Job Discussion Forums

[word]

It is the time when schools and Uni's s in China are busy recruiting again.
I have worked here for about 6 years, both as a teacher and HOD or teaching director.
I see there has been a revival of the old chestnut; "Chinese language schools: the 21 st century sweat shops".
Whilst i don't want to get into that, it's been done to death resuscitated and killed again, I do offer the following for new comers as a guide or advice only, ultimately the final decision is up to you and your common sense.
There is a feeling that "foreign" run schools are better than Chinese, [training centres I mean,] but this is largely a fallacy.
What i have noticed recently is a number of international chain schools with "foreign" sounding names as HOD etc trying to lower conditions and salary on the basis of location.
Most offer a lower salary claiming that the cost of living is less in xyz because it is a small, friendly charming Chinese city, town, village etc. Whilst I have not yet visited every village in China, I have travelled from the far North West, to North East, down the centre and to the South. Generally speaking, from my experience, things are reasonably standard priced IN SO FAR AS MOST ELTS ARE CONCERNED.
True, rent, taxis and imported luxury items are are more expensive in the bigger cities, [luxury food is not just cheaper in the village, it doesn't exist!] but again, generally, most schools provide accommodation close to or on campus, and even in bigger cities, you may not need to use taxi much once one becomes au fait with the bus routes, or buy a bike, walk etc.
Most times you will prepare and eat from your apartment, and generally, basic groceries, such as rice, milk, meat are roughly the same price all over China.
Things such as TV's small appliances, flash disks etc are actually cheaper in the metro regions due to competition, "specials" or price reductions are often less common in smaller places.
The average, basic Chinese style restaurant, does not vary in price much around China either, but I agree, if you want to spend 365 days eating at a 5 star hotel it will cost more, and they are a bit harder to find in a country village.
In extreme cases, if you are really in a remote place, sometimes fruit can actually be more expensive than the cities due to freight charges.
So, you are not going to save much on the cost of living in a small city compared with say Beijing, [my home] if you have a school provided apartment and cook for yourself.
Some state run schools, college, universities etc also try this on.
Another trick used by the latter, [and sometimes training centres] is the " Come and teach in a poor Chinese school"routine, again in an attempt to appeal to your finer instincts to teach in the region to "do some good" at a lower pay rate.
Again, why you come here to work is up to you, but speaking generally, there is a salary scale set by the ministry of education, and there is little reason why a remote school cannot pay you this.
Yes, other richer schools, regions MAY offer more, they will subsidise your salary from student fees, but that is another issue.
I have not checked this recently, [of course being wise, you already have,] but i would suspect that if you are a native speaker, with a degree and some TEFL certificate and a year or so experience you should get about 4,000 rmb minimum per month. Expect to pay tax...... you should but may not.
If you want to do volunteer work etc, that is grand, but do check to ensure your students are NOT still paying premium fees and the savings on your salary are going directly into the directors pocket or to corrupt government officials. You may find that instead of helping, you are exasperating the situation.
Yes, you can do better at a private cram school, but check the hours to salary ratio, again, as a rough guide, most uni's etc expect 14 to 16 hours weekly, training centres can demand 22 to 25 or more per week.
So to summarise, be a little bit cautious, shop around, use your calculator and work out what you are being paid PER HOUR and figure this into your choice and don't fall victim to the poor Chinese rural school or we are a small city so costs are less routine.
Oh, BTW, this is largely my opinion based on experience, you may not agree, that's fine, your prerogative, but I don't want to start a fight or on going debate over this.
Good luck

[cj750]

[cubit]

[tofuman]

Word,

Your remarks about the appeal of schools to the nobler instincts of Westernersin order to inspire them to work for a lower salary are well put. I recently met a group from the States who paid their own round trip tickets and will work during the summer for room and board and a couple of bus trips.

Almost certainly, the numerous children 's parents were paying a good price to expose their little darlings to native English speakers. This particular program was associated with a major universiy.

These are Chinese entrepreneurs. Ripping off Westerners. It's much easier than doing something that we would consider ethical and ennobling. This is why I maintain that the Chinese in China are akin to sociopaths in the West. In America, if a person, for instance, murders a policeman, society abhors him. But he is a hero in prison among other sociopaths.

Most people, except for individuals despised by others, are interested in giving people a fair deal in the U.S.A. Not so in China. People are interested in hurting others to advantage themselves.

If you can cheat a Westerner, you gain face. This seems especially true in the English language business.



Cubit,

I'd be interested in knowing more about your 17,000 salary. What type of place do you work and how many hours a week?

[cj750]

tofuman,