Job Discussion Forums

[parvati_overdrive]

Why this wage should be so difficult to pull in. I think the expectation rather modest along with the other proper perks. Hell, it's only around rmb80 an hour!

Are the teaching posts listed simply a base for some (minor) negotiations upward? How far 'up' can I expect them to go?

For that matter, how much negotiating/contract modification can one do before the school doesn't respond as I'd read here.

Any ideas for uni work - web sites besides chinatefl?

[7969]

RMB5000 for 16 hours isnt that bad. i get 4650 for 12 hours a week, but i also have a part time job at RMB100 per hour. if you try to get too greedy when discussing the contract terms, they'll just find someone else..... esl teachers are not as difficult to find/replace as some here make it seem.

[nolefan]

It's easy to get that in the south but the northern universities are a bit stingier. The norm is closer the 4000/month for 16 hours in Hebei province and the surrounding area. One notable exception seems to be Inner-Mongolia as well as the city of Taiyuan in Shanxi.

[Roger]

Few universities pay 5000 unless to a CHinese professor, or if you have a PhD, and they actually want you to have one. In that case, your salary might even rise to double 5000. But don't assume this happens automatically!

[morningthunder]

I only earned 3000 RMB per month teaching at a uni in the North-East last year. I think that was rising to 3500 for starting Sept 04. The contract was for 16 hours per week, although I actually only taught 12 both terms. I'd say 5000 was a very handsome (not unlike every western man in China) sum.

It also depends on your qualifications when teaching at public universities in China. Foreign teachers with masters or PhDs, even if they have absolutely nothing to do with ESL or teaching itself, get paid comparitively higher than a bog-standard graduate like myself.

In terms of finding jobs, I would contact the unis themselves. Just search on the net for universities you would like to teach at and try and get a contact e-mail address from the website.

[dearbarbie]

i'm gonna be on 3000 RMB a month, with a free apartment and free return flight...thats for 16 hours a week, and overtime is at 40 RMB an hour if its over 17 hours. im going to offer private tuition maybe an hour or two a week perhaps, once im settled? im a bog-standard graduate lol

[parvati_overdrive]

thanks to you all - just does not seem like a huge sum to ask of college graduates with addl teaching certificates.

[7969]

[Talkdoc]

[morningthunder]

[lumberjackej]

[parvati_overdrive]

a mighty thanks to all, some excellent info yet again. im going to lower my goal to 4000 for 16 hours a week. after that, its just not worth the hassle. maybe 3500 for 12 hours. all points well taken; lumberjackej, talkdoc, roger and all -

lumberjackej: realize not necc directly pointed at me, my personal concern is twofold. first i beleive that people do not value what is given freely, second -there is a minimum amnt of money that we all feel our efforts are worth. sometimes it may not match the 'reality on the ground' -but there you go.

and 7969 many posts of insight but there is a certain cost to everything even in china and we do not have ability to live with family, friends, eat shared meals and otherwise use the system as locals. there are other out of pocket expenses as well.

finally, if they were all good gigs - but there is another issue, that if one is stuck doing a runner -youve well lost money.

thanks again

[Dan__]

I'd say it depends on what else comes with that 5000 a month.

If it includes housing, utilities, return airfare, etc., then I'd say 4,000 a month is okay, and 5,000 a month is pretty good.

If you're housing and other extras are not included, than 5,000 a month is a little bit on the stingy side, but still doable. And that's where location will make all the difference, as housing costs vary widely from region to region and city to city.

[lumberjackej]

Points well taken. I think 4000 RMB is a pretty decent salary and reasonable goal to shoot for, unless you're teaching in a very poor, far-flung Province. Btw, I get paid 3500 rmb but for only 12 hours a week.

Above all, I think it's important to remember that non-foreign English teachers (ie Chinese people who have the same job as us) have much less than us...at my school, at least, they live six to an apartment, only make 900 rmb a month, and have to pay for rent. Some FTs may not care about this difference, but I think it keeps things in perspective.

[hesterprynne]

I so disagree. Wait for 5000. You can find it. Look harder.