Job Discussion Forums

Yahnena · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 48 Location: China

Job offers from this college sound good, but I would like to have some background information from teachers who are teaching/have been teaching there.

Especially:
Trip to Hong Kong:
How is the bus trip, any problems, is it convenient?

What about visa situation, is multiple entry visa provided by school, or does one have to go through visa troubles every time you go to Hong Kong?

School owned apartments in Hong Kong? How are they? How often do you get to go? Is going every week end realistic, feasible? Does any teacher do that?

Accommodation? English corner? Working hours?

What are the current salaries for BA, TESOL degree, experienced teachers?

Grateful for any advice.
Thanks

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

They provide you with a normal work visa, multiple entry;

Bus trip to where? You go to HK on your own (I think they organise some trips though).

The school is not in Guangzhou but in a town called Huadu, some 20 kms NW of Guangzhou; their bus to Guangzhou is not free, as far as I know. But it's a trip easily enough doable.

Yahnena · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 48 Location: China

Roger:
bus trip to HK.
The school offers a free stay in one of their apartments in HK (apparently belonging to a certain Dr. Ho).
I would like to know whether anybody has any experience how that works out.
I understand that the bus trip takes about 3 hours to HK and you do it on your own, that's OK. But how often can you take advantage of the free apartment in HK, every weekend? Does anyone do that?

Thanks for the information on multiple entry visa, that is quite helpful.
Cheers

yaco · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 473

Send me a PM.

Thanks

Susie · Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 390 Location: PRC

I've heard that the salary there is very low RMB2500-3000 p.m. because most kids go for the experience.

I'd say the bus/coach ride might take more like 5 hours +, and if I recall there wasn't any toileting facilities, so one could end up feeling pretty distressed, especially if one had drunk a lot of water in the humid weather - as doctors advise foreigners to do. I would travel by throughtrain from GZ East Station to HK Hung Hom for better comfort.

If I'm mistaken, tell me how so.

Yahnena · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 48 Location: China

thanks susie, that sounds more realistic looking at the map.
not a thing to do every weekend, 10 hours plus on a bus .....

sounds pretty isolated out there on the campus ....

maybe they have difficulties to get teachers nowadays, because the salaries they offer are 4000 up to 6000 pm now, but still......

cheers

yaco · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 473

Yahnena, you are a foolish man !

I asked you to send me a PM for good reasons.

Suzy is completely uninformed about Peizheng.

SEnd me a PM, Yahnena if you want accurate information.

CountryClub · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Posts: 46 Location: China

Yahnena, send me a PM if you like and I can add to what Yaco tells you. He'll provide you with good info. Susie is way off.

quanxie · Joined: 11 Feb 2004 Posts: 91 Location: The Sticks

I thought this was a public forum? Why not share your experience(s) with everyone?

yaco · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 473

Quanxie

I dont understand your attitude !!!!

Yes. It is a public forum and I have taken time to help 20 prospective teachers in the last year.

foreignexpert · Joined: 05 Jul 2005 Posts: 2 Location: Guangdong

Worked there for a couple of years. What would you like to know?

Yahnena · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 48 Location: China

thanks foreignexpert, but i'm not interested anymore. i have had enough of isolation and am moving to beijing in 2 weeks.
any good contacts there?
i will try to freelance, now that i know my way better around in china.
i have heard that one can get a visa through an agency and the apartment should not be a problem.
i hope as a freelancer i can make 150 rmb/lesson or even more. some business english classes offer 200 rmb/lesson already.
after considering all my expenses etc. it would still mean that i am doubling my income compared to now. not bad. so i could work only 10 to 15 hours a week and still live comfortably.

cheers

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Yahnena,
I have given this a lot of time but I cannot change it - in my opinion you are attitudinally challenged!

Yahnena · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 48 Location: China

roger:
please explain what you mean by this expression and what makes you think that i am Smile

attitudinally does not exist, at least not in my webster and on thesaurus.com.

thanks and cheers

foreignexpert · Joined: 05 Jul 2005 Posts: 2 Location: Guangdong

Yahnena,

Wise decision - to free lance. You can make from 80 - 200rmb/hour free lancing. 200/hr is rare but achievable.... depends how well you can negotiate and let me inform you that you MUST negotiate! Personally, I work for no less than 150/hour. Not worth my time for any less.

I wouldn't recommend going to Pei Zheng, there are a couple of perks with the job i.e. the HK apartment, however, use is restricted to several days per teacher per school year). Plus, the salary is very average considering the College profits between 2 and 3 million USD per annum. Thats right..... and they pay the FT's a measley 600 USD per month! There are plenty of other places much better than Pei Zheng.

I have many good contacts in China. What do you need exactly?