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ESL104
Joined: 27 Sep 2014
Posts: 108
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 Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 8:28 am Post subject: |
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| litterascriptor wrote: |
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| So if you could pick any location in the world you wanted, with a fantastic 12 classes a week schedule with no split shifts, great management...but the pay is 500rmb a month, you'd take it? |
Depends on my savings. With enough money in the bank, sure I'd take it. |
Back in the real world though, you don't have a massive pile of savings or you'd be retired already.
And you still wouldn't take a 500rmb job even if you had a huge chunk of cash. Why wouldn't you just not work at all instead? |
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piglet44
Joined: 26 Aug 2010
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 6:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Yeah some of you just don't get it.NO STRESS is a big factor.The OP likes the job,the kids,the management,the food and the accommodation.He doesn't want to work all hours of the day.He just hasn't settled into the culture thing in China and made that many Chinese friends.That's cool. Hang in there OP and no money is not everything.Sounds like you have a good sitch there. |
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bograt
Joined: 12 Nov 2014
Posts: 331
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| Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 7:50 pm Post subject: |
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Back in the real world though, you don't have a massive pile of savings or you'd be retired already.
And you still wouldn't take a 500rmb job even if you had a huge chunk of cash. Why wouldn't you just not work at all instead? |
My plan is to semi retire before I'm 55 and live and work in a place and at a job I'll choose on job and location alone. The rent from one of the two properties I'll have by then will keep my pension payments going and I'll use my salary and rent from the other house just for living. I like teaching but wouldn't want a full time table. I'll then retire fully when I feel like it. I won't be living in China to do this but there's no reason why someone else wouldn't want to. |
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litterascriptor
Joined: 17 Jan 2013
Posts: 360
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| Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2014 1:15 am Post subject: |
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| My world here seems real to me. |
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piglet44
Joined: 26 Aug 2010
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2014 1:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Good plan bograt I took early retirement at 55 it was the smartest thing I ever did |
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nomad-ish
Joined: 21 Oct 2010
Posts: 153
Location: Moving up the food chain!
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| Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 5:48 am Post subject: |
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| ben.detw wrote: |
I am in the same situation as you as far as being a certified teacher in America looking for a better job in China.
Where are these 25+ jobs? High school? Test Prep? International school? |
mostly international schools. they will be more stressful than language/public schools here, but they'll often have some perks in addition to higher overall salaries.
i'm at a lower tier international school and i'm already making 25+. better international schools for more experienced teachers pay better with perks like a PD allowance, school trips overseas in 5 star hotels, etc. |
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RiverMystic
Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 1986
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| Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 7:21 am Post subject: |
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The OP's job sounds pretty good for a first-China gig to me. He (assuming a male) has an easy job, nice school, good kids and good management. Good management is one of the most important things in job satisfaction. The pay is OK with an apartment.
After the first contract is up, he'll be able to reassess his options on the ground in China. He'll have a fair few choices.
As for international schools, it may not be as easy as some think. A year ago I replied to an ad by a recruiter specialising in international school placements for China. I sent my CV, and he responded saying he would be unable to work with me, as I didn't have recent western education experience. I thought this was absurd. I have taught successfully in multiple nations, including Australia and NZ. I have a dip ed (English major), honours, PHD, Celta, taught in two genuine international schools including the International School of Beijing (Sunyi) and can speak Chinese. But apparently this was not enough for him.
The idea that experience teaching in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan somehow makes me a worse teacher is just stupid. I'm a better teacher for it, not worse.
Anyway, that's life. Having been around a while I have worked out that employers often have utterly ridiculous reasons for not employing people, ones that make absolutely no sense. You just have to move on and find someone who values who you are and what you do. |
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toteach
Joined: 29 Dec 2008
Posts: 273
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| Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 9:29 am Post subject: |
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| nomad-ish wrote: |
| ben.detw wrote: |
I am in the same situation as you as far as being a certified teacher in America looking for a better job in China.
Where are these 25+ jobs? High school? Test Prep? International school? |
mostly international schools. they will be more stressful than language/public schools here, but they'll often have some perks in addition to higher overall salaries.
i'm at a lower tier international school and i'm already making 25+. better international schools for more experienced teachers pay better with perks like a PD allowance, school trips overseas in 5 star hotels, etc. |
PMing |
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MrWright
Joined: 27 Feb 2008
Posts: 167
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 6:19 am Post subject: |
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| Well, thank you everyone for the input. Didn't mean to create such a vitriolic discussion, but I've learned a lot. Here's an update. 1. I have definitely adjusted to China. 2. Decided that I might be here awhile. 3. Have developed a social life that includes both foreigners and Chinese. 4. I have begun to learn Chinese. 5. I have met a special local girl. These things happened in that sequence. That's an important point. I will look at what my options are next year, but for now I am more than content. I consider myself lucky. If anyone has any suggestions for specific teaching venues that might suit me, I would love to hear from you. China took some getting used to, but the Middle Kingdom is a wonderful place for me now. Cheers. |
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piglet44
Joined: 26 Aug 2010
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 6:23 am Post subject: |
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| Cannot suggest a better location because I am DYING to work in SZ.Have been looking for a suitable job there but since I am not interested in teaching kindy or little kids and I don't want to work a crazy 30 hours a week or split shifts,I can't find anything.So my suggestion would be stay put.It takes time to build a circle of friends in China and you seem to be doing that.I found that the second year in a place was always way better because you know your way around and you usually have local and foreign friends.So my advice is .. if you feel more comfortable now stay there. |
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tyroleanhat
Joined: 21 Oct 2013
Posts: 209
Location: Austria / China
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| Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2015 1:02 am Post subject: |
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Embrace your location, SZ is great. Yes, it doesn't have the charm of Paris, but still: clean air, modern infrastructure, loads of westerners, vicinity to HK..
I had a similar social situation like you when I newly arrived in Korea, felt that I couldn't meet people with decent English. Changed very quickly.
Try the HSK 1 to 3 from www.memrise.com - can be done in the course of a few weeks and boom you will be equipped with a 600-word vocabulary. Then practice it with willing cuties from language exchange meetings (plenty in SZ)
Last edited by tyroleanhat on Thu Jan 01, 2015 1:40 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
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| Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2015 1:12 am Post subject: |
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In a little under a month from OP you have made progress!
Best |
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