Job Discussion Forums

[kittyfye]

Greetings, ALL.

I have two and half years' experience in Korea, a little over a year of which is with a couple of Korean universities, and one year's experience teaching Eng lang in an American university. In Dec I will have completed an American MA course in Eng Lit, and then Aug '08 I start the PhD course in Eng Lit--which I expect to take a few more years.

But I just want to know: Those of you with similar degrees, what does the degree, MA or PhD, get you in China? I am curious about salary, working conditions, vacation time, any perks, etc.

Thanks!

[mjlpsu]

Nothing. You'll still get the starting salary, same as everyone else. But you can also apply for EFL jobs at universities.

[Anda]

A wage that will take you many years to pay off for the additional two more years of university studies.

You say that you have worked in South Korea for two years! Tell me where a PHD will get you more money over a master's degree there? The top dollar in South Korea can be got with a masters. I am talking in teaching ESL of course. South Korea plus China do have other openings for big money for those who can teach some complicated science and so forth! But then you need a PHD, or whatever plus a track record!

English teaching isn't roket science my friend or hasn't two years in South Korea taught you that. I got off a plane in 1990 in South Korea and started to teach it with not even a high school degree. I have a grad dip these days however for visa reasons!

[Shan-Shan]

Your possible degrees will likely get you 1000RMB+ above what's offered for a BA with TESL (for a university position). Unlike Korea, Chinese universities take pretty much anyone; the pay reflects this fact quite clearly.

[clark.w.griswald]

With those academic qualifications why not apply for a teaching or administrative job at an international school. They are not paying what they used to but the pay and benefits are still far superior than what you will get in any other educational institution in China.

[11:59]

But to teach at an International school requires that one has QTS and is thus able to teach in the government system in his or her home state. MAs and PhDs do not enter the equation as they have no bearing on QTS.

[Anda]

International schools also usually require you to be able to teach all subjects.

If you stick on Dave's ESL for long enough you will learn that South Korean universities hardly ever give tenure to foreigners. I would expect it to be the same here in China. I have seen our lot after eight and ten years crying that they have been passed up yet again for tenure to some local with half the ability and time at the same university.

We are foreigners and are treated as such. Enjoy what it offers but don't kid yourself.

Go to William Wallace profile and see his past postions on dropping wages and conditions at the high end in Bejing for ESL teaching!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tenure -- What is It? (Dennis G. Jerz -- Seton Hill University)Tenure is a professor's permanent job contract, granted after a probationary period of six or seven years. At UWEC, tenure is determined by the applicant's ...
jerz.setonhill.edu/resources/FAQ/tenure.htm - 18k - Cached - Similar pages

A Few Tenure TricksTenure is the holy grail of university life. Once tenured, faculty enjoy academic freedom -- they can choose research without fear of displeasing the ...
www.cs.purdue.edu/homes/dec/essay.tenure.tricks.html - 7k - Cached - Similar pages

Tenure -University of Michigan Faculty HandbookAt a time when some academic institutions are reconsidering the efficacy of tenure, the University of Michigan continues to believe that tenure is an ...
www.provost.umich.edu/faculty/handbook/6/6.A.html - 10k -

[william wallace]

Your post goes perfectly with my last posting.......? "Hey cutie want a job?"

[11:59]

[Anda]

If they the International School are short a teacher then you can be asked to teach out of your subject when another teacher does a runner {leaves without notice) or is sick. If the school is big enough you could also find that with a drop off in student numbers from one year to the next etc that you might have to teach another subject.

It happens in Korea and back home in OZ at normal public schools. You are employed as a school teacher after all, correct?

[11:59]

I think there is a vast difference between standing in for sick colleagues and stating that international schools "usually require you to be able to teach all subjects".

[latefordinner]

ICBW, but I believe there's a bit of difference between a PhD or MA, who could reasonably expect to find useful and rewarding work at a tertiary institution, and a bachelors-qualified subject teacher in a primary or secondary school. Well I could, and perhaps I should, but this being China perhaps not. Have a look at WW's cute thread, and at my own barbaric reply to the 19 year old thread. After all the work you've poured into your advanced degree, after all you've done to build your personal academic integrity, do you want to be equated with a 19 year old refugee from his parents? Higher education simply doesn't exist in China.

[william wallace]

Can't teach at international schools with M.A or Phd,you'd need B.Ed., but a foreign college......BUT, really best to go to another market

[clark.w.griswald]

[malu]

A lot depends on the subject with international schools. There is an elegant sufficiency of English teachers but a dearth of EXPERIENCED science teachers at present. Physics teachers seem particularly hard to recruit throughout 'cheap' Asia (ie not Japan or Korea). If you have a PhD in the subject plus RELEVANT teaching experience then you are in with a chance if only because the "Dr." title looks good on the expat staff list.

Note the capitalisation in the above. If you have a higher science degree but only ESL teaching experience it most likely won't work.