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RiverMystic
Joined: 13 Jan 2009 Posts: 1986
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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2015 8:34 am Post subject: |
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| buravirgil wrote: |
| RiverMystic wrote: |
| Basically you work one pretty normal day for a developed economy... |
Ugh.
Many posters have repeatedly informed this forum that contact hours aren't readily compared because of the significant differences between language schools, (public/private) primary/secondary schools, and university classes. The job descriptions vary widely and involve issues of autonomy, expertise, and pay.
I've responded because an implication is made the responsibility of some positions is minimal due to China's relative development to the west...a fairly silly explanation. Besides, over the last 15 years, what defines a 'pretty normal day' in the west anyway? Sharing economies? Stagnant wages? A distribution of wealth not seen since the 1920s? The security of 9 to 5 with benefits, two weeks vacation, and planning for retirement has become a myth for many millennials.
No offense to the poster intended-- I understand asking about so few contact hours, but it's been stated repeatedly: University positions involve preparation unlike other TEFL positions. |
The poster states he repeats the same lesson. And there's no rule about not comparing workloads from one place to another. Sorry if it offended you. IMHO there is nothing to get worked up with here.
I have worked in many countries, and a ten hour work day is the norm in several. In Hong Kong I had a nine hour minimum, sometimes had to work Saturdays and sometimes up to 15 hours a day on special days.
All teachers prepare classes, including ESL teachers. Never held a position yet which didn't require such, in any field in any country. Someone who walks into a classroom without preparing is doing something, but it is not teaching.
The poster's job looks like it requires about the equivalent of one and a half days of work, compared with most I have worked. I think that's great. That's why I had I'd be happy working such a job. Comprende? |
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Listerine

Joined: 15 Jun 2014 Posts: 340
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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 8:15 am Post subject: |
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| bestteacher2012 wrote: |
| Listerine wrote: |
My new semester starts on Monday. Public University.
Schedule is
Mon 8~11:30 and 1:30~5 (somewhat hideous)
Tues 1:30~3:00
Thurs 1:30~3:00
Teaching the same subject the entire time so prep should be fairly minimal. Don't want to jinx myself too badly, but all in all I'm pretty happy. |
Starts on Monday? Most public universities are about to go on holidays. |
It's based on the late Chinese New Year this time around. I guess many schools decided that instead of doing one 22 week semester followed by one 14 week one it's better to split them in half and do two 18 week ones, even though there's a 5 week break in the middle of the second. Perhaps a bit dumb, but it's the same workload overall more or less. |
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Listerine

Joined: 15 Jun 2014 Posts: 340
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Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 4:15 am Post subject: |
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I actually got mine for next semester back in May. Such organization is a serious glitch in the Chinese University matrix. Anyhow must be loads of newcomers about to jump on a plane over here so just to give an idea of possibly what to expect mine is....
Mon - 8~11.30
Tues - 10~12.20
Wed - 8~9.30
Thurs - 8~9.30
Fri - 10~12.20
All listening and speaking classes this time.
No too bad.
Pros - classes are all done by lunchtime or earlier. No split shifts
Cons - a special place in hell for filthy 7am starts. No days off during the week. |
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Jmbf
Joined: 29 Jun 2014 Posts: 663
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Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 6:18 am Post subject: |
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| What a difference in teaching schedules between HK and China! I regularly have over 45 teaching hours per week. Income is much better though so horses for courses I guess. |
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wangdaning
Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 3154
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Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 8:31 am Post subject: |
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| Jmbf wrote: |
| What a difference in teaching schedules between HK and China! I regularly have over 45 teaching hours per week. Income is much better though so horses for courses I guess. |
Wonder if you make more per hour or just have more hours. Not trying to be rude, just saying. |
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Listerine

Joined: 15 Jun 2014 Posts: 340
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Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 8:59 am Post subject: |
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| wangdaning wrote: |
| Jmbf wrote: |
| What a difference in teaching schedules between HK and China! I regularly have over 45 teaching hours per week. Income is much better though so horses for courses I guess. |
Wonder if you make more per hour or just have more hours. Not trying to be rude, just saying. |
I noticed that in Korea... twice the pay, but more than twice the actual teaching time. On and hourly basis China is a better deal. How much you choose to supplement the pay difference between the two countries is up to you. |
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Jmbf
Joined: 29 Jun 2014 Posts: 663
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Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 9:20 am Post subject: |
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| wangdaning wrote: |
| Jmbf wrote: |
| What a difference in teaching schedules between HK and China! I regularly have over 45 teaching hours per week. Income is much better though so horses for courses I guess. |
Wonder if you make more per hour or just have more hours. Not trying to be rude, just saying. |
I make on average around HKD 450 / hr. And it's increasing steadily. I would be interested in hearing about the average hourly rates for other teachers. |
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Jmbf
Joined: 29 Jun 2014 Posts: 663
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Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 4:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Listerine wrote: |
| On and hourly basis China is a better deal. |
I'm not so sure about that. You can bring other factors such as lifestyle into the equation which muddy the waters a bit but on a pure income per hour basis I don't think China is the best (any more). |
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wangdaning
Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 3154
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Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 6:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Jmbf wrote: |
I make on average around HKD 450 / hr. And it's increasing steadily. I would be interested in hearing about the average hourly rates for other teachers. |
Again, not trying to be rude, but this seems to imply work is not steady.
Last edited by wangdaning on Tue Aug 04, 2015 6:19 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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JamesBondGibbonus
Joined: 09 Nov 2014 Posts: 2
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Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 6:18 pm Post subject: |
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Mon - Fri, 7:30 - 3:45
24 contact hours pw
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Russoregon
Joined: 23 Feb 2015 Posts: 14
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Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 7:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Heading over in two weeks for my first time teaching in China. 16 45min. classes of business English. That's all I know so far. Thanks for all the great advice/information here! |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China
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Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 9:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Russoregon wrote: |
| Heading over in two weeks for my first time teaching in China. 16 45min. classes of business English. That's all I know so far. Thanks for all the great advice/information here! |
You need to keep in mind that this thread appears to have posts on private language school schedules AND public unis and vocationals.
Publics are usually around 16/18 contact hours so you are on the mark for this semester. Note also that 2x45 mins will likely be your class length which means a lesson plan to cover 90 mins not 45.
Hope it works out.
Best
NS |
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Jmbf
Joined: 29 Jun 2014 Posts: 663
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Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 1:12 am Post subject: |
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| wangdaning wrote: |
| Jmbf wrote: |
I make on average around HKD 450 / hr. And it's increasing steadily. I would be interested in hearing about the average hourly rates for other teachers. |
Again, not trying to be rude, but this seems to imply work is not steady. |
If you mean by steady that my income fluctuates? Yeah sure, that's part and parcel of being a private tutor, students get sick, students cancel. For tutors just getting into the game that can be a problem. It's less of an issue once you are well established. I would say that my working hours vary between 45 hours per week (never less than that) up to around 60 hours per week at peak times. The only exceptions to that would be Chinese New Year or if I take a longer holiday. |
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Russoregon
Joined: 23 Feb 2015 Posts: 14
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Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 1:17 pm Post subject: |
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You need to keep in mind that this thread appears to have posts on private language school schedules AND public unis and vocationals.
Publics are usually around 16/18 contact hours so you are on the mark for this semester. Note also that 2x45 mins will likely be your class length which means a lesson plan to cover 90 mins not 45.
Hope it works out.
Best
NS[/quote]
Thanks NS. I had heard something about this in my second interview with the school but wasn't sure if that pertained to all of my classes or just a few. Either way, 90 minutes of lesson planning is more than I'm used to. I'm sure I'll get into a routine quickly though. |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China
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Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 6:18 pm Post subject: |
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If all your classes are covering the same stuff then you really have only one lesson plan.
Sure if it's Oral English, the bigger classes tend to get left behind as there are just more students to speak.
Even at semester end it's unlikely you will have more than two plans on the go. |
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