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TESL certified 19 year old, what are my chances?
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Hail



Joined: 02 Mar 2009
Posts: 3

PostPosted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 6:46 am    Post subject: TESL certified 19 year old, what are my chances? Reply with quote

Im turning 19 on the 27th of March, and i have just recently gotten my results back from the "teaching English to children" specialization module. As you've figured out i dont have any sort of degree, and i only have a small amount of solid teaching experience. I am extremely adaptable, and i've traveled quite a bit. I do not fear culture shock or the loss of all of my social support systems (back packing in korea for 2 months gave me a good kick).
So what are my chances looking like? Is there a good market for me? Will i really have to be on my toes when i am going over contracts? For a 40 hour work week what do you think i could get a month? How many teens do you know out there Rolling Eyes? In terms of where in china, im open to any place. Thank you so much in advance for any help you could give me.


Cheers from Vancouver.
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haopengyou



Joined: 02 Mar 2009
Posts: 197

PostPosted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 8:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I do not know the answer to this question based on Chinese law but I will share about some situations that I have observed. I have an American friend who will be 20 later this year. She is a high school graduate with no TESL cert. She is teaching in a kindergarten in the outskirts of BJ. I also have a friend who is not a college graduate - though he is in his late 40's - who is teaching in an outer area of shijiazhuang in Hebei province, just outside of Beijing proper. The first part of the answer to your question is "yes, anything is possible". Part of the issue is what kind of relationship does the school have with the authorities?

The second part of that whole issue is do you want to take a job like this? I think both of them are earning less than 2000 rmb a month, not a high salary by any means. The local Chinese teachers usually make more than that. They probably did not get their visa based on being a teacher but were listed as some kind of foreign expert in some other subject. I know that the girl had taken some dance classes in the U.S. - I am guessing that they used that angle to get her a visa. Their employer may have even falsified documents to make it happen.

If you are in this kind of job and the school treats you poorly to the point that you want to leave it is not likely that you will be able to find another job like this - or at least quickly.

I was told by the last school I taught in that a Z visa for an English teacher can now only be issue to someone who has a college/university degree.


My 2 cents.
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therock



Joined: 31 Jul 2005
Posts: 1266
Location: China

PostPosted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 8:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

You'll probably only get accepted into a private language school. Expect around 5000RMB for 40 hours at the office with 20-25 of those hours being teaching hours.
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therock



Joined: 31 Jul 2005
Posts: 1266
Location: China

PostPosted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 8:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

haopengyou wrote:
I think both of them are earning less than 2000 rmb a month, not a high salary by any means. The local Chinese teachers usually make more than that.


Shocked Shocked Shocked This is exploitation on a grand scale.
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guruengerish



Joined: 28 Mar 2004
Posts: 424
Location: Australia

PostPosted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:08 am    Post subject: 19yo Reply with quote

It would be interesting to see what happens here.

Some countries are demanding 'life experience' as well as qualifications, and Indonesia now has a law which prevents teachers from under 26 taking to the black/white board.

Is it possible to graduate (with a 3-year degree) at age 19?

curious.
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suanlatudousi



Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Posts: 384

PostPosted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Anyone that is 19 years of age should not be "entrusted" with the education of anyone
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Ramblin' Man



Joined: 16 Nov 2008
Posts: 105

PostPosted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

To OP Hail

I was in exactly the spot you are in now just a year and a half ago. When I first started teaching in China I was just 18, with a tesol certificate and, obviously no degree.

My first job was in Wuhan China. I was payed 4500rmb each month (as was everyone else who was a first year teacher there, regardless of experience and credentials.) I actually only had about 15 offices hours a week, but we had to be at the school/office for 8 hours each day. Each of us was provided a fully furnished apartment. They were good sized and in pretty good condition (by a western standard, not a chinese standard.)

My second job was in Guangzhou for 6000rmb a month. They roped me in to paying taxes (not too much, but still...) as well as paying utilites and internet for the apartment. They did find the apartment for me and they paid the rent, but this was definitally a very chinese apartment. It had only a hole in the floor for a toliet and the showerhead was literally right above said hole in the ground. It was also given to me very dirty.

Now I am working in Beijing for 8500rmb a month, without accomadation. I estimate that once I settle in a bit (I just started,) I should be able to have working hours + preparation + travel time in at around 30 hours a week, that was the case in Guangzhou, and I think this will be about the same.

So you might have to start out a little low (no lower then 4000, should be albe to do 4500-5000,) but after just a little bit of experience + your tesol you should already start to be able to have some bargaining power, and ask for more. That's what I've found anyway, it hasn't blown up in my face... yet.

Also keep in mind how much the city cost to live. Even though I was paid 1500rmb more each month in Guangzhou then Wuhan I was able to live it up much more in Wuhan and still save as much as I saved in Guangzhou each month.

The answer is yes, you definitally have a chance, not only that, you even have a choice. I had another job offer for 13,000 a month here as well, but I decided it was too many hours.

Depending on how much of a Chinese experience you want I might suggest going outside of Beijing. Since in arriving in Beijing, there is something about it that feels decidely less Chinese then the other areas of China I have been to.

Honestly your age and your tesol won't matter that much, you will get a job and you can even get decent pay. What matters much more is You. If you really are adaptable, as you say you are, and there is some patiance and ability to just push on through shit when it gets a bit heavy thrown in in your personailty then you will do absolutly fine.

Good Luck
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Buck Lin



Joined: 13 Oct 2008
Posts: 405
Location: nanchang china

PostPosted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 11:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Your chances are good but don't work for less than 10,000. They will have you work long days from 8 to 6. Teaching young kids is the best way of learning Chinese. They teach you. You'd have more trouble teaching adults and university students but not unheard of in China. Right now China is a bastion of foreign men teachers, you'll be welcomed.
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eddy-cool



Joined: 06 Jul 2008
Posts: 1008

PostPosted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 12:27 pm    Post subject: Re: TESL certified 19 year old, what are my chances? Reply with quote

Hail wrote:


1)
As you've figured out i dont have any sort of degree, and i only have a small amount of solid teaching experience.

2)
I am extremely adaptable, and i've traveled quite a bit. I do not fear culture shock or the loss of all of my social support systems (back packing in korea for 2 months gave me a good kick).
So what are my chances looking like? Is there a good


!: Answer
Not only are you very young but underqualified and inexperienced in a number of relevant areas, including working, interacting with foreigners in their home country, living in an alien country, etc. The question is: Why then do you think you should even try?

2: Answer
In what way would your having travelled 'quite a lot[' be of any use?

Furthermore, you are looking at 40-hour work weeks; we don't normally work more than half that, and that can be tiring enough. In public universities you will work under 18 hours a week though language mills work you five or more hours six days a week each.

Finally, what attracts you here or to the teaching profession? You should be mentally prepared to deal with students with defined needs and limited communication skills. Can you at your age cope with adults, minors, kids?
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diana83709



Joined: 30 Apr 2006
Posts: 148
Location: Nanchong, Sichuan province, China

PostPosted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 8:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I propose this question: Would you want someone with only a high school diploma teaching YOUR child?
OP, I wish you the best of luck, but you really should persue a BA or BS before attempting to teach English as a foreign or second language.
Visa laws have changed. You may wish to visit a Chinese Embassy website and view the current VISA requirements.
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Basilm87



Joined: 23 Nov 2008
Posts: 21
Location: Midg�rd/London/Beijing

PostPosted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 1:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Would I want my future child(ren) to be taught by a teacher with high school diploma? Its a hypothetical question, and somewhat impossible to answer Im afraid. (As you got no IDEA of who or how good this teacher really is)

I dont know how things works in the native speaking countries regarding teachers being good or bad, but I would take a wild guess and say humans are 'the same' all over our tiny world. Meaning, a teacher with no or crappy credentials CAN teach my child(ren) alot more than a teacher with BA/MA/PhD whatever, depending on the person him/herself.

There is a difference between being a well-educated teacher, and a 'good' teacher. Theres plenty of teachers who got the credentials "needed" but still cant learn kids/students jackshit, they have it 'all in their heads'. While there are less educated teachers, who actually know HOW to teach the students/kids what they should/need to learn outta the course books, or maybe in this case, My English ABC etc
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naturegirl321



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

PostPosted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 1:23 am    Post subject: Re: 19yo Reply with quote

guruengerish wrote:
It would be interesting to see what happens here.

Some countries are demanding 'life experience' as well as qualifications, and Indonesia now has a law which prevents teachers from under 26 taking to the black/white board.

Is it possible to graduate (with a 3-year degree) at age 19?

curious.


I was barely 20 when I graduated, you skip a grade, overload on courses, do summer school, CLEP tests and pass out of courses, it can be done.
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Babala



Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Posts: 1303
Location: Henan

PostPosted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 8:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I would suggest teaching kindergarten. Many kindergartens have a Chinese teacher in there with the foriegn teacher. The teaching material is provided for you. I don't think a 19 year old teaching college or even high school is suitable. I have seen some great young teachers here. At least the OP has taken a TESOL course. I would stay away from the bigger cities such as Shanghai or Beijing.
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A'Moo



Joined: 21 Jan 2007
Posts: 1067
Location: a supermarket that sells cheese

PostPosted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 11:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

diana83709 wrote:
I propose this question: Would you want someone with only a high school diploma teaching YOUR child?
.

I propose this question. Would you rather have a 19 year old female teaching your child, or an ex-con with an affinity for bar girls?
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eddy-cool



Joined: 06 Jul 2008
Posts: 1008

PostPosted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 1:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Basilm87 wrote:


There is a difference between being a well-educated teacher, and a 'good' teacher. Theres plenty of teachers who got the credentials "needed" but still cant learn kids/students jackshit, they have it 'all in their heads'. While there are less educated teachers,

who actually know HOW to teach the students/kids what they should/need to learn outta the course books, or maybe in this case, My English ABC etc


I read this gem of a post with particular alacrity as it reflects the philosophy of oh so many FTs.

Yes, there may be a difference between being 'educated' and just being a 'teacher'.

But one wonders why such people disocver their superior talents only in exotic locales and not back home. My tentative answer would be - exotic locales do not normally test their teaching skills. They take these ueber-gifted but undereducated educators for reasons other than educational ones, namely having a suitably foreign face and hailing from an Anglo-Saxon country.

The over-educated and underachieving teacher may languish in a boring job in a boring school in a boring town in his or her boring home country - but they at least won't have to seek greener pastures abroad... ...whereas the uneducated teaching talent would most possibly be employed back home by McDonald's or KFC.
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