Job Discussion Forums

[ncrebel1]

Hi everybody,

I'm exploring China (along with Japan, Thailand and Taiwan) as a potential destination to teach next Fall. I currently teach in a bilingual school in Honduras. I've been here since July and this is my first "official" classroom teaching job; I'll be here until July of 2012. I have lots of tutoring experience from ESL for about a year after college every week to accounting and math in college. As I understand it, the two-year rule for teaching experience varies greatly from province to province and from university to university. I really want to work in a university because of the reduced work load; I teach 6 classes for 50 minutes a day, with a serious amount of paperwork and I would like to have a more relaxed year next year. I had a few questions I was hoping some kind folks would help me out with.

1) What city would you suggest for a young, single guy? I'm 25 and I enjoy going out on weekends and having fun.

2) Is my experience adequate to get a look from respectable universities in Nanjing? If not there, where else might I want to look that would fit what I'm looking for in point number 1?

3) I'm assuming the best way to apply for these jobs is to send a CV directly to the universities I'm interested in. How early is too early to send the CV?

4) I don't really need to save anything, but it would be nice to pocket a couple hundred $ every month. Are there opportunities for private lessons for extra income each month? Do universities allow this, generally? I've learned to live very frugally on a low salary in Honduras these last several months, so I think that may help reduce the amount of money I might spend.

5) How are the accommadations provided by universities? Are they adequate, large enough, clean, furnished, secure, etc?

6) I really don't want to work in language center. University work is what interests me in China. I don't know if the market is flooded for uni work right now or not. The idea of a long break for Spring Festival and low teaching hours per week is huge draw, despite the lower salary. That's about all I can think of for now.

I'd appreciate any responses. Thanks in advance for any help, and I'll keep checking this thread so if I need to add more information just ask. Thanks.

[7969]

good morning. . . most of what you need to know can be found here:

Your reasons for choosing a university to work for.

Check my first post in that link, where I link to three other threads on the same topic. If you need further info go through the archives of this site, there's lots of info there. If you don't find what you're looking for - of course, ask.

[big_big_bang_theory_fan]

[MisterButtkins]

[ncrebel1]

[choudoufu]

you'll be fine. some universities will decline based on your age
and experience. others will offer you employment. you'll never
know until you apply.

you may ignore posts the state definitively what the law is.
few of us foreign teachers know chinese law, whether certain
restrictions are laws, regulations, guidelines or suggestions.

regardless, how the laws/guidelines are enforced is not uniform.
different provinces, or regions within provinces, apply the rules
differently (if they themselves know the actual rules).

[Non Sequitur]

OP just to clarify.
You're looking to start at the beginning of Sept 2012?
If so the ads will start appearing April time - maybe some earlier - and they will want you signed up by early July.
CVs sent out now will largely be ignored unless the uni is hard to staff or there were some no shows for Sept 2011 start.

[ncrebel1]

Yes.

As I understand it, that's the beginning of the second semester. Correct?

I didn't plan on sending out my CV now. I figured around March or April of next year would be adequate. I had originally wanted to know by around February of 2012 where my next destination would be, but it seems with countries like China (if I want a university position), that may not be possible.

On a related note, are there specific cities or provinces that you know of that I should not waste my time applying to, due to criteria they use to hire foreign teachers? In other words, are there places that strictly follow the 2 year experience rule, or have a certain age they look for that I would not fit into?

Thank you to everyone who has commented, by the way.

[Non Sequitur]

1 Sept is the start of the academic year, so technically the first semester. That's when the freshmen arrive.
That semester goes through until spring break in Feb.
I see the potential downside of age is counterbalanced by the experience.
That's as long as you project a mature image and don't want to be best buddies with your students.
Certainly a high or middle school situation would establish a bigger age gap but I think they are too full on to give you the lifestyle.
Remember there are Tier 1, 2 and 3 universities plus 3-year Associate Degree vocational outfits.
Plenty to choose from. I enjoyed vocational students more than the too cool for school Tier One uni guys.
I think 2nd/3rd tier unis in second-level provincial cities on the east coast should be your target. I've lived in Dalian and Qingdao and plenty for expat socialising there.
But you're not competing head on with more experience and qualified teachers who get the Beijing Shanghai jobs.
In March be ready and be busy.
I'll PM you an idea or two.
Best

[ncrebel1]

Much appreciated, Non Sequitur.

I have heard great things about Dalian and Qingdao. I'll start researching universities in the places you've suggested. I might PM you with some more pointed questions soon if that's okay.

Thanks again.

[Non Sequitur]

Sure