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Foo_Fighters_Dave
Joined: 09 Dec 2016
Posts: 162
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 Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2018 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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| theoriginalprankster wrote: |
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| It may turn out to be a blast, or boring or a nightmare. |
So far a nightmare. Someone mentioned foreign teachers and Chinese owners. The Chinese manager is a total gimp, only cares about money. The foreign teachers aren't bad, but overworked, thus not very happy.
I'll make some money and then leave. Really not enjoying China anymore (never really did enjoy it, TBH).
EDIT: I was released from the job today, let the job hunting begin. |
I called it when I first read your post This is the third job in a row that you flamed out. I think you should find a different country to live and work in. At least you gave yourself a chance in management.
Good luck with the job hunt but it is clear from reading your posts the last year that China should be in the rear view mirror. You have tried and done pretty much every type of job. |
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theoriginalprankster
Joined: 19 Mar 2012
Posts: 895
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| Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 1:23 am Post subject: |
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I called it when I first read your post This is the third job in a row that you flamed out. I think you should find a different country to live and work in. At least you gave yourself a chance in management.
Good luck with the job hunt but it is clear from reading your posts the last year that China should be in the rear view mirror. You have tried and done pretty much every type of job. |
Agreed, I think my time is up in China. Just a case of finding a new country and possibly career. I never intended to be in China 12 years or teaching for 15.
Would love to settle in the Philippines, but I'm a bit young to retire, and there's not really much work over there for foreigners.
Suggestions? |
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Jmbf
Joined: 29 Jun 2014
Posts: 663
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| Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 3:02 am Post subject: |
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| theoriginalprankster wrote: |
Would love to settle in the Philippines, but I'm a bit young to retire, and there's not really much work over there for foreigners.
Suggestions? |
One thing you could do is use this time to build up your own private student base. Then transition at least some of them into online lessons. Then you could effectively work from anywhere (time zone differences withstanding). I had a discussion with another teacher who is in the process of doing this right now.
This has a few advantages over the usual online work:
Students pay more per hour
Students tend to be more reliable and longer-term
You can still generate direct student referrals |
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litterascriptor
Joined: 17 Jan 2013
Posts: 360
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| Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 3:48 am Post subject: |
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I like the private student angle. I've considered for a while, as a lark, doing a couple years as a medical student here in China. Not because I want to be a doctor, EFF that, but because I'd have a lot of cred for offering myself up as a tutor for medical English.
Mind you my plan is a little silly in the sense it would be prohibitively expensive as a means of learning the proper terminology for Medical English that I could also learn from textbooks.
But the other side of that is going to University here in China would be something I'd just like to do for my own personal reasons.
But yeah, definitely specialize into a niche and go from there. |
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litterascriptor
Joined: 17 Jan 2013
Posts: 360
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| Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 3:48 am Post subject: |
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| Also, when is the last time you went on holiday away from China? |
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theoriginalprankster
Joined: 19 Mar 2012
Posts: 895
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| Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 6:57 am Post subject: |
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| litterascriptor wrote: |
| Also, when is the last time you went on holiday away from China? |
I went away in August of 2017, three weeks in the Philippines. Bliss! |
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Jmbf
Joined: 29 Jun 2014
Posts: 663
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| Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 7:46 am Post subject: |
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I just had a quick look at costs of living in the Philippines. Seems that a 'middle-income' type salary there would be around USD 1,000 / month. You could easily earn that with just 10 - 12 online students a week (based off an online rate of around RMB 150 / hr). All you would need is a decent internet connection.
If that's not enough you could alway take on more students. |
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theoriginalprankster
Joined: 19 Mar 2012
Posts: 895
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| Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 7:50 am Post subject: |
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| All you would need is a decent internet connection. |
Sadly the internet in the Philippines is not great and pricey for what you get. Another issue is the frequent power cuts. Bearable if on holiday, not so great if you're running an internet-based business. |
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Jmbf
Joined: 29 Jun 2014
Posts: 663
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| Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 8:16 am Post subject: |
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| theoriginalprankster wrote: |
Sadly the internet in the Philippines is not great and pricey for what you get. Another issue is the frequent power cuts. Bearable if on holiday, not so great if you're running an internet-based business. |
That’s a shame. How about using a 4G modem on an unlimited plan tethered to your laptop? Perhaps with a backup power supply? |
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theoriginalprankster
Joined: 19 Mar 2012
Posts: 895
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| Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 8:17 am Post subject: |
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| Jmbf wrote: |
| theoriginalprankster wrote: |
Sadly the internet in the Philippines is not great and pricey for what you get. Another issue is the frequent power cuts. Bearable if on holiday, not so great if you're running an internet-based business. |
That’s a shame. How about using a 4G modem on an unlimited plan tethered to your laptop? Perhaps with a backup power supply? |
That is an option I'll look into. |
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Jmbf
Joined: 29 Jun 2014
Posts: 663
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jimpellow
Joined: 12 Oct 2007
Posts: 913
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| Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 9:53 pm Post subject: |
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I participated in that thread as I used to live and work from there too. Internet is not great there but getting better they say. If one went this route, best to base oneself in Cebu or Manilla. They have more and more tech hubs that offer reliable Internet but the hours are not necessarily conducive to an online schedule. As I believe I mentioned in that thread, investing in a few different Internet connections and binding them together with a service called speedify will provide fast and reliable Internet. My ESL online teaching friend who is there also recommends a Bear Extender. A qualified teacher can get work there, but the pay as one can image is rather poor. Good chance you will be working for Korean owners (yech!) and Filipino management (yech!). The friendly Filipino becomes a monster once given a little power.
Better to build private students from South Korea and Japan who visit. Yet that takes time. I have talked to you before about online work. There is plenty of it available both in and out of ESL. Yet this is really only a successful option if you think multiple income streams and are willing to go out on the Web and do the work to make it a reality.
I am in Armenia these days with my Filipino girlfriend and living more than well enough on just my income. With your credentials and experience, the only thing stopping you from your goal is you. |
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CNexpatesl
Joined: 27 May 2015
Posts: 194
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| Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 5:37 am Post subject: |
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| Out of curiosity, why were you let go from the manager position (or did you quit?)? I was offered an interview for a managerial position at a big chain English center. Salary is only 20k rmb / month, and they also force managers to teach classes on top of designing curriculum and dealing with foreign teachers and Chinese staff. Job sounds pretty bad on paper but I just want to make sure. |
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litterascriptor
Joined: 17 Jan 2013
Posts: 360
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| Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 7:42 am Post subject: |
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| Teaching classes, managing teachers, and curriculum design was par for the course for the chain I worked management for. It's not unusual for the big players in China. |
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theoriginalprankster
Joined: 19 Mar 2012
Posts: 895
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| Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 4:20 pm Post subject: |
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| CNexpatesl wrote: |
| Out of curiosity, why were you let go from the manager position (or did you quit?)? I was offered an interview for a managerial position at a big chain English center. Salary is only 20k rmb / month, and they also force managers to teach classes on top of designing curriculum and dealing with foreign teachers and Chinese staff. Job sounds pretty bad on paper but I just want to make sure. |
It's bad. I've got the complete task list from the previous director, who left as she was disgusted by the abuse. What they sold me in the interview was far far far less than what I was tasked with on Day 1 of the job.
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| Teaching classes, managing teachers, and curriculum design was par for the course for the chain I worked management for. It's not unusual for the big players in China. |
Oooh, we have a BIG PLAYER here. Yawn. |
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