Job Discussion Forums

[chaz47]

Hi, I haven't posted on the China board in a long long time but have thought about working there for the past 3 years.

I was most recently employed at a university in Busan, South Korea but there was a new uni president who took over a couple years ago and he decided to "clean house" and opted to not renew the contracts of our EFL department. They wanted MAs and had to wash out the old BAs who had been entrenched for several years. By and large they were fairly successful, they filled 7 of the 9 slots with MAs. But, I digress, the long and the short is that the university situation in Korea has gotten VERY competitive with the recent economic downturn.

So, at the end of that contract I went back to the US to perhaps pursue an online MA in TESOL or do some writing. Now, 4 months into my unemployment/sabbatical, I find myself bored to tears and sick of the US. The TESOL programs I want to get into don't seem to accept fresh enrollments until March and my writing enthusiasm is nil.

I want to go abroad again, especially before I eat too far into my savings from the 4 years I worked in Korea.

Ideally I would want to find a university position in Beijing or Shanghai but I'm pretty sure that my qualifications are too low. With that in mind I would be happy with an adult school in one of the big 2, preferably Beijing. I want to begin to learn test prep for IELTS, TOEFL, etc.

I'm willing to fly over and look for work. Is this necessary advisable? What documents should I have prepared? Are their immigration policies as backwards/draconian as Korea's?

What sort of salary/wages should I expect?

Is private teaching illegal in China?

I have a BA or a BS (my diploma says BFA but the university's system says I have a BS now). A 120 hour TESOL certification backed by the University of Anaheim and 3 other universities in English-speaking nations. And, I have 4.5 years of experience, 2 at university, 1 at an adult private school, 1 at a public middle school and 1/2 a year at a children's private school.

Thanks hugely in advance for your advice.

[Gilka]

I haven't lived or worked in either Beijing or Shanhai; but, you asked so nicely, I'll answer anyway

It is typically best to hunt for your first job from outside of China, as there is a good chance you'd have to leave the country on a visa run once work is found anyway. However, it seems that most good schools in Beijing and Shanghai just don't advertise their positions, as there are enough foreigners on the ground already. So, I can see why you are thinking of coming here to look for work, and I have no doubt that you would find something. It still isn't the best way to do it. With no connections, no easily extended RP, no recommendation/release letter, you'll likely still be at a disadvantage.

There are plenty of big, modern Chinese cities outside of those two. If you were willing to spend a year in a city like Guangzhou, Xi'an, Qingdao, Dalian, Nanjing, etc., then you would most likely have access to the better job offers when looking for work the next year in Beijing or Shanghai.

Of course, luck counts for a LOT over here. I wouldn't be surprised if you got lucky.

[SnoopBot]