Job Discussion Forums

[5h09un]

i've just gotten an offer from a high school in henan to teach ap economics despite the fact that i don't have any teaching certifications or any experience teaching the subject. (i did, however, go to a world-famous university, which is probably why they want me more than anybody else who applied. and in case you were wondering, i do have an undergraduate degree in the subject.)

however, the pay they're offering seems relatively low (5,500, and the fringe benefits are also somewhat better). it seems like subject teachers usually make several times (at least three to four) more than what i'm making right now teaching at a university.

so i guess i have two questions.

1) does this sound fishy to any of you? i definitely agreed with the recruiter that my current position doesn't utilize my full capabilities. and i would also much rather be teaching the subject i majored in. but i'm still a n00b here.

2) if i get some experience teaching this subject here, could i later move on to a more lucrative position teaching the same subject in a bigger city? (you know, assuming i do a good job during my stint there.) or do i absolutely have to have a teaching certification and experience teaching in my native country to land a position like that?

many thanks in advance! [/i]

[johntpartee]

Where's it at? Rural? Urban? COL will be a factor. Housing provided? Everything included? How many hours?

As far as "subject" goes, everytime I've seen a course with a "title", e.g., "business English", "practical English", etc., it's been basic English, speaking and listening. You'll have students that run the gamut from fluent to "can't say anything unless they're reading it or have it memorized".

[5h09un]

[Paul D.]

Pass.

I know foreign teachers earning 18k a month teaching Economics at a university in Shanghai. I doubt high school kids would even understand a word you say, but, the school will look good.

Look at our FACE. We have a fool teaching a "specialty" subject and pay him as if he was just an Oral English Facilitator! Sucker!!

Think of all of the prep time etc...

[johntpartee]

So you're teaching this "economics" course in English? I'm wondering if it really is a subject other than ESL; that is, the students are totally fluent in English and they can comprehend advanced economic terminology?

Once again, the hours would be a factor; the bennies sound OK, so.....

[5h09un]

[5h09un]

[5h09un]

by the way, this is the school/company/whatever i'm talking with.

http://femc-china.net/index_en.htm

[rogerwilco]

The only jobs I have had in China have been ESL at high schools in small cities , and I have never worked for less than 8000 a month for 15 hour weeks.
My last school offered 11,000 if I would stay another year, and I do not have any certifications either.

High schools typically pay more than Uni's because the kids can be more of a hassle, and because more people prefer to work in the Uni's.



ETA: 24 classes a week for 5500 is only about 57rmb an hour !
I can almost guarantee you that the students English level will not be good enough to understand an Economics class in English. Plus, you might have 40 students per class.

[johntpartee]

Yeah, check it out, see if it really is "subject" teaching. I'm thinking it's PROBABLY going to be ESL with a fancy name. If you're preparing them for one of the "government exams", they're probably going to be memorizing a lot of stuff. Pay sounds about average for Henan for ESL considering the hours and the perks.

[Paul D.]

I hate to type it, but, probably Yes, in my opinion. Chinese folk seem to love degrees from "prestigious" schools, especially those from the UK.

The funny part about it, I once worked with a Brit who taught an "American Culture" class. He had never been to the USA but did graduate from Oxford.

I think a few points should be clarified - were you hired as an Oral English "teacher" and the school wants you to teach one class in Economics or would all of your classes be Economics?

The salary you mentioned is definitely an Oral English salary. If you teach the "specialty" subject, in addition to a full load of OE classes, they should pay you more for that class. Again, think of the preparation time = powerpoints etc.. Also, remember that most of the kids won't have a clue about what you're talking about, but, it will look good for the school.

Also, don't let the school leader copy your powerpoints, handouts etc.. Why? They will use you to do the work and then assign a Chinese teacher to "teach" the class with your work product, free of charge., after you move on to greener pastures.

It happened to me when I was a "newbie". The lovely lady still has the DVD's I showed to illustrate the horrors of "International Human Rights Law" violations.

You have to love some of the school administrators. A recent, former colleague was asked to devise a syllabus for a class even though he was returning to the UK after the term.

[rogerwilco]

The pay may be typical for University ESL, but I do not know of any high schools paying that small of a salary for ESL.

The Chinese teachers where I have worked in public high schools only teach 12 to 16 classes a week.

[waxwing]

[5h09un]

[waxwing]

See my edit above, but of the friends I mentioned above, one had started but not finished a PhD and then spent a couple of years teaching English before switching to teaching his subject (Physics) and the other two I'm thinking of both had Masters and got in somehow or other (don't know their backgrounds in great detail). I myself had a PGCE as well as a Masters, but I still didn't find this type of job and come here directly - I spent a year teaching English here first.
Interestingly I got a phone call when I was investigating China, offering me a job a bit like yours - 5 or 6K for A-level teaching. I told them to stuff it and had a relaxing year teaching English instead