Job Discussion Forums

[rasd]

I have been in the ESL-ESP game for quite a few years and was led to believe that China paid poorly and had a pretty poor job selection.
Well I"ve been teaching at Dalian University for about six weeks now and it is the best damn job I've ever had.
The school pays better than anything in S.E. Asia and has me working 15 hours a week plus five office hours. I don't have to go in on days not teaching and they have a great staff. I am afraid to mention where I'm planning to go on the weekend for fear of the school driver begging me to let him pick me up and drive me there! The staff are great, except for that one a**le that every school is required to have and the kids are awake most of the time.
I have been in the UAE, Saudi and Thailand for so many years I forgot the middle of the earth. Why didn't you guys say anything about Dalian or LNU?

[mlomker]

Glad to hear it! Hope it stays that way for you.

[eslstudies]

Traditionally here, people like to complain. Cheerful, enthusiastic posts such as yours are generally ignored, or at best met with phrases like "honeymoon period" and "rose-colored glasses".
I've kept pushing the line that university teaching in China must be one of the cushiest jobs anywhere. I used to have a tag reflecting that view, but it attracted too much flack!
I think people who have taught in Western countries or, as in your case, extensively on the EFL circuit know this to be true. Those who do a conversion of CNY to USD to use as an argument are missing the point.

Also, rasd, there are jobs that never get advertised. And nobody's going to say what they are and how you find out about them. Ever.

[A'Moo]

USD=CNY 7.65
Salary of Educator in U.S.-30000 CNY/month and up
What point am I missing?
Or is airport pick up and a monthly trip to Martyrs square really that enticing?

[eslstudies]

[A'Moo]

When you put it like that, how can I not agree....

[mondrian]

I truly sympathise with the OP if he thinks he has got it made!
He is in the outback of Dalian with the bracing country air and a polluted beach to swim from. There is little opportunity of easily spending all his money on such cultural activities as live music (classical or modern), multiplexes (he will have to rely on 6RMB dvds). The local bars leave a lot to be desired if he wants "company".
But he has made a good start and now appreciates why many of us have permanent lives here.
Next year I suggest that he moves into the downtown area or even better to Beijing/Shanghai/Guangzhou? (I expect to get flamed for this latter comment!)

[kev7161]

The fact is that, yes of course, most FTs are going to make a LOT less than what they might earn in their home country. Surely people realized that before coming here, yes? Another fact is, to earn a higher salary back home a teacher has to put in at least 40 hours in teaching and planning lessons, grading papers, etc. Not to mention, of course, parent/teacher conferences, mandatory work shops, meetings, coaching or heading up a school club of some sort, covering sick teacher's classes (if a sub can't be found) and a host of other duties. Many teachers even take homework home with them to grade due to not enough time in their chock-full busy work day. Now, add in other things such as screaming parents, could-care-less administration, petulant children, BD or LD kids to deal with . . . . shall I go on? Of course, I'm referring to primary and secondary teachers. I have no idea about college level. But most colleges require a master's in a specialized field (mathematics, for example) in order to teach there. How many of you have a master's. Hands please?

So, I guess we can compare the apples to the oranges and, if you're qualified to teach, you can head on back to the headaches and heartbreaks that go with the job. Some of the reasons above are why I left the illustrious teaching profession back home. Now I work a similar kind of job I had before, but nowhere NEAR the kinds of *ahem!* CRAP I had to put up with back there. Sure, I deal with different kinds of *ahem!* CRAP here in China, but it's a whole 'nother ball game here.

PS: I actually (mostly) like my job, my salary, my extras, and the fact that I am (mostly) given a little more respect for my knowledge and experience than I would ever be shown back home.

[Shan-Shan]

Many good points about the benefits of a life on delay teaching university students in China.

But then there are those cushy university jobs in Korea which demand the same hours, offer proportionally higher salaries (i.e. one can teach at a Korean university and not need to supplement one's income, and still save well over one thousand CDN/USD per month), and have fully paid vacations during the holidays.

A Chinese university gig -- eternally -- might be good for someone already retired, or confident that he/she will always be needed to "TEACH ENGLISH" (the greatest of all causes) in China. Yet other universities elsewhere in dire need of English Enlightenment quite often present teachers with better salaries, similar hours, and die-for perks like free bicycle use.

However, these universities outside China may require more than the average "pulse" and cute face. A Masters degree, for one, in something related to teaching English. One reason that Chinese universities are golden is that anyone with a degree in anything can apply, and often be accepted to take charge of the school's TESL rigours.

So, yes, I agree: Chinese universities are wonderful. Call them mom and dad's basement for the in-betweeners stuck with a bad case of indecision.

[TravellingAround]

How little is acceptable in terms of salary as long as it is a cushy number though? More important how motivating do you find your role there?

I've no problems with the easy life of the university FT but I had to leave it because, ultimately, I felt unchallenged and could never get over the idea that it was some kind of holiday. I'm glad others enjoy it (and I did myself) but you may feel after a while that you need something more stimulating. Or not. Quite simply if you are not careful you can get in a rut there and get stuck in a routine...for years. If you are happy with that then fine but if not then be careful as I know some FTs who are there and have been there so long that they are almost "institutionalised" by now!

Good luck whatever!

[jammish]

Of course, most of us are not qualified teachers. We might have (as is my case) a BA and a CELTA, but we are still not qualified to teach in our own countries. Those who are can command a very nice salary indeed at certain choice schools in Shanghai or Beijing... Although their workload will be a lot higher and much more comparable to that of a western school, but then the salary is higher to match.

[eslstudies]

.....which is what I went to China to get away from. And Jammish, with a BA you're only a step away from being home-country qualified, if that's a path that interests you.

[saint57]

[Anda]

Let's look at Australia.

Let's see, say you work 16 hours at a Sydney university instutite at $45 an hour, you would get $720 a week with no accommodation. That's about $520 after tax a week. Now say you have found a cheap apartment for $250 a week without furniture. You spend $40 a week on transport. That leaves $230 a week for food and living etc.


Now here I get $200 a week after tax, apartment etc for the above hours and most things cost a quarter or less of what they would in Sydney.


Yep, it's tough here arn't it?

[Songbird]

While we're speaking of all the good jobs, I will stick my hand up for having a positive experience! I get sick and tired of posting as well, saying my job is good and everyone says 'it's just the honeymoon phase' etc etc.

OMG, there ARE ACTUALLY SOME GOOD JOBS IN CHINA! WHO WOULDA THOUGHT ?

This is my second semester here in Baoji, I came only ready to sign a 1 year contract, they asked me if I was interested in 2 years instead, thought about it and said yes. I'm glad I did, my instincts proved right. I don't know why people wouldn't want to come teach here, a fairly easy 2.5 hour train to Xian, Maccas, KFC, a few Western bits n pieces, low cost of living....I couldn't ask for any more. Apartment is decent, and the FAO is awesome, very switched onto foreigners, always there to help but a little overworked, poor George .

Oh, and every single teacher here that I know of have actually extended their contracts, I don't know a single teacher who hasn't- we have 2 VSOers who've been here for 3 years now (there's is normally only 2 years) but feel it's time to move on, nothing against the school.

So if anyone's interested in a decent gig at the end of August give us a shout ! Happy to answer any q's if you want to head here!