Studying + studying + teaching ? O_o

[CastoroCurioso]

Hi, everybody

I guess I fall within the 'long time lurker, first time poster' category..

I'm Andrea, Nice to meet you!

I came here looking for advice, and I was hoping you could be so kind as to shed some

light on an issue that has been haunting me for quite a while...

So, here it is.

Come September I'm off to Kunming, where I'm gonna spend the coming twelve months

studying Chinese at KMUST (Kunming Uni of Science and Technology).

If I did my math right studying Chinese won't take up most of my time, being

the course only a meager 10 hours a week; since I'm also currently working towards

an M.Ed. with the Open University, I figured I might as well take up the next module

starting in October and do it while in China - I wouldn't be committing such a crime,

would I. I mean, that is the whole point about distance learning study

My plan would be completing this 2nd module by september, and once I was done going

straight for the two-months DELTA, which is run every year in October / November at

International House Bangkok - possibly the closest provider.

Now, why would I do such a thing?

The reason is actually simple: DELTA holders get a 60 credit exemption towards the Master's,

which would save me a fair deal of money (since another module at the OU would

cost me pretty much the same), time and effort (not so sure about the latter, tho'...).

Now, while this is all good and well in theory, this foolish plan of mine presents

some, err, logistical challenges, to say the least.

Even if we grant for the sake of argument that by next October my finances stay the same,

thereby allowing me to spoil Cambridge with yet another gift of several thousand pounds,

there still remains one fundamental problem - which is the very reason why I humbly decided

to turn to this community for some advice

My problem seems to be, in order to apply for the DELTA I need to have at the very least some 1200

hours of teaching on my belt, which I don't have. I used to be a full time teacher in Thailand,

I taught for several months before the floods came and I had to leave for my country.

So I figure - again, provided I'm doing the math right - I need to collect 700 hours or so in order

to hit the 1200 figure, and I would have roughly one year to get there (truth be told, I have no idea

whether part-time work qualifies towards that requirement.).

So, very simply put: are there part-time jobs to be found in Kunming? And would I be risking

big time if I decided to teach while on a student visa?

As for the workload factor: I'm not afraid of working and studying at the same time, I was doing

the exact same thing when I was in Thailand and I had just started studying with the OU..

I'll just get myself in the mindset that social life is overrated anyway and keep repeating

myself that one day I'll be rich.

Teaching English.

I guess my major concern at the moment is, how realistic would it be to find a job that fitted

well with my schedule and allowed me to work, say, 10 to 15 hours a week??

Do you reckon I might end up juggling between occasional gigs, being called on ridiculously

short notice and asked to fill in for someone else (quite a lot of that happening in Thailand..),

etc.? I know it's not exactly a bed of roses out there, but I just need to know in advance roughly

what to expect..

I don't know if this is of any relevance, but:

- No, I'm not a native speaker

- Yes, I am white, or white enough

- Yes, I do sound the part if I put an effort into it

- I am HANDSOME MAAAAAAAAAAN I know, I know it probably doesn't hold quite the same weight

as it does in Thailand, does it

- This won't be my first time in China.. I've studied Chinese in Haikou for the first half of last year, after

which I left to Thailand to do my CELTA with the original intention of going back to China once I was done..

But I stupidly accepted a job offer, and the rest is history.

Thanks in advance for your time reading this and to those who will get

back to me with a reply

[abcdefg]

So, very simply put: are there part-time jobs to be found in Kunming? And would I be risking big time if I decided to teach while on a student visa?

There are part time jobs teaching English to be found. It's not legal to work while here on a student (or tourist) visa, but is often done. Take a look at the classified section (link below) to get some idea of the market. Hope it works out.

http://www.gokunming.com/en/classifieds/

[Rin]

Hi,

Did you manage to find any work? I am off to Kunming in September and will need to find work to support my studies.

[abcdefg]

#3 -- You can find something if you are motivated and qualified.

My personal situation is different from yours.