Job Discussion Forums

[Jen2003]

[Freaky Deaky]

I'm in the former category!!

[Minhang Oz]

There you have it London Guy!
I suggest you "take up the white man's burden", what with you being British, and show these damned heathens how civilized people live.

Me? I'll just slum it: catch buses, do my own shopping, get shorter and less skinny, go to cheap restaurants, meet Deaks for a beer [not a Bud either].

Your choice though.

ps Jen, do you meet ALL the criteria? I'd expect so.

[Freaky Deaky]

Hey Min!

I know a restaurant where we can get a bowl of rice and all the beer we can drink for 20 rmb!!!

[Minhang Oz]

Tai gui le!!
Let's go and scavenge in Jen's bin.
And please Jen, take this in jest. You must live in a rarified atmosphere: I travel often around this great city and see few of the people you describe.
Even at Pudong, I haven't noticed us old, ugly, poor people being turned back. A fist full of dollars is all you need.

[sojourner]

London Guy,

In one of my earlier postings to this thread I mentioned that at my college,in Jiangxi Province,salaries for teachers with Masters degrees will probably start at 4,500, from Feb 2004.I made mistake: I should have said 5000.Also,teachers here are eligible for two sorts of travelling allowances: 80 RMB per month for taxis,etc;and 1000 RMB for each of the two long holiday breaks.Those two allowances are paid together,just prior to the beginning of the long holiday breaks.I believe that most unis/colleges pay similar travelling allowances.

Yes,you would certainly be paid more if you worked in a language school.Also,teaching resources and class sizes in the uni/college sector are "not the best" - especially at my college ! Yet, I have no desire to work in a language school.In spite of the lower salaries in the uni/college sector, our holidays are MUCH MORE GENEROUS than those offered by the language schools. At my college,we are entitled to the following:the winter holiday break of about 4 weeks,the summer holiday break of about 7 weeks,and two other breaks of 1 week each.I believe that in many language schools,teachers usually only get a 2 week holiday break - I'm not sure about the Spring Festival and Labour Week holidays.

But of far greater importance than the holidays is this: in language schools you are working in a very blatantly profit-oriented environment.Thus, if you are teaching kids,parents may complain to the school boss or principal about some aspect of your teaching .Soon the principal (who may not necessary be a trained language teacher - or even a proficient speaker of English !) will soon put you under a lot of pressure to "improve your teaching".You usually don't have to put up with this sort of bs in a college or uni.Also,as I have already mentioned,in the college/uni sector there may be opportunities for you to teach Business Studies and Business English,and not merely Oral English.Refer to Roger's comments re Oral English.In my college,I only teach one double period of Oral English a week - most of my classes involves the teaching of "Western Culture" and "English Speaking Societies". Great ! Last term, I was teaching mostly Business English.(My academic background is in History,Politics,Economic History,and Management).So,if possible, use your background in business subjects to get the best teaching situation possible !

And just one more thing: as Roger has pointed out,in many well-paid language school jobs,especially in Shanghai,you may not always be provided with accommodation.In other areas you may be provided with a flat - but you may be required to share with some other teachers.In the uni/college sector, one is normally provided with his/her own furnished flat.At my college,each flat has a PC (with Internet access),a TV,and air-conditioning.So,in spite of the crowded classes,crappy teaching resources,and the (seemingly) low salaries,give me the uni/college sector any time ! Again,if you would like a job in this part of China,please send me a PM.If Jiangxi Province doen't appeal to you,there'll be jobs in other parts of the PRC.Remember,China is more than just Shanghai ! But whatever you do,please act NOW - the new term begins or either early or mid February.

Happy job hunting !

Regards,

Peter

[struelle]

[Minhang Oz]

To answer Jen's question, yes, sort of. I'm stuck in the interlanguage phase; I think I've fossilized. I suppose if I ever did some study it might be different. The trick is though, the students here speak dialect most of the time, and that's a total mystery to me.

On the locals, it's true, but this is a very class-concious country. The Chinese we knew in Australia ALL claimed to come from either Shanghai or Beijing, until we knew them better and found out they were lying.
For the last year I've taught a conversation class of SOE managers. They all run companies that are well in the black, drive Audi's, travel OS frequently, go to party meetings. As they totally drop their guard in class, I think I've learned more about this place from them than I would in ten years otherwise. I download articles from SCMP detailing corruption, rural upheaval, and all kinds of evils. They tell me that 15 years ago we would have all been put in jail, but now they're happy to quote the articles at party meetings.
And Steve, I read the 20 million population story too. I don't think the 3 million new arrivals are pinching our taxis. Most are too busy saving up for a bike.

An interesting statistic my SOE class told me: average per capita income in Shanghai [ie, 20 million souls] is 1,000 rmb/month. GDP, per head, is 5,000 rmb. Their question is where does the 4,000 difference go?

[Freaky Deaky]

Jen -do you speak Shanghainese? I only know four phrases in the local dialect. Well done, I'm impressed.

[arioch36]

Shenyanggerry,

If you are a native speaker from the "big 4" and/or a MA, I think 4,000 would be a must. Of course this is China, where you must always bargain. here in Henan, a cheap place to live, a poor province, I would say accepting less then 3,500 to 4,000 at a uni makes no sense

If you live in Shanghai, with the school paying your accomodation, Shanghai is not that much more expensive. Food costs about the same. Yes, there are more things to spend money on such as shows, whichj I would see. I don't know if there is MORE phonieness. There are the big wigs and foreign big wigs who want you to spend 1,000 RMB or more for dinner. Maybe I'm not refined enough, I could never taste a big difference. My favourite pizza place in China is much cheaper than Pizza hut.

Yeah, it's easy to be jealous. But seriously, give me the local restaurant anytime. Spending 20 yuan on a bottle of Bud...what garbage. I wouldn't pay that much for a Bud in the states. Maybe 15 occasional for a draft Beck, though I prefer Yanjing.

I feel sorry for Jen if he spends his life worrying about what other people say. I guess that is why I prefer the cheaper restaurants, where the local people treat you like people, and a decent bottle of beer costs a couple kuai, and the food is served how I like it. Thank God I'm a Henan boy! Whoo hee

15,000 for a decent teaching job. I sorry, I don't believe it for a second...unless you've hooked up with some snotty exec types in abusiness. Certainly not for teaching 14 hours at a school.

I would like to see which school is paying you 15,000 for teaching 12-18 hours. You don't have to worry, I'm not going to come trying to take your job...but I might come and say you're lying..so prove me wrong and tell me where

[arioch36]

PS...please don't get me wrong...I am more than willing to accept 36,000 g a year for teaching at the american school...knew someone with this gig...can you imagine...36,000 grand for teaching or any job here in China? Of course, he wasted his money big time, and was no happier for it...still

[shenyanggerry]

arioch36, I am Canadian with a B.A., not an M.A. My salary is 3500 per month but when I divide actual months taught by total salary, it comes out to about 4500 per month. I also get a quite adequate apartment with utilities and high speed internet. It also comes with maid service.

[woza17]

I was in Shanghai 2 years ago for Spring Festival and went to an Irish pub looked at the price list (130RM for Irish stew) and walked out. God we had to eat that crap when we were kids becasue we could't afford any better.
I agree with you guys the small local restaurants for me.

I work at a language mill and believe you me it has nothing to do with teaching English. the trick is to leave them laughing and then you will be considered a "good teacher" get lots of work and lots of money.
I average between 14000 to 16000 a month for arond 26 hours teaching time and free accommodation this doesn't include travel time though.

Cheers Carol

[Freaky Deaky]

^ You're so right. Popularity for a teacher depends more on his/her humour value than the ability to teach.

[woza17]

You must be making heaps then Freaky. I think i qualify for your party.
Want me to bring anything.

Gambei Carol