Job Discussion Forums

DirtGuy · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 529

I am looking for extra work outside my uni and had an interview at the local Ivy Language Center yesterday. All went well as I'm probably the only FT that's ever set foot in the place. I insisted I only teach IELTS or kids so that there is no conflict with my uni job and they said that works for them.

The problem is that they wanted to know how much I wanted to get paid. I have no idea as I've only been here just over a week and have little understanding of most of what is going on around me. I told them, truthfully, that the only numbers I know are the 5,000 the school pays me and the 150-200 range I've heard for private lessons. We wrapped things up by me saying that I expected to get paid based on my experience and the fact that I'm IELTS certified.

Suggestions?

Thanks.

Dirt Guy

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

Wait until they throw out a number. If you think it's fair, snatch it up. If not, ask for more. How many hours will you be working per day? I usually ask for more to teach children (and the schools usually pay more for children than uni). Where are you? What's the COL there? Are they offering any perks (bonusses, etc.)?

DirtGuy · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 529

johnpartee,

Don't have answers to all your questions but I'm meeting them again today.

I can tell you that I'm in AnYang, Henan Province, and the COL is quite low.
The uni is paying 5,000 plus everything else and that is quite high for the area.

Back soon with more info.

DG

choudoufu · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 3325 Location: Mao-berry, PRC

another meeting? why?

how can you go into negotiations without knowing what
your goal is?

DirtGuy · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 529

Yes, knowing what your goal is is a good way to negotiate. In this case, after having been in the country for less than 2 weeks, it's not realistic.

Here is what they offered:

20 hours per week onsite but not all of them are teaching hours. This includes Tuesday to Friday 5-7 and then both Saturday and Sunday. This seems to be more than 20 hours but we'll work that out.

Can't take any materials offsite so I will need to study my materials and prepare onsite.

They want me to do a demo lesson.

I sat in on a class of 7-8 year olds and promptly told them no-go. They want to attract more junior high and up students and expand their IELTS programs so this could work out.

She offered 3,000 and then raised it to 3500 plus a bonus system for how many students I bring in. I'm not happy with this as I'm supposed to go out and make a presentation. This could easily get back to my uni and I prefer to keep a low profile.

Shroob · Joined: 02 Aug 2010 Posts: 1339

DirtGuy · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 529

I am not "uncomfortable" with anything at this point other than teaching little kids. This is sort of an elaborate dance and we're getting closer to sealing the deal. Kind of fun, actually.

DG

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

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

Looks like you're going to be putting in more hours at this part time job than you will be at your regular full time job. Could make for some nice coin but you might find that much extra work a bit too much. . . .

DirtGuy · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 529

The uni only has FTs for freshman and sophomores and they don't teach anything related to IELTS or TOEFL. They don't have any problem with me doing private lessons but I cannot work for another uni or language school that teaches college-age students. Yeah, I know I'm skating on pretty thin ice here and that is why I want to keep a low profile.

As for the hours of work, I've spent the last 5 years developing some commercial real estate. Typical work weeks were 60+ hours and there hasn't been any payoff so far. At least this is less than 40 hours and I get paid for my work.

I'm leaning towards the job at 3500 (cash and no tax taken out) but other opinions always welcome.

DG

choudoufu · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 3325 Location: Mao-berry, PRC

20-25 hours is full time for a language school.
you should be getting/asking for the full-time package.

a uni on average will pay 5000 plus apartment for full time (12-16 hrs).
language school should be around 8000 without apartment.

plus you'll be saving them a boatload of cash..no visa fees, no
residence permit, no health exam, no invitation letter, no taxes,
no health insurance, no retirement/social security....

will you be requesting a flight allowance?

3500 is nuts! that works out to about 45 RMB/hour.

Denim-Maniac · Joined: 31 Jan 2012 Posts: 1238

Id say dont do it. If you think its skating on thin ice and you have only been there 5 minutes you are asking for trouble. Dont expect to keep anything secret in China dude.

Id also agree, 15 hours work might take 15 hours of planning (depending upon many factors) and adding that to your uni job might not be much fun! If you have been working hard and long hours in a previous life, maybe its time to enjoy the new exciting place you have found yourself in?

DirtGuy · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 529

My uni package is 18 hours per week for 5000. Laid back place, no office hours, minimal lesson planning, great perks. So what's the problem? I can't send enough money back to the States on this salary - simple as that. Plus I'm a workaholic and downtime bothers me.

From talking to other FTs, extra work in this town is few and far between. Not quite what I expected after reading this forum but then most people talk about big cities.

Worst case basis is I have to quit the language school job and that's certainly not the end of the world. Better to beg forgiveness than to ask permission but discretion and plausible deniability also help. I'm going to ask the school to nix any marketing that involves me and keep me on the IELTS/TOEFL prep so I can legitimately claim I didn't think I was conflicting with the uni.

DG

teachingld2004 · Joined: 17 Feb 2012 Posts: 389

I have no idea about what you can ask, but I have heard that I can not send home any more then 70% of my monthly salary. So you may not be able to send home that extra money

doogsville · Joined: 17 Nov 2011 Posts: 924 Location: China

3500 for 20 hours is laughable, which is what I would do. Laugh and walk away. The minimum I would expect from a private language school is 5k plus accommodation, which is worth whatever it costs to rent a decent one bedroom apartment in your town. Your saving them the cost of the apartment plus the cost of processing your visa.

I know they told you not all the 20 hours would be teaching hours. But this is China. Once your foreign face starts bringing in more students, who do you think will be expected to teach them. You may well find your teaching hours are creeping up.

You will also be working illegally since your work permit applies only to your uni job, not any part time work you take on board. I don't know about where you live, but here in Guangdong they are cracking down more and more on people teaching outside their contracted, legal jobs.

Personally, I wouldn't touch it for that kind of money.