Job Discussion Forums

[nashboroguy2]

I am curious what others think...

I am under the impression that if you work in middle schools, the pay is about the same for everyone. When I say pay, I am talking about the lump sum the school or company pays us. This includes salary, housing, utilities, bonuses, and other pay structures.

For instance, one company says they will pay you 13,000, but not provide housing. Another school will pay you 10,000, but does provide housing.

Do you think all schools and companies pretty much pay the same. It is how they divide up the total pay among all the other "benefits"?

This is just my observation. But, I think it is pretty valid. Kindergartens pay a bit more and universities pay a bit less.

[dongbei united]

"Do you think all schools and companies pretty much pay the same."

Was that a question? I prefer it a philosophical rhetorical question with a period.


Here are some guidelines:


1) If you are new to ESL teaching abroad, get housing no matter what. Work 6 months before you do anything else.

2) Never sign a contract with the recruiter as the employer.

3) When a recruiter offers a job, talk with the school also.

4) Payment is relative to the job, not a school or recruiter. If you are being hoodwinked into following a school or recruiter offer then check your salary. The average is 25 classes per week without office hours, 8-10,000/month.


Negotiation is done when:

5) You worked 6 months without problems.

6) You want to move elsewhere. Negotiating is always the viable solution when you are ready to do something else.

7) Renting your own apartment means you put up 6 months or 12 months with a "yajin" (1 extra month rent). As if the 5 or 11 extra months are not enough, make sure you want to be there. Go back to number 1 guideline and if you satisfied with that, then it's like crossing the street at a busy intersection. Cross it carefully. Make sure the landlord doesn't stick you with extra heating bills at wintertime because you leased it July to December. Poor landlord can't get new tenant, so therefore you must pay for January and February heating. Bye bye yajin.

8 ) It is possible to be put up in a temporary housing arrangement until you determine your school's operations. If things go well, then you can pay for cheaper rent and save money.

9) Only rent for higher salary in locations you can get another job. If you go to another province, say goodbye to yajin and remaining months of rent.

10) See above and use common sense. Test them the first week, move out immediately when things go wrong, and KEEP YOUR STUFF PACKED IN BOXES AND SUITCASES FOR 2 WEEKS for a quick leave. Chinese can be and will be manipulative. You need to understand them before you can trust them. Without that trust, your days are numbered in China. Find the right Chinese to work with and make your life simpler.

[thechangling]

This is opinion rather than fact:

"The average is 25 classes per week without office hours, 8-10,000/month".

There are lots of variables in middle schools contracts in China pertaining to amount of classes, salary and your own qualifications.
My guess is that less than 20 teaching periods per week is average. 25 sounds too high after reading many different contracts. A recruiter will try to tell you all sorts of B.S like that however. Do more research.

[dongbei united]