Job Discussion Forums

kuberkat · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 358 Location: Oman

A few questions I haven't seen on this forum:

1. What working hours are expected by langauge schools for a monthly paycheque of around SD3000? Are hours split or blocked? What about weekends?

2. SD 3000 seems to be a common starting salary at language schools for those with soem experience. Is this based on hourly pay or a flat monthly rate?

3. What responsibilities do teachers have at language schools besides teaching (grading? materials preparation? curriculum design? special events? administration?)

4. Teaching, to me, is a means to an end. Will I have time to work on other projects, like studies?

Thank you for your insights.

Pinchy · Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 12 Location: Singapore

It's a bit difficult to answer these questions as all language schools are different, but I'll have a bash . . .

Krakatoa · Joined: 24 Mar 2006 Posts: 90

You will need at least S$4 000 per month. Monthly rate! You may be required up to 120 hours per 28 day period. Most months have at least 30 or 31 days in them. Now work out if you are getting paid exactly what is in your contract. If indeed your contract states you are paid on a set date every month, you must then work out your hourly rate and see if it is what you want.

WARNING: Be careful as I know of one language school that started paying its teachers by cheque and these need at least one whole week to clear: Singapore Banking Laws! You get paid by cheque on the due date and then get shafted by not getting your cheque cleared for at least one week! Nice school? You judge for your self!

Most language schools require you to work on weekends unless you do a sweetheart deal and that may give you what you really need or want.

Responsibilities may include assessing the prospective student, some office work or at least support the office staff, meet the parents and tell them what lies they want to hear, or the school wants you to tell (Johnny is doing great! Just keep bringing him so I can keep my job!! YES! It is a fact at one language school that I know of!) so that the school keeps on making money. YES! It is a money making racquet!

You and you alone can answer your last question after you weigh up the working hours versus waking hours etc.

Are you really interested in �teaching� English when you use slang in your title? (Newbs).

If you are undecided in your endeavour of working on Singapore, you are welcome to pm me for further information.

Krakatoa.

kuberkat · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 358 Location: Oman

Thank you both for your insights.

BTW, my teaching experience spans two years of language school and two years of elementary school in East Asia and more recently two years of college teaching in the Middle East. What is calling me back to the shady underbelly of the language school industry is the fact that there I could leave my work at work. The "real" teaching jobs tend to seep into one's private time.

Krakatoa?!? The slang is just to prevent my usual problem: being referred to as pedantic. Sorry, can't please everyone. As you can see I am not new to teaching, but to Singapore (though I was there for several days and spent a few months in SEA in 2002). Pardon the confusion.

Shakhbut · Joined: 14 May 2005 Posts: 167

hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

kuberkat · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 358 Location: Oman

Er, what's HCT Embarassed

?