are not interested much in nightlife/ western KFC food and the like ,more want to get to know local people and customs

vikuk · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1842

In Sichuan some cool towns are - Ya an. They have uni there that employs FT's. Mianyang used to be okay - with lots of FT jobs - I think that place is fully up and running after the quake. Emei has at least one well known university campus there. All these places are near some stunning scenic locations.

piglet · Joined: 26 May 2004 Posts: 22

By the way just curious why should we avoid the East coast? and won't Kunming etc be a tad cold come wintertime? I am not so good with the cold. Been in the Middle east for 20 odd years now... Cool

vikuk · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1842

Kunming is warm in winter - its in Yunnan. A lot of people choose Kunming for this fact.
Many parts of the East are heavily polluted, industrialised and don'thave the scenic splendour to match the West (of course there are spots like Yangshou which seem very popular with FT's) - but if its the bright lights you want, then go East.
However be careful of cold winters in China just south of the Yangxi - although the temperatures aint that cold - there's no central heating in the housing - and what heat you can generate all leaks out through non-exsitent insulation.
For you South West China could be a good choice - Kunming fits the bill or maybe Hainan.
Those Sichuan towns I've named will be too cold.