Job Discussion Forums

[Monday]

I have a master's degree, TESOL certificate, and many years of ELT experience overseas. I want to work in a public middle school, high school, or university in China. I do not want to work in a private school.

After looking at many advertisements for public school jobs, I see very few that require a master's degree or experience. Most just need a bachelor's and TESOL certificate. Some schools list somewhat higher salaries for teachers with more years and higher degrees. Do schools tend to pick the lower qualified candidates to save money on salaries? Will my degree and experience make it harder to find work?

[roadwalker]

There are plenty of English teachers in China with masters degrees. The public schools have tight budgets, so the pay is as low as they can make it and still attract qualified foreign teachers. They welcome teachers with masters and higher, but many accept the minimum requirements or even less. A masters would probably put you ahead of a similarly situated teacher with only a bachelors degree. I suppose it happens but I've never heard of a school turning down a higher degree so that they didn't have to pay 500 RMB more per month as per their advertisement.

[OhBudPowellWhereArtThou]

OVERqualified for teaching ESL? What else would you do with your qualifications?

My observation is that public institutions don't deliberately pick individuals with bachelors degrees to save money. The difference between the two salaries are (to the school) negligible. Some public universities STILL don't even check the qualifications to see if the degree is valid. (Yes, I know, word came down from on high that degrees needed to be authenticated, but some schools haven't gotten on the bus yet).

Public universities are (still) happy to fill the positions with anyone who is willing to do it. Got a degree in Dance? You're hired. A degree in theater and a skimpy tefl certificate? You're hired.

In truth, I don't think that the institutions where I have taught are terribly impressed with credentials (authentic or not) until the FT starts producing results. If your certs are authentic and you produce, you're in. Don't expect much of a bump in salary your first year. You have a contract for one sum. The next year may be a different story. However, if you're a hit with the students and a hit with the administration, there are other perks besides a bigger paycheck.

Go for it.

[mrpianoman]

wouldn't you be better off looking for a job at a uni in Taiwan or Hong Kong with a masters? I don't think you even need a masters for a public school in china. It's not America! and uni posts are all poorly paid (less than 10000rmb)

[Non Sequitur]

There doesn't seem to be any subtle differentiation between degree levels (Bachelors, Masters, Honours) nor much pay differential across these levels.
So be assured you pass the employer requirements. The trick is to burrow down on an offer to ensure you get good conditions - teaching schedule, accom, airfare.
As OBPWAY says: 'Go for it'.

[nomad soul]

[The bear]

[Monday]

[creeper1]

[Brunouno]

[Shanghai Noon]

[wangdaning]

I think the problem is many do not take education seriously (students/parents/teachers) so nobody cares what credentials a person has as long as you have something that can get the stamp from the gov for employment.

I mean if teaching/learning, especially of the English language, was taken seriously all Chinese under 30 would be near fluent. Most under 30 have studied it for more than 8 years even before getting to university, yet many cannot put together a sentence.

[nomad soul]

[The bear]

[mrpianoman]

PM me for a recruiter with good paying jobs. They just sent me a job teaching kids in shanghai for 20,000 after tax plus free accommodation. I'm interviewing tomorrow with them.