Job Discussion Forums

jiangsu · Joined: 29 Sep 2009 Posts: 43

They don't need the latest laptops and xiaolongbao every day Laughing

A man called Roger · Joined: 04 Nov 2009 Posts: 96

The Ever-changing Cleric · Joined: 19 Feb 2009 Posts: 1523

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

I just don't understand where all the higher-paying gigs are, except at language mills. I thought the standard university package was 14 to 20 hours per week, apartment included, at about 5,000 yuan per month, give or take 1,000.

Hansen · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 737 Location: central China

People must start somewhere. In these parts, 5000 is plenty. I believe that my FAO is pocketing part of what should be my salary. He's a young guy, rotten to the bone in the honesty department. I'm not that concerned about the money. I'm here mainly to pursue my hobbies. I can live on my salary, vacation well twice a year, and spend a few hours a day doing what I enjoy.

For a young person who hopes to marry, start a family, buy a home, I doubt that this is the ideal place to do it. College debt on top of that, 5000 stinks; however, for a beginner, getting a job which pays much more than that may prove difficult and quite so.

mrwslee003 · Joined: 14 Nov 2009 Posts: 190

We were in Jiaxing for the last 2 years. That is between Hangzhou and Shanghai. Some of our FT's were earning 5000/m and they claimed they were living comfortably. They travelled as we all did.

In our small city of 1 million: the bus around the city cost 1 rmb, beer
as low as 2 rmb/can. We have a Wal-Mart and McDonalds and KFC's.

We can visit Hangzhou or Shanghai on weekends. Bus tickets to them is
around 20 rmb one way.

So I think 6000/m for Hangzhou is ok. If you really want more, you may
be able to do some tutoring for extra cash. But in a new living environment you may be wise to do some budgetting.

A'Moo · Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 12:28 pm Post subject:

It shouldnt be "can you live on 6000y a month". You can live on 6000y a month back home and enjoy the same lifestyle as you do here, with fresher air, and the knowledge that you will never have to pay for a medical procedure or to send your kids to school (Im from Eng/Can)...
Its more along the lines of "should you accept 6000y a month"?
If its 15 hrs a week, with free housing, its fine, it falls into the bare minimum 100y an hour.

norwalkesl · Joined: 22 Oct 2009 Posts: 366 Location: Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-China

mat chen · Joined: 01 Nov 2009 Posts: 494 Location: xiangtan hunan

Hangzhou is good. 6 thousand is not bad and not good, but if you go there and make some connections you can do better. It really depends on the hours you must put in. If you are a serious teacher you will have to put in at least three hours of prep for every course. So if they ask you to do more than 25 hours of teaching you will lose.
The problem I have with the city is that it is like every modern city in the world. You don't know you are in China. The tea houses are great. The tea is great. West lake is the most beautiful place in China.

A'Moo · Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 3:46 pm Post subject:

norwalkesl · Joined: 22 Oct 2009 Posts: 366 Location: Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-China

hankemhigh · Joined: 24 Dec 2009 Posts: 86

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

Posted from another thread, but worth a read:

What 99.99% of foreigners do not know, or do not accept, or do not believe, is that public teachers can make 20,000 RMB+ a month.

Because most basic salaries are so low, most public school teachers spend half the day thinking up ways to make extra money.

For example, where I live, there is a Chinese middle school English teacher. She is in her 40's and her salary is about 3,000 RMB a month.

However, she takes home over 20,000 a month.

How?

First of all, she has "extra classes" after school. Students who attend these classes pay about 200 RMB a month. These students are guaranted more attention in regular class and more focus on them and their ultimate grades.

60 kids, paying 200 RMB a month? I'm not a mathematician, but it looks nice.

Then there are some parents who give "red envelopes" to some teachers to ensure their kids get the best grades no matter what. Or get to sit in the front of the class.

This is how China works, and we foreigners are shut out of this system. In fact, most of us are 'in' the system already but we see none of the money associated with it because we simply do not know that our salary of 4500 a month is from the government and the parents who pay 200 a month for their kid to have a foreign teacher are paying the teachers and headmaster---not us.

I currently teach about 1,200 kids. They pay about 200 RMB a month. I see about 16,000 of that money every month.

Who gets the rest?

My boss, of course.

So my boss sits back and I make for him 240,000 RMB every month. He gives me a fraction of that.

I figure 16,000 RMB is enough for what I do.

But I promise you all this: If I did not know how the system worked, I would be at about 6000 a month still. Maybe 8000 after all these years.

So, the sooner you learn the system and get your hands in it, the sooner we all will be making a lot more money.

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

While "the system" may not be open to available to foreign teachers, other systems are. An energetic foreign teacher who sticks around for a while should also be able to make 20,000 a month through a combination of full-time job and private lessons.