Interview with Matthew Scott teaching English in China
 

Where are you from Matthew?

I'm from Australia.

Where are you teaching?

Mainland China; in a town a couple of hours by bus/boat west of Hong Kong.

What do you like most about living and working abroad?

The chance to experience a new culture, meet all kinds of people, learn a new language and have a life that's very different from back home in Australia.

How did you end up teaching abroad?

By chance. A company I worked for downsized and I got squeezed out. While
looking for new opportunities I came across a "Teach in Korea" ad in a local
paper and 3 weeks later I was standing in front of 45 middle school girls "teaching" my first class.

Do you have any back ground in teaching English?

No. I have an applied linguistics degree but no formal teaching qualification.

How long have you been teaching English?

Since 1999.

Do you feel teaching English overseas is a good way to earn money?

It can be. Depends which country you're in and what your priorities are. Most of the teachers I've met in the last 5 years have made enough to live a comfortable life and travel a bit and they're happy with that. I only know 2 or 3 who are making big money here in China; more than they would in their home countries.

Can you give some advice to someone thinking about living and teaching English abroad?

Research your target country as much as possible beforehand. The Internet is probably the single best source of information on virtually ALL aspects of
teaching EFL. Take at look at some of the online EFL job boards to see the kinds of jobs available and what the requirements are. Participate in online forums. Talk to people who've done it before. Do a TEFL course before you leave. Start learning the target language ASAP!

Can you describe what's it like living and working in the country
you're in?

China offers plenty of work, a low cost of living, friendly people and great food. The downside, for me, is the air and water pollution, the noise and the crowds in the cities and big towns. There're plenty of cultural differences, but you should try and see them as just that, not rights or wrongs. You can't change them, only try to understand them. Otherwise, the
longer you stay the more you'll complain.

Do you have any warnings for people considering teaching
English overseas?

Not really. The best advice is to do your research first. Once you're there you'll soon meet people who'll take you under their wing if needed. Living and working in a foreign country is a vastly different experience to just holidaying there for a few days or weeks. Make the most of it....you won't regret it! Remember, you can always leave if things don't turn out for you.

If you could do it over again, what would you do differently?

Nothing comes to mind.

Is there a way for someone to contact you for more information?

Email: ginseng65@hotmail.com