Job Discussion Forums

lagerlout2006 · Joined: 17 Sep 2003 Posts: 985

I was looking at one at 4500 -16 classes with overtime if you want it. So 2 extra a week would be 5300 -4 a week 6100 etc. I was tempted but the dealbreaker for me was shared housing.
Deals are getting worse though and a lot of places are cutting out perks or expecting you to pay for your own visa. In China if they sense it is a sellers market the bar will get lowered---fast. One school I have seen placing ads every time I check. They used to offer 6000 which is now down to 4-6 depending and that's for a horrible location and long hours.

burnsie · Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 489 Location: Beijing

Sorry, but 5000 is definately not a good wage for a teacher in China but unfortunately this is the norm. Sure, you can get housing, utilities etc but this is a government requirement for any foreign teacher contract.

In Beijing the norm for a University job is 3500 a month and many of the universities stick to this amount as the government again stiplates the amount. Outside Beijing it is a different story where wages can go up.

There are opportunities for positions between 8-15,000 a month (20-30) but comes with teaching experience (at least 2 years) and language teacher training.

You just have to search and find it. A couple of years in China and you will know how to find them with your contacts.

parvati_overdrive · Joined: 09 Jan 2005 Posts: 69

thanks burnsie and lagerlout. lagerlout: im not going in until sept, i have to go home for big party, passport full up, blah blah.. also no way shared housing -ok, if the person is clean and quiet, but if they are not -nightmare. and id shared with pigs in korea - lesson learned.

thx burnsie, yeah -its not a huge sum. i need to get my feet on the ground. so, ill take the best offer over 4k with perks and see what the future holds.

burnsie · Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 489 Location: Beijing

If you have business experience you can also command higher wages but also harder to find. I am on considerably more wage than 5000 but double the hours to around 30 hours a week but the teaching is easy and not too difficult to prepare for.

I am here for the long haul with a wife, dog and apartment to support so you have to weight up your reasons for coming.

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

gunther · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 11:28 pm Post subject:

Is there not some tax that a public school has to pay if it goes over 4000??
I couldn't brake the 4000RMB barrier with Unis. They wouldn't even consider negotiating.
Too bad for them, cause i'm awesome

burnsie · Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 489 Location: Beijing

yaco · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 473

YOU ARE BETTER TO WORK AT A PRIVATE COLLEGE RATHER THAN A UNIVERSITY.

YOU WILL MORE LIKELY RECEIVE 6000RMB AS OPPOSED TO 4,000 RMB PER MONTH.

BEWARE; MOST COLLEGES WILL NO LONGER PAY FOR UTILITIES.

PS; SEE YA NEXT MONTH IN THAILAND.

rickinbeijing · Joined: 22 Jan 2005 Posts: 252 Location: Beijing, China

If you're looking to make money, you should bypass college teaching postions. A salary of 5000 is actually on the high end at this kind of teaching institution (normally what a Foreign Expert would make with teaching experience in China and a Ph.D). So don't grouse. You can't expect to convert it to an hourly wage. The waiban's office doesn't gauge it that way and don't forget, you're getting free housing. 16 hours is a bit much unless that includes office hours. Depends, too, on what kind of courses you're teaching. If all oral English, not bad. If some writing, then bargain downward. Generally 12-14 hours is the norm unless you only have a B.A.

Guest · Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 3:38 am Post subject:

When I first started at this Private Boarding School almost 18 months ago, I signed a 10 month contract for 2,500 r.m.b. per month. Firstly because I did not know any better and secondly because I thought that I should not receive more as I had no qualifications or experience.

Now, I am still only working 10 hours per week, and my salary is up to 4,000 r.m.b. per month. I have been given two increases, both in the middle of my 10 month contracts, so they did not have to do it. I never asked for an increase either time.

The only reason I am telling you all this is that I wish to point out that some Schools in China do the right thing. We read on Daves all too often about the problems that teachers have with Schools, but I thought I would post something positive for a change.

I have never had a problem or an issue with this school, which is the reason I will be signing up for a third year here. Even when I was in Hospital in Feb/March last year (for three weeks) they not only paid me in full, but gave me an extra 1,500 r.m.b. in case I needed it and when I tried to give it back to them, they refused.

yaco · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 473

Never had a problem with your school, Rhonda !

How about your neighbour ?

Guest · Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 8:07 pm Post subject:

Yaco

The SCHOOL can hardly be blamed for a Foregin Teacher's actions. He has gone now - so no more problems. He did quieten down during the last few months of his time here - when threatened with the sack.