Job Discussion Forums

oiboy · Joined: 05 Mar 2004 Posts: 142 Location: Middle China

I have run the gambit in search of a decent teaching position for the upcoming semester. I'm at a stalemate; I still haven't found a job that pays over 9000 RMB a month. Sure it may seem that I'm "greedy", but I'm an actual teacher with foreign teaching experience, as well as experience in China. I have a degree, as well as a teaching license to teach in my country. (Canada) I have received some laughable offers : 6000 RMB for 40 hours a week in Shanghai (28 contact hours) that�s the salary I make now in a small city in Hunan. I wouldn't mind making a small salary, if I was single and only planning to stay in China for a year We plan on living here for at least 6 more years, so it is important to me. Does anyone have the heads up in Guangzhou or Shanghai? (My attempt at networking)

Thanks,

Frustrated in a Job Hunt!

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Apply for job offers that intersted you, then sell yourself to the school that you are qualified, experiencedm etc and ask for more money.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

I seriously think, you are asking for too much.

Sorry, but China doesn't give a hoot about your abilities and credentials; those few schools that do can recruit via their websites.
"Oral" English teachers don't get respect here!

golden monkey · Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 53

asking to much? are you kidding roger? someone who is an actual accredited teacher in canada should be getting in excess of 10,000 here easy. im not, and i do. greedy? i dont think so. we should raise the bar here a bit. get rid of the back packers, and low salaries. you go for it canadian guy.

oiboy · Joined: 05 Mar 2004 Posts: 142 Location: Middle China

Roger,
If I was just a "Oral" english teacher, sure asking 10,000 would be too much. The fact is I can teach other subjects. I taught grade 2 in a primary school for 2 years before coming to China. The syllabus we use there seems a bit more advanced than the syllabus or lack of syllabus they have here.

laodeng · Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 481

This is all giving me a feeling of unreality. Are you talking about China? I'm a "real teacher," too. B.A. in Ed. plus graduate degrees. Fully licensed in the U.S. Have taught off and on for four years in China. But I'll be damned if I can earn better than RMB 4500 + housing allowance at any university in Shanghai.

La Paz · Posted: Thu May 20, 2004 1:37 am Post subject:

This is a joke post right?
Wow, a grade two teacher!
Impressive.
You will NEVER find a 9000 RMB job. Hate to agree with Roger but he is right. Wow, a real teaching license. That and a kuai will get you a yogurt drink.
Dreamer!
Your job is being outsourced to the Filipinos, and other developing countries who speak English.
Sucks to be you!

august03 · Joined: 13 Oct 2003 Posts: 159 Location: Jiangsu, China

Call all the International Schools and in particular kindergartens in Shanghai and Beijing, most of these jobs go via word-of-mouth but it wouldn't hurt to contact them. I have seen jobs at kindergartens for over 10,000RMB, they are there, just don't limit yourself to ESL job websites, go door-to-door!!

Ludwig · Posted: Thu May 20, 2004 4:09 am Post subject:

'Oiboy', if I were you I would try firms in Shenzhen (particularly HK-run concerns). I have never worked there but 9,000 RMB a month seems to be an oft-quoted figure (you have to earn at least that when you are so close to HK else you would never be able to come here!)

Try:

http://www.aacircle.com.au/cgi-bin/forums/china/teach-in-china.pl/noframes/read/182

I know nothing about them but a friend has worked for them in the past.

Alternatively, why not simply take an easy to get $20,000 a month job in HK and go to China at the weekends to spend. That's what most here do.

Jane51 · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 20 Location: China

Most Chinese TEFL employers couldn't give a tinker's cuss about qualifications over and above the basics. For truly professional teachers, China is not the place for recognition. Backpackers and MAs with oodles of experience are all lumped together. Sad but true for now. There are, of course, some companies that seek the deluxe teacher. Takes time to find those jobs but can be done.

Good luck!
jane51

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

I disagree, you can find higher paying jobs, but you will have to contribute a lot to the school, write curicculums, be a senior teacher, do student and teacher recruitment. I've got a friend who will be doing that and will be making them same amount of money he made in Taiwan. Not a qualified teacher, but he knows what he's donig.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

hahahaha · Joined: 25 Apr 2004 Posts: 79 Location: China

9000rmb sounds like a dream but dream on. Esl jobs are not only being "outsourced to Filipinos and other developing countries who speak English" but also to back packers from North America, Britain ,Australia etc.
All those qualifications, noboby will even ask you about them because they don't count in China.
Good luck

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Once again: No matter what qualifications you have, the Chinese education system won't accommodate you on YOUR terms and salary expectations, full stop!
I repeat: The CHINESE EDUCATION SYSTEM... There are, of course, other avenues - such as international schools, and then, there are the various schools in Hong Kong.

BUt we must bear in mind that in Chinese public schools your input will be limited to what they expect from you, and that normally is to be a cog in their machine, and a cog that's in sync with the machine.
It would be different, of course, if local schools accepted some wisdom and teaching knowhow from foreign nationals; a lot needs to change if this "education" system is to improve. The problem is that the Chinese can never be brought to see eye to eye with outsiders over their own failings and shortcomings.
You will always have to flatter everyone - the principal whocan't speak a word of English; your colleagues who don't understand, though do teach, English; your students, etc.

As for Ludwig's advice about going to Shenzhen: I hope he tries it out for himself so that he will in future refrain from luring others into a tap!
Shenzhen is overrun, and it is a freewheeling market place where those HK-owned businesses cash in with no qualms.

Rhino · Posted: Thu May 20, 2004 11:36 pm Post subject:

Its a tough one for sure but I'm making 8000 teaching primary students for an english institute and i'm sure they would give me 9000 to stay. Its not a completely impossible task. I only have TESOL, no degrees of any kind so most of the posters are right...its difficult to get recognized for your qualifications in china. Good luck. Cheers!