Job Discussion Forums

piglet · Joined: 26 May 2004 Posts: 22

Hi all I am considering coming to work in China .I have taught EFL for 20 years, have an MA and have been teaching in the middle east.Want to come and teach at a Uni somewhere
My hubby however is not a native English speaker. He was in the States for his BA and lived there for about 5 years.
Do you experts think that he would be able to get a job and if not would we survive on one salary?
Or could he work not as a teacher of EFL ? Any advice greatly appreciated.

therock · Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 1266 Location: China

Your husband should be able to find work easily. But that depends on where you are planning on going, he would probably find it difficult in the larger cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou as the competition for jobs in these cities are more competitive. If you are planning on going anywhere else he should have no problems finding work. As long as he looks like a foreigner.

If you are planning on working at a uni you will be looking at a salary of between 4000 to 6000RMB. You could both survive on that, but thats just surviving. You could easily find supplementary work yourself. Remember the university you work for will supply free accommodation and should pay for the electricity, gas, water and internet connection.

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between

An ESL/ELT/EFL job in China is probably close to the easiest job to be had on this planet....but that raises some questions....doesn't it?

shenyanggerry · Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 619 Location: Canada

Yah WW, Looking at all those jobs in other countries, you have to really work there. A twelve hour week with a number of different classes is a snap. I'm retired. I do a good job here but it's not hard on twelve fifty minute periods a week. In terms of actual hours worked - ignoring prep time I make the equicalent of 40k Canadian if I was working a forty hour week. I love it! I'm retired. I can honestly say I'm contributing to the world. My only regret is that I didn't start earlier. It sure beats sitting around waiting to die!

HunanForeignGuy · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 989 Location: Shanghai, PRC

Ferne · Joined: 29 Apr 2003 Posts: 177 Location: GZ

However in Guangzhou or Shenzhen for example, it would be easier for your husband to find a non-teaching job, which would also be an option if ESL is out of question for him (for whatever reason).