Who has taught English in China...?

Question

... and what do you recommend as the best way to find a decent school to teach at?

Answer 1

I have not taught english here but have been in very close contwact with the students. They definately need an english spaking teacher. Their grammar is quite good however their spoken english is terrible. They can read and write engish but can not speak it well. Their is a big need for qualified english teachers here. I am not qualified but i believe if i wanted to I could teach english here as a second language. As mentioned before, the chinese teachers are very well versed on the grammar but they also have difficulty with pronunciation. I even have a hard time understanding the teachers when i talk with them. As a foreigner i have beeen invited to speak at a few schools here. The students are great and very enthusiastic about learning english SPOKEN ENGLISH not just the grammar. They pay is pretty good and very good depending on your credentials.

A word of caution though. Please try to investigate any agency you may wish to use in order to secure a position here. Their are agencies on the web that just want a fee from you and do not deliver.

If i can be of any help please contact me at [e-mail]. I have some contacts in the schools here in Nei Jiang Sichuan Province (just south of Chengdu) and also in Heng Xian in Guanxi Province. This is near the beautiful southern city of Nanning.

Good luck.

Answer 2

I agree. that 18-20,000 number is REALLY high. like I have never heard of a teacher making half that.

I work in Guangzhou. I found my jobs by just trying different places till I found one that fits. I used Dave's ESL cafe and the AsiaXpat web site. but finally found where I am now by word of mouth (minibees).

It all depends on what you are looking for. I first tried college-aged students but ended up being discouraged by the attitudes of the other teachers... and with the learning capability of the age group. Then i did primary school placements and 50 student classes with no A/C in the jungle is pretty awful, and finally found these little private places. and just love it. 15-20 student classes, A/C, staff that is interested in new ideas, good pay, visa, help getting other jobs when I wanted. and the cream of the crop of students at the prime age for learning languages. AND! my students are winning awards in the city and country

I'm taken care of.
and these places exist and you shouldnt settle for less. granted it took me two years to find it and i went through some hardships to get here but now I am really happy and you should be too.

so don't settle for a college that only promises room and board and visa.... or if you do... don't stop looking for the better situations. you can work weekends or like at my place, they put me in a college during the weekdays for more than what i was making on my own AND give me extra income on the weekends of classes I am crazy about.

just keep looking and don't be discouraged by what may be your first placement. and second don't trust anyone that basically tells you that you can just wing it in a class.


hope this helps.
finally one more thing... you need to consider where you want to live, too. Guangzhou is a pretty international city (for China) and some times a hot shower, a western kitchen, a starbucks or hagen daaz is pretty important. decide what you need.

Answer 3

Do your research. If you have a particular city in mind, check the expat websites for that city. The local ESL teachers can give you the best info regarding good/bad schools, local wages, types of accommodation, etc. Someone said wages of 18,000-20,000 RMB per month. That's high. In my area, wages are 3,000-6,000 RMB per month, but the 6,000 RMB people work a ton of hours, nights, weekends, and holidays and usually share an apartment with at least one roommate. When looking at a school don't just focus on wages. Sometimes a lower wage comes with a lot of amenities the higher wage folks don't get, like 4 1/2 months of paid vacation time, sick days, an uncapped round trip ticket home, and a raise each year, along with a roommate free flat in a very nice part of town, satellite cable, a cook, and on-site medical care. Check out Dave's ESL Cafe and other forums for the most recent recommendations or denunciations of schools in China.

Answer 4

I'm teaching English presently in Anshan, Liaoning province. I went through Global Crossroad to find my placement and am extremely happy with my school, apartment, and wages. Their website is www.globalcrossroad.com

Answer 5

All the above 3 answerers are pretty good and their recommendations are excellent however I must remind you
to request that they arrange your work visa and to include
the taxes. Normally wages are about Yuan 18,000 to 20,000.
p.m. inclusive of housing and taxes.

Answer 6

I think you can ask this question on http://ask.jongo.com/ they answer all China related questions. Maybe you can get some help there.