Yesterday’s post talked about trying to be ready in terms of teaching skills and how to get some. At the end, I said that in the end, it came to being open-mined in terms of the world of differences one experiences upon arriving in China. How does one prepare for the culture shock? As always, research is a good place to start. There are a few good places to engage with people already in China, already teaching English in a variety of locations from kindergarten to university and in private language institutes or at factory sites. Just one word of caution in checking out these places, what you will hear will all be opinionated based on different belief systems and world views. Some are new to China and still see everything through rose-coloured glasses; others are jaded and should have left China to return to their home countries; thankfully, most are somewhere in between. Putting all the different voices together, you can get a clearer picture of the China you will experience.
So, what and where are these discussion forums? I began the search at Dave’s ESL Café in the China forum. One of the members there brought another discussion forum to my attention, Raoul’s China Saloon. Then, I did an e-search to find others as I believe the more information we have, the better we will be prepared. A current e-search finds these sites: the China ESL Teacher Forum, TEFL.Net, and ESL Teachers Forum. I guess the graphic here indicates my preferred discussion forum. I have found this place to be the best place for open discussion. Of course, that is my personal opinion. Dave’s ESL Café is busier, but it is also more negative. The weakest of all these groups mentioned would be the ESL Teachers Forum as it doesn’t give one the sense of any kind of “community.”
Of course, one has to look for more than discussion forums filled with ESL teachers. It would be a good idea to be reading newspapers and magazines as well as watching China-related programs on television, programs such as China Rising. Of course, reading an English-language newspaper from China would give you yet another perspective, one that is biased from the official Chinese viewpoint.
All the information aside, you have to decide if you are the type of person who is more comfortable at home or whether you can live with ambiguity. Are you able to put your certainties aside and allow other possibilities to emerge? If you answer “yes” to this last point, then perhaps teaching English in China is for you.
Good article Robert. As a teacher in China I have found that the most useful things to bring with you are a very large dose of adaptability, the ability to accept where you are without having to compare with ‘the way things are back home’, a big sense of adventure and a genuine interest in China and Chinese people/culture etc.
It seems to me that many people arrive, freak over the differences, particularly the language barrier, fall into the expat community and rarely venture out. Their China experience seems then to consist of meeting other expats at bars and restaurants and complaining about China.
Involvement in local activities and school/university activities etc can bring a much more diverse and richer China experience.
Reasons for coming to China are also important in adapting.
Those who arrive expecting to be the guru and messiah to the Chinese people are in for a shock. Those who expect to change China, are misled. The Chinese people have managed without us for a long time, and will continue to manage perfectly well when we disappear back into the mists of our own countries.
Come because YOU want to learn, stay because you love it.
Hi Deborah. It’s good to hear your voice here, another voice of experience with living and working in China as an ESL teacher. You have made some excellent points here that I hope other readers take to heart. Thanks.