Page 31 - ELG1903 Mar-Apr Issue 464

SPECIAL FEATURE
In addition, contracts issued by Chinese
RALF LEINEWEBER/UNSPLASH UK-linked or equivalent pension top-up Acquiring a Visa to teach EAP
universities directly are unlikely to offer a
VISA TYPES FOR
TEACHING IN CHINA
(superannuation).
I would suggest that a new graduate with
in China is becoming more and
a BA or a Cert could expect to earn no
more than £1,000 a month after tax, while a
years, new restrictions were
teacher with an MA-TESOL might start at more complex. In the last two
£1,500 a month after tax. brought in for working in the
Contracts issued directly by British state HE sector, whereby tutors
universities offer the same package as a lecturer need to hold a passport from
a predominately mono-lingual
would earn in the UK. For a junior lecturer, this Anglophone country (i.e. not
would be anything from £35k to £42k before Nigeria or Holland).
tax (plus 2 return tickets home per year); while
a very experienced lecturer in a senior role Z Type. This is the most common,
s in China can be an opportunity could earn in the range of £52k to £60k. but only allows a stay of 30 days
riencing life in Shanghai. As for conditions, be it on a Chinese or from the date of arrival in China,
British contract, EAP tutors can count on during which time you and your
free accommodation on campus, 18 hours a employer must seek a Temporary
have got essential teacher qualifications… but week of contact time and a 16-week semester. Residence Permit for the duration
of your contract. This requires a
this is currently a minority. One more thing to consider is that titles work permit from the Chinese
I do feel that the situation is changing, given to EAP colleagues can vary: it can employer, and usually takes at
if slowly, as the Chinese government puts be any of the following: Instructor; Tutor; least 4 weeks to be issued.
measures in place to improve quality Teaching Fellow; Senior Teaching Fellow;
assurance both in TNE and in local HE Principal Teaching Fellow; Lecturer; Senior F Type. Intended for foreigners
courses where English is used as a medium of Lecturer; Associate Professor; Principal who are invited to conduct a
instruction. Lecturer, etc. lecture, an investigation, or for
scientifi c and cultural exchanges.
In EAP, in particular, it can be difficult The duration of stay is normally
to adapt to the Chinese context without a What have you personally gained from 30 days from the date of entry.
Delta, Trinity or PGCE teaching EAP in China? This type of Visa requires an
qualification, or with an Students in Mark: Despite the invitation letter.
MA in TESOL. This challenges, teaching EAP
matters, because, if EAP China are often in a TNE setting in China R Type. This is easy to obtain, free,
teachers do not have a shocked by teaching offers the opportunity to add and very fast, and it also facilitates
practicum as part of their value by doing something obtaining a work permit and
residence permit. This is the type of
ELT qualification, they methods that which is new and different. Visa that Krzanowski entered China
may be unable to cope include student And, it also offers security. on for his current post at Brunel
with the challenges of the For myself, I have been University London in Chonquing.
Chinese classroom. participation. in EAP since 1993 and the However, it is only for highly-skilled
There is a lot of work current experience is very individuals who are badly needed
to be done in the area of qualifications and rewarding, particularly in that we always need – “ELT rock stars”. The employer in
Cambridge Assessment and Trinity College a plan B if not a plan Z when it comes to China must argue the case to prove
London may well have a market opportunity professional development. that you are highly talented and
in China because TNE as it is now is likely Right now, if you look at the UK, Brexit, eligible for the R type.
to continue in China at least until 2025. For the uncertainty about the future, EAP makes
example, TNEs could benefit from running it possible to gain meaningful employment
intensive teacher-training courses in situ in elsewhere. And that means a lot to those of FOR MORE INFORMATION ON
TEACHING IN CHINA, SEE:
China, with credentials approved by Trinity us who remain loyal to the profession.
or Cambridge. ■ Britishcouncil.org. (2016).
In a previous position in Dalian, I ran ■ Mark Krzanowski is now Report: The Scale and Scope of
monthly staff development sessions to try and Senior Lecturer (Associate UK HE Transnational Education |
British Council. [online]
bridge the gaps and move from a heterogenous Professor) in English for
team to a more homogenous one. Specific Academic Purposes ■ Chou, C. and Spangler, J.
(ESAP) in Transnational (2016). Chinese Education
Models in a Global Age.
What can teachers expect in terms of Education (TNE) at Singapore: Springer Singapore.
pay and conditions?
Brunel University London
Mark: This is a very sensitive topic in (BUL) and Chongquing ■ Moloney, R. and Xu, H. (2016). Ex-
ploring Innovative Pedagogy in
Chinese HE. This is because, unlike in University of Post and the Teaching and Learning of
British HE, there is no regulatory framework; Telecommunications Chinese as a Foreign Language.
salaries can vary not only from one university (CQUPT). He is also Singapore: Springer Singapore,
to another, but also from one province to the Editor-in-Chief of the Imprint: Springer.
another. IATEFL ESP SIG Journal.

editorial@elgazette.com 31