Job Discussion Forums

[samch]

living&learning - question from fellow saffer.... I teach in a very prestigious independent girls school here.. but you know what teachers pay is like here?? with a husband and little one - we need to earn to save and returnn at some stage? honestly am i being unrealistic?

teaching condition wise what are the chances of getting a good international school position?

[living&learning]

Different international schools have different standards and requirements. Most require you to be a qualified teacher in your own country.

Xiamen International School, in Xiamen, where I am, pays well - about US$1700+RMB7000/month (R22,196). That includes a free apartment. That's what my friend gets. He's a registered teacher from New York. He does complain of endless meetings and useless administration. I think he teaches about 20 contact hours and has to teach one extramural.

My next uni job will pay roughly one third of that, for 14 teaching hours/week, freeing me up to do other things on the side, which suits me just fine (although I'd rather be earning more than that).

In Taiwan I worked a 22 hour week for about NT$62,000 (R15,325).

Taiwan is also a more relaxed, and dare I say it, more civilized place to be.

Our neighbours in Taiwan were a South African couple who both worked (they had a nanny during the day) and made and saved good money. They had a car too, which is rare for foreigners in Taiwan.

I'd go to Taiwan if I was you.

[samch]

thanks you havebeen really really helpful...
one of my ex colleagues is the new director at tiger tots (typa) in Taipei and she seems to think she might be able to get me in there or help with references for the Taipei American School - (which seems to have had good reviews on this sight... ) - so only time will tell!!!

had a job offer for Green Oasis for this fall - but turned it down - offer wasn't bad and people seemed really nice - just wasn't ready to go so fast.. also had my hesitations about china - especially after reading forums - people seem more positive about taiwan?

anyways - thanks

[zhzhzh]

Hi samch, I am also from Cape Town. I'm just curious to know what subject you teach and what grade?

I have been searching for teaching positions in Shanghai for a very long time and the first things you need to look out for is how trustworthy the company/institute/school is. A place may present themselves very well but when you research them on forums like these you end up digging out a lot of dirt. One of the ones that's advertised even in SA is English First but I've heard nothing but bad news about them.

Secondly, where China may pay more than SA (anywhere pays more than SA then again) the work hours are sometimes so exaggerated like I've come across a 36hr/week job including evenings and weekends. Need to pay attention on that too otherwise you might compromise the time you spend with your husband and child.

Then you need to make sure that the company actually handles visas legally because some only offer "business visas" and I've come across people who've had their visas expire.

One of my biggest fears in job hunting is discrimination. Many employers do not even include SA in their list of suitable candidates. Mainly it's US, Canada, UK and sometimes Australia and NZ. Some do include SA but that's pretty rare. So when you write your cover letter make sure you state "no regional accent" or "neutral accent" because people don't know what South Africans even sound like.

You should look into job listings and I've stumbled over a few ads looking for English-speaking teachers who teach other subjects. Hiring season is during this time because many schools are looking for teachers for the new term in September.

Good luck! I'd like to know your progress