File :-(, x, )
Tripfriend !FRiEnd2YUk
I just got an email confirming that I got a job teaching English... In China. I'll be moving there some time in August. So here's what I'd like to know.

1. What are some things that I should not under any circumstances do. I really don't want to piss people off once I get there. I know what wikipedia says, but it can only tell you so much.

2. I'm moving to Wuhan, the capital of the Hubei province. Aside from being an inland port city, and that it gets REALLY fucking hot there, does anyone know what it's like?

3. I'm a tall person, 6'2" (188cm) and pretty thin. How hard will it be to find clothes/shoes that fit.

4. Internet: How fast will it probably be, and how badly is it actually censored?

5. I'll be living very close to were I'll be working so I can usually just walk. I'd like to get a bike though. How much do they usually cost?

6. Anything else you can think worth mentioning about China.

I really can't wait to go. I don't leave for a couple months, but I still feel like I'll be getting on the plain tomorrow.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
YOU SUPPORT CHINESE HAN PIG?
>> Anonymous
Ok First:
The cost of living in China is really fucking low but your height might skew the expected living costs if you intend to buy clothes there. I'd recommend taking as much as you can if you're trying to budget. It won't be that much though, nothing really to worry about.

Some Chinese girls (read: whores) will try and get money out of you as you will be seen as a ticket out of China.

Like most places in China, the per capita income is very fucking low but you should be OK with the cost of living to balance it out... how much will your wages be?

Internet will either be really slow or normal speed, the "Great Firewall of China" is actually getting smaller.

Bikes don't cost much as the government is trying to get cars off of the road. Obviously walking will be the best option until you have enough saved for a bike. (you could probably buy one instantly though if you plan on taking all of your savings with you, assuming you are not totally broke)

Temps in that area will get to around 26-27 degrees C (78.8, 80.6) in summer, average temps are about 16 (60.8) or so. It should be fine.
>> Tripfriend !FRiEnd2YUk
>>36981
I'm going to be teaching English, so housing, utilities, internet, and all that good stuff is covered. I should probably be making about $650 US a month.
>> Anonymous
>>36986

Seriously, that's all? Jesus, you should have gone to Japan, they pay 35k a year.
>> Anonymous
>>36991
Except when they pay minimum wage (which most of them do)
>> Anonymous
>>36986
Why would you volunteer to live in a shit-hole country and get payed less than you could be making at home on minimum wage?
>> Anonymous
most japanese companies pay between 2500-2800yen a month to anyone with a BA. however, other than JET they do not cover your housing whereas not only do they usually cover everything including a flight, but everything is about 1/4th the cost of japan if not less
>> Anonymous
>>36993
because he wants to go and live in china and experience something different in his life other than just being a dumb faggot in the states, and making that much money in china will afford him an alright lifestyle there (though he won't save shit) and you can't live in china without a work visa. so ya you're a dumb faggot why are you in /trv/
>> Anonymous
>>36997
calm down. sense the trolls, and do not respond to them.
>> Anonymous
OP: this is basically my post-college plan for a bit, assuming my study abroad next year goes well (still need to decide between shanghai and beijing). How hard was it getting a job? Do you have any certification? If not, do you think having it would have given you more opportunity to leverage for higher wages, a better school, etc.?
>> Anonymous
>>36994
you mean usd
>> Anonymous
>>37005
Let me rephrase that; I am not OP, but rather am addressing a question to him. Kthnx.
>> Anonymous
>>36976I just got an email confirming that I got a job teaching English... In China. I still feel like I'll be getting on the plain tomorrow.
High standards they got over there in China.
>> Anonymous
>>37017
>China
you were expecting what
>> Anonymous
>>37019
I was expecting nothing from China. The only expectation I had was that OP wasn't a mongoloid and knew the difference between "plain" and "plane".
>> Anonymous
>>37021
well, looks like you were PLAIN wrong
>> Anonymous
Currently teaching in China, though I came myself rather than accepting a position online.

4,500 RMB is low (I wouldn't have accepted under 6,000 even for a first time position) but it's enough to have fun on. You can eat and commute for under 1,000 kuai a month if you cook for yourself, and 3,500 for fun is plenty but you won't be doing much shopping. If you have a couple thousand in the bank you will be a rich man for a long time.

1. Not much. Don't cross your legs so that people can see the bottom of your shoe. If you drop a chopstick, ignore it and pick up TWO new ones. Don't flip over a fish on your plate if there are any southerners around. Er, I can't really think of much else. You'll see a LOT of people doing things that would be a faux pas in the west though.

2. Never been there, but odds are it's a lot like every other big city in the world. Apart from being full of Chinese people. Who are crazy.

3. You won't have much problem with clothes. I'm 184cm and I see Chinese people taller than me fairly often (though I'm a head above the average). Shoes may very well be a difficulty if you have big feet though. A friend of mine imports his shoes and just buys new shoe covers for them occasionally.

4. Internet speed is pretty good, but if it comes with your employer's apartment (which is going to be a shithole btw), don't expect anything better than mediocre ADSL. Censorship is minimal now (thanks, olympic committee!) but blog sites don't work and expect your connection to die for thirty seconds if you google "tibet" or "freenet". Take TOR with you on a thumb drive.
>> Anonymous
5. Bikes are fairly cheap, but if you buy it new expect it to be stolen very quickly (they respect foreigners--I've never had any problem at all with crime and feel totally safe on the street, but they can't tell who a bike belongs to just by looking at it), so buy a dirty second-hand bike for next to nothing and use that.

6. Stay away from bars full of foreigners and you'll get laid without lifting a finger. But beware of whores, be quick with the johnny (Chinese men don't know what foreplay is. They'll jump on your cock while you're not looking if you let them.), and keep your wallet under the mattress (do this subtly, if they think you think they're a whore they will get CHINESE GIRL ANGRY which trust me is bad).
I don't pay for sex, but if you like hookers, you'll love Chinese ones. Stunning and cheap. But if they take you to a brothel of any sort, DO NOT EVER put your clothes/wallet/valuables in a cupboard. I've heard many tales of sliding false walls and a tiny gremlin who replaces your cash with funny money and swipes your camera.
Chinese are opportunists, so don't be surprised if a girl asks you for a 'gift' of a new phone or something in the morning. Tell them to fuck off, but be nice about it.
Party girls don't like drinking because they turn red, but they substitute it for drugs. Partake if you like, but don't get carried away with drug versions of drinking games.
Sorry if I sound obsessed, but a (male) foreign teacher's life is a party over there so you need to know this stuff.
>> Anonymous
my coworker lived in taiwan until she married an english teacher. she's fucking hot.
>> Anonymous
>>37042
WOW COOL BRO

Fuck off and take your /b/ shit with you.
>> Tripfriend !FRiEnd2YUk
>>37005
Yes, it helps to have a certification. For most countries (Including China) it's more of a requirement than a degree. I got my certification from Oxford Seminars, and they have been amazing. They practically handed me the job once I finished.

http://www.oxfordseminars.com/Pages/Teach/teach_about.php

The certification class costs about $900 to $1,000 dollars, but has been worth every penny. It's 6 classes over 3 weekends. They have the classes in a lot of cities around the US, so it's not hard to sign up for one.

>>37036
>>37037
This is useful information. Thanks. Especially on number 6. I don't really plan on actively looking for hookers, but if the opportunity should come along, who am I to pass up sex.
>> Anonymous
>>37049
You don't need to actively search for hookers. That's part of what I was trying to warn you of. Their behaviour differs from city to city, but some are extremely friendly and it takes time to learn to differentiate between them and regular girls who just really like white guys (even the dorkiest of us are a rare and sexy commodity. Look forward to that).

If you are in the mood to pay though, smile at that gorgeous girl walking down the street with a phone in her hand. Just like fruit, you're better off not picking one out under flourescent lighting. I really fucking hate club whores. There's nothing worse for me than making a choice between which of two cute ones to take home and then discovering I selected a hooker and have to get rid of her.
>> Anonymous
It's going to be at least a few years before I try to follow in the OP's path (hopefully I'll be as lucky as him!), butttttt.... Can I get a good cup of coffee in China?
>> Anonymous
>>37057
Like Starbucks? Those are everywhere.

You can get almost anything you can get in your home country, but it can be expensive. Chinese people aren't big coffee drinkers, so that's one of those things.
>> Anonymous
watch out for the thought police
>> Anonymous
>>37049
>Oxford Seminars
lol who?
>> Anonymous
>>37081
There's a link IN the post.
>> Anonymous
>China
>650$/mo

wat.

stay home and work at mcdonalds.
>> Tripfriend !FRiEnd2YUk
>>37391
1. I'm going to enjoy China.
2. McDonalds is a shitty job.
3. McDonalds wouldn't pay for my apartment/utilities.
4. I'll actually get to keep almost all of that money for myself.
5. $650 is a lot more than a lot of Chinese people make. And they still have to pay for their housing.

Shit. I know this is a troll, but I can't help it.
>> Anonymous
Have fun and enjoy your SARS

But try not to get it
>> Anonymous
Enjoy your journey Anon.
>> Anonymous
what are my chances of getting a teaching job like this if I have a bachelors of science?
>> Anonymous
>>37417
very good, probably could get an even better job than with a BA lol
>> Anonymous
>>37417
If you're white and speak English you can teach English in China. It's a teacher's market, and will be as long as the number of Chinese families with some spending money wanting education for their kids grows faster than the number of Americans (and other english-speakingfags) willing to move to China (IE will be a seller's market always). Might not make much cash, but ultimate job security.
>> Anonymous
>>37417
Any degree will get you something much better than what the OP accepted. It'll also get you into other countries which you may prefer to visit.
>> Anonymous
>>37440
>>37438
A TESOL certificate probably helps more than a degree, though, unless it's in something spectacularly relevant I think they'd rather take an undergraduate with a certificate (either one of the Trinity courses or the cambridge ones) than someone with a degree from an unrelated field.
>> Anonymous
>>37441
Hi, I've been teaching overseas for a while.

A TESOL cert will get you more money in whatever you'd get otherwise.
A degree will get you a crack at a better class of jobs, because it's technically a legal requirement (for "teaching" as opposed to "language training" or whatever; there are two government bodies that do work permits but they have slightly different requirements) even though nobody really cares in China.
>> Anonymous
>>37445
It's a few years before I'd be ready to get a TESOL certificate, but what ones are most respected/valued among Chinese employers? Poster said the Cambridge (CELTA) and Trinity programs were good, but trinity seems to have centers in America, and the only CELTA center on the east coast is in new york. Obviously some certificates are gonna be more respected than others, so any information on how that breaks down would be really helpful, as I like to plan in ahead. Way ahead. As in, three years ahead.
>> Anonymous
Just wondering, does OP speak mandarin?
>> Anonymous
>>37451Obviously some certificates are gonna be more respected than others
Uh, not really. Foreign-run schools might care a little (and even less than usual now because of the olympic visa squeeze) but generally speaking, being white is by far your biggest qualification. Some might ask you what was involved in getting your certificate (how many hours of class time, etcetera) but they don't know the difference from one to another and you could lie if you liked.

90% of employers would accept an honorary bachelor of religious studies that you "earned" online, by the way.

Sounds strange, but that's China. Chinese bosses tend to be more interested with intimidating you into performing with strict contracts than making sure you're qualified in the first place, and the only reason they'd care much about the quality of education their school offers is if there's a competitor next door.
>> Anonymous
>>36976
There's not much I can tell you that hasn't been told before, but here are some info on Wuhan.

It's divided up into 3 sections, Wuchang, Hankou, and Hanyang. Wuchang is probably where your school is going to be located as it is the where most of the schools and colleges are located there. Wuchang contains a large college district since one of China's more prestigious universities is located there. Try to get to know some of them, they are from all over the country and some of them will speak English pretty well. Lucky for you, impressionable Chinese college chicks all around.

Hankou contains the shopping district and is the more expensive part of town. Do all you major shoppings there.

And remember, even though it is a pretty goddamn big city with almost 10 million people by our standards, it is still very provincial and average sized by Chinese standards. It will be nothing like Shanghai or Beijing.

There tends to be a flood on the riverbanks every year or so because of the Three Gorges Dam. And yes it will get fucking hot there during the summer (averages around 37°C (99°F).

One last thing, I'm not quite sure if they still do this but during Sunday nights, only cars with licensed ending in odd numbers can cross the 1st Bridge between the districts due to overcrowding. And the next Sunday, even numbers. Be mindful of that.
>> Tripfriend !FRiEnd2YUk
>>37417
If you get a certification, you could teach most anywhere in the world. I'd say Europe would actually be hardest because they want English English, not American/Canadian/Australian English. I was lucky enough to get a nice school, but I'm sure I could have been given worse.

>>37451
I've always heard that the CELTA course was good, but it's also fairly expensive. The class I do recommend the class I took with Oxford Seminars. See>>37049. They've got classes around the country, and their placement program was excellent. They practically (almost literally) hand you the job once you finish the course. And they're very willing to work with you one where you want to teach.

>>37558
Not a word. But I've got a Rosetta Stone, a couple learning CDs, and a copy of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Knowing the native language actually isn't a requirement in most places. I want to learn it though so I am. I've held off learning it because I just got the job and wasn't sure if Mandarin was the language of the area till now.

>>37561
My contract was fairly simple despite some large amounts of engrish. I have heard about some contracts that can be very strict though.

>>37590
Yeah, the school is in Wuchang. Thanks for the telling me about the sections. That'll be a big help. I plan on just getting a bike and using the train/subway when I have to go a long distance so I don't need to worry about a car, but that's still interesting to know.
>> Anonymous
>>37561

fuck, so that means a brown skinned fag like me can never teach in China or Japan?
>> Anonymous
>>37607
I've heard some bad thing about Oxford Seminars


"eware of Oxford Seminars job placement service for its graduates! You are better off finding a job yourself. I activated my job placement service in May 2005 and the so-called coordinator never took the initiative to contact me other than to confirm that she had received my activation and later, the documents needed to process my case. I was told a recruiter had been working on my behalf to find me a job but I never heard from this recruiter, or any others that the coordinator later told me she had given my documents to. When I e-mailed her, she told me that because (1) I was not a university degree holder and (2) because of my Chinese background the recruiter was having a difficult time finding positions for me. She also used this excuse that because I had "insisted" on working in Dalian it made things more difficult. That was of course a lie because I had only said that my preferance was Dalian, but never did I say Dalian ONLY. As for the no-degree and Chinese-face problems, I received plenty of job offers from my own job searches and even had to turn down a few contracts before deciding on well-paying job in a northeastern Chinese university last year.

The Oxford Seminars course is useful for anyone without any teaching experience. To me it was just spending some money to buy a piece of paper in order to increase my marketability."


but your review makes me happier, since CELTA is A) in New York and B) expensive, both two things that turn me off. Hopefully I can find some place that'll let me get a certificate in boston during the summer. Even if it doesn't help me land a better job (it seems since anyone can be a teacher, no one's gonna be that impressed by a certificate), I'd like to actually be a good teacher, since I've always believed the greatest qualification is actually being skilled. How would you rank their actual training?
>> Anonymous
>>37638
Forget to mention, I will be semi-fluent in Mandarin by the time I get my BA (in before BS-fags).
>> Anonymous
>>37635

A secondhand story from Taiwan includes my female friend ringing up about a teaching job and being asked "for the safety of our students, are you black?"

If you can get past the intimidation they have of black people for some primordial reason, you should be okay.

PS: Taiwan is a fucking hole.
>> Tripfriend !FRiEnd2YUk
>>37638
I've didn't have any problems with the placement people. It hasn't even been two weeks since I started the placement process, and I've already got a job. If anything, I was the one holding it up.

The training would really depend on your teacher. I took the class in Pittsburgh, and my teacher was great. She had taught in about 5 different countries before so she was able to answer a lot of our questions. It did feel a bit rushed though. Since the class is three weekends, they have to cram a lot of stuff into 6 days. I did learn a lot, and got some good books out of it. I haven't taken classes offered by other schools so I can't really compare, but I was quite happy with what I got.
>> Anonymous
>>37635
Dunno about Japan, but in China your choices are limited. You could get a job, but it'd be a shitty one. It's not so much a case of racism (the darker your skin the less likely you'll feel welcome in general though) as it is of confidence in your English ability.

China is a linguistic clusterfuck. More than once I've been asked what my "hometown language" is like compared to regular English, because they don't realise how homogenous our language is. The best way that they figure they can be sure they're learning the right way, given that they don't know English (as parents, or before learning themselves), is to stick to white folks.

To be fair though most of the black people I've met in China come directly from Africa and have very strong accents, so they aren't really wrong about that.
>> Anonymous
>>37672
You could've easily gotten a job paying that 4,500RMB yourself in a couple of days with a mail-order TESOL. Nothing special about this placement programme.
>> Anonymous
I'm majoring in East Asian languages. Should I become an interpreter or a teacher?
>> Anonymous
>>37635
I know it's a shitty throwback to the 50s, but if you can pass as white (you just said brownskin and I'm not sure what race you are, so if you're a pretty dark Black guy it's not gonna work) definitely try it.
>> Anonymous
>>37691
>>linguistic clusterfuck

I like you.
>> Anonymous
>>37701
You don't really need to know the native language to teach your own except in specialist classes. In fact I learned pretty quickly that letting beginner students know I understand Mandarin made things a lot more difficult.

I'd guess that there's a lot more demand for interpreters, so the money would be better, and it'd probably be an easier job too.
>> Anonymous
>>37701
Translate books, charge extreme prices per page, ???, Profit.