Job Discussion Forums

[Ireland00]

Hello,

I'm 24, male, Irish (EU), degree in English, CELTA + 4 months academy teaching, 2 year language assistant (France and Spain).

I'm looking at 25 teaching hours a week in a tier 1/2 city.
I will take a package with flights, accommodation (shared/private), visa and insurance.

How I currently live monthly (tier 2 city, France):

Food: canned tuna, frozen vegetables and brown pasta.
Entertainment: weekly paper, weekly bottle of wine, gym.

I intend to live in mor eor less the same manner in China as in France.

Various schools have contacted me and asked me how much I expect. I'm thinking of saying minimum 12000RMb, with a view to saving €12,000+ in 15 months.

Thank you.

[scot47]

Let us know if your expectations are met.

[Non Sequitur]

How's your accent?
Irish accent is not one Chinese schools routinely encounter.
I thinks your requirements are more likely to come from the language school area than the public sector.
Your quals are great but not so sought-after for a public uni or vocational to make an exception for you.
Minor points:
You will pay home country visa costs.
Airfare allowances are more common now. Full refunds less so.
Of course the allowance may cover your outlay, but it also it may not.

[Ireland00]

[Ireland00]

[Non Sequitur]

Good.
I have an antipodean accent which I've tried to neutralise over the years. Taking care to form the ends of words helps.
I was gratified that the phone interviewer for my last job stated in response to my question about understandability: 'You have no accent'.
I'd try to qualify my answer to the 'How much do you want?' question by giving a 2-part.
1. 'For less than 20 hours pw jobs in the public sector RMB7-8K pm + the perks'
2. 'For 25+ hours pw with weekend work in language school sector RMB11-14 pm.
Also make it clear about age groups you won't teach for language schools jobs.
Another point is that the next intake is after Chinese NY - say mid Feb.
Accordingly you should have an idea of how quickly you can get yourself organised to get over here.

[Ireland00]

[Non Sequitur]

For public schools it really puts you betwixt and between.
The semester ends end of June and a school may not want to hire you on a 10 month basis and immediately have to pay you for two months summer holiday.
Language schools hire pretty much year round and may in fact increase hiring in May to cover immediate need + their summer programme (July-August).
I would respond with your salary ideas and add your availability and see what happens.
Do not under any circumstances stop looking.
It is amazing how recruiter interest dries up although your OP mentions 'schools' so I assume that's direct contact, which should be a little more trustworthy.
If your interest in China is a quick and profitable look, then I don't think it matters much as to sector provided you can bank your required amount.
What about changing your OP a little and posting on the Saudi forum?

[Ireland00]

[Non Sequitur]

If a public school is prepared to go through the visa/permit hoops to have you on board May and June, then again Sept-Feb 17, that could be workable.
You could use May and June to schmooze nearby language schools for July-August work.
You would likely get younger students but smallish classes and over a bigger age range than regular school. Let's face it sending kids to summer English classes is little more than value-added babysitting.
If you can use your main public uni/vocational apartment and not have to commute too far it could be an enjoyable summer.
Work week is often Wed-Sun over July-August, at least at the locally owned schools.
My big question is would your main employer pay you for July-August.
Probably not

[OhBudPowellWhereArtThou]

I suggest that you try a public university in an eastern province such as Jiangsu to get your feet wet in China. Don't limit your search to specific cities. The tier system as it is interpreted by forum members may not always be as economists (western and Chinese) interpret them, so expanding your search by province and area of province may afford more opportunities.

If you have a BA degree, expect the standard 4,500-5,000rmb per month salary (though this seems to shift a bit upwards depending upon need).

Your lifestyle in France doesn't strike me a particularly extravagant. Either salary will provide you with the equivalent quantity of groceries (and more) as you describe them, plus you'll have a private apartment and probably considerably fewer hours than in a language mill.

The school may have a gym, and if you befriend the head of the athletics department, you may have use of it. If not, even the smaller cities usually have a gym.

Caveat: Unless you shop at a Carrefour's or at an RT Mart (if there's one in your town), you won't find much French wine, and Chinese wine (generally speaking) cannot compare to the most pedestrian western wine.I've found some very nice Chilean wine in some of the Chinese-owned chain grocery stores, though.

Something else to be factored into the quality of life in China is the quality of one's social life. I'll let others comment on that.

[Non Sequitur]

Glad previous poster has taken over the task of pointing out that entry-level positions are not high paid and that there is a cultural/environmental hurdle to be overcome in those first months.
No doubt one of the lurkers will pitch in that if you're not getting 12-15K you really shouldn't be out unaccompanied by a caregiver.
No argument with OP's earnings aspirations but it will take a few months to ramp up to the necessary level of privates.
Also consider commute time for weekend work. Better a centrally-located but less attractive campus, than a leafy park that is 45 mins by bus each way to get to your Saturday job.

[OhBudPowellWhereArtThou]

NS,

The salary I quoted isn't just a starting salary. That's pretty much where it'll stay unless he remains in the same public university for a few years and impresses the school with his abilities.

Since he has a degree in English (truly an asset on a public university campus that offers a major study in English) and since he has experience, a year in a decent public university will give him the time to become accustomed to China and give him time to gain a reputation that will draw the right tutees to him. This is especially desirable if he is in a large city that has a variety of brand name language mills in town.

[Non Sequitur]

Couldn't agree more!