Need advice

nfrench2008
 January 01, 2009, 12:39 AM posted in General Discussion

Hello all, I want to teach English in China starting Sept. 2009, but I only know a couple of words in Chinese. Could anyone give me insight into whether or not this is going to work out for me? Will I be able to work and also learn Chinese?I am taking a class this spring in Chinese at my University and I am using Chinesepod of course. Thanks

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ksarvestani
 February 23, 2009, 01:52 PM

Not being Sinophone is not a problem for an English teacher in China.  At least not if you will be working in a University setting with other foreign teachers around.  You will have foreign colleagues to show you the basics of living, and Chinese colleagues to help you work the administrative intricacies.  Besides, your students' English will be advanced enough to offer you plenty of assistance if you choose to avail them (I am not comfortable asking students' help, but many other foreign teachers are).

I knew bit of Chinese when I came, having studied two years at University, but many of my foreign colleagues have lived here several years and remain nonfunctional in the language.  Unless you are an experienced teacher, your first semester will be lost to adapting to the job and to the new lifestyle.  After that, however, it really depends on your motivation to take advantage of the learning opportunities all around you.