Messages by Donald

I have to agree. I have taught in Sichuan for almost 2 years now. The spoken language here is not mandarin. When you come to China your biggest enemy could be bordom. Not all cities have access to western restaurants or English movies. Make sure you do have a computer with internet access. As for meeting other foreigners. It will be like your own country. There will be people you like and don't like. The biggest help will be establishing friendships with Chinese people in the same way you would establish a friendship with someone back home.

Once you settle down at your dorm in the city you will teach at you can go to the nearest China Mobile shop with a Chinese speaking person. You should buy a Chinese cell phone with a chinese card. This is arguably the cheapest way unless your stay in China is less than a year. Make sure the person who speaks Chinese understands what you actually want or you will get charged for things you never heard of or don't use. China's phone system is Provincial rather than national when it comes to contracts and usage fees. Make sure you fill out and pay a deposit for the application to phone overseas. The cost to phone overseas is comparible to what you pay for long distance fees in North America. But a whole lot cheaper for other services. Skype is okay if you want to call a cell in the US or Australia but can only call a land line in Canada. There are 3 Mobile companies in China. All are the same. China Unicom has deals with many Foreign companies (Rogers in Canada) but higher LD charges.

I don't think anybody will tell you they are teaching without a degree. (at least in a public forum) But there are some places that do advertise that a degree is not necessary. But those are very few. In China, many institutions are also asking for 2 years teaching experience. Again you have to look at the ads. It also doesn't hurt to just try. Trying is the best why to find out.

I ran into the same issue. So I sent al my documents by regular e-mail to the address proviced and made reference to this Tesol website.

That is a course all by itself. If you teach business english you may have to teach your students to write a cover letter. I suggest you go to the intenet and search "Cover Letter"

I take it you are trying to apply for a job. If so, you will find that you cannot send your documents from this (Body) box. You should just say something like :
"I will send the documents to the e-mail address provided as I cannot sent the documents from this site."

You might say a short paragraph that would summarize your cover letter. Make sure you send your cover and resume and any requested documents in the next few minutes.

Glad to here your a happy camper. I almost went to Mianyang last year but ended up in Yibin. There are a few college students in Yibin who are from Mianyang. I was treated very well by the college in Yibin. But this year I will teach in Nanjing. I'd like to know who you signed your contract with.

Don

You should be going for the experience and the adventure. If money is at the top of your list. Then don't go. Your question should be "will I have enough to get home?"

Just you, your sense of humor and adventure

I have talked to a few forieign teachers over the past four years. I have to agree with Kiran. It appears some places can do different things. I was living in China for a few years because my wife is Chinese. Renewing the tourist visa here was never a problem. Then I got bored and decided to go teaching. It wasn't a big deal, except for the trip to Hong Kong. This country doesn't operate to well on fixed laws. I also agree with Anthony. Don't try to work on a tourist visa. Many people do get away with it and some are deported when they get caught. But I don't think you'll here much from the people who get deported.