Ups and Downs of Teaching in China
Posted By: Tony <thetransient@hotmail.com>
Date: 12 June 2004

I read with interest the message from Paul Hodge and can understand his frustrations.

I have been teaching in China for two years now and have found it a bitter sweet experience.
I have been in a "Private" Middle School and my eyes have been forced wide open at what really happens here.

Before I start though I would like to relate a cartoon that appeared in the China Daily Newspaper about a year ago (its and English newspaper published like all papers by the Central Gov).
It depicted a foreign teacher as a drunken derilict, a loser who could find no job in his/her own country so had to come to China to find a job. Interestingly enough a fellow foreign teacher wrote to the paper in disgust about it, but nothing was published. So in a way that is how most foreign teachers are depicted here.

I am lucky, for the new school year, I am going to a top University and will not just be teaching Enlsig, but Business and or Computer Science, and here they do take us seriusly and hold us in respect.

But if you are thinking of comming to China to teach, think long and hard if you really think you are going to make a difference - BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT. Private schools here are a sham - you are just here as an advertising tool. The students in most cases at private schools are here because they cannot make it at the Govt. schools. They do not take Oral English seriusly at all. I have confiscated knives of senior students.

Cheating in exams is accpeted if not condoned to make the school look good in its advertising. In fact they outrightly lie in their advertising.

They had me advertised as the Director of English at the University of Australia, for one I am not Australian, I have never been to a Uni in Australia and there is no such thing as the University of Australia. The other teacher here was advertised as a famous American, well, he was American, but famous?.......
Believe me at a private school, you are less than nothing here unless they want something from you.

With all the neagtivety above, I will say that there have been some great times here, with some great students, just be aware and do not come here with your eyes closed as I have seen many do and really hate there experience here. China is certainly a great country to visit, with many amazing things to see, but you will not get a lot of oppotunity to see anything while you are working.

If you can stay away from private schools and universities, also stay away from a consultant company called "Yakup International" you will be miseld and lied to as they do to the schools, they promise you the world and really give notjhing, especially after they have their commission.

For me life here is a little different as I am married to a Chinese person, so life is not always as difficult as I have seen it for other teachers here.

If you don't come with your eyes closed you may have a wonderful time here, much better than South Korea. Be strong without being angry, and do not let them walk over you.

________________________________________

In Response To: Ups and Downs of Teaching in China (Tony)
Posted By: DoS <chinren@fastmail.cn>
Date: 13 June 2004

Tony,

Whilst I don't deny there is truth in your post, I do think you are concentrating very much on the negative side. I also don't think that the Chinese are as bad as you make them out to be. They are no worse than most people in the west, though possibly less well educated.

Yes, private schools can be bad, but I have worked for two now, in the two years I have been here, and there were okay. This one is much better than my last one, partly because I was far better prepared than I was last time. Hey, you have to look on it as a learning experience.

Some advice for newbies: You *need* to clarify matters upfront. You need to ensure you will be working at a school allowed to employ foreigners and that you will be given a Z class visa. You must make it clear that you expect to have that visa, and the school must not hold onto that, or your passport. You have to emphasise how important getting paid on time is to a foreigner. (In China it isn't a really big deal if you get paid a week late, and they often don't understand that). You need to specify that you have the right to say no to a class unless they give you 24 hours notice. You need to read the contract carefully and add these points to it. You MUST make it clear that if they **ck you around you will walk! There are lots of places out there looking for teachers. Finding another post is not hard.

Okay, assuming you do that, then you can relax to a degree. It is all in your attitude, and remember, you are in their country. I assume you travelled to experience other cultures, so here it is. Coming here with your eyes open should be a given.

"If you don't like it go to Russia." - Homer J Simpson.

__________________________________

In Response To: Re: Ups and Downs of Teaching in China (DoS)
Posted By: Tony <thetransient@hotmail.com>
Date: 13 June 2004

Hi Dos,

you are right, I suppose I did concentrate on the negatives a little too much, but I will say that a lot of the teachers I have spoken to in the two and half years I have been here, have been quite naieve in a lot of ways and have hated their experience here.
I have travelled and worked in many countries (not as a teacher though) and have found that there are good and bad points everywhere you go, although I have not been to Russia.

I truly believe that if you have never been away from your home country before China may not be the best first choice.

On the positive side I have had and am sure I will continue to have a good time here - It does help that I am married to a Chinese person.

In nearly all cases, the people I have met away from the school on a personal basis have been very open and friendly, and I have made many good friends here.

__________________________________

In Response To: Re: Ups and Downs of Teaching in China - DOS (Tony)
Posted By: DoS
Date: 14 June 2004

The school makes the biggest difference to your experiences of course, and I *certainly* agree with your comment when you say China should not be the first choice for 'newbie' travellers! I have travelled to many many places, and I always say that China is more different than anywhere else!

Keep on slogging! ;-)