2008 Woodie Awards
University offers graduates teaching possibility in China
DUNCAN McGREGOR
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: News
For many students, one of Pacific University's selling points is its strong overseas program.
For some students this means teaching English in China.
In previous years, Pacific was able to place several students a year as English as a second language teachers at Wenzhou Medical College in Eastern China.
Jeff Barlow, professor of history and director of the Berglund Center for Internet Studies, described them as having, "about an 80 percent success rate, where success is measured by having a great experience, being good teachers and possibly staying another year."
"The other 20 percent cut their losses after a year and went home. Some small number of those terminated their contracts early," he said.
The demand for English teachers is exceptionally high in China as Beijing prepares to host the 2008 Olympics.
Most Chinese high schools now have residential native English speakers as teachers.
"This means that collegiate students are very ready for higher level learning," said Barlow.
Starting this year, any Pacific graduate who is interested can be placed as an English teacher in China.
Teachers need not speak Chinese and the Chinese are ready to offer contracts on the spot.
This new, all-accepting attitude comes from recent ties made with the Bureau of Education in Nanjing in addition to Pacific's previous ties in Wenzhou.
Students are able to choose where they will be teaching.
Barlow hopes to train those students who wish to teach in China, eventually leading to a certificate program.
He says the training currently includes working with the texts they will be teaching, some survival Chinese and culture.
Most of the problems students encountered have been cultural and Barlow hopes to alleviate this in the future.
The Chinese government will provide all teachers with transportation to China, housing (generally an apartment equivalent to Chinese middle-class standards) and a monthly living allowance of $100-120 which is plenty to live on in China, according to Barlow.
Further student loans need not be paid during this time, although they do accumulate interest.
"Students need two things: to be very mature and find a lot of satisfaction in teaching," said Barlow. "This is because students find themselves in a situation that lends itself to almost perfect freedom."
Most of the previous Pacific Graduates sent to China have gone on to either teach ESL abroad, become a teacher in the U.S. or earn their MA in Teaching.
"Teaching in China looks great on a resume," pointed out Barlow.
The training takes place on Thursdays at noon in the Berglund Center.
Those students who are interested should attend meetings and contact Barlow at barlowj@pacificu.edu.
For some students this means teaching English in China.
In previous years, Pacific was able to place several students a year as English as a second language teachers at Wenzhou Medical College in Eastern China.
Jeff Barlow, professor of history and director of the Berglund Center for Internet Studies, described them as having, "about an 80 percent success rate, where success is measured by having a great experience, being good teachers and possibly staying another year."
"The other 20 percent cut their losses after a year and went home. Some small number of those terminated their contracts early," he said.
The demand for English teachers is exceptionally high in China as Beijing prepares to host the 2008 Olympics.
Most Chinese high schools now have residential native English speakers as teachers.
"This means that collegiate students are very ready for higher level learning," said Barlow.
Starting this year, any Pacific graduate who is interested can be placed as an English teacher in China.
Teachers need not speak Chinese and the Chinese are ready to offer contracts on the spot.
This new, all-accepting attitude comes from recent ties made with the Bureau of Education in Nanjing in addition to Pacific's previous ties in Wenzhou.
Students are able to choose where they will be teaching.
Barlow hopes to train those students who wish to teach in China, eventually leading to a certificate program.
He says the training currently includes working with the texts they will be teaching, some survival Chinese and culture.
Most of the problems students encountered have been cultural and Barlow hopes to alleviate this in the future.
The Chinese government will provide all teachers with transportation to China, housing (generally an apartment equivalent to Chinese middle-class standards) and a monthly living allowance of $100-120 which is plenty to live on in China, according to Barlow.
Further student loans need not be paid during this time, although they do accumulate interest.
"Students need two things: to be very mature and find a lot of satisfaction in teaching," said Barlow. "This is because students find themselves in a situation that lends itself to almost perfect freedom."
Most of the previous Pacific Graduates sent to China have gone on to either teach ESL abroad, become a teacher in the U.S. or earn their MA in Teaching.
"Teaching in China looks great on a resume," pointed out Barlow.
The training takes place on Thursdays at noon in the Berglund Center.
Those students who are interested should attend meetings and contact Barlow at barlowj@pacificu.edu.
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