Job Discussion Forums

spicykimchi · Joined: 19 Oct 2010 Posts: 50

Hi, everyone.
I�ve been offered jobs from Web International and Wall Street English in Shanghai. Here be the details.

Web International - 25 hours teaching, 15 office hours

8,500 a month during 2-month probation
10,500 a month after probation
4,000 housing allowance
1,000 a month travel allowance for � the contract
3,000 airfare reimbursement after 6 months, another 3,000 airfare after 1 year

Question 1:
Are the 15 office hours per week exclusively for lesson planning at Web? I�d hate to spend all that office time doing other tasks and then have to do a chunk of my lesson planning at home.

Question 2:
Is a 25-hour teaching week brutal? I taught in Korea for four years and taught similar hours, but I never had to prep for classes.

Wall Street English -21 hours teaching, 4 office hours

11,200 a month - I don�t have any debt, but it would be nicer to make a little more
(Possible) monthly bonus of 500
No housing allowance
No travel allowance
3,500 airfare reimbursement after a year

I do know a little more about Wall Street than Web, so if you have "the scoop" on Web, I�d appreciate it.

Thanks!

askiptochina · Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 488 Location: Beijing

You pretty much have the scoop already. I was interviewed at Web International in Shanghai in April 2010, and they said the same thing to me.

It's not for me. Other teachers will tell you it is ok. I don't understand why people come to China if they are seriously looking to make more money. I've found the best jobs to be outside major cities (Osaka, Seoul, Shanghai, Beijing, etc...), not in the center. You might make a little less than in the center, but the workload is half of what you would be doing. You could do privates to make up any income you felt you lost. It wouldn't be as crowded, noisy, or polluted. I can get fresh vegetables out in the country and visit electronic stores in the center of the city once in a while. Prices are lower also out here, so just the savings can mean I am ending up with pretty much the same. It's about 5/6 savings. So a salary of 10,500 would yield a 1,750 loss in a bigger city. Taking a job for 8,500 further out and not needing to spend spend spend, would be about the same. This doesn't address housing costs, which I see is not included with the Wall Street position.

But, like I stated earlier, you won't be alone if you choose either of them. I would talk to current teachers at both schools and see who you connect more with.

spicykimchi · Joined: 19 Oct 2010 Posts: 50

I'll take that into consideration. Thanks!

Aristede · Joined: 06 Aug 2009 Posts: 180

Songbird · Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2011 12:44 pm Post subject:

I work the 35 hour shift at WSE- started at 25 then asked to go up after probation. I'm exhausted- and I feel like so much is eaten in tax. I usually offer to do overtime once or twice a month as well, bringing me to 6 day weeks. Yes, I don't have a life. I find the most difficult aspect are in fact the English Corners- getting inspired for 10 every month and putting them together which takes more time than what they give you. Within a couple of months though I hope to maybe start repeating some again though!

spicykimchi · Joined: 19 Oct 2010 Posts: 50

spicykimchi · Joined: 19 Oct 2010 Posts: 50

time to teach · Joined: 03 Feb 2011 Posts: 73 Location: Bangkok

I've worked at both places, both the full time Web job and the 3/4 time Wall Street gig. I'd take the WSE gig, less teaching during the week (3 classes each on 3 weeknights), so you could do some outside teaching doing corporate/privates, then do the long weekend of 12 classes, 6 each on Saturday and Sunday.

I never considered the 25 teaching hours at Web brutal, just a bit taxing at times, especially day 5 of a 5-day work week. Basic schedule is one hour prep, then 2 or 3 classes before the dinner break, and 2 or 3 after, depending on how they slice it. It always seemed better than the daily 6 the full timers do at WSI, where 3 up and 3 down is part of the daily grind.

The Web job will feel more like full time, since you'll have to do 5 8-hour days, while at WSI you can go in at 4 or 5 pm during the week and teach 3 classes from 5-8 pm or 6-9 pm. Just felt like the extra freedom was worth the cut in pay, and if money isn't an object, free or flex time always sounds better to me.

Songbird · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 12:17 pm Post subject:

I'm in Shenzhen, Spicy Kimchi. And yes, I believe new full time teachers need to do 2 half days twice a month (ie. the 6 day weeks). I'm really hoping it doesn't get to me, as I always raise my hand if my boss needs people for OT anyway. I've only been at WSE for 4 months, but he looks after me well so I think I should be fine.

Josef K · Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 12:31 pm Post subject:

WSI is a much better company than WEB and once you know 'the method' you will be able to transfer to other centres around the world. I worked there for 2 years - it gets very boring teaching the same units, sometimes 3-4 times a week, every week.
They don't give you housing? - that sucks. Shanghai is expensive and without housing you may find that all your work isn't amounting to much - its a toss up. Good luck

askiptochina · Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 488 Location: Beijing

peewee1979 · Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 3:04 am Post subject:

Josef K · Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 2:39 am Post subject:

Josef K · Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 2:57 am Post subject:

KopiKopi · Joined: 01 May 2011 Posts: 49

Wall Street is terrible. The management is useless and the hours are MUCH more than you think. True, no planning for most classes, but English Corners and Parties require a LOT of planning.

The taxes take a huge bite from the salary...

Also, don't forget the pension....

I hate WSE and suggest no one ever works there....