Teaching English in China
February 21st 2009 10:14
For many years now, Australians have been making the venture over to the mainland of China to teach conversational English to adults and students of many ages.
Even so when foreigners start their first day on the job at their new school, and sometimes in a job that they have never done or thought about ever doing. They do not know what is expected from them, and as well as what to expect.
Many of the students who you will teach already have been learning English from a early age. They will know the basics. If they tell you, they do not know English, just take it, that they do not want to learn or they do not want to help you.
Basically, I am not writing this article to tell you what it is like to teach in China, there are many books and websites that will help you. You can easily go to the link www.travellersjourney.com which is a website undergoing daily changes that will offer a bit of advice in what to expect from the day you decide to go over.
I would just like to tell you, when you intend to make the move to China to teach conversational English a year or more to research into it, just do not settle for the first advertisement you see.
When you are a foreigner and you have no idea or clue about the Chinese language meaning that you can not speak or understand Mandarin or even know the culture or you have not even been here before. I suggest to go initially through a agency for your first year. There are so many agencies out there for example ata tesol, A.I.T.A, and i-2-i plus there is many more. It is not until when you get over to China that you see adds everywhere for foreign English teachers. You will at one time need to do a bit of research on the internet for ideas for games and topics and lessons. Do not copy these. Use it as a guide, plus the students will know if they are your ideas. But, what I was getting at is that when you do this research you will come across many websites that will also lead you to websites that are looking for foreign teachers.
You will notice that is the smaller towns and cities the average monthly wage will be around 4000rmb ($AU750) and in the larger cities around 8000 to 10000rmb ($AU1500 to 1850). It may not seem to much, but I will tell you, in the smaller towns, you can live on around 200 to 300rmb per week, and that is still living like a king having 4 meals a day. Most of the schools that you will teach at, will have accomodation supplied which will have everything ie washing machine, internet, cable television, fully equiped kitchen, bed, lounge area and telephone which you will have to pay for obviously. In the smaller town, you will not have to pay for transport as everything is with in walking distance.
It is also good to know for your first time embarking on teaching in China that your agency organises all your visas, setting up of your bank account, and assisting to register you at the local police station. This will help you when you wish to stay on in China for higher pay at a city school not through a agency, so you know what to do and expect.
Your school will set up a life and health insurance plan under your name for you. Many of the schools that you go through direct will also help you receive your visa.
Also another thing you should look out for are schools that offer sign on bonuses, end of contract bonuses, and reimburseable return airfare from your home port. These are all extra monies for you.
For anyone out there who is looking at making the move over to China to teach conversational English and also better yourself in the mean time and learn about a different culture and even learn a new language. There is a organisation out there who will direct you in the right direction and also could help and assist you in finding a school. Contact Andrew at Do-Simple communications at the email address andrewam26@hotmail.com.
Even so when foreigners start their first day on the job at their new school, and sometimes in a job that they have never done or thought about ever doing. They do not know what is expected from them, and as well as what to expect.
Many of the students who you will teach already have been learning English from a early age. They will know the basics. If they tell you, they do not know English, just take it, that they do not want to learn or they do not want to help you.
Basically, I am not writing this article to tell you what it is like to teach in China, there are many books and websites that will help you. You can easily go to the link www.travellersjourney.com which is a website undergoing daily changes that will offer a bit of advice in what to expect from the day you decide to go over.
I would just like to tell you, when you intend to make the move to China to teach conversational English a year or more to research into it, just do not settle for the first advertisement you see.
When you are a foreigner and you have no idea or clue about the Chinese language meaning that you can not speak or understand Mandarin or even know the culture or you have not even been here before. I suggest to go initially through a agency for your first year. There are so many agencies out there for example ata tesol, A.I.T.A, and i-2-i plus there is many more. It is not until when you get over to China that you see adds everywhere for foreign English teachers. You will at one time need to do a bit of research on the internet for ideas for games and topics and lessons. Do not copy these. Use it as a guide, plus the students will know if they are your ideas. But, what I was getting at is that when you do this research you will come across many websites that will also lead you to websites that are looking for foreign teachers.
You will notice that is the smaller towns and cities the average monthly wage will be around 4000rmb ($AU750) and in the larger cities around 8000 to 10000rmb ($AU1500 to 1850). It may not seem to much, but I will tell you, in the smaller towns, you can live on around 200 to 300rmb per week, and that is still living like a king having 4 meals a day. Most of the schools that you will teach at, will have accomodation supplied which will have everything ie washing machine, internet, cable television, fully equiped kitchen, bed, lounge area and telephone which you will have to pay for obviously. In the smaller town, you will not have to pay for transport as everything is with in walking distance.
It is also good to know for your first time embarking on teaching in China that your agency organises all your visas, setting up of your bank account, and assisting to register you at the local police station. This will help you when you wish to stay on in China for higher pay at a city school not through a agency, so you know what to do and expect.
Your school will set up a life and health insurance plan under your name for you. Many of the schools that you go through direct will also help you receive your visa.
Also another thing you should look out for are schools that offer sign on bonuses, end of contract bonuses, and reimburseable return airfare from your home port. These are all extra monies for you.
For anyone out there who is looking at making the move over to China to teach conversational English and also better yourself in the mean time and learn about a different culture and even learn a new language. There is a organisation out there who will direct you in the right direction and also could help and assist you in finding a school. Contact Andrew at Do-Simple communications at the email address andrewam26@hotmail.com.
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