Job Discussion Forums

drobert · Joined: 14 Jun 2012 Posts: 4

Hi All,
I've been trolling around Dave's for a couple years, but haven't made the jump to ESL yet. My wife graduated college a year ago, I'm tired of the cubical, and we are both ready to make the jump. So I put our resume's up on the board, and started following up on the ads.

Tonight we had our first Skype interview, and it went really well. I wanted to share my notes from this interview, and get your expert opinions on how the offer sounds. We haven't received an offer yet, however it sounded very promising. BTW, we were interviewing with a westerner.

The school is an after school private program for kids ages 3 to 10 in Qingdao. They learn English through drama, art, science, social studies, etc, and have a western approach to learning. Class sizes are always under 12, and there is always a bilingual TA. The classrooms have smart boards, projectors, and modern computers. They give lesson plans, and the work week is 21 hours total.

They pay accommodations, a utility stipend of 300 rmb, 2500 sign on bonus, health insurance, 8000 year end bonus, and offered us 10,000 rmb per month. This is for each of us, so double it for us as a couple.

This sounds pretty good to us. Is this fairly typical? My wife is an elementary ed teacher with ESL cert, I'm not at all, but neither of us have taught outside of the U.S.

Thanks ahead of time for your help.

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

A few questions you could ask - does the school have their own apartments? Or do they help you find one and then pay for it? Or do they give you a monthly allowance and let you sort the apartment out yourself? Are there any other activities outside the classroom you have to take part in (parties, English corners, meetings, miscellaneous stuff)? Some should be expected and if so what are they and how often? Paid holidays? These details will be important for your well-being at the job.

Based on what you wrote the school itself and the benefits look pretty good to me.

GeminiTiger · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 11:12 am Post subject:

21 hours for 10,000 in a private school is not NEARLY the best you can do. I know something about how schools think and let me tell you this. Couples are worth their weight in gold. Every school in China is hoping to recruit couples.

Also these 21 hours if it's really just 21 hours, which I doubt are likely to be at odd times like nights and weekends.

Now, consider that you can make 6000 with the same benefits teaching 14 hours a week with housing paid in a typical University. These classes are during the day and weekdays only.

Just something to consider, it also depends on if the school is providing you with housing, and how much money that will cost you.

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

From the info given so far there's nothing wrong with this job offer. 10,000 for 21 hours per week (assuming no other duties) seems typical and it works out to RMB120/hour, while 6000 for 14 hours a week is only RMB105 per hour. Not a big difference but when two people living together are making 10,000 it becomes a lot more and at the same time expenses go down (Ex: cooking for one at home is almost as expensive and time-consuming as cooking for two).

The school noted above supposedly pays for accommodation so that doesn't appear to be a factor. As for working at odd times private schools typically cater to kids and adults so you're going to have odd hours at least part of the time. That's the tradeoff for a bit more money as opposed to a university where you get paid less but have set hours.

Obviously if there are duties outside the classroom (none mentioned yet) then that makes this job less attractive.

drobert · Joined: 14 Jun 2012 Posts: 4

Thanks guys.

It is odd hours, but he did say the hours are set and there isn't anything extra. And accommodations are paid. He said we could get a 2 bedroom, or a 1 bedroom and pocket the difference.

One of the main reasons I want to go is to cut back on work hours, so I can focus on building internet based income. 21 hours seems like a dream. They still get 2 set days in a row off, but not the weekends. Also, my wife would have the same schedule, so that helps.

Thanks for the help.