Job Discussion Forums

ChinaMovieMagic · Joined: 02 Nov 2004 Posts: 2102 Location: YangShuo

repeat...

ChinaMovieMagic · Joined: 02 Nov 2004 Posts: 2102 Location: YangShuo

My dream job...
one which I'm visualizing/actualizing...
...is English-learning TV program co-producer/co-host/etc.
...using MovieMagic practices/principles...
The way to make money in China (etc.)
...is NOT as a Wage Slave...
...but as an Entrepreneur/Creator...
And it's also good for the health...

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

You can easily make an American or British salary in China by teaching corporate communication. You might be employed by the company, or you might be a consultant selling your services as a contractor or vendor.

By "corporate communication" I don't mean EFL. Do some research. If you have teaching/academic experience but no corporate background, try to get some business experience back in Europe, the U.S. or Oz.

Being a corporate trainer is not the same as being a "teacher". It's probably the only way to go if you want "top" jobs, but you don't yet have the qualifications.

abufletcher · Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 12:53 am Post subject:

Henry, you're right that "corporate communication" isn't EFL. But it would be interesting particularly when such training would involve accomodating differences in business cultures and management styles.

You're also right that I don't currently have any of this in my "bag of tricks" but with my background in discourse analysis and cross-cultural studies (and a Ph.D. in Communication Studies) I don't think it would be much of a stretch. I have read quite a bit on culturally different approaches to business negotiation and issues in bilingual (multinational) telephone talk.

Actually my son is considering doing a BA in international business with a focus on Japan. I've suggested that perhaps he should also add the China focus courses which would give him a double-wammy.

But once again I'll state that I'm not really looking for a job for myself. I'm just curious about what those of you already in China consider to be a good EFL job. And I'm not trying to impose my own definitions of good. Obviously, what's "good" can be an intimately personal thing but I haven't been in a country yet that doesn't have a fairly structured hierarchy of EFL jobs and I was just curious what that hierarch is like in China.

abufletcher · Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 10:11 am Post subject:

OK just to try to get things in perspective. I've just looked at an ad (here) for a job at a high school near Hong Kong paying 8000 a month (for not more than 22 contract hours) with meals and accomodation provided. Granted this is a limited term contract but this salary seems high for what I've been seeing. Is there some catch to this?

If not, this would seem to be a good job by China standards.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

"Near Hong Kong", if it means "in Shenzhen", then the salary quoted by you is little more than average. Shenzhen has a relatively high cost of living. But yes, 8000 is a decent enough salary though I wouldn't want to put in 22 hours a week AND have to commute - if that is the case with this job, as is likely.