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English Teacher

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All MCC workers are expected to exhibit a commitment to: a personal Christian faith and discipleship; active church membership; and nonviolent peacemaking.

MCC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to employment equity. MCC values diversity and invites all qualified candidates to apply.

English Teacher in People's Republic of China

Term: 
3 years
Date Opened: 
September 28, 2009
Date Required: 
July 6, 2010
Full Time Equivalent: 
1.0

 

Synopsis: 

MCC is seeking individuals to teach English under Mennonite Partners in China (MPC), formerly China Educational Exchange, in universities and teachers colleges in various locations within the People's Republic of China.

 

Qualifications: 
  • Bachelor's degree and native language ability required
  • Minimum two years work experience following university graduation required
  • Persons with teaching experience and graduate or undergraduate degrees in English preferred for teachers colleges
  • In lieu of teaching experience, MPC workers are expected to complete a course in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) before departing for China.
  • MPC workers are expected to study Chinese language, at MPC expense, for approximately four weeks during the summers before their first and second years of teaching.
  • Capability and willingness to teach a variety of courses. Most MPC workers teach listening and conversation classes. Some MPC workers are asked to teach composition, research paper writing, newspaper reading, British and/or American literature, history, and culture.
  • Ability to plan lessons, prepare handouts/exercises, and exams
  • When possible, MPC workers should adapt individual teaching styles and goals to Chinese wishes rather than attempting to "reform the system".
  • Openness to assuming occasional extra tasks assigned by their schools, such as taping listening materials and giving talks at other institutions
  • Genuine interest in and sensitivity to Chinese students and colleagues, as well as a gentle spirit in encounters both in and outside of the classroom
  • Single person preferred

 

Assignment Description: 

Mennonite Partners in China is a program of Mennonite agencies of North America: Mennonite Central Committee, Eastern Mennonite Missions, Mennonite Mission Network, and Mennonite Church Canada Witness and has worked in the area of education in China since 1981. In recent years approximately 20 people have served in China with MPC each year, and Chinese academics also travel to Mennonite college and seminary campuses in North America as part of the exchange. Through this exchange, MPC seeks to be in relationship with the people of China and furthermore, to build a climate of understanding through providing opportunities to North Americans and Chinese to learn about and experience each other's culture as well as to understand each other's achievements and problems. English teachers are continually and increasingly sought in China; MPC seeks to place Christian teachers in response to these requests.

 

Duties: 

MPC teachers may teach classes as small as 15-25 for listening and speaking or as large as 100 for certain lecture courses. Teaching load will range from 12-14 hours/week, but some of these hours may be the same lesson repeated to different classes. Most MPC workers teach no more than four hours of class per day, which generally take place in 2-hour sessions either in the morning or afternoon.

 

Location Description: 

MPC teachers are placed in Sichuan province. MPC teachers are generally placed in fairly close proximity to other MPC teachers, usually with two MPC teachers living and working at each location. China's train system is comprehensive, making travel between locations where MPC teachers live affordable and relatively convenient. Email is available virtually everywhere. A variety of technical colleges and universities are hosts to MPC workers. Housing and a monthly stipend are provided by the host school. Year to year openings become available. Further information on each location is available from the director of MPC.

 

Challenges: 

The Chinese educational system places a heavier emphasis on exams than weekly assignments in determining a student's final course grade. MPC teachers should therefore explain early and clearly their grading system. Also, it is rare for Chinese students to fail their courses. A failing grade on an exam usually means that the teacher will give makeup exams until the student passes.

MPC workers have often felt that they are rarely included in their department's activities or informed in advance of decisions affecting their teaching. This sense of isolation can cause frustration, but MPC workers should realize that it is not unique to their schools. MPC workers have found that making one's resources available to colleagues on an informal basis works better than seeking inclusion.

In smaller cities of China, folks are very curious about Westerners. MPC workers are therefore often the object of intense stares. This is especially the case if there are children of MPC workers. Deep friendships with students and colleagues may take time but have proved to be the most rewarding thing about life in China for MPC workers. An interest in Chinese culture and history, coupled with attempts to learn the Chinese language, enhance the friendship process.