Job Discussion Forums

giovanni · Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Posts: 41 Location: Texas USA

I am a 27 year old single woman- US/Canadian dual citizen.

I am certified to teach biology, ESL, and English in the state of Oklahoma. I have taught English and biology to English language learners in a public high school for 2.5 years. I have a master's from a brick-and-mortar (i.e. not online) school in Bilingual Ed/ TESL. I also have a 60 hour TESOL certificate (not online)

My contract at my school is up in December. I want to explore my options such as working at a university in China. How do I get a relatively high paying job? Are year long contracts available or are they mostly 2 years?

thanks

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

Almost all contracts are ten months or one year. I've never heard of a two year contract. The place I'm at now offered me a five year contract but that is definitely not the norm.

giovanni · Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Posts: 41 Location: Texas USA

sounds good. A year is a lot easier to commit to than 2 years. How does one procure a university position? I'm also looking at PNU in KSA but China sounds better for a single lady

vikeologist · Joined: 07 Sep 2009 Posts: 600

The highest paying jobs are at places like Nottingham (Ningbo) or Liverpool University, or at the top Unis in China, such as Peking Uni that pay western-level wages.

I know that Nottingham typically does 2 year contracts.

Bear in mind though that competition for these jobs is fierce, and though your qualifications and experience sound sufficient you'll be competing against candidates that have been Directors of Studies or taught ESL in other prestigious schools and Unis.

Most Uni jobs (I'd guess about 99%) are not so well paid, though you'll probably have no problem getting one of these jobs, (you'll be more qualified than most of the other teachers) though the vast majority start in September..

Logically I would have thought that there would be something in the middle, but I'm not at all sure there is.

Have a look at http://en.chinatefl.com/

I think it's the source of the most definitive list of Unis, though I would strongly suggest only applying to unis directly and never ever using a recruiter.

I don't think that's a competing website with Daves as such. If I've offended, my apologies.

Big Worm · Joined: 02 Jan 2011 Posts: 171

If you are certified, look at high school jobs maybe. Subject teachers are needed.

mnguy29 · Joined: 23 Jan 2008 Posts: 155 Location: USA

My God if you are a certified teacher look at international schools in some nice southern cities. If I had mine, I would be teaching at one now. They will pay 15-20k rmb per month and give alot of other perks. Thats three to four times what a University teacher makes.
Yes, apply directly to any school in China. Agencies will screw with you.

El Macho · Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 200

I will follow up this post with a PM, but if you are interested in continuing to teach biology, it will be very easy for you to earn RMB 20,000+/month teach on a high school international program. I'm currently employed in such a program on a two-year contract, and it is quite good.

If you are committed to teaching at a university, it may be a bit more difficult to earn that much per month �� the joint venture universities tend to prefer folks with MAs and experience teaching university; wouldn't hurt to apply, though.

giovanni · Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Posts: 41 Location: Texas USA

I've considered international schools but they sound like a lot of work (like teaching here in the US vs. how cushy ESL is!) Also I'm concerned because my specialty is ESL and it sounds like most international schools are full of English speaking kids. But I would love to hear more if you have time

vikeologist · Joined: 07 Sep 2009 Posts: 600

Yes, but the top paid jobs in Unis are hard work as well.

There's no money growing on trees.

Teach in a standard Uni if you want to be semi-retired or supplement your income with private classes.

Go to a top uni (or International School) if you want the money and the workload.

giovanni · Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Posts: 41 Location: Texas USA

I'm definitely interested in supplementing with private lessons. I kind of want a "break" and honestly the international school job descriptions sound much, much tougher (well paid, yes, but labor-intensive) than any ESL university position I've seen.

Would love to do the international school circuit in a couple of years when I'm married with kids and can bring them over. Right now I only have a boyfriend I'd have to Skype with

Sounds like a standard uni+ privates (not to get ahead of myself but my physical appearance is congruent with what they think an "English teacher" should look like) are probably the right fit for me. Thanks!

Ariadne · Joined: 16 Jul 2004 Posts: 960

Several posters have suggested that the top universities pay higher salaries. I have a friend at Tsinghua who has a doctorate and earns less than I do at an ordinary uni with no doctorate. Do people mean the joint venture schools when they talk about 'top universities'? Just curious.

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MisterButtkins · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Posts: 1221

A lot of the 'top universities' in Beijing pay horribly. I got an offer a few years ago at a school that is ranked in the top 30 nationally. No BS, 3.5k a month. I've heard Beijing Foreign Language and Culture University pays 4k/month. I also remember an ad for Beida that paid 5.5k/month for like 22 hours, and no pay during the summer. They also said they wanted people (*chuckle*) with at least a masters degree and publications.

Consider, too, that teaching classes at one of the good schools, where most of the kids can already speak ENglish well, is going to involve a lot more time doing preparation, grading, etc. than teaching at some 3rd tier school where the kids are all like "Where are you come from?" and "Last weekend I go to shopping."