Job Discussion Forums

fauxcalpoint · Joined: 10 Jun 2009 Posts: 4

Hey there. Glad to be here. My wife and I will be teaching English in Guangzhou this year. I have a BFA and she has a Masters in Social Work. I would love to be able to teach art at one of the international schools and have been looking at MFA programs. Does anyone know if the international schools will allow you to teach with an MFA or do they want education geared degrees? I have thought about a Masters in Art Education, but I like the fact that the MFA program has so much more studio time. In the states, an MFA works fine as it a specialized degree but not quite sure with the international schools.

Also, is there anything she can do with her degree or should she be looking at some additional education as well?

Thanks

evaforsure · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 1217

Many schools have both a Chinese Art teacher and after school activities that are art related.. I only know of one school (international) that has a foreign art teacher...although ... they did teach the lower grade levels before getting this placment..

I once form an art program for a Cartoon and English class but the chinese were able to mimic the program undercutting it with Chinese staff...and when parents are more interested in where they will park the kid during the breaks or after class, the cheaper the better...

Now a new development is down the street, there is a newly constructed Kids Club, where art will be taught on a private basis, which may turn out to be more babysitting than teaching.

Hansen · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 737 Location: central China

Get some kind of TESOL, TEFL, CELTA.

cblack76 · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 26

I don't think any school is going blow it's budget on hiring a foreigner to teach art.

Anyway, most "art" classes in China are classes where students review their math and Chinese coursework.

You're best off sticking to ESL.

Ferne · Joined: 29 Apr 2003 Posts: 177 Location: GZ

An international school in Dongguan asked me to teach art classes a little over a year ago with my art background, of course following an international standard syllabus.

They offered a whopping RMB 80/hour. I left the building.

fauxcalpoint · Joined: 10 Jun 2009 Posts: 4

What about the American International Schools? Or Private art lessons? Would students be willing to pay for those? Are those possibilities?

Thanks for your feedback everyone. I just love teaching art the best, and would love the opportunity if its available. If not, I can be perfectly content teaching English and working on my art in my spare time.

Ferne · Joined: 29 Apr 2003 Posts: 177 Location: GZ

I'm pretty positive you could sell private art lessons, as beginner's drawing classes for kids. Some local artists are doing that here in their private studios.