Job Discussion Forums

[cormac]

Out of curiosity whats the basic educational requirement for uni teaching? I have a Honors degree in Business Studies, and a year of kinder teaching in Xi'an. I know the teaching exp isn't worth much in this case.. still... I'd like to move into something other than kinder teaching when I return to China. (and the working hours sound nice if I decide to go for my masters or such)

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

[cormac]

haha... thanks. I learned enough from working with Kids Castle to know how to negotiate and be aware of trickster bosses.

Thanks for that though. Helps a lot. No more Kinder for me. I love the little devils but... I'm tired running around the room, and playing up to parents when their children cry because I'm too tall.

[msp64]

[alter ego]

Wall Street paid me just over 14K a month for 30 class a week, plus 5 prep hours, 35 hours a week total. They threw in a little bonus money here and there, and average take home pay after taxes was around 13K. Classes are 55 minutes, with five minute breaks between. Those kind of hours can burn you out, but if you have a good service manager (what they call the DoS and your direct boss) it can be a good ride. You do three classes, take a lunch or dinner break, then do three more. Three up, three down. With ready-made lesson plans, adult students, and job security, many FTs stay for more than one year.

For me, WSI was a decent place to work for one year, but then I moved on to the freedom and flexibility of a university gig plus part-time freelancing off campus. And I don't have to wear those tacky 10 Kuai ties from Walmart anymore!

[Mister Al]

I know someone (doesn't teach English) who does 16 x 40 minute periods a week (half his lessons are repeats) and he gets 12K a month (net) 12 months a year plus nice apartment paid for plus an annual bonus of around 6K. He has no admin to speak of and just some assignment marking. However the real beauty of it is he has about 5 months holiday a year. His last class before end of Spring Festival 2010 is next Thursday, 31 December. Imagine that. You could go to The Philippines for a month and get away from the cold. I can just picture him lying around the beach eating nice seafood and sipping cold beer all day.

[xiaolongbaolaoxi]

[Jayray]

If one has verifiable experience, good creds, and holds out for an offer that pays more than the average in one's targeted area, he MAY make better-than-average pay at a university.

You'll have to throw a LOT of mud on the wall and correspond with a lot of people, though.

I admit that I've never worked for a Chinese language school, but I have worked in middle schools in the U.S.. That schedule required thirty hours per week PLUS creating and correcting papers on my own time. It was exhausting. I can only imagine what it would be like to teach in a Chinese language school/ language school in China.

If you're new to Chine, take a university job at a mid-tier school that offers 16 hours per week to see if you even LIKE working in China.

[themanymoonsofjupiter]

[Renegade_o_Funk]

...

[TexasHighway]

My first gig in China many years ago was at a training center. Most of my students were boring, arrogant businessmen who complained about everything and they always got their way. Never again! Since then, I have only taught at universities and students rarely complain about anything. With the exception of a few lazy boys who congregate in the back of the classrooms, most of my students have been bright, inquisitive, polite, and a real delight to teach.

By the way, I have already started my two month paid winter vacation. I also get a two month paid vacation in the summer. Life is good.

[MisterButtkins]

[TexasHighway]

MisterButtkins wrote:

[norwalkesl]

[alter ego]