How social influences and work environment affect the overall experience of tefl teachers in China
and | Sep 15, 2021
Article Category: Research Article
Published Online: Sep 15, 2021
Page range: 1 - 13
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ijcm-2021-0001
Keywords
© 2021 Gabriella Berman, Adele Potgieter, published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Background
Expatriation has grown rapidly, and the TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) industry relies on it heavily. As is the case with any expatriation adjustment, TEFL teachers’ overall experience of living and working in China can be influenced by external factors. For the purpose of the study described in this article, both social influences and the work environment are highlighted as influences on the overall experience of teaching TEFL in China.
Research aims
The research aim of the study was to investigate the efect of social influences and work environment on the overall experience of TEFL teachers who teach in China.
Methodology
The study made use of a positivistic research paradigm and a descriptive research design. The sampling procedure utilised in the study was non-probability sampling, and the technique used was convenience sampling. The target population comprised TEFL teachers who were teaching in China, with the final sample consisting of 379 respondents. To collect data, the method used was an online survey, and the specific measuring instrument was a web-based, self-administered questionnaire, distributed via a link on Facebook, WeChat, LinkedIn, and Reddit groups that are specifically for TEFL teachers in China. Once the data were collected, both descriptive and inferential statistics were utilised to analyse and interpret the data.
Findings
From the empirical data collected in the study, it was found that, in general, both social influences and the work environment of TEFL teachers in China positively affected their overall experience, while the potential influence of a language barrier proved to have no negative effect on their overall experience.