Job Discussion Forums

Happy in China · Joined: 19 Oct 2004 Posts: 8

I was having a discussion with another FT and he claims that if you have a CELTA cert you get the top pick of teaching jobs in China and your salary will be higher. I tend to disagree with him because as far as I can see regardless of your qualification the pay is about the same(except if hire through an overseas institution on a program). If you have a masters/degree or whatever the pay is about the same if you don't(like only have TESOL or nothing!).I would like to hear form other FT what are their opinions on this subject. Is it WORTH the time and money doing the CELTA program??

lagerlout2006 · Joined: 17 Sep 2003 Posts: 985

Teachers in China do not make "about the same." Extreme highs and lows like most things here. I'm sure a CELTA would pay for itself ,

ContemporaryDog · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 1477 Location: Wuhan, China

We've got the full gamut at my school, from someone who hasn't even finished Uni yet (or done a CELTA) to someone with no Uni experience but a CELTA, to myself with Degree plus Celta, to a few with just Degrees, to one person who has a B.Ed, two BAs and a Masters.

I keep telling the latter person he is way overqualified for this job, and could find a considerably better salary than he is getting, if he went to an international school...

As to next term, I have a friend who hasn't been to University, but has done his CELTA. I'm trying to get him to come over here but now my school is saying he must have a Degree, as the police told her that from now on it should all be graduates, which I'm rather annoyed about. Evil or Very Mad

Especially as they currently employ someone with NEITHER the degree nor CELTA.

ContemporaryDog · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 1477 Location: Wuhan, China

Sorry, there was a point to that post, which is that our pay doesn't really vary. I signed for another year and got a bit extra. Two people get 800 extra a month, but that's because they live off campus and have to pay rent etc. Their qualifications had no real bearing on the matter.

cmoseley · Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 299 Location: Touring

isn't getting a CELTA certification a bit of a pain in the ass though? my understanding (i might be wrong, i don't have it) is that beside it costing upwards of $2000, you generally have to travel somewhere to accomodate yourself and then take the class for a few weeks.

deezy · Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2004 1:28 am Post subject:

The CELTA is audited by Cambridge quite rigorously, this means it's (hopefully) the same standard worldwide. It's a four week course, very very intensive, and I was lucky that I lived near to a college that did the course over a 5 month period (I wasn't in a hurry and I had a job I couldn't afford to give up). IMHO it's probably one of the best, if not THE best, courses to do prior to taking up a teaching position. Cost is high. I think I paid around $2500 (Aussie) for mine, could have been more, it was a while ago. But within a week I was working, teaching, and I'd've never been able to cope without the rigorous training I was given.

Not anyone can 'teach' the CELTA either...the trainers have to go through rigorous training themselves I believe. And have 'real' experience.

Having said that, I don't think having the CELTA makes a blind bit of difference in pay in China. CELTA, TEFL, weekend seminar on EFL, whatever, is all the same. Might as well make up your own certificate with some fancy artwork, who checks? Or get one of those online, $200 (American) degrees advertised on the net.

struelle · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2372 Location: Shanghai

sojourner · Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2004 4:13 am Post subject:

El Lobo,

What sorts of schools would pay immature, unqualified 'teachers' 8500 per month ? Also, how many hours per week are they required to 'work' in order to get that sort of money ? Do they also get rent-free accommodation ? Airfare reimbursement ?

For teachers with an MA, the 4500 that you quoted seems a bit low. In the college/uni sector, the minimum salary for such a teacher would vary between 5-6000 RMB, for positions involving 16 teaching hours pw. Possibly, the teachers that you were referring to may be working far less than 16 teaching hours pw.

On the question of age and 'attitude', yes, there are a lot of young kids out there who are an absolute disgrace . But there also appears to be many mature-aged people, coming to this country who, through their attitudes towards life in general, could be regarded as absolute nohopers ! As with the punk kids, irresponsible middle-aged losers also have very little to contribute, both in the way of effective ESL teaching and in portraying the best of our cultural values.

Peter