Job Discussion Forums

Transpective · Joined: 19 Jan 2011 Posts: 8

How reasonable of an idea is it to move to China to teach as a way of paying back student loans (about $300 a month)? My primary focus, to be honest, is to become proficient in Mandarin, so does it make more sense to just get an education deferment and try to get into an exchange program at a Chinese University? I hear that some Universities would allow one to teach a few hours a week as well as take classes, which may be a myth, but it sounds like a sexy deal. I'd really like to have a CELTA just for personal development (I really want to become a more skilled teacher), but I don't know how I'd afford it right now, and if Im gonna spend that much on something, maybe I should just try to go back to school. These are my dilemmas...what are your thoughts?

PathToChina · Joined: 04 Feb 2012 Posts: 17 Location: California U.S.

rogerwilco · Joined: 10 Jun 2010 Posts: 1549

Miles Smiles · Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 1294 Location: Heebee Jeebee

PathToChina · Joined: 04 Feb 2012 Posts: 17 Location: California U.S.

rogerwilco · Joined: 10 Jun 2010 Posts: 1549

Miles Smiles · Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 1294 Location: Heebee Jeebee

sainthood · Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 12:22 pm Post subject:

What the...???

How do you guys NOT save $300/month??? My first teaching gig paid me 5000RMB and included housing. Sure, it was a third (or worse) tier city, but I was able to save something like 2000-3000 or more per month - if not more. Throw in some privates, and you've got it made!

OP, you're best bet would be to get some sort of teaching certification (is there much of a price difference between a dodgey online course, and a true-blue CELTA?? Back home, I think the difference would have been about $800 - or 50% more for the CELTA over the dodgey... CELTA would have been the obvious choice (if I could get away with living on no income for 4 weeks).

In that same job, I had about 14 weeks paid holidays - a long Winter (because of when Spring Fesitval was), July (because of a contract re-sign) and all the other official holidays (like October).

Most jobs now, in an ok city, wills tart paying 6000RMB (a bit under $1K) per month, with accommodation thrown in. Shouldn't be too hard to save most of that... food is cheap!!! If you do your own cooking, you may only spend 1000 per month. If you go to restaurants, they may only cost you 30RMB per meal.. over 7 days, that's still only 210 per month (or still less than 1000 per month). Even spending 100RMB per day, it's still only 3K... leaving 3K (a little under $500).

And, as I mentioned at the beginning of that paragraph, 6000RMB is starting pay....

sainthood · Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 12:27 pm Post subject:

Oh, as for learning the language... a few options... you could come as a student, and do private tutoring on the side (may not pay off your loan, though... remember, you need to make $75/week, which is about 500RMB... maybe, maybe not.... depends on the city you're in).

Alternatively, come as a teacher.... if they don't throw in language lessons as part of your package (ask for it - I reckon 99% will say ok...) then you can pay for them yourself... which is then tax deductable! Or, of course, just make friends... so many here will want to be your friend, and so language exchange becomes the norm (cos, of course, no one will want to actually pay you :p).\

There's lots of money to be made in teaching kids.....

rogerwilco · Joined: 10 Jun 2010 Posts: 1549

sainthood · Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 1:22 pm Post subject:

Well, true... but that goes under 'other general advice' in regards to moving to a new place.... Smile

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

Missing here is discussion of long-term goals. How long do you want to teach? What do you eventually want to achieve? What do you want to do with your Mandarin?

therock · Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 1266 Location: China

sainthood · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 6:09 am Post subject:

ecubyrd94 · Joined: 25 Aug 2011 Posts: 77