Job Discussion Forums

[choudoufu]

Hi all, welcome to my first post. I've already done a search and have
not found the info I'm looking for. I'm considering teaching in China,
but am a bit hesitant as this would be my first teaching position.

I'd prefer not to start out with 20-24 classes per week, which would be
overwhelming for a beginner. I've seen some postings for positions
requiring 14 or 16 hours. Much more manageable, but I'd like even
fewer. Six hours would be great!

What is the lowest conceivable hours I'm likely to find, but still have
a work visa and housing? (I'm not worried about the pay.) Also, what
exactly do these job postings mean....xx teaching hours, xx contact
hours? Should I assume, for example, that 3 teaching hours means
4 classes (if 45 minutes/class)? If the posting says 15 periods, does
that mean 15 classes?

A little background, I have 4 degrees (it's a hobby), and have just
completed an online TEFL course. Yes, i know it's worthless. But will
the Chinese administrators know that? Or care? In case you're
wondering why....I was enrolled at a university in a course I decided
not to complete. Instead of losing the prepaid tuition, I was able to
transfer that tuition credit to their online course.

[Trinley]

Hello and welcome,

I could be wrong, but I didn't think employers offered visa and housing for part time teachers, especially not for 6 hours a week. To get those benefits, I would expect to work 15 or more hours, which is really not a lot of work. I had 20 a week when I was a beginner, and it was easy -- just two 2-hour classes a day.

Example, 20 teaching hours, 30 contact hours means you have to be at the school doing prep, office hours, or whatever they indicate in the contract, for 30 hours but you only teach for 20.

It depends on the school how long their classes are, so I think it would be better to ask them individually if there's any ambiguity. 3 teaching hours could be one big 3-hour class (not likely), two 1.5-hour classes, or several 45 minute classes.

Hope this helps.

[RonHex]

I have a buddy with a "full time" job at a uni only 6 hours a week over 2 days.. he is teaching a writing course... school gave him a visa, 3bedroom house, flight bonus, summer pay, ect... not a common gig but they are out there.