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Whereintheworld
Joined: 25 Jun 2014
Posts: 13
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 Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 4:29 pm Post subject: Teaching in Kunming; decent jobs? able to save? |
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Hi,
I'm an American woman, just turned 55, teaching in Saudi, but thinking about teaching in Kunming next year. Just wondering if it's realistic to think I could get a "good" uni job in Kunming where I could save about $2,000 a month??
I have an MA in TESOL and 25 years teaching experience with both children and adults. I also have a K-9 teaching certificate (US), but would prefer to teach at the university level (many years experience).
I'm pretty frugal and don't spend a lot of money going out, etc. I'm more interested in the cultural experience and saving for retirement - in a more-or-less pleasant setting.
Possible? or unrealistic? How about Hainan?
Thank you in advance for any insights or ideas. |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
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| Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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The sort of money you want to save would probably only be achievable in an international school.
And this is based on your being a registered teacher, not on your other (impressive) credentials.
In the university system unless you have a professorship you are just another bog standard FT. |
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Whereintheworld
Joined: 25 Jun 2014
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2017 4:26 am Post subject: |
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Thank you for your feedback. I appreciate it. I have a teaching license, but not sure I want to teach children at this point in time.
Cheers |
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Jmbf
Joined: 29 Jun 2014
Posts: 663
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| Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2017 5:09 am Post subject: |
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Difficult to save USD 2,000 / month in China with a focus only on university students. Best bet would probably be an international school as another poster mentioned.
Hong Kong could be a possibility if you were willing to deal with 16-18 year olds. |
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rocket man
Joined: 19 Dec 2015
Posts: 110
Location: Raleigh NC USA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2017 5:11 am Post subject: |
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you'll be lucky to gross US$2000 in a Chinese univ most pay + or - 10,000 RMB/month,
like other people have said you may be able to gross the kind of money that will allow you to save US$2,000/month by either teaching an academic subject in an international school or a chinese foreign language school where kids are prepping to go to US univs. those pay between 15-30k RMB/month |
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The bear
Joined: 16 Aug 2015
Posts: 483
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| Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2017 6:27 am Post subject: |
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One more person posting to say that money at a university is going to be hard. Not just earning $2,000 a month, but being able to save $2,000 a month.
It can be done, but I only know of a handful of universities that pay that in China and none are in Kunming.
The problem is greater as you're looking at Kunming - where salaries are lower due to the fact it's a rather desirable location for foreigners.
I'm willing to bet that the average salary for a university teaching position is around 5,000 yuan a month (roughly $730). |
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jimpellow
Joined: 12 Oct 2007
Posts: 913
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| Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2017 8:05 am Post subject: |
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One gets spoiled on savings in Saudi. Not just the high salary, but the low cost of living and so little to spend it on. I used to get excited when it was the day to go to the supermarket.
Hard to replicate the savings elsewhere. The only solution I can envision for the OP is to get the best university job with her background, which as was said, won't amount to much in China. Then she can supplement her income online. As I have become a self-proclaimed ESL guru over the last few years, I feel confident in saying she could get 20 dollars an hour online as a baseline. Multiple by 100 hours a month and there is the 2000. Something like private IELTS tutoring locally may work with time.
As said above, Kunming salaries are low, so can't imagine too much savings from that salary. One could be the kind of ESL teacher who steals the school toilet paper and coaxes students to pay for meals. Enough of them running around the Middle Kingdom, and some in the Magic Kingdom as well.
The question for the OP is if it is worth it to work two jobs to achieve her savings goals?
I really enjoyed my three weeks in Yunnan. Nicer people, cleaner, refreshing climate. Some amazing places and the diversity is hard to beat. It might be worth it for the OP to figure out how to do it. |
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Jmbf
Joined: 29 Jun 2014
Posts: 663
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| Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2017 8:30 am Post subject: |
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| jimpellow wrote: |
| As I have become a self-proclaimed ESL guru over the last few years, I feel confident in saying she could get 20 dollars an hour online as a baseline. Multiple by 100 hours a month and there is the 2000. |
Is that actually possible? To clarify, are there tutors who can consistently get 100 hours of online work per month at minimum USD 20 / hr? |
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jimpellow
Joined: 12 Oct 2007
Posts: 913
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| Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2017 4:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Jmbf wrote: |
| jimpellow wrote: |
| As I have become a self-proclaimed ESL guru over the last few years, I feel confident in saying she could get 20 dollars an hour online as a baseline. Multiple by 100 hours a month and there is the 2000. |
Is that actually possible? To clarify, are there tutors who can consistently get 100 hours of online work per month at minimum USD 20 / hr? |
It is. You rarely will walk into such a position. I have to say the dude, with no ESL experience and painted toenails, in the apartment next to mine here in Mexico walked into like 23 an hour and unlimited hours for working with one of the online Chinese kids schools. He is rewarded for a level of patience and cheerfulness that few possess.
She would find it easier to achieve using her credentials to secure other kinds of work rather than standard ESL.
One Asian site where I list my Business English classes nets me about 14 an hour and maybe 10 classes a month. I don't market much there as I am busy on other things. Got strong reviews, but I have not sufficiently self-promoted to the crowd followers. But then you will surf around the site and come across some non-native speaker with corny marketing, buts gets the momentum going, and students will line up for Engrish classes at 30 plus an hour.
I would say my very busy online IELTs grading for Saudi students would bring me in about 20 and hour if I weren't needing to take a break from Arabish every 20 minutes. Hence, why I am here twice a day! |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
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| Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2017 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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Hence, why I am here twice a day!Wink
Glad we provide that essential therapeutic 'fix'! |
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jimpellow
Joined: 12 Oct 2007
Posts: 913
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| Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2017 6:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Non Sequitur wrote: |
Hence, why I am here twice a day!Wink
Glad we provide that essential therapeutic 'fix'! |
LOL. It's really not funny! I rationalize my continued presence by the possibility of returning for a year if the z-visa insanity ever subsides. One long term former regular confided in me that his New Year's resolution was to break his addiction to this forum once and for all. Of the various countries I participate in, this is the only one that offers a daily elixer of intoxicating insanity.
The OP would be wise to come to China and experience it first hand. |
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Jmbf
Joined: 29 Jun 2014
Posts: 663
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| Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2017 10:46 am Post subject: |
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| jimpellow wrote: |
| It is. You rarely will walk into such a position. I have to say the dude, with no ESL experience and painted toenails, in the apartment next to mine here in Mexico walked into like 23 an hour and unlimited hours for working with one of the online Chinese kids schools. He is rewarded for a level of patience and cheerfulness that few possess. |
Good to hear that you can (over time) accumulate a relatively high number of decently paid online working hours. |
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jimpellow
Joined: 12 Oct 2007
Posts: 913
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| Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2017 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Jmbf wrote: |
| jimpellow wrote: |
| It is. You rarely will walk into such a position. I have to say the dude, with no ESL experience and painted toenails, in the apartment next to mine here in Mexico walked into like 23 an hour and unlimited hours for working with one of the online Chinese kids schools. He is rewarded for a level of patience and cheerfulness that few possess. |
Good to hear that you can (over time) accumulate a relatively high number of decently paid online working hours. |
I realize we are getting off topic, but you can help maximize income by belonging to more than one school. Say schedule your Asian school for when their hours are peak, evenings, and a European school at their evening peak. Once you get going you cut back the hours that you are available for each to the peak within the peak so to say. Many students will adjust into your new hours. Then you can have a life outside of waiting for the next class all your waking day. |
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backtochina2017
Joined: 28 Nov 2016
Posts: 123
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| Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2017 10:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Just wondering if it's realistic to think I could get a "good" uni job in Kunming where I could save about $2,000 a month?? |
You didn't need to preface that question with your age. If you understand the market of English teachers in China, it starts at around $1,000.
If you are a blonde blue eyed female, then you can expect more to start with.
After that, you have to find out the averages. You want to work at a university job which pays about $1,000 with low hours. If you want to save $2,000 you have to get a job which pays at least three times that to cover living expenses.
"I have an MA in TESOL and 25 years teaching experience"
That bumps you up 3,000 RMB. Is the demand there though?
"Say schedule your Asian school for when their hours are peak, evenings, and a European school at their evening peak."
Are you saying to commute between Europe and China? This coming from an original post based in Saudi Arabia?
I heard the Saudi king travels with his own elevator and 500 tons of luggage, maybe this lady has connections. Who knows?  |
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Jmbf
Joined: 29 Jun 2014
Posts: 663
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| Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 3:58 am Post subject: |
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| backtochina2017 wrote: |
| You want to work at a university job which pays about $1,000 with low hours. If you want to save $2,000 you have to get a job which pays at least three times that to cover living expenses. |
Your wording is unclear. Are you saying three times USD $1,000 or three times USD $2,000? An income of USD 3,000 might allow for savings of USD 2,000 but then again there are too many factors to say for certain. As for USD $6,000, well that's probably in the top 1% of ESL salaries in China. If you can't save USD 2,000 on that income then you are probably doing something wrong!
| backtochina2017 wrote: |
| Are you saying to commute between Europe and China? |
He's talking about working for online schools. |
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