Teaching English in China

I am just completing nearly 12 months teaching English at a college/university (it changed status while I was here), and I have some comments to make about the industry.

First of all, I'd not talk anyone out of doing it. It has been an amazing and challenging experience, but somewhat fraught with dangers for the unwary. Things are being done to improve the industry here, and I hope, in those countries that supply "native English speakers."

One of the biggest challenges is the difference in our cultures. I think I could write 1000 pages on this issue alone, and still not cover it adequately. Chinese culture is SO DIFFERENT to anything in the west, and even Chinese academics who have studied and lived overseas, seem to be unable to make any changes from within the Chinese education system.

Some things I have observed are:

TRANSLATIONS AND EDITING - it is quite clear to me that there is no easy way to translate Chinese to English. We have so many more words, so things are defined in a different way, and translating Chinese word to English word and having English speakers clearly understand what is meant is almost impossible. One way to change this is to not only have the translators, but also have ENGLISH EDITORS and then there might be a way to make more sense our of the communication. A simple example of this is the contracts that teachers sign with the Chinese colleges. Many are in "Chinglish" and the meaning is not always clear. We get the idea, but it is not always understandable, but we sign them and hope for the best.

COMMUNICATION - as well as the language difficulty there are challenges with communication. Some interpretation is that the Chinese people are really so suspicious of foreigners that they tell us things that they think we need to know - just before or just after we need to know. Some might say it is because they procrastinate - they do find it hard to communicate with us, so leave it until the last minute, or not at all. They certainly don't understand that many of us are keen to "immerse" ourselves into Chinese culture - to see as much as we can possibly see, and learn as much as we possibly can. When a group of teacher wanted to go to Chinese Opera they were surprised but 13 of us went and enjoyed it even though we didn't understand a word. Even in the theatre they were amazed that foreigners had come!

In China employees are at the "beck and call" of the boss, so if there is a meeting called for 4 pm tomorrow for example we are expected to all be there, with no consideration that we might have other plans.

There's very little information in English and many just expect that somehow we manage to read Chinese characters and understand them.

LIVING CONDITIONS - most colleges provide accommodation for their foreign teachers. Many of the apartments are comfortable for us - but things break down. Often. Getting things repaired quickly, or at all, is often a challenge. The Chinese teachers do not have apartments as good as ours, and they are somewhat jealous. Doesn't help for good relationships between the two groups either!

Some accommodation provided is far below expectations. So if you are planning to teach in China, get photos of apartments, and see if you can communicat with others who were living there. Ask many questions.

TEACHING CONDITIONS - again I could write a lot. The classrooms and facilties may not be as good as one has been used to. Perhaps the classrooms are dirty and seldom cleaned, perhaps there are too many students both for the size of the class room and for the teacher to manage, especially for "oral" English.

Perhaps the objectives of the course you are to teach are not given to you, or are not clear. Perhaps the dates you are given are not right (something changes nearly every day), and the detail for examinations is not given to you until too late. Resources might be non existent.
(I was given all my class information in Chinese, including student lists, and course material for English lessons.) Sometimes complaining or seeking alternatives is not easy.

And so it goes.

Would I do it again? In a heartbeat! As much as I have had to endure some challenges, I enjoyed the overall experience and I hope to return one day.