Job Discussion Forums

Greg 09 · Joined: 30 Jan 2009 Posts: 169

I think the above posts are generally on the money (pun intended), but contracts which pay 12 months can be had. However, it may be in a place you don't want to be.

I've spent the past 6 years in a 3rd tier city (pop. <1million) with 12 months pay and 7K per semester air allowance paid in cash, not reimbursement. Plus other bonuses and allowances on top of that.

Not many teachers want to come this far out of the way but it suits me just fine. Very low cost of living allows lots of savings for travel and trips home during those long paid holidays. Smile

Its a very relaxed lifestyle among very friendly people.

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

The key to 12m salaries is to re-sign. If you're doing a decent job paying you for July and August is probably as cheap as the hassle and unknowns of filling your position from offshore.
Follow your bliss Very Happy

getbehindthemule · Joined: 15 Oct 2015 Posts: 712 Location: Shanghai

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

I've not noticed this and have been happy with getting paid for July and August, so haven't pressed the issue.
Re airfares: Maybe a poll might clarify this issue?

kungfuman · Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2016 8:54 pm Post subject:

I had a decent Uni job before the current job. 12 business classes a week, close to where I lived. For 12 classes the salary was nice. Only thing was it was a 10 month contract. No pay for the summer. And they lied about health insurance.

Left them for an "international" language school. Much better pay, The incentive was 12 month pay and about 3 1/2 months of paid holidays - including closed for 2 weeks at Christmas.

Paid health insurance too. Hours are a bit more 25 classes a week at 35 minutes a class - but I live. I finish each day at 2:30pm or earlier and no office hours.

Prefer the uni job but like these benefits.

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

LarssonCrew · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 1308

A 'proper' Int school is one where foreign parents are happy sending their kids. You know, people over here working as businessmen, people working in the banks etc.

I thought the rate was 75% non local to 25% local to be 'proper international.'

Most international schools don't have the same aims and goals. Most push the kids towards taking the IELTS rather than A level/SAT route to the west, and then those that have the chance to give the A levels or send kids to HK for the SAT normally end up with the student's failing and having to just do the IELTS/TOEFL route anyway.

Most International schools in China end up having the teachers teach 'business English' rather than 'business studies' because the majority of the student body do not have adequate English skills.

adventious · Joined: 23 Nov 2015 Posts: 237 Location: In the wide

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

My idea of a true international is one where expat kids study under International Baccalaureate conditions (or similar) and wouldn't be behind their peers when they returned home or parents were posted elsewhere.
Local kids doing the same course would be well set up for tertiary study in the West later.
That is of course secondary (high school) study. Grade or primary students I'm not sure about.
The only teacher I know who taught at an international said her grade class students did normal Western studies in English in the morning and China system classes in Chinese after lunch. Not sure if that applied to expat primary students or not.