Job Discussion Forums

Alex Ost · Joined: 28 Sep 2013 Posts: 14 Location: Kiev, Ukraine

Being invited to teach children in a private center - s2lcn.com.
Who knows this school?
Recruiter, who found me, is a teacher in this school. She is from my country.
She says that life in Shenzhen is not expensive but I doubt(
1000 usd per month - is it enough for ESL teacher in Shenzhen?
Thank you, guys)

Simon in Suzhou · Joined: 09 Aug 2011 Posts: 404 Location: GZ

1000 USD (6200 RMB) teaching children in a private institute is FAR TOO LOW for Shenzhen. It is one of the higher paying cities in China. For the same pay, you should just find an easy university job with low stress and half the working hours. Any private institute in Shenzhen offering this should not be considered AT ALL.

With that said, if your housing is provided, the cost of ANY city is China depends on YOU. The cost of the same items in a supermarket are not that much greater in Shehzhen, Shanghai, or a third-tier city. Shenzhen has plenty of local farmer's markets where vegetables, fruit, and meat can be bought even cheaper. Shenzhen is FULL of laborers from other provinces who will make half or a third of your $1000 a month and send much of their salary back home. Do you like Chinese food? You can eat at local restaurants for almost nothing in every city in China.

The reason ANY city in China is expensive (other than housing) is because of the temptations to eat at western restaurants all the time and go out drinking at overpriced bars. Third-tier cities just don't have these options, so they are "cheaper."

I don't drink at all, and I like Chinese food. I eat out (western food) a couple times a week, and i do cook with some western ingredients which are more expensive (cheese, etc). But with my lifestyle, I would spend about the same anywhere i lived in China. If you want to party and drink regularly, Shenzhen could be just as expensive as, or more than, your hometown. To each their own.

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

HungGarTiger · Joined: 15 Nov 2012 Posts: 25

Alex Ost · Joined: 28 Sep 2013 Posts: 14 Location: Kiev, Ukraine

I just finished up at a private center in SZ and you should be earning 3x that amount, and you will find that a lot of places in SZ also offer an acommodation supliment on top of salary.

This is based on my experience alone and as so others experience may differ, but salaries in SZ are usually around the Beijing and Shanghai level.[/quote]

Yes, I've also seen some offers with much higher salaries.
What if I start working in that school for 1000 usd and in 2-3 months find something more suitable?
How easy is changing schools in SZ?

muffintop · Joined: 07 Jan 2013 Posts: 803

Banner41 · Joined: 04 Jan 2011 Posts: 656 Location: Shanghai

Are you non-native speaker? This may explain the lower pay rate.

muffintop · Joined: 07 Jan 2013 Posts: 803

He's not a native speaker and we still don't know how many hours the contract is for.

Alex Ost · Joined: 28 Sep 2013 Posts: 14 Location: Kiev, Ukraine

Alex Ost · Joined: 28 Sep 2013 Posts: 14 Location: Kiev, Ukraine

MahaGala · Joined: 09 Dec 2011 Posts: 21 Location: Shenzhen, PRC

[quote="Alex Ost"]I just finished up at a private center in SZ and you should be earning 3x that amount, and you will find that a lot of places in SZ also offer an acommodation supliment on top of salary.
/quote]

I am starting to work for "Disney English" China next Thursday.

After 23 days of training in Shanghai, Ill then head to Shenzhen (the city of my choice) for a 1 year contract.

Package: Salary 11'500 RMB +3'500 Housing allowance.

My questions are:

1. How much could I realistically save in Shenzhen with that income?

2. Has anyone worked for the 'Disney English' Shenzhen branch, and if so - what are the working conditions like?

Thanks for any info.

MG Cool

GreatApe · Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 3:53 pm Post subject:

@ MG ...

All great questions, BUT! ... please don't hijack Alex's thread!

Start your own thread (perhaps about Disney English, moving from Shanghai to Shenzhen, or some combination thereof).

I'm SURE people here will respond. Thanks!

Sincerely,

--GA

GreatApe · Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 4:13 pm Post subject:

@ Alex Ost,

Alex, I live in Guangdong ... about 2 hours (by bus) from Shenzhen. I completely agree with what Simon in Suzhou, fat-chris, and muffintop have written here. They are members of standing here at Daves and you could do much worse than follow their solid advice.

Shenzhen is a big, modern, westernized city, and if you work and teach there as a non-native speaker, you should be sure of EXACTLY what you're getting into (vis-a-vis your contract, accommodations, and exactly WHERE in the city you will need to be located in order for it to be convenient and financially prudent for you to live there)! Don't forget to factor in the subway, bus, (etc.) if you end up living a good distance from your job.

WAIT! ... Alex, you've already worked and lived in SZ!? Are you posting to yourself?

WTH?

--GA

muffintop · Joined: 07 Jan 2013 Posts: 803

Alex...

What the hell are you thinking? Seriously!

You want to sign a crappy 1 year contract and then run off after a few months to something better....and want help here on how to do it?

Piss off.

You are exactly the kind of guy that shits things up for other FT's.

Alex Ost · Joined: 28 Sep 2013 Posts: 14 Location: Kiev, Ukraine