English teacher from Australia working at Education First in Guangzhou, China
Could you tell me about yourself? What is your practice and how long have you been working in China?
English teacher in China for around 25 years, in Guangzhou. Taught children and teens aged 3-18.
How did you find your roles or values in your type of industry in China?
It’s demanding to be a teacher in the classroom and with all the adminstrative work, as well as dealing with parental demands, it’s fulfilling but the pay should also be higher to reflect our demanding work.
Have you ever felt less or not fit into the industry of your area in China when you are engaging with it?
Yes it can be a challenge to work with Chinese values on their ways, while also being an advantage too, giving me a different point if view. But I found many Chinese people can use this approach as an excuse, “this is the Chinese way”. I see it this way, that these people would rather not challenge their views and actions, they don’t want to challenge their views and actions, they don’t want to change their ways.
What do you think would be your competitive edge that you can confidently bring to your Chinese work industries?
Despite the challenges listed, I’m always open to the new and different ways of thinking and acting. I work hard and I’m a compassionate person, which may not always fit with the Chinese culture at work but is still necessary and can lead to better working conditions and employee satisfaction.
What would be your general requirements for working in China?
Comfortable salary and a quiet place to live near work. Management that is flexible in its approaches.