Job Discussion Forums

[killian]

just got an offer from beijing. let me know what you think:kindergarten
40 hrs a week (25 max of which will be teaching) for 8000 RMB. cannot work for anyone else on the side. free housing, etc.

seems to me that 40 hrs a week x 4= 160 hours a month.
8,000 RMB divided by the 160 hours= 50 RMB per hour.

[therock]

Earning 8000RMB for teaching 25 hours a week on the surface sounds pretty good. However then they have added the office hours. Being in the school for 40 hours a week does sound a bit heavy. I guess it depends on what you have to do for the other 15 hours. Maybe you can just sit there and use the computer during that time or plan for your lessons. However maybe you will need to go around advertising and promoting the kindergarten. If this is your first time teaching then the offer sounds reasonably. I personally would try to bump the salary up to 10,000RMB, that sounds fair for 40 hours a week in Beijing. But like I said all depends what you have to do during those 15 hours and how experienced you are.

[william wallace]

It's low, but I don't think you'll do much better. I hope you're frugal!
Cheers

[SnoopBot]

It's typical but you must clarify exactly what you will be doing those extra hours (40 hours)

Some just sit in the office, and help out or prepare lessons with no teaching involved.

Others live at the institution and 40 hours = they just must be located near the institution for emergency recall. These people basically would sit in their provided housing, sleep, eat, watch DVD's ect. The extra hours were "on campus ones"

Now with this said, other were told to go assist other foreign teachers (non-teaching) which means still being in the classroom. (often involved with classroom management issues)

Much of the salary depends on your qualifications, if you have good qualifications you can try for a higher wage.

One thing about high qualifications and good quality teaching.

China often has the old Marxist attitude, which is:

Being the best, getting long hours and getting extra work for doing a good job equals , "Serving with honor for the State."

This is a common mentality found in the older generation i.e. DOS, senior teachers.

Insure they are not going to make you do actual teaching work during these off hours.

For 25 hours a week, Many universities will load their best and most experienced teachers with 20-25 hours for only 5000-6000 RMB a month.


Beijing salaries have really took a dive as many are flocking to Beijing these days for the Olymoics willing to accept low salaries. Many are not qualified and have a fake degree that Chinese officials never check.

I found out my university in Beijing contacted me (I am in the USA now) to look over 50 applicants for a sister program starting in another city.

I was supposed to give them my 2cents worth for creating a shortlist.

1. Most were not Native Speakers , some had Passports that indicated they are citizens from a Native Speaking country but birth certificates had nationality from Africa or the Middle-East (many UK applicants had this)
That's ok but their CV's were written so bad, I could not put them on a short listing.

2. Many applicants from the Philippines , many with teaching degree at the masters level + experience and willing to take a LOWER Salary.

3. 20 year olds with a masters degree and teaching experience, a few were 24 year old doctorate degree holders. (must have started the university at age 12)

4. Fake degree copies from well-known diploma mills. + a few fake ESL qualifications (one still had Sample Copy still on it)

5. Ivy league graduates and missionary types. Well-Qualified IF true

These are the people they could pick, if it means getting a cheaper FT to cut costs, so be it.

Therefore, wages are low because everyone wants to attend the big Olympic party.


With all this said, consider you will got over 5000 RMB a month equals an honor these days.

[Shan-Shan]

[tw]

[william wallace]

Snoopbot: Great observation about the oldies and Marxist ethics.
TW: You'd think so,eh ?

[Anda]

Apart from one job here I can only advise from South Korean experience being that generally if you are well prepared to go into your classes they in general don't care if you are in the office or not after a while. There can be traps however as posted above! The one thing with institutes for small kids is that they will want you to help with encouraging mainly mothers to sign their kids up. So recruitment time you could be quite busy after signing such a contract.

[OGFT]

This kind of job will keep you on campus at your desk in the classroom for 40 + hours per week and then you would probably have parent meetings and a sport day, especially if connected with a primary school. My best guess is that you will be unhappy with anything under 12K RMB per month and even then, it is on the low side.