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vissan
Joined: 12 Nov 2007
Posts: 7
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 Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 2:07 pm Post subject: |
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Well, it looks like I'm going to just sign a short 4 month contract making 5000 rmb a month.
This way I can apply to some international schools with face to face interviews. If I have no luck after 4 months, I'll continue my travels elsewhere.
Thanks for the info on the thread. |
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The_Hanged_Man
Joined: 10 Oct 2004
Posts: 224
Location: Tbilisi, Georgia
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| Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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One thing you should keep in mind is that most international schools have separate pay and benefit schedules for local versus foreign hires. Local hires usually don't get benefits like housing and plane tickets home so it is to your advantage to recruit from abroad first perhaps using those sites I listed earlier.
I agree that history and social studies are not in high demand however. You should emphasize what else you could bring to a school in terms of extra-curriculars. Can you coach? Have you sponsored a Model UN or debate team group before? These types of things can give you an edge in a job hunt. |
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SnoopBot
Joined: 21 Jun 2007
Posts: 740
Location: USA
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| Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 9:04 pm Post subject: |
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| vissan wrote: |
Well, it looks like I'm going to just sign a short 4 month contract making 5000 rmb a month.
This way I can apply to some international schools with face to face interviews. If I have no luck after 4 months, I'll continue my travels elsewhere.
Thanks for the info on the thread. |
Do not fret too much here is what WE often do to supplement our income.
1. Work for a stable University for a low hour teaching load. I will be at the 14-16 hour level next month.
2. We find private clients, I have a network of corporations that I teach and if desired a few weekend kids or adult students to teach.
I get 200 RMB or +200 depending on what I am teaching.
3. My university base salary is 6500 a month with around 10 extra hours doing privates a week. This gives me a total of 24 hours a week, which is a bearable load.
Total earnings per month 6500 + 8000 = 14,500 a month.
I can find privates very easily and have pushed up to 30 hours per week; however, this can lead to burn out if travel times are factored in. At 30-hours, the monthly pay can go up above the 20,000 RMB mark.
Sometimes I have taught seminar courses in the areas of EE, CS, and business. My undergrad degree is EE, and I have both a MA Ed TESOL and MBA. Chinese fluency can demand higher wages too.
The highest per-hour I received was +500 RMB. Unless you know someone or come from the AUS/British education system, those IB and joint-universities can be difficult to secure.
Most hire abroad from the host country, other desires those within a certain system like "British Education System."
USA outfits seem to hire and export their teachers on a rotational base and as a fellow poster mentioned, pay a local hire wage, which sometimes is very low-end compared to abroad hires.
Thus, you will probably be stuck in the common situation as I mentioned which is to teach at a reputable university for low hours, and then build up a private client list.
A better idea would be to get certified in IB and DOD education now and then teach with this system, when you have experience you can apply this to one of the British or Australian based IB schools.
Also, get certified in the hard science area such as AP Chemistry, Physics, or business-flavored subjects by getting State certified in those areas. Shortages often exist in those subject areas.
China is backward in the sense that universities pay the lowest while IB k-12 outfits pay the best. However, with joint programs, you can find a good university position but min requirements are at least a MA Ed with experience, TESOL certs, and strong material knowledge. Often these positions desired a PhD.
I hope to see more opportunities in the joint-venture area in the future.
I can save in China, but most of my income comes from retirement sources and privates NOT from my flat 6500 a month university position.
I pull in +40,000 RMB a month when everything is added together. Do not be deceived by this amount because only 6500 of it comes from my Primary teaching job. You will often see these high figures stated by other FT's on some message boards but most of it is coming from non-ESL teaching sources, privates, retirement incomes other secondary business with a Chinese wife.
This amount in China goes very far, however in the USA this is below average income in many places. The key, build up a monthly fixed income in your home country to supplement your retirement abroad. I could not teach in China this long if 6500 was my main salary amount and had to depend on privates to boost this amount. Like I said a few thousand dollars a month retirement in China goes a long way compared to the USA which places you slightly above the poverty line.
Now, the person at the US embassy that handles mail sorting with a high school diploma will earn above this amount with a large housing allowance. Teaching is not big bucks in China; look into government sponsored jobs, which push around over 100,000 USD a year. Those Expat salaries make most of us look like paupers.
For those coming to China, seriously think about it if you carry a large credit-card or student loan debt or any other debt. You willhave trouble paying off a $900 a month house payment with the typical 5000 RMB a month wage. Come to China DEBT-FREE if possible, get experience to move into a better job, and if you still cannot break into a good position think about going to another country that pays for experience and education level.
China often does not and is concerned only with finding the cheapest slave-wage worker they can find. |
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