Job Discussion Forums

[China.Pete]

Yeah, part of the attraction of China might be the ability to play professor at one of China's many universities, companies, etc., while enjoying a fairly decent standard of living in the process (with or without the $2,400 extra in the bank each month). Sadly, market forces may be doing for such jobs here what's been done for similar work in many Western countries. More professionalism would certainly help justify better wages for foreign teachers in China. Otherwise, I can't see how this gig may not reach the point where it's not nearly as attractive as it was when I started nine years ago.

[bdawg]

[Roger]

[vikdk]

In today�s China 20,000 RMB/month is daily heading towards the title of ya proverbial peanuts - for an ever-growing class of Chinese this kind of money is very reachable (of course still a small minority - but even small minority in country with this size of population is a vast number). Roger take a look in the streets - all those cars/consumer durables/privately owned newly-built apartments etc etc aren't just a product of corruption - wages/profits in many sectors are seriously climbing here, even if unemployment might be starting to spiral. And whatever the unemployment figure might climb to, since there is no real social security system to support these non-earners then rather than being an economic burden on the system - they should be viewed more as a threat to social order and "harmony" (don't the Chinese love that word ) Problem is FT wages never kept in step with the economic boom here - and FT's are not regarded as serious ex-pats - on the contrary a kind of inferiority complex when we regard ourselves to other in-country FE's seems to pervade our profession - which seems to make ripping us off just that little bit more of a natural act for our employers out here

[lagerlout2006]

In 2 or so years in China I met 2 FT's (whose word I trusted) making over 20 000.

The formula was like this . Standard 5000 kuai Uni job-mornings only. Then add a 9000 kuai Acadamy job that does evenings and weekends. Perhaps add in some one off private stuff. It can be done but doesn't sound like much of a life to me. Work 7 days and forget long breaks for holidays.

You could do better in ROK or Japan on a 9-5 type hours.

[Malsol]

China produces 5 mil robots each year. China requires 150,ooo foreign robots to produce the 5 mil Chinese robots.

Nothing unique or special about any given foreign robot, save and except that some will work for free while others work for max 6,ooo for 20 hrs.


The foreign robots are EFL teachers producing 5 mil uni grads each year who can say "Hello."

[william wallace]

nil

[Roger]

Well, William, I empathise with you out of the bottom of my heart that's filled with equally sorrowful experiences - taking a shot of my visage? It was one of my first discoveries in this country, and one I have constantly tried to prevent.
But in what capacity are we here? Ah oui, on est des 'professeurs d'anglais', n'est-ce pas? That's a kind of logo, something with name-recognition value: it's being cultivated here by everyone: only laowai can polish our English to the point of being acceptable by the laowai themselves, hence we hire them. But we don't hire them as laoshi - or have you ever been asked to teach something called "substantial"? Yes, I have - once or twice; the first time it was teaching literature, and I came away having learnt much more about this rotten system of so-called "education" than my students did learning about English authors of the 19th and 20th centuries.

So, if an occasional FT is being put on that pedestal that's supported by a pile of dough, that's just a statistical aberration that this system needs to support its claims ("we pay on average a higher salary to our FTs than we do to our own ones").

Which brings me to the fancies some of you have in terms of how much money is in the Chinese economy: is there much money? Where is it? Yes, it's on bank accounts, gathering dust so to speak because Joe Zhou cannot buy anything useful for his meagre few thousand kuai; or it is invested in an offshore company, a villa or a couple of Porsches because that's still the traditional way of preserving a rich man's savings. Do Chinese rich spend generously? Ha! They haggle over every mao they spend in the grocery shop! They spend big sometimes in restaurants - and have you noticed how many plastic bags of food leftovers they carry home???

What's the point of telling us that a sizeable Chinese minority of rich folks drive imported cars and make their holiday trips abroad; I have noticed that before some of you came here. But it is equally well-known that no one in China becomes a billionaire the honest way. Are you implying we all should take the road of graft and corruption to strike it wealthy in this developing country and hope that since we are laowais the authorities, if they decide to come down on venal and crooked elements in their society, should spare us on account of our foreign passports?
Wishful thinking, boys!
By the way: that poor Darren guy who was murdered in a busy Guangzhou downtown street is still not atoned for. Remember an American FT was bludgeoned to death (and the cops believe he was knocked down by a truck), and his illegitimate former employer who asked Darren to go get a tourist visa in Hong Kong every month is still in business...

[william wallace]

ni;

[englishgibson]

Compelling numbers above…

Now, the best jobs definitely remain hidden and that's the truth.

Go through the job opportunities on daves or tefl and see for yourselves how good or inadequate the offers are.

I'd say, if I had a great job offer for one, I wouldn't have to advertise it. But then I might have to know people who know people to recruit that right person in.

I am sure we pass on opportunities to each other and even make that overseas call to a friend or a familiy member to just offer...... Furthermore, I believe that even Chinese have been establishing their own "network" to pass on those "white faces" (sorry guys) to each other.

Bottom line's that you must know the ropes and people to land a cozy position with a great pay in China.

Peace
And
Cheers and beers