Job Discussion Forums

[Capt Lugwash]

It would seem those of us who bemoan their lot are not alone.

http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2014-09/12/content_18587352.htm

[Alien abductee]

The majority of Chinese teachers aren't well paid. Anyone outside of big cities is making very little and the further out in the countryside you go, the worse conditions get. Anyone been to a village schoolhouse? I've seen a few.

I do sympathize with the local teachers a bit. They put up with a lot more nonsense than we ever have to, and most of them can't just pack up and leave whenever they want.

For the record, this poll doesn't break teachers down by subject or teaching level (it's just a poll of teachers in general) so for those so inclined, please spare us all the tales that every teacher, English teacher or otherwise, is driving an Audi or a BMW and owns 10 homes that they're renting out for extra income. It's simply not true.

[Capt Lugwash]

Certainly true where I am. CTs at my uni are on about 3,000 a month with no BMWs in sight, the newer ones being "company" cars sporting government plates.

Half a mile away is a local primary school amid rice paddies and it is in a sorry state of disrepair. I haven't been inside for fear of being roped into taking classes but I did try once during holidays, armed with my camera but the gates were locked. I would be surprised if they have anything more than a blackboard, chairs and desks.

[litterascriptor]

The CTs at my school are about to storm the owner's box with nooses and burning pitchforks.

I have the popcorn all ready to go, this is gonna be a doozy.

[newmansone]

And Chinese teachers (or nearly any occupation for that matter) being underpaid is news how? Once again, as most here do, you are comparing what you think an otherwise equivalent profession would make in America. China is hardly America or England, or anything/anywhere else for that matter. There are countless factors that determine salaries and it's ridiculous to apply your western standard to them. Also, to compare Chinese Teacher salaries to your own is worthless as there is another factor in the business realm at play that doesn't apply to native Chinese. This is no different by saying China should be condemned for racial or other factor discrimination because you base it on your own country. China is what it is. It has its own laws, culture, standards and so on, and it's not your responsibility to change it.

[Capt Lugwash]

Dear Reincarnation

I try to avoid feeding trolls but on this occasion I find myself powerless.

Where EXACTLY has anyone in this thread compared the article to our own countries? Or applied our own standards?

For God's sake, if you are going to troll at least make it relevant.

If you weren't such an obvious imbecile your posts might otherwise be seen as faintly amusing by the more adjusted people here.

[litterascriptor]

[Capt Lugwash]

Do they invent things people have supposedly said too?

[litterascriptor]

Man,

dude,

brohiem,

wodie,

In my time as a Foreign Teacher Manager, I often found it............. "convient" to pretend conversations between myself and space aliens took place. By pretending I had just talked to a multi-headed carnivore from Eros 7, I could avoid... for a moment... the real conversation I just had with a foreign teacher who just confessed to me the real reason why he didn't show up to work was being blind stinking drunk at 11.30 in the morning.

So, I wager if I could imagine entire conversations with space aliens, the fab kind... an English First DoS can dream up conversations with you that never happened.

True story, an FT came into my office demanding more time off than he was allowed in his contract. He then threatened to quit. I pulled out his pretyped letter of resignation and asked him to sign it. He cried.

Sadly, he did not sign the letter.

Damn it.

[Capt Lugwash]

I have no experience of Directors of Studies (which I assume from what I have read are in private schools) but it sounds to me as if they are glorified milk monitors who can put a fancy title on their CV?

[The_Kong]

[Capt Lugwash]

If I taught children, certainly. As I teach at uni I reckon the term childminder would be more appropriate, don't you think?

[NiHaoDaJia]

Many teachers in China are working for satisfaction of helping young people. They may not be satisfied with their salary, but they feel fulfilled in their roles. They have been through proper education to become teachers and made this a career for themselves. It is a totally different situation from us as western teachers who come to teach English in China. We are generally not specially trained in teaching and do not make it our career goal. We teach for a year or two, enjoy Chinese culture, let our students practice oral English, and then go home. We receive high pay for less work because we are foreigners. Our situations are not comparable to local teachers.

[rogerwilco]

[Capt Lugwash]

Wash your mouth out - he's from Nanjing, Kentucky!