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sigmoid
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 1276
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 Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 3:06 pm Post subject: Why are TEFL salaries generally so LOW in China? |
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China is the largest and fastest growing economy in the world. But almost all the TEFL job offers at least the ones that I see or receive include the most ridiculous and insulting salaries if they bother mentioning salary at all.
Is there some reason for this? |
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mlomker
Joined: 24 Mar 2005
Posts: 378
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| Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 3:25 pm Post subject: Re: Why are TEFL salaries generally so LOW in China? |
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Not sure what you're comparing the salaries to. If you're looking to send a pile of money back to the USA or EU then you're right. If you're looking to live there comfortably and have no debts back home then it's no problem.
You can make $4-5k RMB/month with no experience and in many parts of the country you can live on less than a third of that (because they provide housing) and do what you want with the rest. The university positions often are offering much less but you only work 12-16 hours per week. It seems like quite a deal to me--there aren't many jobs in the US where you could survive as well by only working part-time. |
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No Moss
Joined: 15 Apr 2003
Posts: 1995
Location: Thailand
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| Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Check out the thread entitled "What do people mean by decent pay" for some opinions on whether 4000 per month is enough. |
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Zero Hero
Joined: 20 Mar 2005
Posts: 944
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| Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 2:57 am Post subject: Re: Why are TEFL salaries generally so LOW in China? |
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Is China the "largest" economy in the world?
Last edited by Zero Hero on Sat Apr 16, 2005 4:42 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Brian Caulfield
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Posts: 1247
Location: China
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| Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 4:00 am Post subject: |
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| I think the main reason is that being a teacher in China is not as respected as being a teacher in other countries . Salaries in general are low in China . |
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shuize
Joined: 04 Sep 2004
Posts: 1270
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| Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 5:37 am Post subject: Re: Why are TEFL salaries generally so LOW in China? |
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| Zero Hero wrote: |
| Is China the "largest" economy in the world? |
Not by a long way. The U.S. GDP is somewhere in the neighborhood of $11 trillion/year while China, I've heard, is around $1.75 trillion. Growing fast, but they've still got a way to go |
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sigmoid
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 1276
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| Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 6:34 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the responses guys. I think China would an interesting place to live and teach, but I need to make a living. We all do, don't we? Anyway, I'd like to discuss this more. Maybe I'm missing something.
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| Not sure what you're comparing the salaries to. |
I'm comparing the salaries to what I have made teaching in other 'poor' Asian countries namely Thailand and Viet Nam.
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| Check out the thread entitled "What do people mean by decent pay" for some opinions on whether 4000 per month is enough. |
Yes, I did and it seemed like the general consensus is that it isn't enough.
It's certainly not enough for me. That's less than what I can make in Thailand teaching 0 - 15 hours per week. The main reason I would possibly want to come to China is to make more money than I do now.
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| Is China the "largest" economy in the world? |
No, my statement is undoubtedly inaccurate, but what about fastest growing? Anyway, the money is flowing isn't it?
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| Not by a long way. The U.S. GDP is somewhere in the neighborhood of $11 trillion/year while China, I've heard, is around $1.75 trillion. |
But there is approximately a $124 billion trade deficit with the US. Again, China's economy is doing well.
Anyway, I guess my main point is that it seems to me schools in China are offering less than could if they really wanted to attract teachers, which would be alright if they were getting them but their recruiters seem to contact me nearly everyday begging me to come immediately or please help them find someone who wants to come to China and teach kids for a pittance.
Is this accurate or am I full of it? |
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struelle
Joined: 16 May 2003
Posts: 2372
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 7:51 am Post subject: |
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As far as economic indicators of development go, it's more useful to look at GDP per capita. And in a country as large and diverse as China, you also need to look at various regions which have huge variations. Metro areas are in the neighorhood of US $3-5000, while I know that Shanghai is approaching $6000 now.
On average, China is sitting around $1000 per capita. If this figure is correct, it matches a quote I heard elsewhere that it's 1/30th of the US per capita.
You can do a rough calculation for how long it will take China to reach its goal of a 'well off society'. The leaders want to see $3000 per capita GDP by 2020. That will take between 13-15 years, if you assume average growth continues between 8-9%, so it's a reasonable goal.
But the leaders don't talk aboutt how urban-rural inequalities continue to go way out of con | |
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