Interview with Kai Valerie Gibbs teaching English in China
What is your name?
Kai Valerie Gibbs
Where are you from?
New York, New York
Where are you teaching or where did you teach?
American TPR English School, Zhuhai (GuangDong Province), China.
What do/did you like most about living and working abroad?
The cultural exchange, the wonderful Chinese friends I have made, and
most importantly THE BEST Students!!
What do/did you dislike the most?
Sometimes the Chinese rudeness gets to me as it is a bit different from
the rudeness I am used to in New York City.
How did you get started teaching abroad?
A Chinese colleague at the State University of New York where I worked
approached me with the idea that I'd be a great English teacher here in
China.
I did the research and here I am!!
Do you have any back ground in teaching English, if not, how did you
learn?
Yes, I am a writer with a degree in Education. I have taught for 25
years.
Do you feel teaching English overseas is a good way to make a good
living?
Only if by "making a good living" means enjoying your life through
living abroad while obtaining an enriching experience.
Monetarily, it is not!
Can you give some good advice for someone thinking about living and
teaching English abroad?
Always do thorough research and try getting several views from teachers
already at a particular school and city you are interested in. Do not
totally rely on the school's representative NOR the opinions of just one
individual. Make sure you obtain some form of health insurance for
emergencies and come with an open mind and sense of adventure. Also,
understand that you may need a back-up plan in case circumstances are
not fruitful or fulfilling for you. If you have gainful employment in
your homeland, try taking a leave of absence before totally resigning as
things may not live up to your expectations and you may need this safety
net.
Can you describe what it is like living and working in country
you're in?
After the initial mild culture shock ( I served in the US Navy and was
stationed in the Philippines for 3 years), I found that the city of
Zhuhai is quite beautiful, peaceful and environmentally healthy. There
is a great transportation system in place and numerous taxis. I am a
70-minute ferry ride away from Hong Kong and a walk across the border to
Macau. All points of interests are easy to get to and the dining here is
superb! My school is like a big family and the Chinese staff are the
most kind and caring co-workers I could hope for. I have needed medical
attention on at least 3 occasions and have had no problems obtaining
assistance seeing a physician. Although my Mandarin is minimal, I have
several Chinese student friends who are always helpful when the need
arises for translation or bargaining. The shopping here is excellent and
I have more than my share of bargain items that would cost a fortune in
New York. For the first ten months I lived in an apartment building that
was below my standards and quite noisy. Since I am a light sleeper this
posed a serious threat to my sleeping patterns. One must clearly realize
that the Chinese are extremely industrious so quiet Sunday mornings were
a thing of the past living in this apartment. I have since moved to a
much better home where the peace and quiet is truly welcomed. Again, I
must stress that depending upon the city you choose to teach in, the
noise level may pose a problem for you. It took some getting used to,
but I have adjusted to the 7-day work week here in China and since
moving, I am once again sleeping at normal hours. As far as my students
are concerned, I learned rather quickly that the teenaged students are
rather quiet so I had to use my creativity to draw them out and make
their classes the fun environment I feel they need in order to enjoy
learning English. Chinese students are plagued with homework and serious
study habits unlike their American counterparts and their approach to
education would put my fellow Americans to shame so when attending my
English classes, they are exposed to a light-hearted yet informative
approach to learning the language. If you keep this in mind, your
students will noticeably open up and enjoy their classes.
Do you have any warnings for people considering teaching English
overseas?
Yes! If you're thinking you will make a lot of money, don't come! But,
if you desire the chance to learn about the Chinese culture firsthand,
realize that this is their country and YOU are the foreigner so you must
do the adjusting. While adjusting, keep an open mind and share your
culture. Don't try to force your culture and manner of doing
things! You will be richly rewarded with sincere and honest friendship.
If you could do it over again, what would you do differently?
No!
Is there a way for someone to contact you for more information?
Yes: kai6854@hotmail.com |
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