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[email protected]
Joined: 12 Jun 2009
Posts: 7
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 Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 6:22 pm Post subject: Here's the plan-suggestions, advice? |
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I am going to Japan and try to land a job. From what I gather, I probably will fail due to the economic times.
China is plan B. My concerns are: I'm older (43), although I'm a bit of a health nut and look and feel ten years younger. I have no health issues and no teaching experience. I went back to school specifically so I could travel and teach for a few years before I settle down to my "final" lot in life.
Are there still decent jobs in China to be had for an older guy who doesn't have teaching experience? I would like to be in a major city such a beijing.
Any tips, suggestions, advice, etc. would be appreciated.
Thanks!! |
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Mister Al
Joined: 28 Jun 2004
Posts: 840
Location: In there
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| Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 12:12 am Post subject: |
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| You have no teaching experience. So what are your qualifications and why do you think you could be a teacher? |
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eddy-cool
Joined: 06 Jul 2008
Posts: 1008
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| Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 1:15 am Post subject: |
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| In a nutshell: No. |
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evaforsure
Joined: 26 Jun 2004
Posts: 1217
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| Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 1:51 am Post subject: |
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I would say yes..most of the people on this forum are not teachers..they just play one in china...
If you want to work in China ... there are ways.. if you dont have a BA...get creative.. |
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The Ever-changing Cleric
Joined: 19 Feb 2009
Posts: 1523
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| Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:03 am Post subject: Re: Here's the plan-suggestions, advice? |
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| [email protected] wrote: |
I am going to Japan and try to land a job. From what I gather, I probably will fail due to the economic times.
China is plan B. My concerns are: I'm older (43), although I'm a bit of a health nut and look and feel ten years younger. I have no health issues and no teaching experience. I went back to school specifically so I could travel and teach for a few years before I settle down to my "final" lot in life.
Are there still decent jobs in China to be had for an older guy who doesn't have teaching experience? I would like to be in a major city such a beijing.
Any tips, suggestions, advice, etc. would be appreciated.
Thanks!! |
At least one response here is what I would like to classify as "not helpful." seaside, i think you can find a job here but you're going to have trouble doing it in beijing with no experience. Never worked there myself but the place must be saturated with foreigners wanting to teach english.
second, you're not too old. many foreigners in their 40s, 50s, and 60s in this country doing what you want to be doing.
set your sights farther out from the main centres and you'll probably have more luck. try chinatefl.com to begin your job search. some decent jobs there and the salaries are about average for this kind of work (4500-5000). once you've been here awhile (and if you decide to stay) you can arrange something more to your liking. |
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evaforsure
Joined: 26 Jun 2004
Posts: 1217
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| Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 4:00 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| At least one response here is what I would like to classify as "not helpful." seaside, i think you can find a job here but you're going to have trouble doing it in beijing with no experience. Never worked there myself but the place must be saturated with foreigners wanting to teach english. |
YOu would think so.. but I know of a former body builder/gym worker who worked in Beiing and just was offered a job teaching....his degree is in a health related field...or about equaled to a gym teacher...so I would say anything can happen... |
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The Ever-changing Cleric
Joined: 19 Feb 2009
Posts: 1523
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| Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:47 am Post subject: |
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| evaforsure wrote: |
| Quote: |
| At least one response here is what I would like to classify as "not helpful." seaside, i think you can find a job here but you're going to have trouble doing it in beijing with no experience. Never worked there myself but the place must be saturated with foreigners wanting to teach english. |
YOu would think so.. but I know of a former body builder/gym worker who worked in Beiing and just was offered a job teaching....his degree is in a health related field...or about equaled to a gym teacher...so I would say anything can happen... |
again, I must agree with u. |
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Jayray
Joined: 28 Feb 2009
Posts: 373
Location: Back East
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| Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:25 am Post subject: |
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| The OP stated that he's going to JAPAN to look for a job, not Beijing. I think he's in the wrong forum. |
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evaforsure
Joined: 26 Jun 2004
Posts: 1217
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| Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 10:21 am Post subject: |
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| china is plan b from outer space.... |
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[email protected]
Joined: 12 Jun 2009
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 3:03 pm Post subject: Re: Here's the plan-suggestions, advice? |
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I do not have teaching experience but I do have a bachelor's degree in business administration and a lot of "real world" experience.
Thanks for the responses. 
| The Ever-changing Cleric wrote: |
| [email protected] wrote: |
I am going to Japan and try to land a job. From what I gather, I probably will fail due to the economic times.
China is plan B. My concerns are: I'm older (43), although I'm a bit of a health nut and look and feel ten years younger. I have no health issues and no teaching experience. I went back to school specifically so I could travel and teach for a few years before I settle down to my "final" lot in life.
Are there still decent jobs in China to be had for an older guy who doesn't have teaching experience? I would like to be in a major city such a beijing.
Any tips, suggestions, advice, etc. would be appreciated.
Thanks!! |
At least one response here is what I would like to classify as "not helpful." seaside, i think you can find a job here but you're going to have trouble doing it in beijing with no experience. Never worked there myself but the place must be saturated with foreigners wanting to teach english.
second, you're not too old. many foreigners in their 40s, 50s, and 60s in this country doing what you want to be doing.
set your sights farther out from the main centres and you'll probably have more luck. try chinatefl.com to begin your job search. some decent jobs there and the salaries are about average for this kind of work (4500-5000). once you've been here awhile (and if you decide to stay) you can arrange something more to your liking. |
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Zero
Joined: 08 Sep 2004
Posts: 1402
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| Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 4:47 pm Post subject: |
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Probably can find a job most anywhere in China, but in Beijing, it may be at a sub-par wage because of the glut of foreigners.
In China, 43 is not old at all for a foreign teacher -- probably about average. In Japan, it is a bit on the old side -- more age discrimination there. |
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[email protected]
Joined: 12 Jun 2009
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Zero.
What happened to the days of just "show up with a 4-year degree/be a native speaker" and land a good job? 
Oh well, after reading some of the posts, I am probably going to go back to school and get a master's degree in TESOL. Hopefully that will open a few more doors and by then the economy might be recovered.
| Zero wrote: |
Probably can find a job most anywhere in China, but in Beijing, it may be at a sub-par wage because of the glut of foreigners.
In China, 43 is not old at all for a foreign teacher -- probably about average. In Japan, it is a bit on the old side -- more age discrimination there. |
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Zero
Joined: 08 Sep 2004
Posts: 1402
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| Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 2:12 pm Post subject: |
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As far as I know, in the majority of Chinese provinces, it still is "show up with a 4-year degree/be a native speaker." In fact, some don't have a four-year degree. Some provinces may have higher requirement.
In Japan, it used to be like that to an extent, though there was always more age discrimination. Nova used to readily hire middle-aged folks in Japan. I worked with a good number of them. But Nova went bust. I don't know much about the current scene.
Like I said, I don't know about Japan, but as far as China, I think the master's would be overkill, and would never pay off in terms of higher salary. The better bet would be to get certified as a public schools teacher, then work in an international school. But getting certified could take a good bit of time, and you may need to get some experience in an actual public school in your own country, which may not be in alignment with your goals. |
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lost_gypsy
Joined: 09 Apr 2004
Posts: 274
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| Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 10:22 pm Post subject: depends a LOT on you... |
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First impression is, you haven't really done any research. I say that because you begin by saying that you are "older". As someone else responded, there are plenty of teachers in China (and elsewhere) in their late 40s, 50s, and older. Those are the people who STAY, and are doing it "not for fun/adventure/to kill time between semesters--or career hunting". Those would be the youngish 20ish crowd, who rarely stay more than 6 months.
Get a certification and that will go a LONG way into giving you more grounding. As for actually getting work, it is entirely up to your personality. Are you a sheep and easily led around by the nose? Or are you slightly or somewhat aggressive with an outgoing personality? The latter, then you will have no problem, the former, you won't last three months.
My advice is to read as MUCH as you can here in this forum, stay AWAY from Japan (that's for the pros), do six months in China and go from there.
One of your bigger concerns will be: finding a school that will give you a proper working visa. I've been gone a few years and things were getting more strict as far as visa issues, and I was living/working in the most liberal area of all of mainland China. |
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shenyanggerry
Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 619
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Seaside, get some TESL training. It made a huge differrence to me. Incidentally, I landed my first China job ar 59 years of age. |
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