Weird Job Offer

john in la · Apr 5, 2015

My nephew (sisters son) just graduated college last year with (I think) a English major.
He told me today he was offered a job and is moving to China.
Supposedly someone has hired him; (may even be the Chinese Government) is sending him back to school to learn to read; write; and speak Chinese. He will then move to China and teach English to Chinese students.

I paused for a moment as I thought about my response.
I told him great; sounds like a interesting job offer.
All the while I was "thinking" You Traitor.

Goose · Apr 5, 2015

On several occasions a friend of mine and his wife have both taught English in China. No one seemed to give it a thought.

Greg1959 · Apr 5, 2015

John- I hope he makes it back to the USA with all of his organs intact.

Traditional Farmer · Apr 5, 2015

Jim Rogers says that all kids should learn Mandarin Chinese because they're going to need it.

JF in MI · Apr 5, 2015

Well, the way we willingly piece-meal give up our freedoms our cultures will be identical before long. Besides, where else is an English major going to get a job? Speaking (and reading and writing) English isn't all that high priority in this country it seems.

Dave H (MI) · Apr 5, 2015

I have a client whose child went to China right out of school and taught English. Not sure it is all that uncommon.

spacecadet9 · Apr 5, 2015

There is an interesting free audio book, on podiobooks.com, about teaching english in China. "Letter from China" by Peter James Froning It's a good listen

js305 · Apr 5, 2015

My wife's niece (a product of an American/South Korean marriage) now lives in Seoul. She has an American education and teaches "business English" to South Korean professionals. She also moonlights at a local manufacturing outfit translating owner's manuals into English for all kinds of goods. I told her I better not find some of the language that is customary with some of that junk. With her I doubt it. From what I hear she makes good money at it. Don't know how much of it she gets to keep over there.

As a side note, she has three grade school aged children who speak better English (and also the local dialect of Korean) better than most adults.

Mike (WA) · Apr 5, 2015

My son almost did, in conjunction with a missionary deal. At the last minute I think he decided he did not want to leave the girlfriend, so didn't do it. I think its a pretty good gig.

The Dukester · Apr 5, 2015

Whatever, I'd say going to China for a job is better than joining ISIS like some youths in our country seem to think is an ideal life's goal. China seems to be a communist country trending towards capitalism while America is a capitalistic country trending toward.....ohhh, that's enough, I guess.

rrlund · Apr 5, 2015

English major?

Was it a job at a Chinese McDonalds?

Deere Scotty · Apr 5, 2015

I have an article saved on my computer from about a week ago; about Burmeese (which are from Burma, China) being made slaves catching fish bound for the USA. Lured to new jobs, & when they start to go home are arrested, & detained as Slaves. Tell me China doesn't know about it, & ignore it! Forgive Me; but Your Nephew needs his head examined. the Slaves are not being held in China; but Indonesia, & I would lay odds that China is taking money for it! Do a search on MSN... "ARE SLAVES CATCHING THE FISH YOU BUY" by the Associated Press.

Trkr · Apr 5, 2015

One of my sons is in China right now teaching English,huge demand.He enjoys it,and has recently reupped to do it again next year.He teaches jr. High,says students are great,very repectable.He also tutors adult business people in his spare time,on the weekends.He skypes the wife and I every sat.morning,evening to him.The only thing he doesn't like is the food,says most of it is awful,my wife sends him care packages with BBQ sauce and Old Bay seasoning.

Hay hay hay · Apr 5, 2015

Traitor????

What is it about working in another part of the world makes him a traitor?

Is he a spy? espionage?
or simply a good will ambassador, trade enabler, cross language communicator..or peace negotiator?

Traitor.... is a very strange way of thinking and looking at today's world.

Hope you like your Toyota, Kubota, Sony, I-phone.

ditchwitch · Apr 5, 2015

Amen to that. Before long its gonna be press 2 for english

T in NE · Apr 5, 2015

Burma (now Myanmar) is not part of China. Its a small jungle country currently going through a pretty nasty civil war. With no outside enemies they still spend most of their annual budget on their military, committing genocide. That's why they set the last Rambo movie in Burma, they were looking for someplace with something like this going on that almost no one knew about.

Stephen Newell · Apr 5, 2015

Why shouldn't anyone jump ship given the opportunity. This country is committing suicide by it's own people. China will be the next super power.

big fred · Apr 5, 2015

I must have missed the news. Are we at war with China?

john in la · Apr 5, 2015

Not a gun war but a war.
It would be much easier if they just come over here and taught all of us Chinese.
Then maybe I would know how to read the instruction on most things we buy.

Yea I know they print the instructions in several languages.
But you get the point.

Dean Olson · Apr 5, 2015

I understand your feeling that way.

BUT the Chinese are kicking our butts with what used to be our work ethic. I have a Nephew that taught in China and my Son taught in South Korea. Both cultures are simply out working us. Their kids are well disciplined, respectful and want to learn. The parents are engaged and on the side of the teachers and the school system in general. Some of my Asian clients send their kids to public school during the day, private schools in the evening and all day on Saturdays. Sunday morning church and afternoons are typically reserved for music lessons. They simply work longer and harder to get educated.

My Daughter teaches high school sophomore Biology here in TX The students for the most part are are ok. None seem to be overly enthusiastic about being there. On the other end of the scale some are hostile, disrespectful, and the parents blame the teachers and school system for their kids bad behavior.

We are are own worst enemy.

Crackerjack · Apr 6, 2015

I'm actually based in China and do abit of teaching.
Now the normal rate per hour is about 30 if you're at a training center, 50 if you're private tutoring (South China).
Some things to BE REAL CAREFUL OF, CHINESE CAN BE VERY CUNNING!!!!

1. Agencies that find people overseas to bring across to China are often scams, payrate is REAL LOW, because they know you've got no knowledge of the current market.

2. DON'T LET ANYONE 'HOLD' your passport for 'SAFE KEEPING' agencies and some schools will often do this to lock people in and it makes it impossible for them to get out.

3. It's really easy to find a job here, all you need to do is do some research and get a grasp of the teaching market before you jump in, DO NOT SIGN ANY CONTRACT WITH AN AGENT BEFORE YOU COME OVER!!!! Better yet avoid the agent all together and go direct! I've seen sooo many horror stories from agents.

ALSO: It's not about any teaching quality or experience here, if you're white and are a native english speaker, especially from America, it's like shooting fish in a barrel.

If you're nephew want's any help please send me a private message.

MarkB_MI · Apr 6, 2015

If there are "traitors" in the trade war with China, it is surely the corporate managers who have gleefully shipped production to China over the past thirty years. They did it not for the long-term health of their companies, but for short-term personal gain. In industry after industry, the Chinese strategy has been the same: Entice US companies to move production using cheap labor as bait, extract as much knowledge as possible from those companies, then cut out the US partner and go direct to the retailers. I suggest you read "Factory Man" by Beth Macy.

I think every American should spend some time working overseas. I worked half a year in Egypt, and it really changed my perspective on a lot of things. And I don't believe you get the same benefit as a member of the military or someone living in an expatriate compound as you do working and living among the locals. A military base or compound is, after all, a miniature America.

I've been fortunate enough to have made two business trips to China. I can say I thoroughly enjoyed both trips, and if I had an opportunity to work for a couple of years in China I think I would go for it.

dr sportster · Apr 6, 2015

My personal policy is NEVER leave US soil unless you are with a whole lot of other guys ,all wearing camoflage and carrying M16s.

Pair-a-dice farm · Apr 6, 2015

I've got a neighbor that has a daughter that went to China to teach mathematics. She stayed there a couple of years. When my son graduated he was offered a job to teach in South Korea, his degree is in US history and economics :?: :?:

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