Job Discussion Forums

roywebcafe · Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 259

TeachTefl in China (all one word) contacted me for a position i applied to some time ago.

Its 8000 RMB before tax with free apartment inc bills, Free mandarin lessons and TEFL training tho i already have a CELTA but don't mind the training as its been a while.

Oh just read document it says " Accommodation is in large apartments with private
security and shared with other English speaking teachers. Because of the demand for housing,large apartments provide a higher standard of decoration and furnishings than single occupancy tenancies can provide"

Can anyone tell me if they have worked for 'TeachTeflInChina' before? and add anything regards their experience? I think it sounds good for a 20-something newbie but I am 50 and wondering if its for me - Job market in UK is really dire!

cdchristy · Joined: 15 Oct 2016 Posts: 34

Hopefully some of the others will provide you with some good advice. I will give my 2 cents. Assuming you have a bachelors (along with your CELTA), you can easily make this much money and more and even be provided with a private apartment. In general, private training centers are a major gamble for anyone who is coming from abroad. My advice, get connected with a university directly (even if you use a recruiting agency). A trustworthy one will get you directly connected as they get a headhunting fee. After you work for a university for a year, you can branch out.

This is typical Chinese BS - "Accommodation is in large apartments with private security and shared with other English speaking teachers. Because of the demand for housing,large apartments provide a higher standard of decoration and furnishings than single occupancy tenancies can provide."
Let me translate it: We want to pocket as much money as possible off the FT; therefore, we will provide shared quarters because new FTs will not the difference. We will just say it is more secure and better decorated."

Simply put, they make more than enough money off of you to provide you with better. Based on the salary, it would seem that they are located in a city with a lower cost of living (you need to research this info for any city you plan to work in). If I am correct, a single bedroom with reasonable furnishings will cost about 1800-2000 more or less (nothing fancy of course). They will probably charge parents at least 100 RMB/hr. You will have lets say 10 students (maybe more) per class with lets say 20 hours of teaching. Using these very conservative estimates, they will make around 20K. Mind you, they have expenses, but Chinese parents come for the FT not the educational facility.

If you like, I suggest you post a fuller job description so that the people who are on this forum can provide an even better assessment. Don't worry, everyone here who works in China probably gets these kinds of offers and many much better at least once or twice a month.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

The accommodation may also be used to house 'international' students.
I agree at 20 it's an adventure, at 50 it's purgatory. See if you can get a housing allowance, although unlikely as the shared accommodation on offer costs them only marginal services costs.
Run.

roywebcafe · Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 259

Thanks Christy. Will get more information to add. The company are based in shenzen but not sure where I will be sent? When they called it was two months after I sent enquiry and could not remember all the details. My mobile data on PC will renew tomorrow so can add more - hate using tablet for long messages.

quote="cdchristy"]Hopefully some of the others will provide you with some good advice. I will give my 2 cents. Assuming you have a bachelors (along with your CELTA), you can easily make this much money and more and even be provided with a private apartment. In general, private training centers are a major gamble for anyone who is coming from abroad. My advice, get connected with a university directly (even if you use a recruiting agency). A trustworthy one will get you directly connected as they get a headhunting fee. After you work for a university for a year, you can branch out.

This is typical Chinese BS - "Accommodation is in large apartments with private security and shared with other English speaking teachers. Because of the demand for housing,large apartments provide a higher standard of decoration and furnishings than single occupancy tenancies can provide."
Let me translate it: We want to pocket as much money as possible off the FT; therefore, we will provide shared quarters because new FTs will not the difference. We will just say it is more secure and better decorated."

Simply put, they make more than enough money off of you to provide you with better. Based on the salary, it would seem that they are located in a city with a lower cost of living (you need to research this info for any city you plan to work in). If I am correct, a single bedroom with reasonable furnishings will cost about 1800-2000 more or less (nothing fancy of course). They will probably charge parents at least 100 RMB/hr. You will have lets say 10 students (maybe more) per class with lets say 20 hours of teaching. Using these very conservative estimates, they will make around 20K. Mind you, they have expenses, but Chinese parents come for the FT not the educational facility.

If you like, I suggest you post a fuller job description so that the people who are on this forum can provide an even better assessment. Don't worry, everyone here who works in China probably gets these kinds of offers and many much better at least once or twice a month.[/quote]

roywebcafe · Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 259

Hi Christy took your advice they called me again today and I just told them i couldn't commit to a contract this year. I have seen better deals and always prefer Govt over Privates. I worked with Shane 04, 1 yr and English Time (Turkey) 2011 just 4 months. Both dire. A few others i won't mention. Will look out for a Uni placement but it look like after sept before i can start.