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KWhitehead

I've been helping a friend who owns a Korean hagwon in Beijing. I've sent him 4 teachers already, 2 of which stayed for a year. the other two ---very good people and good friends -- i guess got lazy or something and left. i know the saying is that if you're white, you get a job in china, but how can people not take commitments seriously?

--you don't really need to answer my questions, i just needed to get that off my chest in a public forum--

Super Mario · Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 6:37 am Post subject:

Hmmm.
1] Crappy students.
2] Crappy pay.

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

you may want to reconsider sending him more teachers. the only thing hurt in the end will be your credibility.

Tezcatlipoca · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1214

I would very much enjoy teaching Korean students again, but I'm in Guangzhou and have family commitments here.

1) It takes a certain type of personality to move overseas... there's a certain sense of the old nomadic ways in many English teachers and any level of commitment beyond tomorrow is more than they can handle.

2) You may simply have had bad luck and found some losers.

3) You friend may indeed be providing sub-standard compensation in terms of salary and / or benefits.

Not knowing details, that's the best explanation I can give.

Malsol · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 1976 Location: Lanzhou

Teachers not worth a dang?

Try paying them what they are worth.

Half a dang?

KWhitehead · Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 12:23 am Post subject:

Tezcatlipoca · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1214

Ah, see... there's the problem.

Teachers simply don't come to China for the money, they come for the experience. And preventing long vacations (with 3 days considered 'long' in Korea) really denies that chance. Additionally, finding a substitute teacher is traditionally the school's responsibility in Western countries... not the teacher's. I've always tried to find a substitute for my classes if I am ill, but it's not always possible. In Korea, I was ill once and could not stand up... but my hagwon director still demanded I teach.

160 rmb/hour is really not sufficient if no benefits are offered. It will cover living, but nothing in terms of travel.

As for wanting white faces, that's common throughout Asia. I will not work at a company that demands white faces, even if that requirement doesn't affect me (since I'm white). But I refuse to contribute to discrimination by supporting schools that engage in such conduct. I hope other teachers will do the same.

Many school owners across Asia are simply not accustomed to the idea that if you hire Westerners, who are used to better working conditions, you're going to have to budge from your Asian mindset a bit. I'm not saying that it has to be 100% Western, but it also can't be 100% Asian... same as any multi-cultural relationship, private or otherwise.

andyOhio · Joined: 20 Nov 2005 Posts: 16 Location: Dayton, Ohio

Thanks for the information about working with Koreans in China. I am considering working for a Korean TOEFL prep school in Qingdao. I do not know the monthly salary that I should expect. I would teach 24 hours per week, which seems like the standard number of hours in Korea rather than in China. An apartment is provided.

Tezcatlipoca · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1214

24 hours in week should get a salary of more than 10,000 per month in Qingdao. I don't think that's a particularly expensive city.

In Guangzhou, one company I have had contact with pays 12,000 for a maximum of 25 hours per week. Another pays 14,000 for 30 hours per week (with little to no prep time).

HGLTsuperstar · Joined: 07 Aug 2006 Posts: 28

Does that include a free apartment aswell?

Tezcatlipoca · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1214

Negative... technically those salaries are 2,000 rmb lower with the difference being a housing allowance.

They do come with health insurance and airfare reimbursement.

Steppenwolf · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 1769

Recruit better teachers - such as Singaporeans, Indians, Filippinos. You get them with excellent track records, good educational backgrounds, and, above all, a dedication to work and a loyalty hardly any white face will ever offer! I swear I am not making this up!

vikdk · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 1676

yahooooooooooo - Roger is back

KWhitehead · Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 5:58 am Post subject:

Tezcatlipoca · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1214

Yes Roger, white people are lazy. Bow before your wisdom.

(Gotta love racism, no matter who the target is, eh?)

Look, it has nothing to do with the color of the face as good teachers come in every color and nationality. It is more likely to do with their goals in life:

1) Are they wanting to settle not just in China, but in that same town for a significant period of time?

2) Are they passionate about teaching? I'm not talking skilled, because any first time teacher (and second or third time teachers for that matter) is going to be unpolished and need to learn that school's system. But passion can not be taught, yet is a key component to the success of the teacher.