Teaching English in China

In my desperate days looking at my income and my income future, I think that teaching English in China might be an option. I could rent out my house. They usually furnish housing and travel to and from the U.S. so my expenses would be minimal so I could save a bit for the future.

So, I answered an ad. They require $385 "finder's fee" for the English teaching job - and there is no location choice (yikes!). They require the teacher to pay their own transportation to China for future reimbursement (right!). Housing (of no description) is provided. The pay is around $1000 per month.

Oh well, so much for the fantasy of teaching English in China.

Sounds like an adventure.

The adventure aspect is appealing - but I'd rather have an adventure with appropriate safeguards and pay.

dkchristi wrote:

The adventure aspect is appealing - but I'd rather have an adventure with appropriate safeguards and pay.

I hear you.

Teaching English is not just needed in China, but also in many European countries.
A recent forum on CNN with CEO's from top companies, discussed the problems of doing business in Europe. As one executive said, "In America, one can go from state to state and it is the same language. In Europe going from one country to another means adjusting to a different language". The concensus was that English should be the international business language. There is a need for native English speakers for jobs in Europe. If, for example, one wants to teach English in Germany, they should be able to communicate in German. There are jobs available.

The cost of living is very high in Germany, Abe. It is possible to live to a comfortable level in China at much less expense. Housing is more affordable. Consumer goods are cheap. I think those were DK's thoughts.

My goal is to net enough to pay off my house in a job that provides some interest. As it stands, there are ten more years of payments. I wouldn't mind improving my modest lifestyle a notch or two.

Good goal. Have your house paid off before retirement.

I taught English in Taiwan for two years.

Did you like it ?

The teaching itself was rewarding but living in Taiwan was a culture shock but beyond that, things you take for granted here, little things, simply don't exist in Taiwan or China, such as enforcement of traffic laws, food and health safety. Well they do exists but in the most minimal fashion and are ignored.

Plus except for the tourist areas it is polluted and dirty. Drinking water is something to be avoided unless it comes from a bottle and though Taiwan in theory has free speech, if you are an American, you keep your mouth shut. It's worse on the mainland.

But I got paid well and it has opened doors for me by having it on my resume.

I hear the toilets are unusable. A surgeon friend and his wife and daughter went
on a trip to China and were appalled.
The surgeon observed the cleaning methods and decided to forget going.
The cleaner took a mop, first cleaned the toilet bowl, then mopped the floor and then the ceiling with the same mop.
YUCK!

At least they tried to clean it. I have seen similar attempts for cleanliness in undeveloped countries where they swept the dirt floors and washed the dishes and clothes in the the dribble of water that ran behind the house and down the hill.

It is true that we don't appreciate so much about the U.S. while we rant and rave about political nonsense.

I taught English in S. Korea in the 70's and was well-paid. It didn't do much for my resume.

It is a wonder you are alive.

Can you take a roommate and pay the rent directly to the loan?
The principal reduces quickly this way.

I've said this before, but it fits here. A Jewish sabra in the film , Cast a Giant Shadow had a line I'll never forget. To the Jewish American Army colonel who had come to Palestine in 1949 to help with the struggle: "Don't talk to me about horror. Americans think horror is going to the bathroom outside the house,"

That's a good idea and I was getting ready to do that once. Then my mom came for three months and then my son and then other relatives - and they are all very important to me.

Taking in a roommate also has risks. I'm not sure I'm up to them.

From our friend, Malcolm Campbell, on Facebook:

Quote :

In the news: An investigative report has angered Hong Kong coffee drinkers this week after it was revealed that a local Starbucks was using water from a bathroom spout to brew its coffee.

Book sales--dedicate them to your mortgage.

alj wrote:

From our friend, Malcolm Campbell, on Facebook:

Quote :

In the news: An investigative report has angered Hong Kong coffee drinkers this week after it was revealed that a local Starbucks was using water from a bathroom spout to brew its coffee.

The spout was not the toilet.

True, but it would still violate codes in the US.

You are so right.

DK, my daughter has classmates who go back and forth teaching in China. They go at their own expense, but once there, easily find legit positions (yes, there are also sketchy ones, but they are aware of, and avoid them). American English speakers are in great demand there, and it is easy to get a good paying job there if you know where and how to look and have some connections. I may be able to hook you up with one of her classmates who is now in a management position with a private education company in Beijing. He wanted my daughter to join him working there, and said he could get the company to sponsor her so she'd be legal. Which isn't a huge issue, though, because China tolerates American illegal alien teachers, lol

When we went to China a couple of years ago, we just went to Beijing and Shanghai, and found it modern and westernized. Yes, the pollution is bad; there's always a fog in the air. Other than that, cost of living is very cheap, and there are nice apartments to be had. PM me if you want me to hook you up with the guy I mentioned.

alj wrote:

I've said this before, but it fits here. A Jewish sabra in the film , Cast a Giant Shadow had a line I'll never forget. To the Jewish American Army colonel who had come to Palestine in 1949 to help with the struggle: "Don't talk to me about horror. Americans think horror is going to the bathroom outside the house,"

With all due respect, We Americans overdue the hygiene thing. They say the polio epidemic was because of over cleanliness. We somehow lived through numerous camping trips--even had fun.
We laugh about the time we had a toddler camping who declared, " I have to go potty."
Dave promptly plopped him on a log and said "Go."
He thought and said, "I think I will live just as long if I don't go."

What is the cost of living in Japan? I have a cyberfriend who has been living in Japan, and teaching, for several years now.

I know from having been there that the Japanese are very clean germ-conscious, as a culture..