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Tigerstyleone
Joined: 26 Mar 2010
Posts: 181
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 Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 4:29 am Post subject: The only reason to move to China |
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I have some job offers from China, so I've been reading the forum.
Maybe that's a mistake. This is what I've learned.
Every school is going to rob and scam me, take advantage of me, degrade me and treat me like dirt. The students will be unresponsive and not speak due to their educational culture. I won't get any support from the staff and I'll have to resort to blackmail if I want anything done my way.
On the other hand, the best jobs are in China because I've been reading the forum and see that everyone only teaches 14 hours a week or less and has loads and loads of free time to do as they please such as teach more classes part time or enjoy leisure time all the while claiming to save enough money and live a great lifestyle. (I'm assuming saving enough money is around 4,000-6,000 RMB a month, but I should never assume. I bet most teachers don't save at all and give their money to their Chinese girlfriend.)
So the only reason I can see to move to China to teach English is because I can't get a job teaching adults anywhere else, but China.
I'm sick an tried of children and want to teach adults. So I guess its China.
I'd appreciate any encouragement or advice.
background: white male, middle age, blue eyes, have hair, 178 cm, 80kg, used to be handsome but getting older
BA from California Uni, 120 hour TESOL, 5 years in Korea, no criminal record. no HIV
Want to save 5,000 RMB a month. Want to only teach adults.
Don't want to work at EF, WSI or any place like that, but fall semester is about to start. What to do? |
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 5:40 am Post subject: |
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First of all, the people with ultra-negative things to say are the only ones who will be moved to advertise their experience. I am at a great school with a great staff.
If you get into the high-paying areas, the COL is also high. 3000 savings away from the big three is realistic if you're very careful; that includes no partying, no trips to western restaurants, shopping for the best prices, etc.
Granted, there are LOTS of teachers here who can't teach anywhere else, mostly because they're not teachers. They meet the basic criteria of Caucasian (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) and breathing. |
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7969
Joined: 26 Mar 2003
Posts: 5782
Location: Coastal Guangdong
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 5:49 am Post subject: Re: The only reason to move to China |
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| Tigerstyleone wrote: |
| Want to save 5,000 RMB a month. Want to only teach adults. Don't want to work at EF, WSI or any place like that, but fall semester is about to start. What to do? |
50% of jobs in China are eliminated because you don't want to work at those places. The other half of the jobs are in universities and colleges and you could save 5000 a month at one of those jobs if you had part time work on the side. In another thread you stated you were coming here to freelance. What happened to that plan?
Reading the post you made above doesn't sound encouraging for your chances though. You make it look as if China is last stop on the train to Nowheresville and you're only coming here because you have no other ESL options. With this kind of attitude you're probably setting yourself up to fail and hate the place. I know in your other threads some people posted positively on various aspects of working here, but it seems you've disregarded what they said and focused on what the negative posters told you. |
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Denim-Maniac
Joined: 31 Jan 2012
Posts: 1238
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 6:27 am Post subject: Re: The only reason to move to China |
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| Tigerstyleone wrote: |
The students will be unresponsive and not speak due to their educational culture.
Want to save 5,000 RMB a month. Want to only teach adults.
Don't want to work at EF, WSI or any place like that |
If you teach adults you will find that the first comment is a million miles from the truth. I find many Chinese students are very communicative, and adults are fantastic. Yes, they do have problems (can be demanding) but getting them to speak is not a problem.
Want to save 5000 a month teaching adults but dont want to work at EF, WSI? That the problem IMO. WSI is the place for you I think, adults only with salaries ranging from 11 - 16k per month. That MAY allow you to save 5k per month (not 100% convinced you could do that on their 11k a month deal) but you will have to work looooooong hours with them.
Avoid university work. University students are not adults, and if you are serious about adults specialised training centres are the only option I think. |
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Tigerstyleone
Joined: 26 Mar 2010
Posts: 181
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 9:06 am Post subject: Re: The only reason to move to China |
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| 7969 wrote: |
In another thread you stated you were coming here to freelance. What happened to that plan?
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Hello 7969, wow you remember that. It was one year ago I was planning to do that, getting all the info on an F visa, but I stumbled onto some well paying jobs in Korea. I was able to stack some classes and make over $200 a day. I had to go for it. It was an opportunity to make over $4,000 usd per month, which I did, and in turn, I got burned out to the point I can't stand children anymore, well Korean Children.
You're right maybe I do feel like China is the last stop and maybe I should get out of the business, but I see the positive posts from member of how much they like their job and they have so few hours, and I still have some hope, but I don't feel like freelancing right now. I just want one job, with one school because of what I did last year.
Anyway, thanks for the reply.
Last edited by Tigerstyleone on Sun Aug 19, 2012 9:11 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Tigerstyleone
Joined: 26 Mar 2010
Posts: 181
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 9:09 am Post subject: Re: The only reason to move to China |
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| Denim-Maniac wrote: |
Want to save 5000 a month teaching adults but dont want to work at EF, WSI? That the problem IMO. WSI is the place for you I think, adults only with salaries ranging from 11 - 16k per month. That MAY allow you to save 5k per month (not 100% convinced you could do that on their 11k a month deal) but you will have to work looooooong hours with them.
Avoid university work. University students are not adults, and if you are serious about adults specialised training centres are the only option I think. |
Thanks for the advice. I can handle the teaching hours. I taught 8-10 classes a day last year, its the uniforms, CCs and PCs, training, split shifts and non consecutive days off. I know they promise block shifts and 2 days off, but the reality is people quit and they are understaffed and teachers have to pick up the slack, but they do pay 200% overtime, so there is money to be made.
again, thanks..... |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 10:49 am Post subject: |
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I would say that a university job is your best bet. That would allow you to pick up a second job or work online and save 5000RMB a month. The biggest advantage is that you would probably be less likely to get burned out doing two different things.
Variety is the spice of life. |
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Tigerstyleone
Joined: 26 Mar 2010
Posts: 181
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 11:36 am Post subject: Re: The only reason to move to China |
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| Denim-Maniac wrote: |
adults only with salaries ranging from 11 - 16k per month. That MAY allow you to save 5k per month (not 100% convinced you could do that on their 11k a month deal) but you will have to work looooooong hours with them.
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I just now understand their tricky job ad. It says 11-16k per month.
So they're going to offer me 11k and tell me I can earn up to 16k with overtime, right ? |
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chinatimes
Joined: 27 May 2012
Posts: 478
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 11:53 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
So the only reason I can see to move to China to teach English is because I can't get a job teaching adults anywhere else, but China.
I'm sick an tried of children and want to teach adults. So I guess its China. |
Besides being the laughing stock of your nation, learn to mix children classes with adult. |
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Denim-Maniac
Joined: 31 Jan 2012
Posts: 1238
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 12:44 pm Post subject: |
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Ive looked at WSI, but never worked for them. I believe the 11k is for 25 teaching hours per week, the 16k is for something like 35 teaching hours per week. They have office hours on top too.
I also remember reading about some bonus system that can add to that, I think its dependant on your centres performance.
JZer - If someone really wants to teach adults, university isnt likely to satisfy that need. I will only teach adults, and would never consider uni work for that reason (amongst others). |
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TexasHighway
Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 779
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 5:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Everybody has their own preference. I started teaching in China many years ago at a private languge mill and my students were either spoiled lazy rich kids or arrogant, obnoxious, demanding businessmen. I absolutely hated it. For the past several years, I have only taught at universities. In contrast, I find university students a delight to teach. If you do teach at university, the pay will probably be lower but so will the hours. And you will usually be provided accommodation or a housing allowance. You could always pick up extra cash doing privates on the side. I wouldn't want to teach anywhere else but at universities. |
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vashdown2
Joined: 14 Feb 2007
Posts: 124
Location: Paris, France
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 9:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Dear Used to be Handsome..... we are all getting older! |
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Simon in Suzhou
Joined: 09 Aug 2011
Posts: 404
Location: GZ
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| Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 12:24 am Post subject: |
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5 years in K-Land? I did the same tour of duty. You will absolutely LOVE Chinese students. The people here who complain about the students have never been where you and I have!
White male with blue eyes in reasonable shape- regardless of age you will be beating off chinese gals with a stick. Some might say THIS is the only reason to come to China! hehe |
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7969
Joined: 26 Mar 2003
Posts: 5782
Location: Coastal Guangdong
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| Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 12:52 am Post subject: |
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| Simon in Suzhou wrote: |
| 5 years in K-Land? I did the same tour of duty. You will absolutely LOVE Chinese students. |
I've been at the same university job going into my seventh year now. One of the main reasons I stay is because of the students. Well-behaved, usually do what's asked of them, I join them in some outings on weekends etc. . . and 95% of them are young women so they're easy to get along with. |
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lemak
Joined: 19 Nov 2011
Posts: 368
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| Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Simon in Suzhou wrote: |
| 5 years in K-Land? I did the same tour of duty. You will absolutely LOVE Chinese students. The people here who complain about the students have never been where you and I have! |
Heh heh. I survived 8. I still laugh when other western teachers at my uni talk about the lack of initiative, high degree of nationalism and appalling low level of English of the Chinese students. I still remember marking 20 near identical papers a few years ago about "I hero is Cho Seung Hui because kill the America saram!". Korean students of more or less all ages are the pits in both manners and an academic sense. If you can manage half a decade in the ROK China will be an absolute joy. |
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