Job Discussion Forums

luckylibrarian · Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 6:17 pm Post subject: Tianjin Radio and TV University?

Hello

I am am a newbie, 38 yo African American female.
I received an offer for an English teaching job at Tianjin Radio and TV University.

Offer 4500rmb 20hrs per week M_F no weekends
free apartment(on campus faculty housing)

I have a BA in English, MLS Library Studies , and TEFL from Oxford Seminars. Oxford Seminars sent my application to the recruiter.

It does not have airport pick up or reimbursement of airfare.

Is this a good offer for a newbie? Should I ask for the airport pick up and reimbursement of departure flight? Does anyone know anything about this university and city? I have never lived abroad before and it is a big decision the first time around.
Thanks

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

I think I would pass on that one. Even as a beginner, I think you should expect:

-At least 5,000 RMB
-For about 12 to 16 teaching hours a week
-With roundtrip airfare paid (for a one-year contract)

TexasHighway · Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 779

Virtually all university positions offer airfare reimbursement and airport pickup. Avoid recruiters if at all possible. It appears this one may be skimming some money off the top and getting the money you should be getting for airfare reimbursement and a more respectable salary. You seem to have impressive credentials. Keep trying. You will find something better.

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

I will say the following and then sit back:

If you ask for too much, they might just turn around and hire someone else. Not being funny, but here in China there is one thing you lack. I'll wait for someone else to say it; I'm not going to mention it here.

Academically, you do have superior qualifications to most other teachers here in China. That alone should account for something. There are jobs out there right now seeking people with your qualifications (in fact even right here on Dave's job board) that pay over 3 times what you will be earning. Believe me, 4500 RMB a month is a pittance in China nowadays, especially in Tianjin. Even local teachers earn more than that on average, when you take into account all sources of income.

That said, not having flight re-inbursed is not the norm.

I'd seriously look at other colleges around the world before you jump in. Look at this website in it's entirety. There is another section which requires separate registration that you might favour.

Good luck.

TexasHighway · Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 779

The Great Wall of Whiner wrote:

MisterButtkins · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Posts: 1221

You are really getting screwed with no airfare. If you are American and don't live on the West Coast, unless you find a really good deal on airfare you are looking at 10-12k round trip, so you might as well knock 1k per month off your salary. 3.5k is a terrible, terrible salary.

daCabbie · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 244

Your academic qualifications are spot on to get a much better job. You should be looking at international schools. Your salary is likely to start at 7000 and could top out at 12k a month. As well as a much better employment package with the perks like airfare, domestic travel, etc. Why starve in Tianjin, when you can live a much better life at a better school. 4500 is starving wage in Tianjin.

Your are less likely to find blatant racism at an international school. You need to make sure you include a photograph with your CV when you apply to schools. There are many schools happy to take an African American teacher and being a female is also a big plus.

Drop the Tianjin offer and keep looking. Use this one as the bottom and weigh every other offer against it.

What do you want?

Warm or Cold climate?
Big or Little city?
Nightlife or Peace/Quiet?
Many or a Few hours?
Big or Small classes?
Classic or Modern China?

Good Luck and keep coming back to Dave's there is alot of good advice here if you ask for it.

luckylibrarian · Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 9:04 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the advise.
I just received an email from the recruiter that their is airport pick up and they will reimburse me on airfare. If they put this in my contract then I may consider it.
I am a recent Oxford Seminar graduate and part of the program is help finding me a job. I can't afford to turn anything down but my collar.

Also I have a picture on my resume. If they did not want to hire an AA female , I would't have gotten two offers.
Also I didn't mention that I am in a Swedish online graduate program for a second Masters. I think that also should help me to get better offers because the Swedish academic programs are internationally known and respected.

I will let you all know my decision after the holidays.

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

I wouldnt rely on the Oxford Seminars program to find you something. Search yourself and contact people from adverts places on sites like this one, and places like tefl.com.

Oxford Seminars TEFL certs are regarded as sub-standard in some parts of the world, and they have been known to make spurious claims about finding employment for people. Your other qualification supercede the Oxford Seminars cert anyway. I dont think Swedish MA thing will make any difference mind.

It might well be that their 'placement service' is also below par and you may have better luck applying directly to ads online etc.

A good post from Da Cabbie. Consider what you want from everything else just as much, or even more than you consider the salary package. A higher salary in the wrong location/with the wrong age group/intolerable climate wont be much fun.

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

I agree with the earlier advice. 20 teaching hours is high, especially for that salary. Really, 12 to 16 is standard for universities. And the work load can vary: 20 hours of oral English requires minimal preparation (after some experience) whereas writing, literature, or culture classes may require lots of prep and marking. And classes tend to be large. You can survive on 4500 a month in China (with free accommodation) if you aren't paying bills back home, but don't expect to be able to travel much or splurge often. And if you have transportation problems such as accommodations not near the school, etc., it can be a real drain.

China is not a ESL location that requires a lot of middlemen (recruiters) who aren't working for you. Some schools lack the ability or courage to communicate with foreigners directly, but many universities can be contacted directly, and respond. If they are interested, ask them to give you email addresses of current or recent teachers and ask those teachers about the school. Are you applying for Spring term? If so, you have fewer options, but you may be able to find a better offer by searching and applying directly. If it's for September, you still have lots of time to find something better. At least bring the hours down.

TexasHighway · Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 779

luckylibrarian wrote:

luckylibrarian · Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2010 4:41 pm Post subject: TEFL Academy Zhuji,China?

I interviewed two days ago with this school. They have several schools in the Zheijang Province. The job is in Zhuji,China. The students are young children with no English language skills. If I recall, they are elementary.
Does anyone know about this area or school?
Salary is 7000 RMB, airfare reimbursement , free apt

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

What are the hours for the new offer?
BTW I'm really uneasy with the recruiter for the TV collge which you originally posted about.
To leave out the airfare refund bit when the monthly salary isn't that good seems daft and or amateurish (or both). Airport pickup likewise.
I get the feeling that the recruiter has a very tenuous relationship with the employer or employers they are hawking you to. Without cutting the recruiter out, see if you can get into direct communication with the TV college.