Job Discussion Forums

kanjizai · Joined: 29 Jun 2003 Posts: 69

Hello all,

I'm new to the China experience and need some help deciding if this is a good contract. An hour or so outside of the major city, free shared accommodation, and 6300rmb before taxes. About 25 hours a week.

My initial feeling is this is a low offer, but I'm not sure what the going rate is in the country. Could anyone tell me what they think about this offer based on their knowledge?

Best Regards

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

Where is it exactly? Definite "need to know" there. Borderline too many hours.

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

OP, you were asked where because in some areas, the salaries are low and that salary above isn't far out of line while in other areas, it's way too low for 25 hours. Also make sure you are clear on whether the hours are class hours (i.e. 40 to 50 minutes = one 'hour') or literal hours so that 25 hours equals 30 classes. Private accommodation has been the norm in China for a long time so a lot of us recoil at the thought of sharing with some foreign teacher. Some do prefer shared, so if you do, obviously that wouldn't be a deal breaker for you. Just reiterating that the majority of jobs offer private.

teenoso · Joined: 18 Sep 2013 Posts: 365 Location: south china

Agree this is probably a low salary offer, but it depends where the 'major city' is - which province? In Guizhou, Yunnan or Guangxi this could be a good salary , even though the hours are high (far too high , IMO!)

kanjizai · Joined: 29 Jun 2003 Posts: 69

Thanks everyone for your replies. It is good to know what the norm is.

Bud Powell · Joined: 11 Jul 2013 Posts: 1736

I don't mean to be a jerk, but you really should do your own homework before you decide to go leave the country.

You've given very little information upon which anyone can base an opinion which leads me to believe that you don't have enough understanding of ESL in China to make an informed decision to come to China to teach.

Try reading a LOT of ESL forums to form your own impression. Take a look at abroadchina.org to see what is offered for almost every kind of school throughout China.

Then check your qualifications against school criteria to see if you even qualify to teach in China.

Then examine your motives for wanting to teach in China. If you intend to go to China to play around, try to remember how you felt when you had a high school or college teacher who didn't belong in the class room. Then think of the best teacher you've ever had. Where do you fall within that continuum?

Sorry to sound so harsh, but these are things that you need to think about.

NoBillyNO · Joined: 11 Jun 2012 Posts: 1762

mambawamba · Joined: 12 Jun 2012 Posts: 311

@ Kanjizai

Bud's making a lot of good points and doesn't deserve such a hostile response. Bad form mate.

If you come to China with that kind of (knee) jerk reaction to people who are trying to help you then you won't last a month.

@ NoBillyNo Ah that Ole Black Magick

The post which this was a response to was removed.

D-M · Joined: 30 Nov 2013 Posts: 114

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

As OP will appreciate the non contact time if you're teaching writing is far in excess of the non contact hours if oral's your game.
Whichever subject, the salary is marginal at those contact hours and if you are teaching 50 weeks a year it is one to pass on.

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

Javelin of Radiance · Joined: 01 Jul 2009 Posts: 1187 Location: The West

Kanjizis deleted comment was a bit out of line but he also didn't need to be told to examine his motives for coming to China or whatever. who cares about that? He's already got four years in Japan so it's not like he's clueless about this business, and moralizing from afar isn't really helpful. Is the contract info presented good or isn't it? Politely suggesting he supply more info or dig deeper into this forum is probably the best, and only advice he needed.

Bud Powell · Joined: 11 Jul 2013 Posts: 1736

Some folks come to China for a Big Adventure and manage to make it work for themselves AND their students. Most that I've met who come for a paycheck and an adventure disappoint a lot of people.

I think it is fair to ask someone to question one's motives for coming to China to teach, especially if he isn't willing to do the necessary legwork to assure his own success/survival in China. How can he possibly assure the success of his students if he cannot assure his own?

Bud Powell · Joined: 11 Jul 2013 Posts: 1736

He's already got four years in Japan so it's not like he's clueless about this business, and moralizing from afar isn't really helpful.

That's not in any of his posts in this thread.