It is a huge problem for the chinese at a university level. I am a reviewer for an international geotechnical engineering journal. The quality of the submissions from china is so bad as to be almost incomprehensible. Almost like using computer translation. You mention it is not my job to edit language and grammar, and they should get an english speaker to clean it up as it is incomprehensible. Even still, it is barely understandable and the terms are wrong. There must be a market not just for basic english, but technical english instructors and editors. Even business english. The response from the chinese is almost comical stereotype overly polite direct translation but what they are probable thinking is 'fak yu, whyt devil, de sheet flom tawsen dogs mus be in yo rice bowl'xiongmao wrote:Excel... Meh. It makes money, which can be invested and bring longer term financial independence.
Yeah it sucks that I can't find a teaching job in China while various dorks (present company excepted!) are teaching out there. I mean in my old University there was an Egyptian teaching English, and I don't think any of the other teachers I met had a TEFL. The best teachers there were a retired couple brought over on a scheme to get actual USA professors to teach in Chinese schools.
I have had a bit of interest from Chinese Universities, but while agents are OK, the admin staff at these institutions don't seem to be sending me anything useful.
I'm sure I could do other stuff in China (or anywhere else) but it all comes down to visa issues. You just can't up sticks and live somewhere else (unless you're European moving to another European country etc.)
Teaching business and technical english surely must pay much better than Jane went up the hill for a pail of water english.