Job Discussion Forums

[mrlg]

Background:
I'm scandinavian, in my 30's, with a master degree (major in English) and I've been working as a teacher (English) for a few years now.
I was offered 5000 rmb per month plus apartment at the campus area to work with kids age 6-10 20 hours a week.
Is this, generally speaking, a good deal or am I being screwed here.
Some I chat with say 5000 is nice, others say 8000 is decent. Hard knowing what to belivie really.
Can someone tell me how much it cost going to the mcdonalds, a package of marlboro, a beer at a decent restaurant etc?
One guy also mentioned to me it would be quite easy for me earning a few bucks extra teaching say 5 students a week 1 hour at the time 100 rmb per hour. What do you reckon guys?

Thx

[burnsie]

Yeap, that's a ripoff alright! It is law that foreign teachers be given an apartment under the Foreign Experts Bureau Policy. You don't pay for anything that relates to accommodation (usually).

I am not sure where you will be working but I rented last year a luxury apartment in central Beijing for 3,500RMB. If you go into a more modest home (which is usually very comfortable) you can pay anywhere from 1,500 to 3,000 in Beijing. It really depends where you are.

No problem with extra teaching with your qualifications. I would aim at the 130-150RMB if you have experience teaching. I would do it a minimum of 2 hours at a time. Also check out the contract you sign and make sure you don't sign an 'exclusivity clause'.

McD's is around 17-20RMB a meal, Malboro around 9-10RMB (but not sure, don't smoke, you can get cheaper brands for 3-5 RMB a pack). Beer is 2 RMB for a large bottle in a store.

[mrlg]

>You don't pay for anything that relates to accommodation (usually). <

Yep, that's why I said I get paid 5k PLUS apartment

Thanks for the info!

[Susie]

I think for someone with a Bachelor's degree working 10/12 hours teaching per week you could take RMB5,000 per month plus accommodation.

For a Master's English major, 20 hours per week plus housing, return flight, a 2,000 in China travel bonus, your tax paid by the school, as well as your Z visa, residence permit, health certificate, you should tell them you'll teach for 8,000 p.m.

[millie]

Hello mrlg,

It seems you might be working in a private language school and if so you may find you have rather unsociable hours (eg weekends and evenings)
Given your qualifications, it does seems a bit low for 20 hours per week but you will have no problem in living well enough on RMB5,000

What defines well enough is a variable thing of course but if you spent all your salary every month, things would be pretty good for you.

The cost of restaurants is as variable as views on a decent restaurant.
I don’t know which city you will be in but I have spent from 100RMB to 500RMB for 2 people at decent restaurants in Shanghai.

My average is 150-200 per 2 people with a beer or two. This is for places with clean white table clothes, reasonable d�cor etc and Chinese cuisines that would easily pass the test in the west.
In reasonable establishments a beer can cost from 15RMB for a big one up to 35RMB for a small one.

If you want to eat in cheaper places, there are a lot about too and of course you can buy your beer at the shop for 2-3 as burnsie notes.

The thing with big cites like Shanghai and Beijing is that they need not be much more expensive than other places except that there is a lot more to encourage you to part with your money.

I don’t want to get into arguments about what a living wage is in China (see the pay in China thread!)– it’s a little like debating the length of a piece of string…. It just depends

M

[shenyanggerry]

You didn't mention where the offer is for. Where I go, it's a pretty reasonable offer. I get 3500 per month and don't spend it all. I eat regularly in restaurants and beer is my drug of choice.

[ContemporaryDog]

[Roger]

It's not a good deal, really. Consider:
- You are no doubt going to work for a private training centre; expect changing timetables all the time, and unsocial working hours!
- in a private training centre you don't get paid during holidays except for what's stipulated in your contract, and that usually is a couple of weeks. Make sure you get AIRFARE!!
- But your workload sounds pretty heavy! 20 hours? It should say how many PERIODS. Here is something you must consider:
In KINDERGAERTENS, kids NEVER sit more than half an hour in a class; even making them sit for half an hour is cruel to them! (I seldom required them to sit throughout such a long time!). Anyway, the attention span of a preschooler is low, and thus a lesson canNOT last longer htan 20 to 30 minutes! Thus, the question would be: do you work 2 periods of half an hour = 1 hour (60 minutes)? In that case, 20 hours can amount up to 40 periods a week... that's too much, really!
But I saw that some of your learners are 10-year olds; they would have regular 45 minute classes, I suppose. Well, prepare for a hectic time getting prepared for every class and every different level!
- In Chinese KINDERGARTENS, FTs regularly make 8000 for no more than 22 PERIODS (no longer than 30 minutes) a week. Corelate that with your job offer!

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

One thing I would find out is whether or not there is a curfew.

Many schools that have their teachers living on-campus are usually prisoners after 10 pm.

If you don't want to spend a year as a prisoner, please ask them.

[gunther]

Hi,
I made 7000RMB teaching elementary school for awhile. Most of my classes were 6 and 7 year olds (20+ hours per week). I should been payed 50 000 RMB per month!
Honestly, if you value your sanity, make sure to ask your employer how many students per class. I had close to 50 heads per class, and that was way out of my league.
The 2000 RMB bonus at the end of your contract, althought nice, will not cover the psychologist fees you'll need to pay back home.

[ContemporaryDog]

50 is waaay too many. In two of my three classes I have around 34-35, and its just about manageable, in the other I have around 28 and its pretty much ideal.

[Curtass]

It depends on where the job is. If you are in a big city like Beijing, Guangzhou, or Shanghai, the pay may not be so great.

However, if you are working in a smaller city, then the pay is okay, though not the best.

I haven't said anything that someone else hasn't already said. Oh well.

Good luck!