Job Discussion Forums

[parnett]

I am currently employed at an international high school as a TOEFL teacher in Wuhan. My salary is 13000 rmb/month before taxes. I also get a free apartment near school, paid utilities, free meals at school, end of year bonus and an air ticket home at the end of my contract. Spring Festival and summer holidays are paid vacations. I teach 18 hrs/week along with the usual office hours, paperwork etc.
The school wants me to sign a new contract for next year. They are offering a 500 rmb/month raise.
I am an experienced TOEFL teacher with an M.A. in languages, but am also sixty years old, so my job choices are limited.
Is a 500 rmb/month raise from year one to two the going rate or should I expect more?
BTW, there will be openings at the high school for September of this year. If you are interested and qualified, pm me.

[johntpartee]

In Wuhan? You're a lucky son-of-a-gun!! Stick with it, pal, you're in clover!

[Bud Powell]

It sounds like you've got a good gig. If nothing awaits you if you return home, stay where you are. There are much less rewarding positions available everywhere.

It sounds like the school likes you.

[buffalobill12323]

[Non Sequitur]

As a fellow 'older group' teacher I would be looking for other assurances to money.
The principal question to the school would be 'How long do you think you can successfully support my residence application?
Your money is good although we don't know your actual hours committed to the job.
I expect you have large classes but clearly you are managing that.
Career longevity is the biggie IMHO.

[johntpartee]

Even if the OP is working 40 hours per week, it's still a good deal considering the perks (apartment, meals, paid summer and spring, bonus). Straight wages with the raise will be 162000 per annum. Damned good for Wuhan. Good anywhere, not just China.

[Non Sequitur]

Yep - as I said 'How long can he/she enjoy?
That paid summer is a great perk!

[johntpartee]

[choudoufu]

yo, p'bro!

you're 60? well, good luck getting a work permit in most provinces!
you might manage this time around, being 'only' 60, but then no
guarantee they'll keep you on at 61. likely excuse being they can't
get healthy insurance. then what? retire in thailand?

500 raise? big deal. that's what.....less'n a hunnert bucks? ten dollars
a month? say they give you 1000....20 bucks a month. gotta look at
the whole package, the pay is really only a small part of it.

like where you are? stay put.

[johntpartee]

[parnett]

The job is far from ideal:
- the owner is an extremely rich woman from Taiwan who meddles constantly. She has no educational background, yet insists that the students take difficult American literature and history classes. They must memorize parts of the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence and the Emancipation Proclamation.
- the Director has little knowledge on how to teach TOEFL or manage a TOEFL department.
- the high school teachers must avail themselves at all times for whatever marketing ploys the marketing department has dreamed up that week- visiting local orphanages, photo shoots etc.
- the teacher's room is a madhouse full of rude, loud Chinese "teachers" and often their children.
- the school is in the proverbial "middle of nowhere."
Because it's a new high school, classes are very small. I have only 4 students in one class and 10 in my other.
The apartments are small but fairly nice and modern.

[johntpartee]

[NoBillyNO]