Job Discussion Forums

vissan · Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 7

I went to Teachers College in the US, have 6 months experience teaching high school, and have over a year experience teaching esl in Korea. I was the head teacher of the adademy and was responsible for hiring, training, and scheduling all employees.

That being said, the best contract I've been offered in China has been 6000 which, as far as I can tell, is about the same offered to brand new esl teachers with zero experience.

What am I doing wrong? How do I go about finding a decent paying job in China?

As a follow up question, I'm probably looking to stay in China for a long time, but I'm considering starting with just a short term contract. Is it easy to get 6 month (or shorter) contracts? Or do most schools try to avoid those?

Thanks for any help you can provide

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

When you find the answer to this please inform me.

The_Hanged_Man · Joined: 10 Oct 2004 Posts: 224 Location: Tbilisi, Georgia

With your background you really should be looking at international schools. You are certified back in the US to teach in public schools right?

Even second tier schools in China pay 15,000+ for qualified teachers. This ranges up to 30,000+ at the top schools in Beijing, Shanghai, and HK.

eslstudies · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

Vissan, with no disrespect at all, your experience is minimal. I won't go into details, but I far outrank you in all relevant areas, but would still have to search diligently to find a position worth coming back to China for. Most on the internet are in that 4-6K range. If they can get a white person, native speaker, who meets local [they do vary] qualification criteria for that sum, they will.
So whatever you and I think we are worth, it's a matter of what people in control are willing to pay.

jammish · Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 1704

My friend only did one year of teaching in the UK before heading out to an international school abroad.

There are people on here who seem to think you need about 10 years' experience, but that simply isn't true.

Quite frankly, I'm surprised more qualified teachers currently IN the UK don't look at the international school circuit. They can earn the same salary that they get in Britain, but with a tenth of the living costs.

vissan · Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 7

vissan · Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 7

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=International+Schools+teaching+positions+China&btnG=Google+Search

The_Hanged_Man · Joined: 10 Oct 2004 Posts: 224 Location: Tbilisi, Georgia

The hiring season for international schools is right now so you you need to get going ASAP for a position starting in the fall. For job postings try:
http://www.tieonline.com

The two major recruiting agencies are:
http://www.iss.edu/
http://www.search-associates.com/

You need to pay for all of the above, but in my opinion are the some of best job hunting resources out there for international schools.

Most international schools will be indifferent towards your ESL experience. The international school that just hired me in China did not count my previous ESL work in determining my pay and benefits. What is your area of certification? Most schools prefer two years of K-12 experience, but will overlook this in a pinch or if you can teach a hard to fill position.

eslstudies · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

vissan · Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 7

SnoopBot · Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 740 Location: USA

1. Universities generally do not care if you are a certified public school teacher or not. Average pay is 5000 RMB a month.

2. Private institutions will care if they can promote your qualifications to get paying customers to pay more for your services. Pay is a little higher than generic universities but hours are longer.

3. International IB schools need to get IB certified so must have a certain percentage of the teachers certified in the areas they teach. Most are set for the British system of teaching and hire teachers from the same country. Same with the other schools they will all do the same. Qualifications are important to meet certification but what IS MORE important is having an inside connection and foot in the door for the job.

So, for your question... until you make the IB connections that 6000 RMB salary is typical and basically nobody at the school cares even if you wrote best-seller books on TESOL related subjects with a PhD, was awarded "Teacher of the Year" ETC.

Do not feel alone on your assumption that you should be paid more than a dropout that wants to party 24/7. We all desire the same compensation for our abilities too. The sad fact is the cheapest teacher they can find that does not make trouble for the front office gets the job.

This "trouble" might mean not complaining you do not have hot water, heat, proper pay, unpaid hours, large classes, teaching materials and decent living quarters.

malu · Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 1344 Location: Sunny Java

China.Pete · Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 547

"Vissan, with no disrespect at all, your experience is minimal. I won't go into details, but I far outrank you in all relevant areas..." -- ESL Studies

Two inmates at an asylum were arguing with each other one day: "So tell me," said the first inmate, "What is your superiority complex? Because I'm certain that my superiority complex is much greater than yours."

"Well," replied the second inmate, "On the first day, I created the heavens and the earth..."

That said, many of us have known people with doctorates who were earning 4,000-6,000 Yuan per month teaching at universities here (typically, on a 10.5-month contract). Getting more than that, OP, as ESL Studies correctly points out, may require considerable diligence on the part of even the well-credentialed. You should also be aware that in China your history major is not generally held in as high a regard as are mathematics, physics, chemistry, etc. In other words, your certificate could be worth something to the right school, but the particular subject matter in which you are certified may not necessarily be treated with equivalent respect. Hopefully, the points made on this thread will help you to be better prepared before you decide to try and wade in.

AussieGuyInChina · Joined: 23 Nov 2006 Posts: 403

I work for an Australian university in partnership with a private Chinese college (as is currently required by Chinese law). I am one of 19 foreign teachers. There are 2 salaries; 200,000 p.a. for a BA + TESOL and 250,000 p.a. for a MA + TESOL. Salaries are paid for the full 12 months of yearly contracts; 10 weeks holiday per year. MAs are required to teach subjects such as law, accounting, micro & macro economics, etc.

About 25% of the teachers are in the 30 - 40 age bracket, about 50% in the 40 - 50 age bracket and the balance are 50+. All teachers have multi-country teaching experience. The youngest teacher also happens to have the least experience - 6 years. My 11 years teaching experience is exceeded by around 1/3 of my colleagues.