Job Discussion Forums

adrianmark · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 64

I live in Beijing and currently earn 200 RMB (20 euros) an hour. 20 Euros an hour is also the going rate in Madrid per hour yet it's three times as expensive as Beijing.

Why is the hourly rate in Madrid so crap and why is it possible for me to earn the same hourly rate in Beijing as I'd get in Madrid?

I so don't get this. Answers on a postcard, please.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 2:12 pm Post subject:

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

If you want to make money, you need two things: to target a niche market, and to be a good teacher.

Find a niche and your students will tell others about you. I started with 4 45 minute classes a wekk. Now I've got 28 1 hour classes. No advertising, just word of mouth. And I'm making more than the 6usd an hour which is the going rate here inLima

mozzar · Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 339 Location: France

Yeah, the going rate in Madrid isn't 20 euros, more like 15 - 17, as a beginner anyway. You obviously get more with experience/qualifications.

Also, maybe it's not as nice in Beijing Question

adrianmark · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 64

More than 8 years as an ESL teacher coupled with an MA in TESOL should allow me to get at least 25 Euros an hour. Am I dreaming?

mozzar · Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 339 Location: France

I went for a meeting with an employer in a university (i hesitiate to call it an interview as we both knew i wasn't qualified for the post) and she informed me that you can earn that much per hour but you would need to have more than a basic level of Spanish for administration, etc. Also, you would have to get your degree accredited by a Spanish governing body which can take between 3 - 6 months.

I'm not sure how much you could get for working in a private company but i guess not as much as a university.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

The other thing about coming from Asia to Europe is that the better employers (the ones you'd want to work for with an MA) are aware that teaching in Asia is significantly different on every level from teaching in Europe - and they will discount Asian experience to some degree. 'My' university won't look at anyone with experience only/largely in Asia, for example - but we're flooded with CVs and can afford to pick and choose.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

robertokun · Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 199

I think there's a lot more being taken into consideration here than the pay. Making 20 Euros an hour in China is a ton of money if you're getting hours, so there must be some other reasons for wanting to make the transition to Europe. Actually, I was just asking for some feedback from M.A. TESOL'ers on another thread here. If you don't mind sharing, please leave your thoughts. Thanks.