100% correct. Everyone thinking of teaching in China should watch this video. Those Chinese involved in education/recruitment of teachers think nothing of telling lies, it's always an option for them, and they will always try to change the agreement. They will however scream blue murder if you try to amend anything. Only a few of your students will appreciate you being a good teacher (maybe 5-10%), the rest just want you to be an entertainer.
Very true. New teachers to China must understand that laws do exist...but generally get ignored. You can expect training schools to use and abuse you. Some high schools too. Don't think the law is on your side if you get paid late or not at all...China couldn't care less. That said, in the right school with the right management and personnel, you will have a great time. Do your homework and make sure you have cash on hand if things go wrong. Now however, the political environment is so bad, I would never go back.
Vids like these bring back memories. I lived there for years. This guy knows his shit. Excellent, excellent advice. What I like about it in particular is he isn't advising you to stay in unhealthy situations. He's telling you how to get around said situations. Not having lots of stuff and being able to bounce on a whim is critical. Again, excellent vid.
Hey! I posted on one of your videos a while back! I made it to China and I have a job at a school in Jilin City. It is pretty awesome here. Thanks for the advice.
This was helpful. I received a job offer (my 3rd in 2 months) in China and decided to accept. Two weeks later, I received a message from the agent I went through saying the school hired other candidates. The contract was signed by both parties but not stamped so I guess that means it isn’t binding. I was shocked and a little disheartened to say the least. I wasn’t due to start until Sept. 1. But idk if it’s because I’m black or because I had a dependent that turned them off (even though that was told to them even before I interviewed). Makes me not trust the process anymore.
Well... it may have been because you are black or it may be not the case. In any event, they both racist and unreliable. so it could be either or both. however, they really want native english speakers from america so i'm sure you'll get another/different job soon ... what general area of china are you in by the way?
I am not in China right now. I am hoping to secure a position by August. The school told me that because I informed them that I had 2 background checks, (two different cities but one had 2 traffic tickets on it), the school stated that they "have the most strict policies for visas" and for that reason, they had to cancel my contract. The shock is over. I'll still openly applying.
the Truth about teaching English in China yeah I def don’t believe that to be a real reason... and yeah, I bet it’ll be easier to get a job once there, guess I’m just attracted to the “flight reimbursement”...
I think most likely they found a teacher already in China that didn’t need as much help as you. That is good for you in the long run though. You will find a wonderful school eventually. If you are unsure of a city to look at I live in Wuhan and it is a great option.
I hope it’s normal to feel a little bit of self doubt before starting an international teaching journey. I am excited, but nervous. Hoping this will be one of those situations where it feels overwhelming...but then you get there and realize you can handle more than you expected yourself to. 🤞🏽
Moving to south China , would love some tips on finding a good public school. Agencies take a lot of the salary & say one thing during the interview & another on the contract :/
How can they change the terms of the contract if they signed it. You need that contract to get the visa in the first place. Second question. How can you change schools if you are committed to it for that year?
great advice. they always try to take advantage and change the contract. be careful for the leases. don't let your school bully you, hold them accountable. sometimes it's not intentional but sometimes it is. dont let them do it. great videos, the Walter White look needs to be reconsidered though )
hahah! ... i liked that guy from Breakin Bad ... that's funny ... i don't think the look is so bad i've had it for over 20 years now ...i'm not changing!
This is such a good video in terms of thinking about doing anything business wise in asia. The best and most thought out preparation and strategy will yield the best results.
Its good video but you forgot to mention once you signed 21 pages contract you're sort stuck for a while in China. No. 1 you can't leave the or university or high school till you get a Z-visa. No.2 when I arrived in Shanghai they gave me Z-visa within one month in 2013 but now it takes 4-5 months and all foreigners had go to Hong Kong first to get just a permission from Hong Kong then school--will apply residency certificate that takes about several months. Till you get this you can't live the institution. Anyway I taught in China for 5 years but luckily I got married to Chinese lady within 2 months but she did't speak one word of English. To make long story Short once you get a Z-visa than school has to give you exit certificate because without it you cannot get job at another school.--- Honestly they made my life very difficult have a Chinese wife helped me solved many of my problems. I went through hell to stay in China for 5--years only thing I have to say I was just lucky I seen meany people get in troubles and leave china immediately . There is lot more to teaching in China than what most people think I cannot cover everything here. Sorry I wanted you help to clear this concept
here they try to do that a bit too ... but you DO HAVE A RIGHT to switch... just give your school proper notice and your new school will need to file all the paper work ... most of the steps will be already completed...
Thank you for this very informative video. It is always good to know what your options are. My daughter is teaching English online, but thinking of going to China to teach English, in a couple of year’s time. Which would be the best visa for her to look at? If she did get a 10 year visa, would she earn enough, to leave the country for the required 60 days? I am asking this on her behalf, as she is not here at the moment, and unfortunately, I don’t understand all the intricacies involved.
It's really simple: If you are not a formal L1 teacher in your home country, then you will fail in the adopted country as a non-teacher. It's really simple: If you don't know what pedagogy means you will fail. The good part is, if you are a formal teacher then you will do ok in your first job, and progressively improve over time in your next job. Hipsters are simply stupid. Teaching L1 is not merely about 'speaking' and expecting rote effectiveness of learning. Wrong! It's much more than that. At one clown college in Chenzou Hunan province, I had one hipster idiot tell me I am too old. Fifty three is old because she was born in 1987..... I studied and learnt Korean at the age of 47, immersion studies for three months, with a modicum of post beginner comprehension and speaking. At fifty I started learning guitar, for over twenty five years I have been writing experimental prose. Her achievement is graduate of finance. She is cooler than I am... Anybody under thirty five in China teaching English without an accredited Grad Dip in Ed, is a douche. (I wanted to re-edit and add to the original text)
Actually, if you are a real teacher you will more than likely not want to put up with all the shit. The lack of professionalism will insult a real teacher. The longer you are in China the more you will realise that your formal training is of little use. In most jobs there is no room for differentiation in your teaching. It's quite sickening to be honest. If you arrive in China with a TEFL/CELTA/TESOL and are not a teacher in your own country it 's much easier to swallow the farce of teaching ESL there.
@@carlstevenwilletts .... Carl, this is the single most wise and insightful comment that has EVER been made on my youtube channel. It's been around for five (5) years ... a little more now i believe, and your comment takes the cake. period. You obviously know what you're doing. Thanks for contributing.
@@LivinginSouthChina Thank you for your kind words. Your video is spot on. It's as relevant today as when you first recorded it. People who want to work abroad, especially in China, teaching ESL should go into it with their eyes open. It's not about being negative, but it is about knowing what to expect. Videos like this are priceless. Thank you for sharing your experiences. This video gives an accurate account of teaching in China. It should be required viewing for anyone who does not want to learn the hard way. It would certainly have prevented me from some of my unpleasant experiences if I had seen it earlier.
What certification I need to teach adult English class besides BA degree? Are there any school/ college who will sponsor or pay for your certification if, you are hired?
Thanks. Your comments are very valid if a bit winding. I would recommend at least $7500 before going for anyone going to teach and yes know Chinese and be a hard bargainer.
When someone leaves his job because the living condition is not good and tries to move to another company in China, what happens to his visa if say it's supposed to be valid for 1 year but he only stayed a couple of months with his previous employer? Will the new employer need to process a new visa for you?
yes they will ... but i have left early and my old company just did nothing as to the visa ... so i had a visa open for five 5 months ... but i had worked there 2.5 years when that happened so they did not care ... they liked me ...
in the south of china you CAN really ... at least 50% or more and also the cheap ones. HOWEVER in the Beijing area it is a big big problem: they normally don't accept foreigners .... I know this. I lived there for about 2 years.
in the south of china you CAN really ... at least 50% or more and also the cheap ones. HOWEVER in the Beijing area it is a big big problem: they normally don't accept foreigners .... I know this. I lived there for about 2 years.
Hello I have a question. Is teaching in China very lucrative in terms of making and saving a lot of money as an english teacher there? There is a guy in another channel who would talk about working 1 initial job then looking for other teaching jobs to build around his schedule. He work Mon-Fri from 8am to 8pm then work privates on Saturdays. Can you tell me anything from your experience there? Also is it true that Chinese University professors have like 3 months paid vacation?? Thank You
it's all relative ... i mean: it depends what you're comparing .. but generally yes. i think that you CAN earn and save a decent amount teaching english in china. And the fella from the other channel is right: you can go out and seek additional work including private classes. some people do this .. they book their schedule up and work in the mornings at a kids school and then in the evenings at an adult school. i personally know a guy from south africa who did this and went home after a year with $20,000 USD in his pocket. this was a very energetic 28 year old who had a plan for what he wanted to do with that money and he did it. i don't like to work that much. but yes you can. also, i have felt for a long time that if you make $2500 per month here ... in terms of what you can actually GET for that money it is more like $3500 back in america ... i mean that $2500 will go a lot further here in china ... especially if you try to find deals on things ... currently i like to limit my expenses so i can work less and do many other things besides just working ...
If a company can't pay you every month then there is a problem. In america I think they are forced by law to pay you twice a month if I am not mistaken.
We've got a lot of good laws in the US ... i also prefer to be paid twice a month ... you know i saw a government billboard last week which read "Intentionally withholding employee salaries is a crime" (故意欠薪是犯罪... or something like that) so the government here is pretending to do something but they don't really do much ... our main leverage is simply supply and demand ... they can't afford to have teachers running off at the drop of a hat ... i once worked at an adult school and one of our branches nearby had two teachers quit on the same day because they were pissed off ... that center only had 4 foreign teachers to begin with ... it was a nightmare ... they were begging people to go out there and save the sinking ship as the students got pissed off as well ...
... but just to continue on the point i just made ... in that case it was because they hated the manager not because they were withholding pay ... but it happens because of that also ... i worked for a school once that paid on the 15th of the next frigging month ... so we were essentially extending 6 weeks of our time as "credit" every month ... employers do everything they can to keep employees behind the 8-ball here ...
I was thinking about this, so I'll probably end up staying in a cheap hotel for the first month since I would be on a probation period (on a z visa), this way I can get a good feel for everything. Speaking of housing, any idea of how to negotiate a higher housing allowance than what was offered in the contract? I don't really want to be paying 1.5k (tier 1) for an apartment out of my base salary
I don't know about that. I don't believe they truly "separate it out" when negotiating. However, if I remember correctly I think there was some way businesses here could get some kind of tax deduction for allocating part of teachers'/employees compensation as "housing" as opposed to some other classification; but I'm not sure about it now.
I don't know about that. I don't believe they truly "separate it out" when negotiating. However, if I remember correctly I think there was some way businesses here could get some kind of tax deduction for allocating part of teachers'/employees compensation as "housing" as opposed to some other classification; but I'm not sure about it now.
I have a lady friend that lives in Fushun. It's like a 3rd tier region, not that expensive. I met her in Canada, known her for 3 years now. But she went back to Fushun China to support her aging disabled mom, (cooks 3 meals a day, cleans and ..) I don't know if i'd be happy there. Life over 50 sucks, lol
i suppose so. but i'd say that china is kind of a "good" place for older folks. is it Fushun or FOshan ... not the "o" not the "u" because foshan is here in guangdong ... if you're referring to foshan i can tell you that that area is growing at an impressive clip. every time i turn around twice the Meten school brochures show yet another branch school in Foshan ...
She lives in Fushun (u), originally called City of Coal, 28 miles from Shenyang (Tier city 2). Cold and dry in winter. She told me that i could easily get work teaching English around, even at the University (with accumulated experience). If i was 10 years younger, maybe i'd try.. but now, i'd risk losing some roots in Canada.
they won't go for that ... or at least the large, private adult training centers won't go for that. some of the smaller schools may however, those situations are always much more flexible. the government schools also won't go for it ... with government schools you're virtually guaranteed to get paid ... and likewise with the large training centers as well. with smaller schools/training centers, and especially those that only have one or two foreign teachers they are more flexible .. but most will also push you to accept the once month salary ..
I am a Chinese-American who is currently teaching in Taiwan. I am planning to move to China next month to teach English. Should I go door-to-door to look for jobs or just go to a recruiter?
maybe you should go to a recruiter. the reason is that they normally want white people. these are just the facts, and I would be doing you a disservice if i didn't tell you that. it's the plain truth. however, i personally have always believed that it would be good for them to see english teachers of chinese descent speaking natural fluent english: it shows them what is possible and that languages have virtually nothing to do with our genes. how we learn languages may, however, indeed stem from what Noam Chomsky, stephen Krashen and others posit as a "language device" in our brain which is mainly instinctual,...
using a recruiter will help you sort out those schools which are ONLY going to accept teachers that have a "foreign" appearance.... for grammar etc. they normally use LOCAL chinese teachers ...
I am 100 per cent Chinese, I got the "china culture shock" when i was there . After several months I had to leave, simply could not stand their tone of talking etc.
Great video! I used to teach in China for years before visa restrictions were so strict. First lived there in 2000. I want to go back now, but it doesn't seem like you can just live long term without the proper work visas anymore. I want to go back and live in a smaller city and really focus on getting my Chinese perfected and make some cash, but I am under the impression you must get a work visa before you come, and all these jobs want you to live in their apartment. I am not used to this, as I used to always live freely in my own apt and find my own jobs. So I need help figuring out how to navigate through a new type of China situation. Should I get a job at a Uni where there are limited hours and no office hours just to lock down a basic salary and then fetch privates? Are they really ripping off people these days left and right? How else could I live and work in China for a year without getting the Z visa? Ok I unloaded a bunch of questions at you, could you help with some guidance? You have a Skype we can chat it out? Thanks!
You can still get jobs and work just with a business or tourist visa. If you're from the states or Canada you can now get a 10 year visa with 60 day max days and you have to pop across a border and back in for another 60 days. I know a guy who has been doing that for about 2 years now since those visas came out in 2014. Some of the big schools will still give you a job IF YOU ARE HERE IN PERSON WHEN YOU APPLY. They don't seem to entertain that notion when you're calling/emailing from afar, which is understandable because they can't fully believe you if you're not already there in front of them. It really goes a long way that fact of actually being physically present when you apply. ... As to private classes they are all over the place ... i was here in the 1990's as well and let me tell you: both the number of people wanting to learn english as well as the salaries/hourly rates/payment for teaching people (be it in their homes or at the myriad schools) has TOTALLY changed/increased ... the salaries were a joke 15 years ago ... that has changed. I don't think you'll have any problems finding work ...
the Truth about teaching English in China Awesome! I am sick of the schools waiting for a legit contract and work visa. Ok, so if someone gets me an invitation for a year F visa they give this out? Now this 10 year thing. How do I get that, and where do I got every 60 days? You mean HK? As a single guy, speaks Chinese, wants to find a smaller town with tons of English teaching opportunities and low pollution, where should I go?
I have a video on that 10 year visa and even where i walk into a really good agency for it ... i have no connection to the agency whatsoever .. you can look through my videos it's in there somewhere ...
usually people/business people in china are EXTREMELY loathe to extend credit in any way shape or form to anybody .. i've had them extend it to me to the tune of about a grand at a time, but i noticed after the fact that they had a serious NEED a desperate need in fact for me at the time .. for example one time a school had a summer camp planned and the former teacher had walked out and left just before it started ... all these bonusees they gave me up front became much more clear after i learned about who that guy was and kind of put two and two together after the fact after i had working there a couple months ... i was also present in china AT THE SCHOOL so it was not nearly so much credit as buying somebody a plane ticket when that person is half way across the world ..
so i have a friend pushing me to come over on a biz visa to work along side him in china (american). He doesn't have a degree. I do. Then I'm talking with a school in a Tianjin who has a british guy recruiting me who works as a teacher , too. I had a wechat video interview with him. Everything is laid out. They will get me a z visa before arriving. They say they'll get me a z visa after arrive with the friend scenario, but why take the risk if I don't have to? I'm not interested in making visa runs every 60 days, let alone looking over my shoulder as an illegal worker. Even if they are serious about a z visa, how long will i be waiting for them to apply for one? I imagine schools can only get so many z visas at one time, a limit or something. Anyway, if my friend gets butthurt about it, I dunno what to say. I'm not keen on all the upfront costs either doing it this way. I have to pay more out of pocket doing this biz visa come now z visa later. Also, they wrote a shitty biz invitation letter that a visa agency wasn't going to touch, so I'm kinda done wasting my time with it, because as I said, I'm legit and can get a freaking z visa if I want.
if they can get you the z visa they should do that BEFORE you come ... you got that right? there are some schools that promise a work visa prior to you coming over but they never had any real intention or ability to get you the official z visa in the first place. yes, the z visa is preferable for many reasons
Sounds like great advice. I read something about z visas being school specific? Or the first school having to "sign off" in order for you to use your visa to work at a different school? Is this the case? Are there ways that a school can leverage your visa status against you if you decide to leave and look for another teaching job? I'll have to read up on it some more either way.
Now I see you addressed my question towards the end of the video... I wasn't aware that people went to China to teach with anything other than a z visa. Seems somewhat risky, more research needed.
they have been doing it that way just on tourist and business visas for years ... now, however, you can't open a bank account! ... so unless you've already had one from the past your kind of screwed going it that route ...
Unless you're the apostle Paul, in which case you advise and warn of what is to come. Many people don't want to lie, cheat and deceive anymore than our nature inevitably forces us to. And there is far more xenophobia in China. Many people shun such behavior.
@@LivinginSouthChina I agree with you. Chinese morals and ethics are completely at odds with those of most people. There are some great people in China, but there are some complete and utter shits. It's a country of extremes in every respect. When there is a traffic accident and the witnesses just film the carnage for their WeChat moments rather than calling for an ambulance, you know you are in a world when what you think is right and proper no longer applies.
Hi thank you for the video. I am looking into teaching English jobs in China and I am wondering how easy it is to leave a job if you have signed a contract. Is there a penalty for leaving before the contract has ended? Also I am finding it very difficult to choose between China and Vietnam to start my first teaching position. Have you taught in both or just China, any advice greatly appreciated. Thank you
I have never taught in vietnam. I've heard the salaries in china are a good bit better. If you leave your contract early in china they normally DO try to penalize you, BUT if you've been with a school for a few years and on the third year you leave early ... meaning you "break" that year's contract... then there is usually no penalty; just give 30 days notice.
@@LivinginSouthChina thank you I have decided to teach in China . Do you know how much of a fine I would be looking at? I don't want to get trapped in a bad job
That's helpful thank you. I have just been offered a job that looked perfect but the contract states a whole months pay will be charged if I leave early is this usual ? I'm really cautious to sign such an agreement . Many things can go wrong. I really don't want to feel trapped. Is this clause in most contracts or is this the exception. I don't want to sign that much autonomy away. Thanks again
@@amandagillett7371 hey, its a clause in my contract and I feel trapped too. Been only working 1 month and I want to leave. However, my contract says if I dont give them 3 months notice then they will deduct 1 months pay. But you never know, they may ge spiteful and deduct anyway. All, I know is I will be serving my notice
Thanks for asking this question, South African thinking of embarking on the teaching journey and I have the same concerns as you, especially about the contract and leaving early.
No, it doesn't, but it's harder to find a job in China teaching if it isn't. However, I have seen Russians here teaching ... and some people from Mexico too ...
can you use wechat? my wechat is: ruanjianfanyi ... eventually you're going REALLY have to use wechat in china so you might as well download it now ...
This video is more valuable than gold...fantastic advice and very generous to offer it. Thank you!
no problem at all, and i'm glad you got something out of it
I've been working and living in Shanghai for 8 years. Best decision I've ever made. Granted, it's not always easy, but what is in this life?
100% correct. Everyone thinking of teaching in China should watch this video. Those Chinese involved in education/recruitment of teachers think nothing of telling lies, it's always an option for them, and they will always try to change the agreement. They will however scream blue murder if you try to amend anything. Only a few of your students will appreciate you being a good teacher (maybe 5-10%), the rest just want you to be an entertainer.
Very true. New teachers to China must understand that laws do exist...but generally get ignored. You can expect training schools to use and abuse you. Some high schools too. Don't think the law is on your side if you get paid late or not at all...China couldn't care less. That said, in the right school with the right management and personnel, you will have a great time. Do your homework and make sure you have cash on hand if things go wrong. Now however, the political environment is so bad, I would never go back.
Vids like these bring back memories. I lived there for years. This guy knows his shit. Excellent, excellent advice. What I like about it in particular is he isn't advising you to stay in unhealthy situations. He's telling you how to get around said situations. Not having lots of stuff and being able to bounce on a whim is critical. Again, excellent vid.
Hey! I posted on one of your videos a while back! I made it to China and I have a job at a school in Jilin City. It is pretty awesome here. Thanks for the advice.
wow! Jilin must be cold right now. that's great i hope it continues to go well for you!
They told me dont go to jilin province ??
This is maybe the most refreshingly down to earth, mature and honest but positive video on teaching in China I've come across. Thanks man!
Glad it was helpful!
This was helpful. I received a job offer (my 3rd in 2 months) in China and decided to accept. Two weeks later, I received a message from the agent I went through saying the school hired other candidates. The contract was signed by both parties but not stamped so I guess that means it isn’t binding. I was shocked and a little disheartened to say the least. I wasn’t due to start until Sept. 1. But idk if it’s because I’m black or because I had a dependent that turned them off (even though that was told to them even before I interviewed). Makes me not trust the process anymore.
Well... it may have been because you are black or it may be not the case. In any event, they both racist and unreliable. so it could be either or both. however, they really want native english speakers from america so i'm sure you'll get another/different job soon ... what general area of china are you in by the way?
I am not in China right now. I am hoping to secure a position by August. The school told me that because I informed them that I had 2 background checks, (two different cities but one had 2 traffic tickets on it), the school stated that they "have the most strict policies for visas" and for that reason, they had to cancel my contract. The shock is over. I'll still openly applying.
it's easier from within china .... looking for a job ... they lie continuously so don't believe them about the traffic citations
the Truth about teaching English in China yeah I def don’t believe that to be a real reason... and yeah, I bet it’ll be easier to get a job once there, guess I’m just attracted to the “flight reimbursement”...
I think most likely they found a teacher already in China that didn’t need as much help as you. That is good for you in the long run though. You will find a wonderful school eventually. If you are unsure of a city to look at I live in Wuhan and it is a great option.
I am a China TEFL Survivor. I did 3 years in Houjie, Dongguan.
Wow, i can't believe all this pertinent interesting information that you 've nicely shared.. thank you so much.
no problem at all Joe ...
I hope it’s normal to feel a little bit of self doubt before starting an international teaching journey. I am excited, but nervous. Hoping this will be one of those situations where it feels overwhelming...but then you get there and realize you can handle more than you expected yourself to. 🤞🏽
Miss Molls did you go ? How was it ?
Moving to south China , would love some tips on finding a good public school. Agencies take a lot of the salary & say one thing during the interview & another on the contract :/
Useful to have this info and your perspective. Straight talking. Thanks.
How can they change the terms of the contract if they signed it. You need that contract to get the visa in the first place. Second question. How can you change schools if you are committed to it for that year?
great advice. they always try to take advantage and change the contract. be careful for the leases. don't let your school bully you, hold them accountable. sometimes it's not intentional but sometimes it is. dont let them do it. great videos, the Walter White look needs to be reconsidered though )
hahah! ... i liked that guy from Breakin Bad ... that's funny ... i don't think the look is so bad i've had it for over 20 years now ...i'm not changing!
This is such a good video in terms of thinking about doing anything business wise in asia. The best and most thought out preparation and strategy will yield the best results.
Its good video but you forgot to mention once you signed 21 pages contract you're sort stuck for a while in China. No. 1 you can't leave the or university or high school till you get a Z-visa. No.2 when I arrived in Shanghai they gave me Z-visa within one month in 2013 but now it takes 4-5 months and all foreigners had go to Hong Kong first to get just a permission from Hong Kong then school--will apply residency certificate that takes about several months.
Till you get this you can't live the institution. Anyway I taught in China for 5 years but luckily I got married to Chinese lady within 2 months but she did't speak one word of English. To make long story Short once you get a Z-visa than school has to give you exit certificate because without it you cannot get job at another school.---
Honestly they made my life very difficult have a Chinese wife helped me solved many of my problems. I went through hell to stay in China for 5--years only thing I have to say I was just lucky
I seen meany people get in troubles and leave china immediately . There is lot more to teaching in China than what most people think I cannot cover everything here. Sorry I wanted you help to clear this concept
thanks for contributing
did you teach English in China? Because there are lots of grammatical mistakes in your post. Just saying.
Are you able to leave a school if you obtianed an Z visa? In Saudi arabia they locked you down to the school via your visa.
here they try to do that a bit too ... but you DO HAVE A RIGHT to switch... just give your school proper notice and your new school will need to file all the paper work ... most of the steps will be already completed...
@@LivinginSouthChina Thanks . Your vids are very informative
Thank you for this very informative video. It is always good to know what your options are. My daughter is teaching English online, but thinking of going to China to teach English, in a couple of year’s time. Which would be the best visa for her to look at? If she did get a 10 year visa, would she earn enough, to leave the country for the required 60 days? I am asking this on her behalf, as she is not here at the moment, and unfortunately, I don’t understand all the intricacies involved.
It's really simple: If you are not a formal L1 teacher in your home country, then you will fail in the adopted country as a non-teacher. It's really simple: If you don't know what pedagogy means you will fail. The good part is, if you are a formal teacher then you will do ok in your first job, and progressively improve over time in your next job.
Hipsters are simply stupid. Teaching L1 is not merely about 'speaking' and expecting rote effectiveness of learning. Wrong! It's much more than that.
At one clown college in Chenzou Hunan province, I had one hipster idiot tell me I am too old. Fifty three is old because she was born in 1987..... I studied and learnt Korean at the age of 47, immersion studies for three months, with a modicum of post beginner comprehension and speaking. At fifty I started learning guitar, for over twenty five years I have been writing experimental prose. Her achievement is graduate of finance. She is cooler than I am...
Anybody under thirty five in China teaching English without an accredited Grad Dip in Ed, is a douche. (I wanted to re-edit and add to the original text)
You’re too old
Actually, if you are a real teacher you will more than likely not want to put up with all the shit. The lack of professionalism will insult a real teacher. The longer you are in China the more you will realise that your formal training is of little use. In most jobs there is no room for differentiation in your teaching. It's quite sickening to be honest. If you arrive in China with a TEFL/CELTA/TESOL and are not a teacher in your own country it 's much easier to swallow the farce of teaching ESL there.
@@carlstevenwilletts .... Carl, this is the single most wise and insightful comment that has EVER been made on my youtube channel. It's been around for five (5) years ... a little more now i believe, and your comment takes the cake. period. You obviously know what you're doing. Thanks for contributing.
@@LivinginSouthChina Thank you for your kind words. Your video is spot on. It's as relevant today as when you first recorded it. People who want to work abroad, especially in China, teaching ESL should go into it with their eyes open. It's not about being negative, but it is about knowing what to expect. Videos like this are priceless. Thank you for sharing your experiences. This video gives an accurate account of teaching in China. It should be required viewing for anyone who does not want to learn the hard way. It would certainly have prevented me from some of my unpleasant experiences if I had seen it earlier.
What certification I need to teach adult English class besides BA degree? Are there any school/ college who will sponsor or pay for your certification if, you are hired?
No, none of the schools that I know of will pay for certification unless you are a native speaker.
Thank You
Thanks. Your comments are very valid if a bit winding. I would recommend at least $7500 before going for anyone going to teach and yes know Chinese and be a hard bargainer.
$7500 in US dollars? That seems very high - whats your reasoning?
I'm only gonna have like 1k lmao
I am working in Shenzhen I wonder if I can do the hotel thing when I arrive. Great video Sir!
yeah you can.. no reason why not.
When someone leaves his job because the living condition is not good and tries to move to another company in China, what happens to his visa if say it's supposed to be valid for 1 year but he only stayed a couple of months with his previous employer? Will the new employer need to process a new visa for you?
yes they will ... but i have left early and my old company just did nothing as to the visa ... so i had a visa open for five 5 months ... but i had worked there 2.5 years when that happened so they did not care ... they liked me ...
You can’t stay in a majority of hotels in China though...
in the south of china you CAN really ... at least 50% or more and also the cheap ones. HOWEVER in the Beijing area it is a big big problem: they normally don't accept foreigners .... I know this. I lived there for about 2 years.
in the south of china you CAN really ... at least 50% or more and also the cheap ones. HOWEVER in the Beijing area it is a big big problem: they normally don't accept foreigners .... I know this. I lived there for about 2 years.
“Home Inns” and “7 Days”...are pretty safe bets
yes that's right
Hello I have a question. Is teaching in China very lucrative in terms of making and saving a lot of money as an english teacher there? There is a guy in another channel who would talk about working 1 initial job then looking for other teaching jobs to build around his schedule. He work Mon-Fri from 8am to 8pm then work privates on Saturdays. Can you tell me anything from your experience there? Also is it true that Chinese University professors have like 3 months paid vacation?? Thank You
it's all relative ... i mean: it depends what you're comparing .. but generally yes. i think that you CAN earn and save a decent amount teaching english in china. And the fella from the other channel is right: you can go out and seek additional work including private classes. some people do this .. they book their schedule up and work in the mornings at a kids school and then in the evenings at an adult school. i personally know a guy from south africa who did this and went home after a year with $20,000 USD in his pocket. this was a very energetic 28 year old who had a plan for what he wanted to do with that money and he did it. i don't like to work that much. but yes you can. also, i have felt for a long time that if you make $2500 per month here ... in terms of what you can actually GET for that money it is more like $3500 back in america ... i mean that $2500 will go a lot further here in china ... especially if you try to find deals on things ... currently i like to limit my expenses so i can work less and do many other things besides just working ...
Interesting video!
thanks!
If a company can't pay you every month then there is a problem. In america I think they are forced by law to pay you twice a month if I am not mistaken.
We've got a lot of good laws in the US ... i also prefer to be paid twice a month ... you know i saw a government billboard last week which read "Intentionally withholding employee salaries is a crime" (故意欠薪是犯罪... or something like that) so the government here is pretending to do something but they don't really do much ... our main leverage is simply supply and demand ... they can't afford to have teachers running off at the drop of a hat ... i once worked at an adult school and one of our branches nearby had two teachers quit on the same day because they were pissed off ... that center only had 4 foreign teachers to begin with ... it was a nightmare ... they were begging people to go out there and save the sinking ship as the students got pissed off as well ...
... but just to continue on the point i just made ... in that case it was because they hated the manager not because they were withholding pay ... but it happens because of that also ... i worked for a school once that paid on the 15th of the next frigging month ... so we were essentially extending 6 weeks of our time as "credit" every month ... employers do everything they can to keep employees behind the 8-ball here ...
+the Truth about teaching English in China Great information Sir. Thank you.
I was thinking about this, so I'll probably end up staying in a cheap hotel for the first month since I would be on a probation period (on a z visa), this way I can get a good feel for everything. Speaking of housing, any idea of how to negotiate a higher housing allowance than what was offered in the contract? I don't really want to be paying 1.5k (tier 1) for an apartment out of my base salary
I don't know about that. I don't believe they truly "separate it out" when negotiating. However, if I remember correctly I think there was some way businesses here could get some kind of tax deduction for allocating part of teachers'/employees compensation as "housing" as opposed to some other classification; but I'm not sure about it now.
I don't know about that. I don't believe they truly "separate it out" when negotiating. However, if I remember correctly I think there was some way businesses here could get some kind of tax deduction for allocating part of teachers'/employees compensation as "housing" as opposed to some other classification; but I'm not sure about it now.
“Finagle” is a great word!
I have a lady friend that lives in Fushun. It's like a 3rd tier region, not that expensive. I met her in Canada, known her for 3 years now. But she went back to Fushun China to support her aging disabled mom, (cooks 3 meals a day, cleans and ..) I don't know if i'd be happy there. Life over 50 sucks, lol
i suppose so. but i'd say that china is kind of a "good" place for older folks. is it Fushun or FOshan ... not the "o" not the "u" because foshan is here in guangdong ... if you're referring to foshan i can tell you that that area is growing at an impressive clip. every time i turn around twice the Meten school brochures show yet another branch school in Foshan ...
She lives in Fushun (u), originally called City of Coal, 28 miles from Shenyang (Tier city 2). Cold and dry in winter. She told me that i could easily get work teaching English around, even at the University (with accumulated experience). If i was 10 years younger, maybe i'd try.. but now, i'd risk losing some roots in Canada.
Teaching in Beijing right now....history at an international school. Get hired by the school directly. The first month here was a kick in the balls.
good for you ... have a nice time, and teach them all the history you possibly can! ;)
can you ask to be paid weekly to avoid going 2 months without pay?
they won't go for that ... or at least the large, private adult training centers won't go for that. some of the smaller schools may however, those situations are always much more flexible. the government schools also won't go for it ... with government schools you're virtually guaranteed to get paid ... and likewise with the large training centers as well. with smaller schools/training centers, and especially those that only have one or two foreign teachers they are more flexible .. but most will also push you to accept the once month salary ..
I am a Chinese-American who is currently teaching in Taiwan. I am planning to move to China next month to teach English. Should I go door-to-door to look for jobs or just go to a recruiter?
maybe you should go to a recruiter. the reason is that they normally want white people. these are just the facts, and I would be doing you a disservice if i didn't tell you that. it's the plain truth. however, i personally have always believed that it would be good for them to see english teachers of chinese descent speaking natural fluent english: it shows them what is possible and that languages have virtually nothing to do with our genes. how we learn languages may, however, indeed stem from what Noam Chomsky, stephen Krashen and others posit as a "language device" in our brain which is mainly instinctual,...
using a recruiter will help you sort out those schools which are ONLY going to accept teachers that have a "foreign" appearance.... for grammar etc. they normally use LOCAL chinese teachers ...
I am 100 per cent Chinese, I got the "china culture shock" when i was there . After several months I had to leave, simply could not stand their tone of talking etc.
When did you learn English after you came to the US/Britain? It's pretty good for a non-native English speaker.
sky yeo What do you mean the "Tone of speaking"? Can you elaborate on this?
Kinda like the comment above...lol
Teaching there soon kinda worried about the living conditions.
you should be fine ... where are you headed in china exactly?
the Truth about teaching English in China beijing in 2 weeks but then I may be relocated to the South somewhere
gavbkk83 Ireland yes
gavbkk83 Ireland Sanlitun Beijing
Great video! I used to teach in China for years before visa restrictions were so strict. First lived there in 2000. I want to go back now, but it doesn't seem like you can just live long term without the proper work visas anymore. I want to go back and live in a smaller city and really focus on getting my Chinese perfected and make some cash, but I am under the impression you must get a work visa before you come, and all these jobs want you to live in their apartment. I am not used to this, as I used to always live freely in my own apt and find my own jobs. So I need help figuring out how to navigate through a new type of China situation. Should I get a job at a Uni where there are limited hours and no office hours just to lock down a basic salary and then fetch privates? Are they really ripping off people these days left and right? How else could I live and work in China for a year without getting the Z visa? Ok I unloaded a bunch of questions at you, could you help with some guidance? You have a Skype we can chat it out? Thanks!
You can still get jobs and work just with a business or tourist visa. If you're from the states or Canada you can now get a 10 year visa with 60 day max days and you have to pop across a border and back in for another 60 days. I know a guy who has been doing that for about 2 years now since those visas came out in 2014. Some of the big schools will still give you a job IF YOU ARE HERE IN PERSON WHEN YOU APPLY. They don't seem to entertain that notion when you're calling/emailing from afar, which is understandable because they can't fully believe you if you're not already there in front of them. It really goes a long way that fact of actually being physically present when you apply. ... As to private classes they are all over the place ... i was here in the 1990's as well and let me tell you: both the number of people wanting to learn english as well as the salaries/hourly rates/payment for teaching people (be it in their homes or at the myriad schools) has TOTALLY changed/increased ... the salaries were a joke 15 years ago ... that has changed. I don't think you'll have any problems finding work ...
the Truth about teaching English in China Awesome! I am sick of the schools waiting for a legit contract and work visa. Ok, so if someone gets me an invitation for a year F visa they give this out? Now this 10 year thing. How do I get that, and where do I got every 60 days? You mean HK? As a single guy, speaks Chinese, wants to find a smaller town with tons of English teaching opportunities and low pollution, where should I go?
I have a video on that 10 year visa and even where i walk into a really good agency for it ... i have no connection to the agency whatsoever .. you can look through my videos it's in there somewhere ...
the Truth about teaching English in China Where is a cool small city?
the Truth about teaching English in China Do you think Fuzhou would be cool?
Are there schools that pay your flight? I'd be more trusting with them if I knew that they had invested in me.
yeah i know there are a few that do but i think it's mainly smaller schools ... of course they are in the minority ..
usually people/business people in china are EXTREMELY loathe to extend credit in any way shape or form to anybody .. i've had them extend it to me to the tune of about a grand at a time, but i noticed after the fact that they had a serious NEED a desperate need in fact for me at the time .. for example one time a school had a summer camp planned and the former teacher had walked out and left just before it started ... all these bonusees they gave me up front became much more clear after i learned about who that guy was and kind of put two and two together after the fact after i had working there a couple months ... i was also present in china AT THE SCHOOL so it was not nearly so much credit as buying somebody a plane ticket when that person is half way across the world ..
Try a place in Xi'an, good place to start searching. I've seen many that pay.
going ina few days, good info
I heard bad news about teaching in jilin province ?? Is it true ??
so i have a friend pushing me to come over on a biz visa to work along side him in china (american). He doesn't have a degree. I do. Then I'm talking with a school in a Tianjin who has a british guy recruiting me who works as a teacher , too. I had a wechat video interview with him. Everything is laid out. They will get me a z visa before arriving. They say they'll get me a z visa after arrive with the friend scenario, but why take the risk if I don't have to? I'm not interested in making visa runs every 60 days, let alone looking over my shoulder as an illegal worker. Even if they are serious about a z visa, how long will i be waiting for them to apply for one? I imagine schools can only get so many z visas at one time, a limit or something.
Anyway, if my friend gets butthurt about it, I dunno what to say. I'm not keen on all the upfront costs either doing it this way. I have to pay more out of pocket doing this biz visa come now z visa later. Also, they wrote a shitty biz invitation letter that a visa agency wasn't going to touch, so I'm kinda done wasting my time with it, because as I said, I'm legit and can get a freaking z visa if I want.
if they can get you the z visa they should do that BEFORE you come ... you got that right? there are some schools that promise a work visa prior to you coming over but they never had any real intention or ability to get you the official z visa in the first place. yes, the z visa is preferable for many reasons
yep.
Sounds like great advice.
I read something about z visas being school specific? Or the first school having to "sign off" in order for you to use your visa to work at a different school?
Is this the case? Are there ways that a school can leverage your visa status against you if you decide to leave and look for another teaching job?
I'll have to read up on it some more either way.
Now I see you addressed my question towards the end of the video... I wasn't aware that people went to China to teach with anything other than a z visa.
Seems somewhat risky, more research needed.
they have been doing it that way just on tourist and business visas for years ... now, however, you can't open a bank account! ... so unless you've already had one from the past your kind of screwed going it that route ...
You need to make more vids, are you on fb ? would love to hear more about your adventures there ?
yeah i'm on facebook .... you can add me there ... there is a link on the about page to this channel ....
yeah i probably do need to make more videos
@@LivinginSouthChina well the ADV entertainers will soon be leaving, so less competition, haha.
Great video, any small cities you would recommend researching as a possible teaching area for a first timer?
Foshan, Huizhou, Zhongshan, perhaps Dongguan as well... best of luck
thanks!
Happy I am retired.
Hi, are you on a Z visa? Or business visa, spousal visa?
There are cultural differences. When in Rome do what the Romans do.
Unless you're the apostle Paul, in which case you advise and warn of what is to come. Many people don't want to lie, cheat and deceive anymore than our nature inevitably forces us to. And there is far more xenophobia in China. Many people shun such behavior.
@@LivinginSouthChina I agree with you. Chinese morals and ethics are completely at odds with those of most people. There are some great people in China, but there are some complete and utter shits. It's a country of extremes in every respect. When there is a traffic accident and the witnesses just film the carnage for their WeChat moments rather than calling for an ambulance, you know you are in a world when what you think is right and proper no longer applies.
Hi thank you for the video. I am looking into teaching English jobs in China and I am wondering how easy it is to leave a job if you have signed a contract. Is there a penalty for leaving before the contract has ended? Also I am finding it very difficult to choose between China and Vietnam to start my first teaching position. Have you taught in both or just China, any advice greatly appreciated. Thank you
I have never taught in vietnam. I've heard the salaries in china are a good bit better. If you leave your contract early in china they normally DO try to penalize you, BUT if you've been with a school for a few years and on the third year you leave early ... meaning you "break" that year's contract... then there is usually no penalty; just give 30 days notice.
@@LivinginSouthChina thank you I have decided to teach in China . Do you know how much of a fine I would be looking at? I don't want to get trapped in a bad job
That's helpful thank you. I have just been offered a job that looked perfect but the contract states a whole months pay will be charged if I leave early is this usual ? I'm really cautious to sign such an agreement . Many things can go wrong. I really don't want to feel trapped. Is this clause in most contracts or is this the exception. I don't want to sign that much autonomy away. Thanks again
@@amandagillett7371 hey, its a clause in my contract and I feel trapped too. Been only working 1 month and I want to leave. However, my contract says if I dont give them 3 months notice then they will deduct 1 months pay. But you never know, they may ge spiteful and deduct anyway. All, I know is I will be serving my notice
Thanks for asking this question, South African thinking of embarking on the teaching journey and I have the same concerns as you, especially about the contract and leaving early.
Does English have to be your mother tongue to teach English??
No, it doesn't, but it's harder to find a job in China teaching if it isn't. However, I have seen Russians here teaching ... and some people from Mexico too ...
That's about business and money.
Wow I know this is a old video but you make it look like a nightmare teaching in China
it's still true ... i don't know if it's a nightmare, but there certainly are downsides
can you share your email with me please? I would like to send you copy of profile and get your Feedback if possible.
can you use wechat? my wechat is: ruanjianfanyi ... eventually you're going REALLY have to use wechat in china so you might as well download it now ...