scot47

Someone who labels teachers as "losers" is hardly a proponent of education ! I have reservations too, about fork lift truck operators who think they can teach English because it is their native tongue !

Vexcore

Exaclty LOL,

ok here is one for you

Stay in china for 5 years JUST TEACH ENGLISH

come back to UK how does it benefit you?

we've all done it, i've teached english to get some 'cash' but i ain't doing that in the long run, and my friends in china and my wife';s family all think it's not a good way to live a life (maybe for a year or 2) get some experienced.

So i call them losers? it means i disapprove? to be honest fella, it really wasn't me calling them losers but in fact the 'locals' that told me.


Business man or Teacher

Which sounds better?

And don't get me wrong, even i have done it's good job meet kids have fun learn new things but for the long run? no chance in hell.

scot47

I quote - "i've teached english to get some 'cash' "

I assume your native tongue is Urdu.

hong_konger

Now now girls ! This is a friendly forum. Lets leave the bickering to the Middle East forum !!

Vexcore

its ok

vincentthelibra

Not sure if you're already in China or...you must be coz i saw this was posted more than a year ago...how's ur life in Nanjing now? Are you getting along well with Chinese people?

Gypsy57

Hello hello. Got to agree with this fellow. I've been in China about 4.5 years only teaching English. I'm not a "real" teacher (I did a 2 day taster TEFL!), a lot of (not all- the ones who benefit from us either in learning or financially don't) locals do think we are losers. Also the point he made about coming back to the UK afterwards- some of my fellow "teachers" and I have often discussed this. After being a fake teacher for a few years, we all feel we have lost skills and knowledge that make us employable in "real" jobs back home. That's one big reason why most people just stay here... why go home and start again from scratch when you can do an easy job for more money here? Next year I am leaving and will go back to being a student again. Not easy but I feel I don't have much of a choice- who wants to employ somebody who's been dancing around like a fool for years- when they aren't even qualified, with semi- ok Chinese skills and no other skills?
I only started teaching for a new experience. Then the time flew by, I realised I could save a nice little nest egg and now I hate it and am beginning to be as miserable and cynical as some of the older expats who've trapped themselves doing the same thing!
It's a great thing short term- it's very good experience for those who want to become fully trained teachers, long term however, not great and not recommended. Depends on your own life path really.

carolina212

OP, Chinese-forums.com (if this is allowed) -- it might be wise to read up and get yourself familiar with Chinese culture and people's experiences -- you might meet someone or ask about Nanjing in particular there

IMO, I think teaching is a nice job -- I have a lot of fond memories of people (KIND teachers) who taught me a lot -- teachers can definitely change someone's life.

Again, IMO, learning Chinese would definitely be beneficial considering China's position as an emerging superpower -- if one has time, patience and good will to learn

London_Dragon

The proofs in the pudding, like they say.

cathyg

Please be aware that teaching in China particularly in Beijing has become particularly risky for foreigners this year. A close family member of mine has just spent three weeks in a detention centre even though all his documents and qualifications were in order. He was finally deported and has been through a horrendous experience.
There is a clampdown being undertaken by the authorities and any excuse is being used to arrest foreign teachers. The schools and recruiters are complicit in what is happening, you can find plenty of information online.
You have been forewarned....

hong_konger

I could not find anything on line about this. Could you post a couple of links please.

cathyg

China's Deportation Of Foreign Expat Teachers Soars In 2014 - China Business Central - Open Salon

ESL Jobs Forum - View topic - 57 Foreign Teachers In China Being Deported - Visa Issues

Hiring Standards For Foreigners Get Tougher; Five Years' Experience Needed for Teachers | the Beijinger

You will note that this started as a crackdown on teachers teaching illegally either with the wrong visa or fake qualifications. in the case i am talking about all the teachers had the correct qualifications and visa's however they were still detained in appalling conditions and then deported. We think there is now a police team in Beijing tasked with detaining teachers, fining them and deporting them.
I have nothing to gain from telling this to you other than not wanting people to go through what we have just experienced.

Asia teacher

People who have ‘problems’ and/or end up being detained and/or deported have usually got themselves mixed up with cowboy recruiters, or are ignorant of the law themselves. Yes, the Chinese are strict and are especially anti-backpacker. I’m just starting my fourth year in northern China and have never had a problem. It’s the same everywhere, know the law and obey it.

The Chinese are not anti-foreigner; they can’t get enough foreigners in Thailand to teach and when problems arise it’s usually out of ignorance by the foreigner or an unscrupulous recruiter and it’s the same the world over.

cathyg

Perhaps it would be helpful to suggest ways that people can avoid getting caught up with dodgy recruiters and schools? As I previously pointed out, the correct visa and qualifications were in place?
I guess you have to decide whether the risk is worth it if you cannot absolutely guarantee that you are not breaking the law. Bearing in mind that the rules can be changed at any time....

Asia teacher

Hi Cathy,
I’ll probably get around to writing something in further detail soon, but I’m a little busy for the next couple of days. The same also happens in Thailand and the police don’t suddenly start rounding up foreigners and deporting them unless, there’s a reason behind it. That can be as simple as deteriorating diplomatic relations between China and another country, or an unscrupulous recruiter, or the wrong type of visa, or saying the wrong thing . . .

Obviously, I can’t comment on individual cases, but you can be sure it wasn’t as simple as just picking someone to deport with no reason.