There is a shortage of qualified Chinese teachers in rural areas because trained Chinese teachers will prefer the higher salary and better facilities of an urban area. The gap year solution is one way of giving rural children the opportunity to learn English which is fast becoming essential in China. But what would it be like? Alejandro Bueno Moya from Spain tried it in 2009. Here are his impressions:
What was China like?
The first time I went to China I was pretty scared of what I would find there or what I should do if I have to face a problem. But after being there one month I felt like I was at home. In fact one of the myths about China in Spain at the time was that it’s a very dangerous place to travel in. In the end, I did not have that feeling at all. Sure it was an amazing experience.What was your experience with English Teaching ?
It was actually my second teaching experience and my first time teaching a foreign language. In my country I didn’t teach a foreign language, so it was a completely new experience for me. I needed my school colleagues’ help to handle some situations where you are absolutely lost. Well, those situations are related to my inexperience and with local customs such as talking with the mothers about their children’s English skills improvements or getting involved with children before and after the lessons. They also gave me a hand with the teaching materials such as textbooks, audios, videotapes, Dvds, flashcards, teaching software…The school was a small private school located in a wealthy area of Tianjin. Both parents and the school staff came from a Chinese middle-upper class. I had a very good relationship not only with the owner of the school but also with some colleagues, some of whom I went out with to have fun.What will you always remember about the experience?
I will never forget how patient my workmates were with me. I also will never forget the Christmas event there. The teachers, the staff, the children and even the parents played together some kind of games in which the main topic was Christmas. I participated and I will never forget them.
If you are a native or near native English speaker thinking of taking a gap year (or half year!) and curious about China, you might consider teaching children English in rural China. You do not need to be qualified, just interested. The schools will support you with teaching materials and advice and you will receive the local salary plus a range of other benefits such as your return travel.
Comments
2 responses to “Teaching English in rural China”
My Interest to work as an English Teacher in China
Many teachers take teaching a job but not a passion. Mostly in the developing countries, the candidates with good school or college background give second priority to teaching so that, though they are involved in this profession, there is less devotion in the work which can’t be effective to bring all round development of the children. Some teachers lack a practical skills of progressive education philosophy, learning theories, learning styles, multiple intelligence etc. that is applicable in classroom teaching. The children, who are the center of the teaching and learning process might have been neglected. Teaching English as foreign language is not the exception of such problems.
I understand that teaching English by non-native teachers is the subject of both pros and cons. It is true that any language is best learnt when taught by the native speakers in a native context. It is not right that any of the native speaker is qualified to teach language unless they have the knowledge and skills of language teaching techniques and methodology. In such situation, qualified non-native speakers are better to teach English due to the knowledge of techniques and methodologies. English is not a property of native speakers at present. It is one of the world languages. As an international language, we should make our children able to communicate using English that is understandable to the people living in any part of the world. Not only that, there are various researches carried to prove the effective development of second language by bilingual teacher as well. I believe that non-native teachers of English can teach various language skills along with grammar in a way that is effective for the development of language as they have also gone through an experiences of learning English in foreign context. It is also a fact that for the beginners and young learners of English there may be difficulties to get the native tongue which may not increase understanding and speaking skills too.
I support the view that non-native speakers can have the better skills to learn local language due to their experiences to learn foreign language. I as a non-native speaker of English am more respectful to Chinese standard language and culture and eager learn it which can be beneficial for the children to learn English language from me during the course of time.
As a graduated candidate of M. Phil. in English Language Education under the faculty of Education, I can also help the school for the effective implementation of modern education theories and principles, carry out action researches, follow project based or task based instruction along with teaching English in the school.
I am particularly interested to teach English in China, as it is a neighboring country of Nepal. China is leading to educational growth in a peak level and there is high value of Chinese language and culture in Nepal due to Chinese investment in the different sectors throughout the country. I would like to learn Chinese education system that can be beneficial for my personality development too. As a student of education, I have an objective to have further study in a prestigious university in China in future.
With Best Regards
Shree Krishna Pyakuryal
M. Ed. In English Language Education- Tribhuwan University
M. Phil. in English Language Education- Kathmandu University
Kathmandu, Nepal
Thank you Shree Krishna Pyakuryal for your detailed account of your experience. You make many important points. This post is a little old now and I don’t know what the current situation is. I do know that China was staring to restrict the visas that foreign teachers needed to be able to teach in that country but I don’t know if that has caused probelms or whether they have since loosened up the visa requirements again. Thanks again for taking the time to share your experiences.