Where have you lived and worked in China and what did you learn from the experience? Let us know here in the comments section. Thanks for watching and don't forget to like and subscribe!
Hi Matthew. Thanks for making the video. I found your story really interesting and it made me realise how, in some sense, my experience of teaching at Chinese universities was unique for me. I taught at two universities in Changsha and in each case there were only three foreign teachers excluding the infrequent visiting professors. I never really imagined that a university in the P.R.C could have as many as twenty five foreign teaching staff but each place is different and with it each institution. Regarding working for a private company that operates within a public education institution I experienced this when working at a high school but it was still a surprise that this type of arrangement could exist within a university even though it makes a lot of sense, especially when the students plan to study abroad. I am now back in my native Scotland working as a high school music teacher but I often think about my experiences in China. I think you have a really interesting breadth of experience in this domain however and I appreciate you sharing this type of material. It's always something to step back, realise just how vast China is and how many foreign 'communities' there are out there from city to city and province to province. It's interesting that you also mentioned the problem of having to much time on your hands too as I also experienced this. It can become a kind of existential problem quite quickly but if you are savvy it can also work to your advantage. I think if ever I returned to China I would still consider working at a university somewhere precisely for this reason as the travel options that are afforded to you in this job are simply not available within some other English teaching positions. Anyway, thanks.
Thank you so much for your comment and sorry for my late reply! I've created a new channel @MatthewRaymondBoyle which you are welcome to follow me on. I've left this channel up for the information that it provides, but I rarely check it. We agree on so many points. The differences in experiences out here are endless. Sometimes when I see the different types of job opportunities currently in China, it fires my imagination and makes me wish I could start the journey over and be 25 years old again. But now I'm in a position where I have to stay more rooted and make any changes very slowly/strategically/carefully. I hope you can come again to China if that is your wish! Good luck with everything that you are doing!
This was so helpful. I'm a seasoned teacher abroad and recently left Taiwan. This/next year I'm hoping to begin university teaching in China and hope to stay for a while. It's more daunting going into it now that I've entered my 30's!
Oh, thank you! I'm glad it was helpful. Surely, it is more daunting to make big shifts the older we get, but I commend your courage to try something new!
Hey Mathew. Your page is quite informative. I am about to round off my PhD in English Literature in Nigeria. Can I teach Literature at the University level or any other level as a non native speaker?
I think you downplayed the level of association with some germans in Jiangsu province 😉 So glad to see you happy and well and I really enjoy your videos although it‘s not my area of expertise.
Haha! Thank you, Martin! It was too downplayed, you're right. I always appreciated our hang outs and looking back now I only wish we had even more. Glad we are still in touch after all these years!!!
Taught university English composition to students in Changchun through a cooperative program with Rutgers in the US. I've also taught American literature to high school students at an international school in Wuhan and in Shanghai. Of the three, Changchun was my favorite job because of the work itself and the climate and culture of the city.
How was lesson prep at universities? Were you expected to prepare much, or was it all premade? 16 hours a week doesn't sound bad unless you're also spending another 16 hours lesson planning.
Hey, I just came across your video and channel while considering going to China to teach English. I couldn't catch the names of the universities you taught at as my Chinese level is zero and therefore I was unable to decipher the pronunciation. Did you go to China with some Chinese level and, if not, how long did it take you to get to a reasonable level where you could at least engage with some locals and go about daily life?
Hi, how long were your classes? Also, is it normal for the University to ask you to teach online if you are still abroad until you make it to China when your flight is booked?
Hi! Thank you for your comment and sorry for my late reply. I have a new TH-cam channel now, which you are welcome to follow me on. I just left this one up for the information it provides, but I rarely check it. To your questions, classes at the university level are typically two 45-minute periods once per week, but sometimes more or less. It just depends on the uni. And these days, yes, I think that is normal for unis to start asking you to teach online. That was learned during the pandemic as a usual way to get the job done. But if for whatever reason you don't end up coming to China/completing the paperwork, it could be tricky to get your pay. Good luck!
Last year was my first year teaching in an experimental school and it was crazy! The thing I hate about teaching younger ages is that you're always tryna entertain and be the clown! So I've been thinking about university lecturer positions here in China (regardless of the salary!) Do you feel what I say too? Am I considering the right thing to base my judgment on?
Where have you lived and worked in China and what did you learn from the experience? Let us know here in the comments section. Thanks for watching and don't forget to like and subscribe!
Hi Matthew. Thanks for making the video. I found your story really interesting and it made me realise how, in some sense, my experience of teaching at Chinese universities was unique for me. I taught at two universities in Changsha and in each case there were only three foreign teachers excluding the infrequent visiting professors. I never really imagined that a university in the P.R.C could have as many as twenty five foreign teaching staff but each place is different and with it each institution. Regarding working for a private company that operates within a public education institution I experienced this when working at a high school but it was still a surprise that this type of arrangement could exist within a university even though it makes a lot of sense, especially when the students plan to study abroad. I am now back in my native Scotland working as a high school music teacher but I often think about my experiences in China. I think you have a really interesting breadth of experience in this domain however and I appreciate you sharing this type of material. It's always something to step back, realise just how vast China is and how many foreign 'communities' there are out there from city to city and province to province. It's interesting that you also mentioned the problem of having to much time on your hands too as I also experienced this. It can become a kind of existential problem quite quickly but if you are savvy it can also work to your advantage. I think if ever I returned to China I would still consider working at a university somewhere precisely for this reason as the travel options that are afforded to you in this job are simply not available within some other English teaching positions. Anyway, thanks.
Thank you so much for your comment and sorry for my late reply! I've created a new channel @MatthewRaymondBoyle which you are welcome to follow me on. I've left this channel up for the information that it provides, but I rarely check it.
We agree on so many points. The differences in experiences out here are endless. Sometimes when I see the different types of job opportunities currently in China, it fires my imagination and makes me wish I could start the journey over and be 25 years old again. But now I'm in a position where I have to stay more rooted and make any changes very slowly/strategically/carefully.
I hope you can come again to China if that is your wish! Good luck with everything that you are doing!
This was so helpful. I'm a seasoned teacher abroad and recently left Taiwan. This/next year I'm hoping to begin university teaching in China and hope to stay for a while. It's more daunting going into it now that I've entered my 30's!
Oh, thank you! I'm glad it was helpful. Surely, it is more daunting to make big shifts the older we get, but I commend your courage to try something new!
Hey Mathew. Your page is quite informative.
I am about to round off my PhD in English Literature in Nigeria. Can I teach Literature at the University level or any other level as a non native speaker?
I think you downplayed the level of association with some germans in Jiangsu province 😉 So glad to see you happy and well and I really enjoy your videos although it‘s not my area of expertise.
Haha! Thank you, Martin! It was too downplayed, you're right. I always appreciated our hang outs and looking back now I only wish we had even more. Glad we are still in touch after all these years!!!
So am I. And I hope my way brings me back to China soon. I‘d love to hang out with you again 😊
@@InCardiaSnoop That would be great!!!
Taught university English composition to students in Changchun through a cooperative program with Rutgers in the US. I've also taught American literature to high school students at an international school in Wuhan and in Shanghai. Of the three, Changchun was my favorite job because of the work itself and the climate and culture of the city.
How was lesson prep at universities? Were you expected to prepare much, or was it all premade? 16 hours a week doesn't sound bad unless you're also spending another 16 hours lesson planning.
Hey, I just came across your video and channel while considering going to China to teach English. I couldn't catch the names of the universities you taught at as my Chinese level is zero and therefore I was unable to decipher the pronunciation. Did you go to China with some Chinese level and, if not, how long did it take you to get to a reasonable level where you could at least engage with some locals and go about daily life?
How should you dress to teach in a university?
Hi, how long were your classes? Also, is it normal for the University to ask you to teach online if you are still abroad until you make it to China when your flight is booked?
Hi! Thank you for your comment and sorry for my late reply. I have a new TH-cam channel now, which you are welcome to follow me on. I just left this one up for the information it provides, but I rarely check it.
To your questions, classes at the university level are typically two 45-minute periods once per week, but sometimes more or less. It just depends on the uni. And these days, yes, I think that is normal for unis to start asking you to teach online. That was learned during the pandemic as a usual way to get the job done. But if for whatever reason you don't end up coming to China/completing the paperwork, it could be tricky to get your pay.
Good luck!
Oh, and my new channel is @MatthewRaymondBoyle
Last year was my first year teaching in an experimental school and it was crazy! The thing I hate about teaching younger ages is that you're always tryna entertain and be the clown! So I've been thinking about university lecturer positions here in China (regardless of the salary!) Do you feel what I say too? Am I considering the right thing to base my judgment on?