Job Discussion Forums

bograt · Joined: 12 Nov 2014 Posts: 331

Fair point. as usual things went off the subject a bit. My main point was just about factoring in prep time. If, as you say your job requires no prep, no admin, no marking and no other office hours. If none of that is included in your contract and you are not required or expected to do any of it by your employer then I guess you could include that as a perk which would cut your hours down and therefore increase your pay per hour ratio. However if true, it does make me wonder what kind of academic institution you're working at.

Deats · Joined: 02 Jan 2015 Posts: 503

Because I am starting a new job, I fully expect that I will have prep time in the first year (impossible to say how much before I begin) - although I am hopeful that having taught at uni level before I will be able to use some of the materials I have previously used.

To give an example of having no prep time after a year: I did a video English course for 4th years in my old job. I did the same course and watched the same movies every year. In the first year I compiled and printed worksheets for each movie we watched. This consisted of questions to discuss during the movies and vocab from each scene. Homework was always learning the vocab from the sheets I produced or preparing class presentations about the movies. I never had marking to do. In the first year I spent a lot of time preparing, but for the last 3 years I only had to print the sheets at the start of the semester and that was that.

I was very prepared for my classes and didn't cut corners. But my work consisted of 16 class hours a week and nothing more. That's one massive advantage of sticking with the same job rather than hopping from job to job. Likewise with travel allowances, you can save this money if you don't need to go back to your home country every year. Also, if you are not constantly moving, you also don't need to buy new things every time you move city/apartment. The longer you stay the easier life gets and the more money you save (also true for building your privates).

D-M · Joined: 30 Nov 2013 Posts: 114

I'll add to the earlier posts about 'package', and suggest you need to look at location, hours and type of teaching too. Again this is very much based on personal preferences .... For many people money isnt the only factor.

I personally wouldn't want to teach children, I wouldnt want to work weekends and evenings, and I would be very unlikely to accept large sized classes where students aren't streamed by ability. I am not very keen on commutes either.

5000 a month teaching adults during normal office hours with no commute is a far better fit for me than 8000 a month teaching teenagers for example.

doogsville · Joined: 17 Nov 2011 Posts: 924 Location: China

I don't want to seem contentious, but the old paradigm of 'what's your monthly salary' may have been a good fit in the countries of our origins, but is less so here. Surely we don't move thousands of miles to a foreign country where we struggle with the language, at least I do, and stick out like a sore thumb, for more of the same old experience? So the monthly salary thing is no longer fit for purpose, or so it seems to me. People wanting to get a realistic idea of what they can expect from working in China would do much better to look at the whole package than just the monthly salary.

To give an example of this, I have friends who work in kindergartens in Zhuhai. They do this mainly because the monthly salary is in the 12k to 14k range, which is much higher than mine. However, they are required to teach for four to five class periods (40 to 45 minutes) in the morning, then take a 2 1/2 hour lunch break, then spend at least another 2 hours in the office or just being around the kids in the afternoon. They do this five days a week, which, to my mind is pretty much a full time job. I earn less in terms of monthly salary, but have way more free time. I've never had to teach after 12 noon in my current job. So I could easily make way more than them with a second job or privates, and still work less hours, or simply use the time for something I value more than cash.

That's why it's important to look beyond the monthly salary figure. Jobs that have a lower figure might offer you much more. Simple.

eddie-johnson · Joined: 24 Jun 2015 Posts: 10 Location: South Africa

thanks alot guys.
you guys have really put alot in perspective and also answered many of the questions i had.

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

Maybe this should be a 'sticky'

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=91394&highlight=checklist

bennufc · Joined: 16 Jun 2015 Posts: 14 Location: Beijing

In response to the OP I have an offer from BLCU working at a local elementary school of 15,000 before tax plus 4,000 rent allowance per month.

eddie-johnson · Joined: 24 Jun 2015 Posts: 10 Location: South Africa

Bennufc
How sure are you that its legit?
That seems a bit generous but then again like stated previously it depends on experience,qualifications and location amongst other things.
Is that direct from school or with agency?

bennufc · Joined: 16 Jun 2015 Posts: 14 Location: Beijing

I'm fairly confident that it's legit although I'm quite the pessimist so I'm always sceptical! I was sent the information by a lecturer and since then I've been forwarded to a recruitment company with links to my university and from there forwarded to BLCU.

All correspondences so far seem legit, they use BLCU email addresses and I have the address of my school and of the BLCU recruitment team.

Currently I'm in the process of arranging the Z visa having done the medical tests that were required.

Here is a link;
https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/confucius/vacancies

eddie-johnson · Joined: 24 Jun 2015 Posts: 10 Location: South Africa

Thank you for the link bennufc
do you hold a degree and have experience?
I hope its legit because thats a nice salary just hope there is other benefits too like overtime and holiday with insurance too.

bennufc · Joined: 16 Jun 2015 Posts: 14 Location: Beijing

eddie-johnson · Joined: 24 Jun 2015 Posts: 10 Location: South Africa

Ok thanx weldone. I hope i too get a package as lucrative as that.

Deats · Joined: 02 Jan 2015 Posts: 503

For a starting position this is decent.

This is a good example of how everyone is different and also what a person expects from their work and standard of living.

Ben has a related degree, so he can get higher paying jobs compared to other newbs.

However, I wouldn't live in Beijing for 15k a month. Yes, you'll have a nice life there on that money but your health will suffer. If you don't care about pollution and overcrowding, then that's fair enough. I just hate blowing black snot out of my nose and the constant headaches I got in Beijing.

Also, don't forget you will need a large amount of start up cash if they don't provide a house - so that's possibly 6 months rent up front for the house deposit. (going on your allowance that's close to $4000 you need of your own money!)

Lastly, tailor in that you have to work 45 hour weeks and then your average salary looks pitiful - about 75Y an hour Sad

bennufc · Joined: 16 Jun 2015 Posts: 14 Location: Beijing

Deats · Joined: 02 Jan 2015 Posts: 503

By agency fees, are you talking about your housing, or your recruiting agency who are getting you the job?

Even if the placement pays your housing agent fees, you will still have to foot 6 months rent at the beginning of the lease. If you don't have this money, then you should speak to BLCU in advance and see if they can advance you the necessary money for your house. They may, or they may not be willing to help.

A year shouldn't do major damage to your health. Having said that, they say smoking a cig takes 5 mins off your life... breathing Beijing's air must take off decades Laughing