The China Star story on teaching English

Or, somehow my newspaper career refuses to die. If you live in or near Raleigh, N.C., you can see the spindly signs of life in The China Star, a small, bilingual paper published in the Triangle. It can usually be found with other such publications at the entrance to a public library.

Appropriately, I wrote about my reasons for coming to China, the market for English teachers and a Chinese viewpoint on hiring native English speakers to teach, as provided by Chen Changshun, interim director of the foreign languages department at Jianghai Polytechnic College, who recruited me to come to Yangzhou.

Here are some highlights, plus a little extra from Mr. Chen that was not submitted for the story:

• A guide for foreign teachers in China, published by the web site Middle Kingdom Life, reports that an estimated 325 million Chinese, or about one-fourth of the population, is studying English at any given time, terming the language effort a “national obsession.”
• Though current figures are uncertain, the China Daily newspaper reported in 2006 that more than 150,000 foreign experts, most of them from the United States, England, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, were employed in China, and People’s Daily Online reported that about 100,000 foreign teachers per year were being recruited.
• As reported previously, my deal is fairly typical: 4,500 yuan ($676 U.S.) per month — low enough so that no Chinese taxes are deducted; a small, furnished, one-bedroom apartment; all utilities except telephone paid; basic medical coverage; $1,200 reimbursement for round-trip air fare; and 1,100 yuan in traveling money at the end of each semester. (Although the salary seems low, it is actually quite good — more than enough to live on comfortably. The biggest expense here, by far, is housing, which is provided for me.)

Mr. Chen, 62, a longtime vice-president of the foreign languages college at nearby Yangzhou University, discussed China’s drive to learn English and the experience of foreign teachers.

Stuck in Splitsville

Two days to go. Terrified I’m not ready. Chinese lessons and ESL training have been overwhelmed, awhile back, by troublesome bouts of sadness and procrastination, more recently by ordinary, panic-stricken hurrying here and there. Ten minutes to 3:00 a.m., and my mind is racing in the streets.

What am I doing?

I am: feeling remorse about leaving behind my children, admiring their determination to put a brave face on it, constantly forgetting things, buying strange items like water purification tablets, using craigslist to find luggage, being told that Yangzhou is one of the richest cities — economically and culturally — in China, agreeing to write monthly articles for the local China Star newspaper, keeping my journalism career barely breathing, struggling still to manage my rage at the industry forces that brought me to this point, telling myself this will work out for the best eventually, half-joking to others that I’m most comfortable when I’m on my way out of someplace, trying to convince myself that I am making some sort of bold statement, going to China because I am wanted there, planning to buy a bike to get around, thinking of starting my English students with the basic profanities (just kidding, Chen), shaking my head at all the predictions that I’ll meet someone there, figuring that’s all I need, buying medical evacuation coverage just in case, looking forward to drinking tea, finding it difficult to explain myself, wishing everyone well.