Job Discussion Forums

[mankilla]

Hey everyone,
I recently accepted a position in the Guandong Province in Foshan China.
Has anyone ever been there? is 5500 enough a month? please.. any info would be nice.

[7969]

too vague. more info please.

[mankilla]

Ok has anyone heard of Huayin School in FOSHAN CHINA...(Guandong Province)I have been waiting a month to get my work permit from my school and I was wondering how do you know if your contract is real? I have read that Chinese school contracts are outlined in RED. Fact or fiction? Also, is 5500RMB a month,free room the duration of my teaching contract ,and airfair enough to survive and travel off of?
Is traveling from Foshan easy? is skype really not available there?
SORRY MY QUESTIONS ARE SO VAGUE HOPEFULLY THIS HELPS..
PWEASEE

[Non Sequitur]

Can I ask this question:
If you don't get positive answers about this school will you renege on the contract?
Seems to me you're doing your basic research at the wrong end of the process.

[TheHanMan]

I've never lived in China but travelled around the country for two months last year. My budget per month was 5,000RMB. That got me accomodation (hostels), transport, food, and everything else that I needed.

So I spent roughly 1,250RMB a week. Obviously if you're settling down somewhere for a period of time, some weeks will be more expensive than this, some less so.

I'm guessing your job comes with free accomodation. That being the case, I reckon you could live on the wage you mentioned. But see what others with actual living experience in the country have to say on the matter.

You won't live like a king however and major, extravagant purchases might not be within your grasp. For me, I'm still mulling over the possibility of China or a return to Europe instead, so I know it's sometimes difficult to make a decision like this.

Hope this helps you in some way to make yours

[tacoeater]

[Johnny_Utah]

If you have accommodation provided then yes 5k should be enough. Your not going to walk out of china with a fortune saved up, or any money saved. But you can live alright on 5k, and do some traveling. I suggest you find a place to teach at part-time on the weekends, you could possibly double or triple your salary that way.

[7969]

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

How many hours per week?

5k in my mind is a pittance.

Good luck enjoying yourself for a year; tons of jobs on this very website for double that.

[mankilla]

ok great wall whiner.. show me one.. hehehahaha.......

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

[chryanvii]

5000 is the norm for almost everyone here in China teaching at University. Any more and it's either through negotation as a result of more experience, you're working more than 16 hours, or you're doing something else like teaching children or high school.

As long as you have an accommodation provided, you should be fine. Just don't go out and buy a 4000 yuan video camera like I did...it put me in the hole, and now I'm going back to teaching at a private training center to get my money back.

You are also near Guangzhou - so you have the ability to work at a private training center or teach children on weekends if you really want to make more money. But my suggestion to you is to enjoy your freedom at the beginning! University life can be very fulfilling if you get to know your students. Invite them back to cook with you from time to time...they are great fun.

[mrwslee003]

Hi Mankilla,
A new job is always exciting, yet an unknown place is also intimidating as well, especially for a new traveller. I take it that it is your first time to China.

I always view my travel as an exciting experience, feel full of anticipation.
Fushan is very close to Guongzhou and quite cosmopolitan. I've been through there but have never lived there. I did live in Guongzhou, Zhuhai and Jiangman. The whole region is humming, vibrant and full of industries and products for export. The place is made of money.

How can you know your contract is for real? It is very unlikely that your contract is phoney. People there are pretty honest and they have been in
business for generations. They have the experience of dealing with foreigners and they can't succeed in business if they are not trustworthy.

However, for your peace of mind: ask for the school's principal, other fts (foreign teachers) and ask for their phone numbers and emails so you can easily talk with them-phone numbers, addresses, and emails are essentials.

And of course you should be able to phone the agent anytime you have a question. Know your working conditions, monthly pay-5500/month is an ok starting wage. Your apartment and return fare are part of the contract, of course, providing you complete the contract satisfactorily.

Trust your instinct and be brave but be on guard as well. Its wonderful to
travel and see the world. Good luck.

[fortunatekooky]

Do you have a link for Huayin School's website?

I looked on baidu.com to see what kind of school this is, and I didn't find it immediately. I'm still not sure if this is a university job or a training center.

If it's a training center, and they're sponsoring your visa, they will likely expect you to work full time for it--i.e. 25 teaching hours/week plus office hours--and the salary is poor for that kind of servitude, even with the accomodations.

How many work hours are specified in your contract?

[Miles Smiles]