Job Discussion Forums

[mcloo7]

I was offered a job in Hangzhou, which is one of the cities I was interested in, in the Xiaoshan district, at a training school. Does anyone know anything about this part of Hangzhou? It seems to be a business, or administrative district.

The school is called World International English School. Does anyone know anything about it?

[roadwalker]

Don't know the school. Xiaoshan is a big district which includes the airport used by Hangzhou and neighboring cities (named Xiaoshan Airport). Hangzhou South Train Station is also located there. This is a Dong Che station (D-trains, which are fast and comfortable). http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china-trains/display.aspx?tp=2&tstop=Hangzhou+South There is also a major highway going through, so transportation to other areas far or near isn't a major issue. It's probably about a 20+ minute direct bus (coach) ride to the touristed and downtown parts of Hangzhou and 30+ minutes direct bus ride or 20 minute train ride to downtown Shaoxing, which is a much smaller city than Hangzhou, but good for a place to explore. Ningbo and Shanghai are a couple hours by train, more or less.

According to wikipedia, there is a lot of residential building going on in Xiaoshan, perhaps due to increasing demand in central Hangzhou. Perhaps that means some amenities such as parks and the like, but I've only used the airport, and haven't noticed much about the district. Here's what the government website has to say (English version): http://www.xiaoshan.gov.cn/en/

I'd guess it's not too bad, but you could be stranded in a transportation and/or industrial zone depending on the location of the school and your accommodations.

[mcloo7]

Thanks.

[mcloo7]

The deal with the school seems pretty good. They get you your Z visa up front. But, is it common for the school to look for apartments for you before you get there, rather than put you up in a hotel until you find an apartment yourself? It seems that they coordinate this with you by sending you pictures of different apartments and you deciding what you like.

You pay the rent yourself, but they apparently get the apartment for you before you get there.

[teachingld2004]

I would not take a job if there was no housing included. Rents may be high for something good Is your salary high enough to make this job worth it?

[Non Sequitur]

[mcloo7]

It would be around 10,000 RMB, including a housing allowance. Dont most training schools require teachers to get their own housing? Ive decided to start at a training school because Id want to get some experience before I work in a public school or uni.

[Banner41]

The 10,000 includes the housing allowance or it's 10,000 plus housing allowance? Makes a big difference.

Some training schools have crappy apartments they rent and have you usually share with someone. If they give you an allowance you have to usually take care of all of the start up expenses upon arrival unless the school floats you a loan.

[LarssonCrew]

Agreed, it's not just the housing allowance, but if you can get everything thrown in it can save...in the summer for instance, I imagine I'll use:

300-400 rmb on electricity[damn AC]
50 water
30 gas
180 internet[fastest I can find]
100 community fee

So as well as say 2500 rent, you can rack up almost 750 on top too just from other costs associated with your house!

[mcloo7]

The housing allowance is part of the 10,000 rmb.

[LarssonCrew]

So with all the fees, expenses, rent, you'll end up with probably 7000 a month after that...

In Hangzhou...

Full time...

[lemak]

[mcloo7]

This is going to be my first job. I want to get some teaching experience at a place where the curriculum is already written for you, before I'm thrown to my own devices in front of a large classroom at a uni or public school. I'm accepting the fact that my first job won't be perfect. Is 7,000, after rent, in Hangzhou, really that bad? Isnt still more than what alot of the Chinese make?

My biggest concerns with the job is the transition from weeknight to weekend morning shifts, and teaching only adults; I'd rather teach kids and adults, or just kids, but not kids younger than 5. But like I said, for me to begin at a uni, is, I think, out of the question for now.

[xiguagua]

[LarssonCrew]

Honestly, I would think 7,000 is liveable, and by that I mean you can live on it, but where's the fun when you could be making 12,000 or more, OR having much more free time?

Chinese can live on 1,500 a month if they need to. They have families who give them cash, cook for them, let them live rent free. Is that you? Can you literally eat vegetables in a pot for 3 RMB[1/2 dollar] every day for lunch? How about eating dirty street dishes[although delicious] every single day, or worrying when you go to a nice hot pot that it's 150 per person.

Even if you earn more, your lifestyle is more expensive, foreigners are naturally more open to travelling and with less restrictions, and I don't mean within China.

A 4 day break to Korea [normally costs a bomb!], with a tour company is about 4,000 RMB, so you'd need to save 3-4 months on 7,000 to do that.

What if your phone breaks? Need a new computer? New camera? Want to travel to anywhere not within cheap flying distance? How about if you need to go to the hospital?

And Chinese teachers are coining it, imagine if you had the power to tell your students they are required to attend a weekend session with you, at their cost, of say 100 RMB per student[15 dollars], and the entire class of 60 must go? Yep, you just made 6000 RMB in 2 hours at the weekend, $1000.

Can foreigners do it? Nope! If we tried we'd get slated. Some teachers get gifts on teachers day, expensive gift certificates, free insurance, help buying a car, a house etc. All of which you don't get.