My Life Has Changed In 3 Weeks.

Seriously well done for sticking to it buddy, always tough those first few hours and days just after traveling that far and being so far away from home.
I hope you have the time of your life!
 
well done for sticking at it mate. My cousin left for tokyo today to work at disney land for 6 months , must be very daunting to go all that way on your own not knowing anyone. Much respect :cool: :p
 
The Chinese (in the East) do have this fascination with "white people" (or translated as Ghostman actually/bluntly). Good luck with your new life over there, you should start an online blog !
 
Overtonebliss...........

You are an extremely brave person to make the leap you have. I really take my hat of to you.

I am also extremely jealous!

China is probably the most exciting place to live in the word at the moment and will become even more so over the years to come!

May I ask?

You dropped out of High School you said?

So do you have any formal Teacher training or anything?

Also, out of idle curiosity.......just where did you hear about this job from?
 
How It All Happened

I spoke to a guy about 1 and a half years ago. He was in China at the time and told me how he went to China and was currently teaching at a school in the North. At first, I wasn't all that interested; I was wrapped up in my own blindness and it was a bit of a dull moment in my life.

I don't have a degree, or teaching qualifications/experience. China is all about corruption and this allows for people like me to teach over here. Other places like Japan and Korea require a degree also, but it's possible to find work without one.

This doesn't mean 'anyone' can do it. The school I work at has an amazing reputation and China, generally, doesn't care about degrees. They look into who you are, your character and ask questions to help determine whether you're suitable.

Some schools don't give a damn, but research it and make SURE you go to a school that DOES give a damn. This is important and will determine whether you have a great time, or a terrible time in China.

I found the job online by typing 'Teach English in China' into Google. There are plenty of websites which have hundreds of ads. They're begging for teachers. The money to be earnt in China is nothing much at all back home, but it's quite a lot here, I know I live very comfortably.

I get 6000 Yuan per month (about £550), my own free air conditioned apartment (furnished) with bills paid. My own office and computer, my own classroom and lots of other stuff.

China is huge. 6000 Yuan is a lot or VERY little depending on where you live exactly.

Have I Stabbed A Woman With My Pork Sword

No, not yet. I'm not the type to look or advertise it to women, of any nation, but I happily would. I could if I wanted, but I prefer to let those things 'happen'.

Oh yes, I very happily would and I'll probably break in two weeks and go on a rampage.

Chinese Lesson

I've studied many languages for many years, all by myself. I hate being 'taught' language in a classroom enviroment; it just doesn't work for me like that.

I'm learning Mandarin Chinese which is the official language of Mainland China. In Hong Kong, they speak Cantonese which is very different. China has many dialects but they all use the same writing system, so two Chinese who can't speak, can write to eachother with no troubles.

Mandarin Chinese has 4 tones.

1st - High and flat
2nd - Rising
3rd - Fall and Rise
4th - High, short and sharp... falling.

Xie (2nd) xie (neutral), pronounced a little like 'Sher sher', but it's hard to explain without being able to speak it to you.

If you want to learn Chinese, go to www.ChinesePod.com, the lessons are absolutely great and they have them at all levels from Newbie, to Advanced.

China Advice

I appreciate all the advice, but I already know it all. I researched this country, the job and everything else I could think of for 6 months before commiting. I advise you to do exactly the same if you're thinking of coming over here. Be absolutely sure it's something you want to do, or it will turn into a nightmare.

Home

I do miss home. I didn't think I would as I have been on the 'I hate the UK' bandwagon for the last 5 years or so. I've found though that I do miss a lot of things from back home. I haven't spoken to a British person in ages and I'll probably only speak to a couple in the next year.

I'll be here until September '07 which is when my contract ends. Then I shall return to the UK, fresh and full of everything I needed in order to do the things I've always dreamed.

What I'm doing now is something I've dreamed and thought about since I was 16, and now I'm living it. It's all to prove to myself that dreams do come true if you try hard enough. And they do. :)
 
I studied East Asian Languages at university for a long time and many times nearly went to Japan to teach.

China crossed my mind, but I am concerned over safety issues for visiting women in China? What would be your opinion on this?
 
Well done. Sounds like you're enjoying it so far and I hope it all works out for you. I wish I had done something like that when I was younger and had the energy ;)
 
One of my best friends took a gap year teaching english to primary-age kids in Hong Kong. It may even be the same program, I cant remember any details about where he went. Still, he enjoyed it too but it ending up costing him a lot of money. (As opposed to others, who paid for most of their degrees with their gap years.)
 
*GD Rating Increase*

I never been so interested in a blog, slap it on a site do some marketing add Adsense or your own advertising, you could make some decent money!

If you do come back to the UK, make sure you gain plenty of contacts. China can offer you a lot of opportunities, if you have good and trusted contacts there you can easily maximise on them!

I always had an interest in China, I know about its business side and an old documentary about the one child policy but thats about it. Decent insight, give us more! :)
 
Sounds like an excellent opportunity and a great experience. As others have said, start a blog. I used to read a blog by an American teaching English in Japan, and it was very entertaining - by turns hilarious and poignant. Not sure if it's still going though.
 
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