Job Discussion Forums

[mrwslee003]

It is interesting to read all the material on this forum. I wonder if your reason for coming and working in China has anything to do with what kind of experiences and what kind of challenges you face in China? Now, that is the reason for the question.

My reasons for having come to China and worked here were mainly personal: One, after many years of teaching in Canada my fatique level was getting high. With my mother dying in 06 was another negative emotional weight on me. This was a "push" factor to get out of the local environment. Two, there were 2 factors that were the "pull" force. China has always been a magnetic force on me and the idea of having my family experience its culture and maybe have my children become fluent in the language made the decision easy.
When the opportunity to teach in a Canadian school popped up we just grabbed it.

The two years of living in China was an overall success. The challenges of finding appropriate accomodation and dealing with the local establishments, like a simple telephone hook up was more than compensated with the friends we made and the friendly reception we had from the school and city government.

We learned about China, the kids gained some language skills and the memories of travelling China's cities, Great Wall, etc. is just priceless. We learned to see China's progress and her challenges now and in the future. We've come away with a sense of awe with her advances and feeling more at ease with China's problems.

Finally, we returned to my children's birthplace and our home and appreciate more all the things we've been blessed with.

Now, how about you?

[cormac]

I originally came to China when I was still working as a Credit Controller, and a sister company needed "specialist" advice on debt collection practices. Since I'd handled quite a bit of the Asian customer base for the parent company I was sent in to moderate. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience of China at that time, and then when my contract was finished I decided I needed a break from business work. Ended up doing 8 months in Xi'an working with Kids Castle. Had some very strong downs in work, but that just made the experience with the Chinese themselves outside of work all that more impressive.

I went home for a long stint to decide what it was that I really wanted to do, and in the end decided that my immediate future lay in China. Teaching is the best tool to stay, so I'm sticking with that. If I find I'm suited, then I'll further my teaching related qualifications, and China remains one of the easiest places to get the much needed initial experience.

Oh, I'll fully admit that a rather large degree of my interest (although not all) in China stems from Chinese women themselves. But I got that interest while in Australia, and seemed to make sense to come to place with the largest population of them.

My plan is for 3 years, and the re-evaluate the situation.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

I taught in Japan, then Korea, then Taiwan, then finally China. Kind of like the frog in the pot of slowly boiling water.

I left in 2008 back to Canada with my wife but she missed home (China) so much and begged to go back. So... here I am, sadly.

Now that she is pregnant, I have however convinced her to go back home at the end of 2011, and that is where we will settle down and do the happily ever after thing if jobs continue the way they are here.

By the way OP, it's my understanding that you are Chinese. What made you move to Canada initially?

[LanGuTou]

When I first arrived in China some seven and a half years ago, I had no intention of being a foreign teacher. I came, in fact, to implement an agricultural production project in N.E. China. When I got here, I started to smell long term opportunities within the field that I was trained. But how to go about exploiting these opportunities? I needed a long term plan so I set my goals for the following five years. The plans included extensive research, learning the language and a thorough understanding of Chinese business practices.

Being a foreign teacher was a useful cover. Somewhere to live, a working visa and a salary sufficient to survive on. Also plenty of free time to pursue my business objectives. I have to admit that I am one of the foreign teachers often described on this forum that has no formal training in the teaching profession. I came here with my business experience and my science degree but no teaching background. China made it very easy for this to be of low importance.

In February 2010, I formally registered my business. I had planned to do this after five years. In the end it took seven years. Certain obstacles resulted in delays and contingency had to be established. In those seven years, my own personal professional background has gained prominence and importance in Chinese society. That wasn't planned for originally but has brought about very interesting and challenging diversions in my long term plan.

I often read threads on this and other forums written by foreign teachers who want to pursue careers outside ESL. It can be done providing you have a plan and the will to carry out that plan.

Some time ago, I read a motivational quote on a business related website along the lines of "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity". I have typed this quote, printed it out and stuck it on the wall in my office. I have emphasized to many Chinese students in my time as a foreign teacher the importance of preparation and planning. Lucky people are invariably well prepared people.

One year on, my business activities are becoming more and more fruitful. Nothing has been easy. Dealing with immigration and governmental issues has caused me more than the odd sleepless night. I now have some lucrative contracts with overseas companies. A Beijing based international magazine did a two page write up on my business activities in China and I have been nominated for a global competition related to supply chain management. Every last yuan I ever earned as a foreign teacher plus a whole lot more has been reinvested. I am finally in a position to offer employment to Chinese nationals some of whom are my students.

I continue to read posts on this board and sometimes still contribute my views and ideas. I particularly like the forum related to life in China.

[therock]