By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .
Sign up with Google
Sign up with Facebook
Q: UK girlfriend and US me applying together.
So my girlfriend and I met about 8 months ago doing volunteer conservation work abroad, and fell head over heels for each other. I'm from the US and she's from London, and we've kept it going ever since, both having gone to each other's countries a couple times. Expensive.
We've both had an interest in teaching English abroad, and ironically it seems like it would be easier for us to both make a life in China together than it would be for her to come over on a work visa to the "land of opportunity." Would it be weird to apply together to a school, especially if there were multiple positions and we could save them money by sharing accommodation (if they provided it)? I've been a teacher assistant in the US for 8 months and she has been a leader in the Woodcraft Folk for ages (alternative to the scouts) so we both have experience working with kids.
Any advice would be appreciated for this unusual situation.
11 years 9 weeks ago in Business & Jobs - China
aston will take you as a couple in a heartbeat, hire many couples because females usually dont stay long unless they have a companion, from there many opportunities once you get here, send me a private message and i can get you direct in touch with city coordinator for jinan, dont work there anymore but on good terms and fill in for teachers sick or on vacation.
MissA:
Oddly, I was willing to keep persisting with China and was pretty much dragged out, kicking and screaming, by my partner...
Yes, everyone prefers couples. It's better to hire a couple because its perceived as having a lower attrition rate (you can console each other through culture shock), and for men it's pretty much an assurance that they won't go whoring around or hitting on students.
You should definitely be able to find something together I think. I've seen lots of teaching ads (seems mostly in high schools and colleges) saying they actually prefer couples. If you plan to stay more than 1 or 2 years its better to get some real teaching qualifications (don't know if you both have them already or not) like a TEFL at the least (its now required in some provinces). Good luck to you both.
It's not weird at all and it's really not that unusual. I worked in China as one half as a couple, and I honestly can't imagine how I could have gone it alone. Schools love couples and assuming you meet age and appearance requirements (welcome to China...) schools will be tripping over themselves to hire you.
There are a couple of reasons why it can actually be better to apply as a couple; for them, yes, they save on accommodation, they only need one one-bedder apartment for the two of you. Plus couples are, probably rightly, perceived to be more stable.
For the two of you: well, if you've been together for eight months and not lived together, then coming to China together will be not just a great adventure, but a telling test of the strength of your relationship. Life in China throws a LOT of crap your way and it either makes your relationship stronger or breaks you up.
I wish you the very best of luck 
