Job Discussion Forums

teacherfromca · Joined: 02 Feb 2012 Posts: 47

I had been thinking of moving to Korea to do some English teaching but am now thinking China will be a better option. Few reasons: Korea is so damn cold in winter, Shanghai, where I would like to live, is not as cold. Chinese language will probably be more beneficial than Korean, and a few other reasons. Anyway, I�m curious to know if one can make 3,000 USD or over in a month, with multiple jobs. In an ideal situation, I would want to work either two full-time jobs or one full-time job and two part-time jobs to pull in over 3,000 USD, maybe even 5,000 USD. Is anyone doing this? Can it be done in China? I already have a few years if EFL/ESL experience abroad and from the US.

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

Working legally with the proper documentation likely means one full time job (the place that sponsors you for the work visa) and one or more part time jobs. You can earn the equivalent of $3000 or more this way and some people are doing it. But I wouldn't count on this much income from Day 1. Building up more substantial income from multiple jobs usually requires a fair bit of networking, and even then income from secondary sources isn't always reliable over the long term. You'll also be working your a$$ off (nothing wrong with that if money is a big concern). There are a few regular posters on this forum in Shanghai who will offer more details I'm sure.

Lobster · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 10:36 am Post subject:

Yes, it's possible in Shanghai, and everything 7969 said is true. Unless you're fortunate to land a job right off for ~18k per month, you'll have to piece it together from a full-time base of ~12k + other work. One thing he didn't mention is that all those hours have an effect on the quality of your teaching, which will suffer. Also to be considered are travel times, contract restrictions on outside work (more common with highly-paid positions) and prep time for all those extra classes. In some ways, it may be easier to realize greater savings in a 2nd-tier city, because Shanghai is bloody expensive. You should check the EFL job boards to get an idea of what's on offer and the pay rates.

RED

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

You might have to watch out for conflicting schedules, which is something I am facing right now.

Make sure your second job knows about your main job and that your main job is priority and they are fine with that. Nothing worse than having your "main boss" call you in an emergency while you are teaching at your second job.

I sometimes have to do make-up classes with my second/third sources of income because I have to cancel them.

teacherfromca · Joined: 02 Feb 2012 Posts: 47

I see. So I wont be able to have two full-time jobs, but can have one full-time job and a part-time job. I don't care if I lose sleep. I want to put away a lot of money. Anyone out there making 30K RMB or over with multiple jobs, teaching jobs that is?

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

There are some people at Shanghaiexpat.com who claim to make that much or more teaching in Shanghai, with two or three jobs r private tutoring gigs.

twilothunder · Joined: 09 Dec 2011 Posts: 442

Beijing might be a better bet than Shanghai, the cost of living is lower and there are probably more university students, which gives you a bigger possible pool of people who might want private tuition (including teaching MBA candidates Business English and academic English/research methods, which can be very lucrative).

Consider becoming an IELTS examiner. I can't be bothered because I consider my weekends too important, but you can make 3000rmb for a weekend's work, so a decent job in Beijing may pay 15/16,000+, add in two weekends' IELTS testing and that's 6000rmb on top. Nice life, and probably easier than chasing private gigs outside work hours.

Dedicated · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 972 Location: UK

Teacherfromca,

A lot will depend on your qualifications and experience. If you have the DELTA +MA, then you could apply to the university link programmes, such as University of Nottingham -Ningbo or Liverpool-Xian Jiaotong, Suzhou who usually pay about 24,000 RMB + for EAP teachers.
Both Ningbo and Suzhou have much lower costs of living than Shanghai or Beijing.

Then do a weekend or two of IELTS examining.....

Guerciotti · Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 12:55 am Post subject:

I believe, and I'm lazy hence I did not do an internet search, that IELTS examiner positions require 3 years experience plus training.

I think $3k is doable but I'm not sure about $5k without the advanced degrees and training others mentioned.

I hear crazy things like 650 RMB per hour for corporate classes in Beijing. I say crazy because the same people tell me IELTS examiners make 30,000 RMB in a slow month, so I take everything with a bag of salt.

It seems over time some of your compensation depends on your personality. People like you = more RMB. (Almost) Anyone can correct "wery" to "very" - your persona and methods make the difference. Maybe that's blindingly obvious and I need not express it?

That's my 2 cents worth. For the record I have a perfectly mundane uni position and I make a buck fifty at an institute on the side.

twilothunder · Joined: 09 Dec 2011 Posts: 442

Guerciotti · Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 4:06 pm Post subject:

Twilo, "my bad" - he did say he has experience.

I think one can make $3k or more per month, but, barring international school employment and other high paying positions, it will take some time to arrange.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

I'm hoping to do the same. Here's my plan: get a good paying job. If you've got experience, look at Sino-British or Sino-American unis,
Missouri
Liverpool
Fort State Hays
NCUK
Houston Community College

Some places pay better than others, but I've seen offers up to about 26K yuan a month plus housing.

Then you supplement with IELTS or teaching privates. I'm hoping to do IELTS: Having taught privates before, I'm hoping that I don't have to do it again.

ecubyrd94 · Joined: 25 Aug 2011 Posts: 77

sisyphus · Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 170

How does one become an Ielts examiner? Idea

cormac · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 768 Location: Xi'an (XTU)

If you have any Business experience (especially managerial level) you can get good private business teaching gigs. Having good qualifications is nice, but if you have experience working for international companies, you can sell that quite well. They trend to be willing to pay more than University students, and are easier to schedule. They will expect a better level of business english though. I have a few friends in Shanghai who are making quite a bit from this niche of students.