Job Discussion Forums

Masterjazz · Joined: 16 Feb 2005 Posts: 50 Location: Dublin, Ireland

What sort of pay could/should I expect in China?

Im 24yr old male, w/4 yr degree and TEFL(120hrs), about 6mths teaching experience in Ireland.

Id be looking for a 6mth contract and also do you think it would be possible to save. Also Ill be in the country but do they like Korea,pay for your flights home upon completed contract??

Is it possible to save? Ive been travelling for a few months so I know how to keep it cheap!!

Sorry if these qs are sooo run of the mill, but Ive got to make a decision on this asap and i dont have much net time either!

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!

Girl Scout · Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 525 Location: Inbetween worlds

6 mo. contracts usually pay for a one-way ticket. So you'll get half of your travel expense paid.

As for the pay scale, it can vary, 3,000rmb - 6,000rmb. Many language mills even pay more. It will depand on the school and the number of hours you work.

You can save money here. Since your housing will (should) be provided you will not have to put out a lot of money in the begining. You are not going to save a lot.

Don't make your decision too quickly. If you end up at a school with terrible management, horrible policies, or bizarre co-workers this could be the longest 6 mo. of your life.

Masterjazz · Joined: 16 Feb 2005 Posts: 50 Location: Dublin, Ireland

thanks girl scout,
well ill be in China as of tomorrow evening infact, was planning on 3weeks there before a job in Korea but cant find any 6mth contracts.

So thats interesting that they'd pay my airfare home then after 6mths... not bad,

Ill think about it some more
Thanks again

ChrisP · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 29 Location: Shenzhen

If you are interested in saving, you would be a lot better off teaching in Korea or Taiwan. Unless you work a lot of hours, you will only be making about $800 a month. In Korea, you will make about $2,000 a month. In both countries, it is usual for the employer to provide housing.

Everest · Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Posts: 195 Location: Shenzhen

Chris P - Taiwan does NOT provide accomodation except in the rarest cases and even then it is almost always temporary until you can sort something out yourself.

Korea provides it generally, but not in Seoul unless you are very fortunate. It should also be noted that the quality of accomodation offered in Korea is generally quite low - at least it was when I worked there.

Masterjazz, I'm Irish myself and agree with Chris P that either Korea or Taiwan are the best options for you, cash-wise. There is no dough to be made in China and the ease of life here sucks you in. I make about 10000RMB a month with a few privates but was making twice that in Korea to which I will be returning in a few months.

Finally, if you're a graduate, on no account accept less than 7000RMB a month. If their story is "Well, it's great that you have a degree, but it's not really necessary here", they're con-artists after a white face to sell their school and nothing more. Stand firm and shop around.

China is DESPERATE for foreign teachers, no matter what you hear. It's a sellers market. Finally, good luck.

davidq · Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Posts: 12

>Finally, if you're a graduate, on no account accept less than 7000RMB a month

Everest, I don't really think this statement is realistic and indicative of the vast majority of positions in China

Super Mario · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 11:58 pm Post subject:

Agreed. If you're a qualified and experienced teacher in a Western country [especially in ESL] and you have previous EFL experience [particularly in the country concerned], you should be looking at 7000 plus. Even then its hard to find: schools have to actually care about the value of the programs they're offering, whereas most care far more about profits.

So it goes.