Job Discussion Forums

sonzilla · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Orange County

Hi everyone!

I am new to this site and thought I should ask you a few questions.
I want to teaching English in China. I have an Associates degree in Business Administration and I am currently taking an on-line course with www.teflonline.net (TEFOL). I am also inexperienced. I don't know how to get myself started and feel a bit lost.

Is there a way in which I can go to China and get certified as well as get some teacher training? I want to get there and start as soon as possible.

I applied to some of the posting I have found on www.esleployment.com. I applied to 4 postings and I have gotten a response from all of them (most asking for passport info and documentation). One of the positions is through ESL Accross China. I'm a bit nervous and was wondering if anyone can suggest a few credible employment agencies?

Any kind of help from anyone will be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

brsmith15 · Joined: 12 May 2003 Posts: 1142 Location: New Hampshire USA

"I want to teaching.........?" Are you Chinese?

Do some searches here and check the Stickys.

killian · Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 12:35 am Post subject:

"as soon as possible"...slow down. desperation leads to hasty decisions.

both teaching and china are full of a dizzying spectrum of possibilites. what levels would you like to teach? you have enough education/certificates to get a job already. have you taught before? china is home to 1 out of every five humans in existence. do you prefer urban or rural or something in between.

contacting head hunters and telling them you want to teach is pretty much like walking into the lions den wearing a suit made of steak.

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

Kilian is correct.

S L O W D O W N and take a deep breath.

There is no need to go through an agent to find teaching jobs in China. China is crying out for English teachers. Do a little research about China to help you decide where you would like to teach, and what kind of teaching you would like to do. Use the search function here and ask your own questions, but do use the search function first. Then start checking job ads. But whenever possible, avoid agents.

Orrin · Joined: 02 Apr 2005 Posts: 206 Location: Zhuhai, China

There is no such thing as a "credible" ESL employment agency in China.

eddy-cool · Joined: 06 Jul 2008 Posts: 1008

I disagree with the previous poster's opinion. There do exist a tiny number of recruiters that work in everybody's interest - 'everybody' meaning themselves, their school clients AND their FT jobseekers.

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

An A.A. in business administration is a good start; however, you should seriously consider completing a bachelor's degree. Sure, jobs can be found, but they are becoming scarcer and are often dodgy situations.

Even the people that hire you will not respect you, regardless of the fact that your A.A. is probably a much better education than they get at the bachelor's level.

In some provinces, perhaps most, lack of a bachelor's degree will close the door to any university. The FAO will not process your paperwork.

Get your bachelor's degree whether you come here or not. You'll find that it will pay off in the long run.

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

Hansen

Orrin · Joined: 02 Apr 2005 Posts: 206 Location: Zhuhai, China

@eddy-cool,

I agree with what you said. There is a tiny, very tiny number of reputable recruiters who work for the best interests of all their clients. Unfortunately that number is so small, it doesn't show up on the RADAR screen.

El Macho · Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 200

anjinholuis · Joined: 30 Sep 2009 Posts: 37 Location: Shandong

Renegade_o_Funk · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 125

First off the salary that school is offering you is way to low. I don't know where this school is located, but it doesent matter as you should not accept a position below 6-8k no matter what! They are all making a dump-truck full of cash by having a native speaker at their school, while they are throwing you some peanuts & a free apartment.

Second, try listing on your resume you have a Degree in Business Administration, leave off bachelors/associates and then go ahead try that out with some other schools. Chances are they wont be able to tell the difference or know the difference between an Associates & BA. My Wrangler/guy that takes care of all the stuff regarding foreign teachers speaks/types/reads very broken English, and this is in Beijing.

alter ego · Joined: 24 Mar 2009 Posts: 209

Renegade_o_Funk · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 125

YES IT IS WAY TOO LOW. All the job advertisements throw out a lowball salary hopeing someone desperate will take it. It has been said time and time again all over this board that the salary is negotiable. The worst that can happen is they will say no, the salary is not negotiable.

alter ego · Joined: 24 Mar 2009 Posts: 209

Base salaries at the polytechnic where I teach are non-negotiable. Starting salaries at the top university in the big city where I live are also set and vary only according to level of education, i.e., the lowest base salary for Bachelors, second lowest for Masters, and third lowest for Doctorates.

I say lowest because I do agree that salaries in China for uni jobs are too low. But this doesn't change the fact that the majority of salaries being "offered" are preset and negotiable only within a certain salary range. In terms of actual average base salaries unis are paying I think it's more realistic to say that what you see is pretty much what you get.

Teachers with little or no experience and/or without B.A./B.S. degrees probably have very little chance even to "negotiate" the high end of the current average pay scale. It's also a long shot to suggest teachers who fall into this category can apply for jobs advertising 4-5K base salaries and negotiate a sweeter deal in the 6-8K range.

Of course, in China I suppose anything is possible!