Job Discussion Forums

[OutofChaos]

I'm hoping someone can give me insight into Chongqing Institute of Technology (CIT) located in Chongqing.

I just started talking with them but I'm getting mixed messages.

"We really like you," BUT the pay is only 3500 - period.
"We currently have three foreign teachers," - BUT we won't let you talk to them.

and more.

OOC

[shenyanggerry]

The 3500 is probably a good salary, it depends on local costs. That's what I receive (plus apartment) and I live well on it. I did meet another ex-pat teacher on the way home who was surprised at how much I made. It had taken him eight years to reach that level.

[Just a guy]

can I ask where Chongqing is..?

lol....I keep hearing the name but can't find it on my map. I'm prolly looking right through it.

From reading messages here, I would think that their saying you can't talk with present teachers would be the last they heard from me.

[OutofChaos]

Chongqing is located in the southeast corner of Sichuan neaer the boarder of Guizhou. It was part of Sichuan until about 1997 (?) then it began reporting directly to the Central Govt.

I feel very uneasy about no contact with the other FEs, but I'm hoping against hope there's more to the story.

OOC

[Just a guy]

Thanks,
I was looking right through it, I was thinking it was a city & closer to Shanghai or Guangdong.

As far as there being more to the not being able to talk to the present foreigners story,
Ask him why?
& if they actually said;
�we won't let you talk to them�
I�d have to wonder what else they Won�t Let you to do�..

Check other schools for openings, there are plenty looking right now.

[arioch36]

I made the great mistake of picking a school while I was home in America. My Chinese coteachers said it was one of the better schools in henan. Foolishly, I didn't insist on contacting there foreign teachers. Of my four plus schools I have taught at in henan, it is by far the one I would NOT recommend to others. If i had only listened to my own advice about insisting on talking to former/current teachers.

There are always many schools that the current foreign teacher will recommend

3,500 is fine for 12 hours. I would expect more in a city like Chongqing. Never been there , but I would imaging it is more expensive then the rest of Sichuan?

3,500 for 18 hours sucks, major ripoff.

[metalgeek]

3500 will be enough, but not a lot.
It's a big city, and therefore, it's a lot harder to live cheaply.
Part of the salary depends on how many hours you work, and your qualifications.
I live near there and make 4500-5000 per month, but the city I live in is much smaller.
And as for that they have three other foreign teachers, and won't let you talk to them, one of two things:
1. There are no other foreign teachers
2. The school sucks.
That�s a big warning sign for any job in China.
If you looking to move to the Sichuan area, I know of a couple of jobs in the city I'm in, which will pay similar amounts to what I get (city is Luzhou)
PM me for more info.

[Roger]

The salary is 1300 above the minimum, but it's a shame they pay you so little at a university; a sure sign of their disrespect for you!
If you were holder of a MA, your pay would have to be 4000 or more.

But you have not given us the number of contact time in classrooms; it no doubt is between 12 and 16.
If so, it's acceptable. Let's hope the rest is going to work out just fine too.

Another question: If your term begins in February, how long is it going to last, and how long are they going to pay you (part of the summer holidays, or not?). If you don't get summer holiday pay (albeit probably at a reduced scale), do you get a travel allowance (normally set at 2200 yuan)?
And airfare?

[OutofChaos]

Thanks for the reply Roger. It's looking less likely to go forward,
but at least I don't think I'll get into something I'd regret later.

Details? As follows:
Vacancy: 3
Gender: M / F
Degree: Middle school with TESOL / TEFL certificates, Bachelor, Master, Ph.D.
Major: linguistics/literature, education, and other science and engineering majors.
Work Experience: 2 years
Teacher or expert: Teachers or experts
Age: Unspecified
Nationality: American, British, Canadian, Australian and foreign citizen of Chinese origin
Language: English
Contract duration: half a year, one year, or long-term.
Starting date: Mar.2004
Working place: On campus
Workload: 20 periods per week (50 / 45 minutes per period)
Monthly salary (RMB): 3500
Courses to teach: conversational English, oral English, reading, and writing for different majors.
Air fare (RMB): round trip for one year contract
Monthly telephone allowance (RMB): Local call are free
Meals: Cooking utensils provided
Board: Free suite on campus

[Roger]

Thanks for putting me in the full picture! Now, I can safely say, this offer is unreasonable!
20 periods a week, monthly pay of RMB 3500 - that is substandard in my book (and I am someone who worked here for RMB 1400 in my first job! Though a long time ago...).
But, what's more worrying is the timing of your term: It says MARCH; that's in the middle of the school semester. I suppose you would have to work through the summer holidays. This means they are a private training centre attached, (perhaps!) to that Chongqing public school.
Don't accept it - you would be taken for a ride! Summer camps pay double for this amount of working time!

[shenyanggerry]

My contract this year will run from Feb 15 - July 15. Last year it was Mar 1-July 31. I actually taught my last class (oral exam) on June 28. I received my full salary for July plus 1100 RMB vacation allowance.

I feel I was treated very fairly. Considering what I was paid when I wasn't expectd to teach brought my effective salary up by 1150 RMB per month. Quite respectable for sixteen 50 min periods taught in pairs!

[KateCee]

Hi,

About getting in touch with teachers, try and make sure they've been at the school for a while. Before I got here, I corresponded with a former teacher of my school quite extensively, but didn't realise that he had been here for a month. Other than that, he was not a teacher nor a professional (by that, I mean he was a labour class worker in his country). I bring up this not to look down on a particular field of work, but to point out that different people have different reasons for choosing China. All I'll say is that I want to teach primarily. Travel is secondary. So his version of this place was "heavenly". I stopped experiencing heaven in my 2nd month here. This is my 3rd. As a result, I'm ready for my new school now.

I had narrowed it down to 2 schools & asked for references from teachers who have been there for at least 6 months. One school promptly provided the e-mail addresses....and I'm counting down the hours of here.

Kate