Job Discussion Forums

Mikeylikesit114 · Joined: 21 Dec 2007 Posts: 129

Hi everybody. I'm a newbie, and I have 2 offers for my first job in China. I would appreciate any advice you guys might have for me.

Job Offer 1: Teach Business English at Peking University Graduate School in Shenzhen. 15000 RMB per month for ~20 teaching hours per week. NO housing included, NO housing subsidy. I would basically be teaching 1 class to about 100 students, and have freedom to design the curriculum (and structure of the class, discussion sections, etc) as I see fit.

Job Offer 2: Teach IB Economics and English at Shanghai High School International Division. 2100 US Dollars per month for ~20 teaching hours per week. It's a full time job, so I would be required to spend the remaining 20 hours or so at my desk, prepping or having office hours. Free on campus housing provided. All utilities paid except telephone. 5,200 US dollar bonus at completion of contract.

I guess the biggest question I have is which job will be better for my long term career prospects in China. In a perfect world, I'd like to teach economics at a REAL international school in China. I'm not a certified teacher (and have no plans of becoming one), however, just an M.A. in econ. I also have no teaching experience. Do I stand a realistic chance of being able to make the jump from SHSID to an American style or similar international school after a few years experience?

If that isn't a viable option, how will the PKU SZ job look on my CV if I should decide to go the Business English/corporate teaching route?

Any and all comments on my dilemma are appreciated.

Thanks all.

China.Pete · Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 547

"Do I stand a realistic chance of being able to make the jump from SHSID to an American style or similar international school...?" -- Mikey Likesit

International schools, the ones paying �20,000 or more per month, will require a bona fide teaching license. That's why they pay those kind of salaries, while universities in China are paying foreigners with master's degrees and doctorates �4,000-6,000.

"[H]ow will the PKU-SZ job look on my CV if I should decide to go the Business English/corporate teaching route?" -- Mikey Likesit

The big-name university brands mean everything in China. That's why PKU is trying to extend theirs through ventures such as the one you've mentioned in Shenzhen. If you have dreams of making it in the Business English/corparate training markets (among the few sources of big money in teaching for the non-licencured in China), then PKU would definitely not hurt.

The_Hanged_Man · Joined: 10 Oct 2004 Posts: 224 Location: Tbilisi, Georgia

DrVanNostrand · Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 70

Are Social Studies positions hard to come by at these international schools?

I teach middle schools social studies here in the states (first year teacher). What are the odds that someone like myself could land a job at an international school in a not so desolate location in China?

The_Hanged_Man · Joined: 10 Oct 2004 Posts: 224 Location: Tbilisi, Georgia

DrVanNostrand · Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 70

Mikeylikesit114 · Joined: 21 Dec 2007 Posts: 129

Thanks China Pete and The Hanged Man.

So the impression I'm getting from you two is that I can't get a job at an international school unless i'm a certified teacher, no matter what other qualifications or teaching experience I may have.

The problem is that I already have a considerable amount of student loan debt, and I'm really itching to get the @3&% out of the states.

Are there any distance learning PGCE's, or other programs that would get me certified (by British, Aussie, Kiwi, or Canadian standards) while I teach in China?

mjlpsu · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 128 Location: NJ to Shenzhen

I work near PKU SZ. It's a nice campus and nice area, but far from the rest of the city. The subway should be out there in another 2 years. There are some nice apartments in the area and shouldn't be too expensive to rent...although I'm not entirely sure of the price. I think they also have school bus (I see it every morning) that would run through other parts of the city, so you can look at getting an apartment in another area.

Mikeylikesit114 · Joined: 21 Dec 2007 Posts: 129

In case anyone's interested, after some negotiation I've decided to take the PKU offer.

mjlpsu · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 128 Location: NJ to Shenzhen

Let me know when you get here. I'll be on the other side of campus for another year.

Mikeylikesit114 · Joined: 21 Dec 2007 Posts: 129

Sure thing. I'll probably be arriving around the beginning/middle of August to sort out my housing situation. The University is offering me a partially subsidized apartment or dorm, but I'd like to live comfortably so I may find my own place.

Let's meet up sometime in August if you're around.