The topic is when the CRH train begins - Jan 5th.

昆明高铁将于1月5日开通，运行全车次时刻（价格待续，留着备用哦！）

Title of the article I posted - and I am one of the few people here who never bothered to learn chinese.

I retired at 38 so I don't need the money teaching english - I am married to a lovely chinese woman so I don't need a visa.

I know some over age 60+ laowai who teach english and they are very reliable and very professional but they teach the older crowd - not young kids. Their schools are very happy with them and they are happy with their schools - so both parties are happy. Age is not really a problem if you behave in a professional manner and you know your business.

When you say job market I am assuming you only mean teaching english, as this is the topic at this time.

I enjoyed teaching when I first arrived but the problem is that out of 100 students, you will be lucky if you find 1 who actually wants to LEARN. This is for both private training schools or colleges and universities - they just want their score and pass a test but don't give a hoot about actually learning anything.

First there is a need to distinguish between working at a college or university and working at a training school - very big difference.

Training schools will never change - this is the business model in China - all about profits - quantity (Filling the classes) - as opposed to quality (Good teachers).

The owners do NOT care about keeping good teachers around - they are looking for the lowest bid and those who work illegally or are here on student and tourists visas are their main target because both parties benefit and no one stays in for the long haul. As you mentioned in your post - these people are completely unreliable and unprofessional.

Those who do live in China (Kunming) are usually much older and they are NOT suited for the schools target group which are 4-12 year old students. The schools are looking for young entertainers, not quality teachers.

My chinese wife teaches at home and we know all about the training schools because all kids go to one of these schools at one time or another. In their 6 month to 1 year stay at a school the students will see anywhere from 3 to as many as 12 different laowai teachers because they just come and go through the revolving door.

As this is your first post here on GK I have a few questions for you:

How old are you?
How long do you plan to stay?
Do you need a visa?

If you are older - 50+ - schools do not really want you because their main target group is very young kids. For that age you will be better suited for middle/high/adult learners - not the primary school crowd.

The other 2 questions are pretty obvious. I know of a school with a good rep that is in need of a teacher right now and they can offer a visa.

As for credentials and experience. I recommend attending any of the 1 month TEFL/TESOL and others classes. Any moron can get an online certificate and I think it is a very good experience to mingle with others in an actual class. I still keep in touch with some folks I met 13 years ago when I attended the TEFL class in Zhuhai, Guangdong.

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