What she said pretty much matched my expectations. For private jiao-yu, the standards are set by the business itself. Usual is a BA, and experience preferred, but as long as the teacher can pass the interview (fluttering eyelashes) she/he can get a job. My experience (back in the day) is that the quality of these teachers varied greatly, but the better schools invested in good teachers and profited by that.

In state schools of course the standards are a teaching degree and successful completion of a competitive English language exam. (I have forgotten the names of the exams and levels) Please note that passing Chinese competitive exams has little or nothing to do with linguistic competence. But getting a degree from a teaching university pretty much guarantees competent classroom management.

Has she tried contacting the Education Bureau?  If anyone knows what the requirements are for teaching Chinese, it would be them.

Hi Everyone,

These last few months, I have been so mentally and physically exhausted. I even take medicine that barely helps.

But, today was a little different. I tutored a student in AP World history. I felt so energized these last few sessions that I carried on for hours, just for fun.

1. Do any of you have any "home run moments" where we really enjoy part of our teaching job, or any job?

Any specific tasks, specific moments, etc.

2. In my own life, I can honestly say English teaching has never been a natural fit for me. I do it because I need a steady paycheck. As a light-skinned American from a good university, I always have minimum employment.

Contrast that to the Great Recession, when it seemed like hundreds of job applications, etc., got someone nowhere.

3. In medicine, there are blood tests that can isolate either a disease or a root cause. I wish there was a psychological test that could say, "You are made to do this."

In the movie "Demolition Man," the joke was that Sly Stallone's character was a police officer who had a hidden penchant for sewing.

4. Can anyone add any info about:

a. Some great moments in teaching they had, where it seemed like they produced their own energy, and time just flew by

b. Any way to diagnose where someone is a good fit for?

Yes, Edgar said it could be shared.

But, I will ask him again, just to be sure.

I respect his wishes. He is such a great lawyer, at a very good price. Let us make sure everything goes according to form.

Hi Everyone,

1. What basic laws or legal info should every expatriate know?

2. Among those I can think of are:

a. Contrary to popular belief, anyone working in China does have rights. This includes expatriates.

b. In the final analysis, Chinese labor law dominates everything. Employers can sign contracts, etc., but Chinese labor law still trumps all.

c. Every worker, including an expatriate, is entitled to Chinese social insurance.

This includes valuable access to public hospitals, pensions, severance pay, unemployment pay, and disability pay.

d. It is your right to speak to a lawyer; they are much less expensive than in Western countries.

e. If things come down to it, it will go to a courtroom. Often, the Western teacher can win, as Chinese labor law is pro-employee.

f. Chinese employers fear getting sued more than most countries. Make sure not to talk about lawyers unless it is absolutely necessary.

3. Anything else?