China ESL - An Industry Run Amuck?
4. Medical
Most public Chinese schools offer the same medical treatment to FE as is offered to their own Chinese teachers in the school infirmary or medical clinic. This is basic first aid, Chinese style. It is comparable to the Elementary school nurse in America . Most private schools do not have an on site medical facility and must rely upon the local hospital. Many schools advise that medical insurance first be obtained before leaving the home country. Unfortunately, most medical insurance plans that cover travel and work abroad do not cover the People's Republic of China , which means evacuation to Hong Kong at a minimum. In the event of catastrophic illness, your China employer will deport you anyway.
The Central Government guide provides:
Foreign experts are to be provided "medical expenses according to the Chinese medical care system." (1994, Guide for Foreign Experts Working in China , State Bureau of Foreign Experts, p.52)
"Medical Care. The health care system in China covers the whole country. Most of the work units have their own clinics where complaints like headaches, colds, fevers and stomachaches can be effectively dealt with. There are sizable hospitals in each area and patients can get timely treatment without traveling too far. Big cities like Beijing , Shanghai , Guangzhou and the provincial capitals all have well-equipped hospitals which employ many experienced doctors and specialists. Many cities have specialist hospitals. Most of the hospitals have special departments for foreign experts where patients receive first-class service. If stated in the contract, foreign experts will receive free medical treatment, but the cost of stays in hospital, registration fees, house calls, spectacles, dental treatment, massage, and non-medicinal nutritional products are to be paid by the patient." (1994, Guide for Foreign Experts Working in China , State Bureau of Foreign Experts, p. 60)
5. Travel Expense
Most schools provide a one-way airfare re-imbursement after you have taught for six months and a full round trip reimbursement after you have taught for one year. They also generally provide 1,200 RMB for vacation travel within China at the end of a one-year contract. However, this varies with the different schools.
The Central Government guide provides:
"The inviting party will pay travel expenses to and from work." (1994, Guide for Foreign Experts Working in China , State Bureau of Foreign Experts, p. 52)
"Invitees working for over one year, or over one academic year, will be provided with an economy class return air ticket for themselves and their families. If invitees wish to purchase their own tickets, the inviting party will pay in RMB Yuan the equivalent cost of an economic class air fare by the most direct route." (1994, Guide for Foreign Experts Working in China , State Bureau of Foreign Experts, p. 53)
- Education
Most Chinese schools require a Bachelors degree, at a minimum. Unfortunately the degree does not need to be in English, Literature, Linguistics or Education. There are many circumstances where Native English Speakers have been employed with an Associates degree or as little as a U.S. high school diploma. xinpai@china.com
"Xin Pai Foreign Language School Date: Monday, 20 January 2003 , at 10:08 a.m. More Job Vacancies Four more teaching positions are now available at Xin Pai Foreign Language School … but even those with no experience, who would like to try their hand at teaching, are welcome, as we can provide on-the-job training and assistance"http://www.chinatefl.com/abroad.html.
"Frequently Asked Questions: 1. What qualifications should one have in teaching in China ? The basic qualifications are: being a native speaker of English, having a minimum BA degree and commitment to teaching, loving China and its people. Clear, well-spoken English and a good knowledge of the fundamentals of English grammar.
Teaching experience/certificate is preferred but not a must."
A major ESL teacher recruiting web site, www.AbroadChina.com, gives the following advice:
What if I do not have a degree?
If you do not have a degree, you must have:
Qualified Teacher Status and at least one years' recent classroom-based experience of teaching English or modern languages, or a TEFL qualification and one years' classroom-based experience of TEFL or teaching another subject.
However, some schools will accept you without degree requested, and in some summer program, they may also accept. But some school will not accept you without a degree, so your options will be restricted.
What if I have limited teaching experience?
With TEFL qualifications or equivalent & less than one years experience. If you have a degree, some host schools still will accept you. |
The above directly contradicts, at least as to public universities and institutions of higher learning, the following official position of the Chinese Central Government.
The Central Government guide provides:
"Those in search of language teaching positions in universities and institutions of higher learning should have a good grasp of their native languages and literature and should have at least three years' language teaching experience. They should be able to speak their native language in standard pronunciation and intonation." (1994, Guide for Foreign Experts Working in China , State Bureau of Foreign Experts)
Note that the above is advisory and applies only to universities and institutions of higher learning, presumably public colleges and private Business Institutes, but not kindergartens, primary schools, middle schools or high schools, public or private. The use of the word "should" and not "must" should also be noted. The final and most important observation must be the lack of any requirement that English be the native language of the foreign expert hired to teach ESL.
- ESL Training and/or Teaching Experience
Most schools request a TESOL, TEFL, TOFL, ESL or CELTA certificate, but actual teaching experience or business experience is an acceptable substitute. (See above.)
Although many schools claim to offer training once the FE is in China , in fact only a handful of private schools provide any pre-employment or on-the-job training specifically for ESL teaching in China .
Most Chinese schools prefer some teaching experience but some do not, let alone ESL experience. Likewise, most schools do not provide any type of teacher training, either on the job or on-line. They use the learn as you go by "trial-and-error" method of teacher training.
Most ESL teachers are recruited to China with very attractive bait.
Travel/Teach English: The Global TESOL Institute, http://www.eslcafe.com; Looking for a well-paid job to explore China ? Come to TDM! Posted By: TDM Language College woody@tdmlanguage.com Date: Thursday, 16 January 2003 , at 10:04 a.m. But you are very well paid. Your salary will be more than enough for you to live comfortably, to explore the exciting China , its history, its nature, its people, its culture, its language and its food.) |
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The recruit is usually very young with no prior teaching experience, away from home for the first time, in their first cross-cultural experience, and under the belief that they are about to embark upon a China vacation, which of necessity, must be interrupted occasionally for a little work.
"Too many people with no real interest in the job come here ( China ) for a good time (very easy to do) and leave the real teachers trying to clean up the mess and repair their image. A white face and a degree, even a fake one, land a job." (Andrew Tamblyn, 1/15/03 , www.ESLcafe.com)
"The tragedy is that some folks come here not to teach, but to travel, so they get all romantic and misty eyed. They can't teach, don't want to teach, and want to party like in the good old USA . This devil-may-care, happy camper attitude unfortunately leads them to make immature decisions and to be placed in schools that can not wait to capitalize on these "Rage against the Machine" look-a-likes. They also give serious teachers a bad reputation." (H. Jones, 2/25/01 , www.ESLcafe.com)
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