Job Discussion Forums

[John28]

Hello everybody. I created a similar topic previously asking about January starts in China, however now I am presented with the problem of WHERE to choose to go?! I hope people can relate to me when I say that it really does feel like a difficult decision, more in terms of a complete lack of awareness of the places and even once looking them up, it still doesn't make the decision 100% certain. Can people please give me tips or experiences based on where they have been?

My initial response was Beijing or Shanghai as I do like to live in a busy city full of choices and places to see and visit, however I have heard stories by the truck load of China being a very cramped, busy and intense place in areas (especially on public transport!), therefore would I benefit from teaching in a more quiet location and would the pay differ depending on where I decided to teach?

Argh, help!

[Denim-Maniac]

Of course everyones needs, musts and preferences will be different, but here are things I think you should consider.

Climate - Long winters of minus 15c and lots of snow may appeal to some, but isnt what I really want. With a lack of central heating in southern provinces, everywhere can get a bit nippy during winter, but the difference between ShenZhen and Dalian is probably huge. If you cant cope with the climate you have chosen to work in, be prepared for an unhappy year.

Big City living Vs Small city life Vs rural areas and towns - Busy Chinese cities appeal to some people for their vibrancy, others hate being packed like sardines on buses and find the metro really ISNT convenient because true convenience is having everything you need within walking distance. Choosing a rural location because you want a genuine experience is fine, but its going to be a poor fit if you cant live without cheese and imported beer on draft in an ex-pat bar. The reverse is also true, if you want to dedicate yourself to taichi and are an outdoorsy type...cities are likely to be your worst nightmare.

Language - If you are planning to learn Putonghua, location and region may have a bearing on your choice. Across China that are regions that are more noted for the 'standard' nature of its Mandarin. I used to pooh-pooh that idea because everywhere Ive been Ive met Mandarin speakers .. HOWEVER, I have since noticed that people from some areas in China arent handicapped by accent ... they cant actually pronounce many of the sounds in normal regular putonghua! This was / is quite frustrating for me these days as the reason I dont always understand what people say is because my pronunciation is better than theirs!

Type of teaching - Probably the biggest decision to make. Consider the wildly different environments of kindy to middle school to uni and classes of up to 100 students. Compare that to working weekends dressed in a Disney suit singing songs, to working with small classes of demanding adults. All very different, and may require different skill sets. Find a job in a great city, but end up teaching an age group and type of class you hate, and you'll probably have a horrid time. Get the teaching right, and a lot of the happy times should follow.

[John28]

[John28]

So ideally, I am looking for a smaller city or somewhere thats a reasonable distance to a larger city that is more towards the south so that the winter will be more bearable.

Does anybody else have any recommendations? There are literally thousands of places! Argh

[The Edge]

Each to their own.
Everybody has different personalities.
For a FOTB I would advise a Tier 2 or 3 city but the FOTB might find a Tier 1 city more to their taste as there will be more foreigners in a HUGE but unfriendly city that is akin to London, NYC or LA.
I agree that climate is also a huge factor.
Good luck.

[John28]

[The Edge]

[John28]

[Denim-Maniac]

I dont expect this view to be a popular one, but my advice is to forget about salary and concentrate on the other points.

I have read 100s of unhappy forum posts, and I believe that many of them are caused by people spending so much time concerning themselves with salary they forget to consider the work they'll be doing and the place they'll be living in.

Again, expecting flames I can say I have never earned the salary you mention, but Ive always had a great time, loved my employment and trusted my employer implicitly. Salary is only a small part of the total picture IMO.

I recently looked at a job in SZ that paid 11k plus per month, and not sure that it worked out as anywhere near high enough, considering the fact Id have to work less favourable hours, have to travel to work and commute etc and live in a place that isnt as beautiful as my last job.

[John28]

[Miles Smiles]

[quote="Denim-Maniac"]I dont expect this view to be a popular one, but my advice is to forget about salary and concentrate on the other points.

/quote]

I agree, especially if the FT is more interested in taking in the sights than teaching. God knows, China needs more tourists.

[John28]

[quote="Miles Smiles"]

[MisterButtkins]

I live in a very cold, dry city close to the desert. I don't mind cold so much but hate rain and like to see the sun, so it fits me well. Don't let other people tell you where to live. Some people might feel south China has better climate, but for me it's not a good fit.

Another important thing to consider is cost of living. Big cities can mean bigger salaries, but in a big city most things are also more expensive. Getting by on 2k/month in a 3rd tier city is easy. In Shenzhen or Shanghai, you could spend that in a week.