rosied
- 2012-04-06
I just want to thank everybody for all the responses! My internet provider didn't tell me I had any responses so I forgot to check :)
I do have a TEFL cert from Ireland, but it's only 20 hours.
Anyway, it's something I will have to research more about in the future, but I will keep all the comments in mind!
Until then, I think I've changed my mind about working in China for the moment because I got a job offer for Germany :)
Thanks again!
Rosie
Dragonized
- 2012-02-23
There seems to be some serious ethics issues in Liaoning Province. All real teachers should just stay the heck away from that place. Qualified folks should only go to places where they are treated fairly, and that's not guaranteed anywhere in china unless you stand up for yourself and not let others push you around.
Dragonized
- 2012-02-23
Furthermore, anyone who has worked in China for any amount of time knows that a local authority's attitude to applications for foreign expert certificates and letters of invitation could accurately be described as whimsical and prone to alteration without warning.
This is very true. Anyone who is new to china should look at what this poster has written. The disorganization and do whatever you want attitude is very much alive in all facets of this developing country.
Magister
- 2012-02-23
You've made accusations against others on this board of writing blanket statements and presenting ideas about which they have no specific knowledge.
You've then gone and done the same in your reply to rosied by stating that your experience of working for a specific school, in a specific city represents a 'reality' for anyone applying for a visa in Liaoning. You can check Not Good List's post regarding visas in Liaoning which gives a much more balanced account of the situation. Furthermore, anyone who has worked in China for any amount of time knows that a local authority's attitude to applications for foreign expert certificates and letters of invitation could accurately be described as whimsical and prone to alteration without warning.
Equally you claim that kids enter school at the age of 6. Again that is not a reality, I've met students as young as 4 studying in primary schools and some start primary education at 7. So again, you are making a blanket statement derived from a 'best guess' of what is happening or a least what should be happening at ground level.
I assume that you have worked for the three schools that you have recommended in your initial post. Otherwise i'm afraid that you are again making suggestions based on very little direct experience which once again is something you have complained of others doing to your own school.
Finally, the initial post to which i was replying doesn't even make sense in several places.
I am therefore, going to stick by my 'grip on reality' statement
Ealing International College
- 2012-02-22
But what has Zhejiang have to do with Dalian? That's like saying the law of Neveda is the same as New York State....
Ealing International College
- 2012-02-22
I agree we do pay twice as much as some universities....
Not Good List
- 2012-02-21
All of what Ealing writes is not 100% true.
Yes, technically, a job applicant for an ESL job in Liaoning should be at least twenty-five years old, have two years of prior teaching experience, possess a university diploma in addition to a TESOL / CELTA certificate and come one from of the approved Big 5 countries. That is the LETTER OF THE LAW.
But this is China and this is Liaoning and things are quite different. There is only city in Liaoning that has an oversupply of foreign teachers and that is Shenyang. Thus, SOMETIMES, and I only say SOMETIMES, the letter of the law is strictly applied in Shenyang but that is only sometimes. Dalian has a situation that is more fluid -- sometimes there are too many teachers, sometimes not enough. In those cases where supply outweighs demand, the letter of the law is applied. In those cases in Dalian where demand outstrips supply, then the letter of the law is .... "modified". In the rest of Liaoning Province, there is a dearth of foreign teachers, almost to the extreme.
In terms of salaries, what does this mean? In Shenyang and Dalian, salaries tend to be less than in the hinterland. Salaries in Dalian are particularly on the low side -- just consider the case of Ealing -- 25 hours per week, 10 hours travel time, 5 hours office time, demo lessons and the like for RMB 6,000 per month. That is a salary that no foreign teacher in Liaoning but outside of Dalian and Shenyang would even sniff at. There are uni jobs in Dalian that still try to pay RMB 3,500 per month and they get away with it!
China is China and Liaoning is Liaoning. Rosie, if you can find a school in Liaoning that really wants to hire you, well, in that case they can make "miracles" happen. That is just how it is around here.
In any case, avoid Ealing, it's a sweatshop, a la 1900's Birmingham, England.
Ealing International College
- 2012-02-21
As the poster was looking for Dalian I stated the local requirements to Liaoning...
Magister
- 2012-02-21
San Migs is right about not needing 2years experience in Zhejiang.
Ealing International School's grip on 'reality' getting ever more lose
Dragonized
- 2012-02-20
Hi Rosie, I would suggest finding a public, government run kindergarden or primary school if you're really that into teaching kids. Of course, if there is some trouble with finding a job in the public sector, you'll need to risk the private sector, most of whom are bad. If you already have teaching experience, it should be easier to find a public teaching gig. Dalian is not a cheap city to live in, so please take care and be sure to save your money. Avoid the types of private educational facilities with very gimmicky names. As for the suggestions made by the other poster, i'll leave it to you to google these franchise training centers and see if there are any bad reviews for them.
San Migs
- 2012-02-21
A legal teacher Must have 2 years teaching experience along with their degree to even get a look on a Z visa. This is a basic requirement.
Wrong. The degree and tefl is enough, at least in Zhejiang province. I think maybe even the tefl is not needed.
Ealing International College
- 2012-02-20
Hi Rosie.
If you believe 90% of the threads on the site you wouldn’t come to China or Dalian. I will tell you about the real situation here as I know it concerning your questions. A legal teacher Must have 2 years teaching experience along with their degree to even get a look on a Z visa. This is a basic requirement.
At 6 years old children enter public school BUT there are many kindergartens and private schools to work for. Look at Kid's Castle, Kindyroo and Gymboree as models for what might be interesting. The levels of kindy vary dramatically but there are still ways of making a good living as well as the rewards of working with children. For all that is said children are still children and need the best teachers where possible, in the best environment.
Dalian is an easy place to live for China and has a good mix of western restaurants, bars and goods available, It’s modern and new-ish but very livable and a good entry point for newbie’s into China. Just hope this helps a bit…
I'm about to be newly qualified in May 2012 with a degree in early years education (in Ireland). I would love to travel to China and teach English, but only really to small children up to about 6 years of age - I have no ambition to teach adults! But what I'm reading on here is that Kindergarten teaching jobs are crap in China... If someone could clarify the situation for me I'd appreciate it!
My preferred area would be Dalian/Liaoning but only because I have family there. I'd be open to working in other areas but maybe not too far away.
Also could somebody advise me on whether I would have any chance of getting a job if I arrived in January 2013, or would I be better off arriving in September 2012? I really don't know anything about normal start dates for schools in China...
Any help would be great!
Rosie