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itinerantman
Joined: 13 Feb 2012
Posts: 19
Location: India
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 Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 5:13 am Post subject: Want to teach in China |
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This is my situation:
I was educated in the UK and am a native English speaker but have an Indian Passport.
I'm 55 years old and in good health.
I have a Bachelors in History but I teach English-I also have a Bachelors in Education.
For personal reasons I need to settle in China/SE Asia.
I have about 10 years of part time undocumented Home School teaching experience & another 3 years of documented International School teaching experience in Bali.
I would prefer a school teaching job over ESL but am willing to try ESL if required. Online teaching is also an option. I would need at least US $ 1000 + accommodation from my day job.
What would you suggest I do to land a job in SE Asia, particularly China? I'm aware that many countries will only accept native speakers so I'm looking for any loopholes ie some schools bring in non native speakers under the category of Social Science Teachers and then get them to teach English. Lastly do I need a TEFL Certificate or is my Teaching degree enough? If not,which is the cheapest online recognized TEFL Course?
Any advice would be much appreciated. |
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7969
Joined: 26 Mar 2003
Posts: 5782
Location: Coastal Guangdong
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| Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 5:31 am Post subject: Re: Want to teach in China |
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| itinerantman wrote: |
| What would you suggest I do to land a job in SE Asia, particularly China? I'm aware that many countries will only accept native speakers so I'm looking for any loopholes ie some schools bring in non native speakers under the category of Social Science Teachers and then get them to teach English. Lastly do I need a TEFL Certificate or is my Teaching degree enough? If not,which is the cheapest online recognized TEFL Course? |
Actually the native speaker requirement is a bit of a fallacy since the most important requirement (aside from education) is the passport you hold (yours isn't from one of the list of English speaking countries). There are plenty of non-native speakers of English walking around with the right passport and they can get hired as ESL teachers as easily as anyone else. Your written English here sounds fine and if that's any indication of your spoken English you're good to go, but that Indian passport is probably the biggest obstacle you're facing.
The hiring season (for the upcoming academic year) for public universities will be starting soon (Mar, Apr, May). I'd suggest searching out some schools and sending a mass email (with CV) to several of them indicating your interest in working for them. With your qualifications, experience and English ability it's conceivable you'll get a half decent job, but your options are a bit limited by that passport. Try it and see what kind of replies you get. |
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itinerantman
Joined: 13 Feb 2012
Posts: 19
Location: India
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| Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 6:03 am Post subject: |
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| The hiring season (for the upcoming academic year) for public universities will be starting soon (Mar, Apr, May). I'd suggest searching out some schools and sending a mass email (with CV) to several of them indicating your interest in working for them. With your qualifications, experience and English ability it's conceivable you'll get a half decent job, but your options are a bit limited by that passport. Try it and see what kind of replies you get |
Many thanks for sharing that information-I had no idea. Shall try the mass email. Are you aware of any lists(with mail id's) of public universities & schools in China? |
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7969
Joined: 26 Mar 2003
Posts: 5782
Location: Coastal Guangdong
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| Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 6:06 am Post subject: |
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try the following for job listings:
1. ESL Teachers Board
2. China TEFL
3. and this site, ESLCafe, has job listings as well.
Can't speak for #s 1 and 3, but the second site has direct contact info (no recruiters or middlemen) for schools on the left hand panel of each page. |
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The Great Wall of Whiner
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 4946
Location: Blabbing
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| Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:59 am Post subject: |
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I'll be a little more frank with you.
In order to legally teach English in China, one needs to have a valid passport from the following countries:
the UK, the US, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, or New Zealand.
You do have a lot of things going against you, not the least of which is ethnicity and nationality. Needing at least 6000 RMB a month will be difficult to swing for a public school given the underlining factors. Remember, you are competing against teachers who are the age, ethnicity and nationality that schools seek here. |
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therock
Joined: 31 Jul 2005
Posts: 1266
Location: China
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| Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 11:15 am Post subject: |
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I'll further burst those golden illusions you have of coming over to China. Most universites will NOT pay $1000+ a month. No matter what anyone on this board says, most jobs at public universities will pay in the 3500rmb - 5000rmb bracket.
Colleges and middle schools might pay more, but not having a passport from one of the major English speaking countries will reduce your chances of scoring a gig with one of these schools. |
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Mister Al
Joined: 28 Jun 2004
Posts: 840
Location: In there
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| Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 11:50 am Post subject: |
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You should be focusing on International schools and teaching history I think. And the package would be at least $3000.
the rock-you sound like you are bitter and angry that you can't find a decent paying job.
Quick poll (excluding therock)
Who works at a uni and is paid RMB3500-RMB5000 a month? |
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therock
Joined: 31 Jul 2005
Posts: 1266
Location: China
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| Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 12:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Mister Al wrote: |
You should be focusing on International schools and teaching history I think. And the package would be at least $3000.
the rock-you sound like you are bitter and angry that you can't find a decent paying job.
Quick poll (excluding therock)
Who works at a uni and is paid RMB3500-RMB5000 a month? |
Do I sound bitter? I'm just stating the facts. If you think otherwise take a look at uni jobs being advertised and you will see for yourself. |
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choudoufu
Joined: 25 May 2010
Posts: 3325
Location: Mao-berry, PRC
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| Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 1:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Mister Al wrote: |
Quick poll (excluding therock)
Who works at a uni and is paid RMB3500-RMB5000 a month? |
never earned within that pay range at a uni in china.
last year slightly less than (yunnan very pays low)
this year a bit over. |
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Miles Smiles
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1294
Location: Heebee Jeebee
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| Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 1:36 pm Post subject: |
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| therock wrote: |
I'll further burst those golden illusions you have of coming over to China. Most universites will NOT pay $1000+ a month. No matter what anyone on this board says, most jobs at public universities will pay in the 3500rmb - 5000rmb bracket.
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With proper credentials and Z visa, 5-7,000 rmb + accommodations is pretty much the norm in Jiangsu Province for public colleges and universities. At the current exchange rate, the OP will pull in about $800.00 at 5,000rmb per month with a BA degree.
My last job paid 6,000 rmb per month for twelve hours per week and less. I'll start another job in a week or so and make 7300 rmb per month. I have an MA in English and 15 years teaching experience.
Re: Ethnic group. I knew a Pakistani who taught at a middle school. His English was excellent and he worked at the school for about four years before moving on to greener pastures. |
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therock
Joined: 31 Jul 2005
Posts: 1266
Location: China
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| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 7:44 am Post subject: |
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| Miles Smiles wrote: |
| therock wrote: |
I'll further burst those golden illusions you have of coming over to China. Most universites will NOT pay $1000+ a month. No matter what anyone on this board says, most jobs at public universities will pay in the 3500rmb - 5000rmb bracket.
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With proper credentials and Z visa, 5-7,000 rmb + accommodations is pretty much the norm in Jiangsu Province for public colleges and universities. At the current exchange rate, the OP will pull in about $800.00 at 5,000rmb per month with a BA degree.
My last job paid 6,000 rmb per month for twelve hours per week and less. I'll start another job in a week or so and make 7300 rmb per month. I have an MA in English and 15 years teaching experience.. |
I did say "most" jobs at public universities pay in that range and I did then state that colleges tended to pay more. You might earn more, so do I. But the norm is for universities to pay in the range I said. Just take a look at some of the jobs advertised if you think otherwise.
Here a few examples:
Wuxi - 5000rmb a month
JOB NUMBER: NESL040912
PROVINCE: Jiangsu
CITY LOCATION: Wuxi
START: SEP
POSITION: UNIVERSITY
The position is with a top quality UNIVERSITY and the conditions are:
(Please quote Job Number when applying)
Position: Oral English Teacher
Vacancies: 2
Location: In Wuxi
Salary: 5000
Qualification: BA and TESOL
Experience required: Have teaching experience
Workload: 20classes/week 50 minutes/class
Medical Insurance: Yes
Airfare reimbursement: Yes
Travel allowance: Yes
Zhenjiang - 4800rmb a month
Teaching Location: Zhenjiang, Jiangsu School Type: University Start Date: February 2012 Qualification: native English Speakers + Bachelors Degree or higher (English/ Education/Literature) + TEFL + 1 year teaching experience Teaching Hour: 16 classes per week (45 mins each) Salary: 4,800 (BA); 5,200 (MA)- 5,600 (Phd) RMB/mo Accommodation Provided: Yes Working Visa: Provided Airfare : Upon completion of contract � Round Way Travel Allowance: 2,200 RMB/ year To Apply: Submit your resume/ photo / passport photopage / certificates to |
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TechTeacher
Joined: 07 Feb 2012
Posts: 20
Location: Beijing
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| Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2012 4:31 am Post subject: |
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| The Great Wall of Whiner wrote: |
I'll be a little more frank with you.
In order to legally teach English in China, one needs to have a valid passport from the following countries:
the UK, the US, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, or New Zealand.
You do have a lot of things going against you, not the least of which is ethnicity and nationality. Needing at least 6000 RMB a month will be difficult to swing for a public school given the underlining factors. Remember, you are competing against teachers who are the age, ethnicity and nationality that schools seek here. |
Are you trying to say that a school cannot get you an invitation letter to come and teach in China if you do not hold the passport of any of these countries ? even if you hold teaching certificates and Master degrees from the USA ? |
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dean_a_jones
Joined: 03 Jul 2009
Posts: 1151
Location: Wuhan, China
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| Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2012 4:44 am Post subject: |
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| TechTeacher wrote: |
| The Great Wall of Whiner wrote: |
In order to legally teach English in China, one needs to have a valid passport from the following countries:
the UK, the US, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, or New Zealand. |
Are you trying to say that a school cannot get you an invitation letter to come and teach in China if you do not hold the passport of any of these countries ? even if you hold teaching certificates and Master degrees from the USA ? |
I think in some provinces this will be true, and with many schools it will also be true. It will probably depend on what kind of connections and relationships the school has with the local education and security bureau, and whether either are willing to issue a work permit for a teacher who holds a passport from outside the countries listed above. I have met a few here on the right visa but without a passport from these countries, but it will be more difficult and limit your opportunities.
The first thing most schools will ask for is a scan of your passport, and you might find offers dry up upon receiving this, not because schools don't think you are qualified, but because of your nationality (and possibly race, unfortunately).
One possible route in, as you mentioned, is via teaching other subjects. Having a teaching certificate might also make you more attractive to some employers. In the end, I think what will pay off is persistence, and you will likely have to search harder and longer than a teacher with the 'right' passport might.
Be careful with contracts, terms and schools generally, make sure you don't end up at a place that has been given a wide berth by most due to poor reputation/conditions. Also, I would avoid turning up on anything other than a Z visa if you can. |
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