Job Discussion Forums

[elliemk]

I found a job board for China last night and the desired age stopped at 50 for all the positions.

Is age as much of a factor in China as it is in Korea? I'm 59, by the way. Thanks.

[Anda]

It's supposed to be 60 for government jobs but there are people working here up to about 70 years of age.

Put your resume board here on Dave's and try your luck.


http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/wanted/#PostMessage





,,,

[Laoshi1950]

The age requirement really varies from job to job in China. Don't be discouraged by that particular set of job advertisements.

I am 57, and teach at a top-tier university in Beijing. Three of my foreign colleagues at this university are older than me - one is in his late 60's.

There are universities, high schools and elementary schools in China that are willing to hire teachers over the age of 50. But, I don't know about the hiring practices of the private schools and language mills - I have never worked for them in my past 6 years in China.

The main expectation seems to be that you are in good health and able to climb up to 6 flights of stairs to apartments and classrooms.

I would encourage you to keep searching the various China Job boards online. There are educational institutions in China willing to employ qualified, experienced teachers over 50.

[elliemk]

Thanks for your reply. Six flights of stairs, eh? Well, I guess I'd better start practicing here in Korea! By the way, what is the health insurance system like, and do all teachers pay 20% tax? Is that refundable or able to be written off on US tax returns in some way?

[therock]

You don't start paying tax until after you earn 4800RMB a month, then its like 5%. Most universities offer about 4000, so chances are you will not even need to pay tax.

[elliemk]

That's interesting, because several of the jobs posted on Dave's China Job Board said tax was 20%!

[SocratesSon2]

Thats just a school looking to take more of your money so they say 20% then pocket the difference

[elliemk]

Ah, similar to another Asian country that starts with a K, right?

[Mister Al]

I'm 51 and will have no problem extending my current contract beyond 2009, if I wish, and probably will. The classrooms are on the 5th floor which aint fun climbing the stairs once or twice a day. BTW, Oral English teachers at my local uni are on around RMB8000 a month plus accomodation allowance RMB1500-2000 and flights etc. I am on more as I teach Law and Business Management to undergrads. Teaching hours are between 16-20 lessons a week (40 minutes each) and often repeated so planning time is quite low.

So, OP, don't be too concerned about age, a good few other teachers are older than me, and negotiate on salary and hours!.

[elliemk]

Thanks, Mr. Al, for the encouragement. Have you also taught in Korea? What do you see as the differences between the two countries?

[jeffinflorida]

Ask Johnny Smoggins, he's like 101 and still gets teaching jobs in China...

[Mister Al]

elliemk

I haven't taught in Korea-only China, Malaysia and UK, so can't help you there. Plenty of other posters seem to have, so perhaps they could enlighten you.

BTW, no tax deducted either, where I am at least. Foreigners are allowed a monthly tax free personal allowance of RMB4800. Above that they need to pay income tax which starts at 5% and rises slightly with higher salaries. There is a thread or two on this site related to income tax. Do a search for more info. If you are taxed asked the school for the tax receipts.

[latefordinner]

I'm 51, two of the FTs at my school are older than I am. The school seems happy enough, the FAO wants to extend our contracts.

[vikuk]

[Neilhrd]

In some provinces including Guangxi, where I work, there is an age limit of 60 for Z visas. This is being enforced fairly strictly at the moment. However there are plenty of unlicensed schools which will hire older teachers but they can't get you a visa and so you will be working illegally and probably for a much lower salary.

As a general rule kindergartens and primary schools in this city prefer younger teachers because they have more energy and are happy to clown around in schools where FTs are strictly eye candy and not expected to teach or ask questions about the nonsense which passes for curriculum and organisation.

On the other hand the more serious middle schools, colleges and universities prefer older teachers because the students tend to respect them more.

Turning to health insurance this is rarely included in the standard package but can sometimes be negotiated. I have it and it is well worth insisting on because medical costs here for serious illnesses can be well beyond the means of the average FT. For example my girlfriend's mother had a heart attack in the spring. The final medical bill was over 100,000 RMB although it was worth it as she made a full recovery after an angioplasty.

On tax foreign teachers are exempt from all tax for their first three years under an international treaty. However few schools know about this and you usually have to shove the document under the accountants nose in Chinese before they believe you. After 3 years any salary over 4,800RMB a month is taxable. But housing allowances, medical insurance etc are exempt so the best thing is to have your contract written so that part of your salary appears as housing allowance, medical insurance etc. Another wheeze is for the school to give the tax inspector's kids free lessons in return for losing the school's file. In practice few teachers pay any tax.

I have never worked in Korea so I can't compare it with China. But I can say that it is possible for a guy in his 50s, like me, to live pretty well as an FT in China provided that you make it clear from the outset that you won't take bullshit.