Job Discussion Forums

pullsofyarn · Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 6 Location: MPLS, MN USA

How would you describe the differences one might find teaching in a public university/ college as opposed to teaching in a private language school?

Also, I�m finding a lot of jobs in universities/colleges that start in September (Obviously the beginning of the school year). Is it possible to find university jobs starting in, say, November? Or would one have to wait until February?

Also, I plan to arrive with a nest egg of about $2,000 US - will this be enough for me to travel in China a fair amount over the course of a year?

Thanks

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Public schools:
Pay is generally lower but stable;
you get paid holidays and a travel allowance of RMB 2200 if you stay for a whole year.

Private schools/training centres:
Lots of them are subcontractors to public schools that are not alllowed to hire legally; they thus pocket a large percentage from your income that these public schools pay to them who then distribute the balance to you.
Your job is less stable.
You have fewer paid holidays.
You are given unsocial work hours.
You get jerked around more likely than at public schools.
Most do pay you better, though. But your income may vary enormously from month to th.

US$ 2000 is a reasonable amount of money to take with you to China. If you want to travel around, I would say it will last you somewhere from 2 to 3 months here. You can stretch that to some extent if you live very frugally - 4 to 5 months!

randyj · Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 5:46 pm Post subject:

Good advice.

As far as the cost of travel is concerned, I can give an example from notes I kept in March 2001. My school changed its schedule, so I had an opportunity to see the Three Gorges. Total cost of ten days from Changsha to Guiyang to Chongqing (by hard sleeper), Chongqing to Wuhan by boat, then Wuhan to Changsha (hard sleeper again) amounted to 3,186.60 RMB, including all fares, accommodation, and meals. I did not scrimp.

pullsofyarn · Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 6 Location: MPLS, MN USA

Thanks for the advice. It sounds like public universities are the way to go. I complete my CELTA at the beginning of October, and I would like to leave Minneapolis before the winter gets too awful. Do I have a chance of finding a public university post before Feb?

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Chance to find a university job before February: Perhaps;
can you start working before February? Most likely NO!

February is the time when the second semster commences.