Job Discussion Forums

[naturegirl321]

I've had more than a couple of job offers from China and I've heard this a lot. For example, when they ask me how much I expect to make, I say, what I deserve based on my qualifications and experience and wait for them to give me a number. The last one told me that ALL teachers start with 5000, plus room, visa, flights etc.

So it doesn't matter if you are fresh out of HS, like a couple of the teachers on their website or have an MA and lots of experience.

When I asked if it's possible to get higher salary, they said of course, but you'd have to arrange your own room and visa. And they're always very quick to point out that FTs make more than locals.

Of course they do, FTs have more expenses, it's like comparing apples and oranges. The typical young local teacher probably still lives with their family, so pays no utilities. Doesn't have oversea phone calls to parents to make. Knows where to shop. Can speak the langauge so they can bargain. They don't take taxis. And they're probably not paying for food either. Nor do they have to settle and and purchase things, lots pots and pans.

It's just really frustrating to see that getting FIVE more years of experience than when I first went to China, I'm getting offered the same salary and being told that "well, you'll make more than the locals"

[suanlatudousi]

Yes, because foreigners MUST take taxi's ... that's on a sign at entry points around the country.

You're being (generally) offered free room, utilities 24 hours a day, etc. ... your choice and your consequence of not accepting it -- as I do not.

Use online agents such as Skype to make overseas calls and never even give the cost another though.

Stay away from the need to live your life as if you were back home and live "in country" and you will never need to give food costs another thought as well.

That's how it is.

Experience means little nothing, especially in this field.

[donb2222]

5 times as much as Chinese teachers ? I doubt it. I know the Chinese teachers at my school earn much more than 1000 RMB per month.

5000 per month is too low IMHO. If you accept that low of a salary it just makes it that much easier for them to try to pay others such a low salary.
Also, IMHO, money is respect in China, and by offering you such a low salary they are saying that they do not value you very highly.

I am in my first year of teaching in China, and my salary is 8,000 RMB per month, plus apartment, airfare, cash bonuses, free utilities, etc.

You are an experienced, qualified teacher, keep looking until you find a better offer.

[Buck Lin]

I find my salary at the low end adequate. But well put nature girl. What bothers me is that many people have a piece of me. This is China's delema in EFL. They are not able to deal directly with foreigners and rely on recruiters who get a piece of you and then the FAO gets a piece of you and the police must also get a piece of you. Our problem arizes from previous people who did volunteer work here. They were rich and could afford to take a year off their lives to teach in China. The Chinese knew they were rich and now think we are all rich and easy pickins. But in CHina the norm is to buy your job. You buy your job and then do nothing .

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

Kibbs is no longer with us. He seemed to think he could come on this board and insult people.

He was wrong.

[naturegirl321]

[Laurence]

Perhaps you could plan to come for a year or six months on one of those contracts you mentioned, and if you find something good after your initial contract, stay.

But have a backup plan in case you don't.

Have you thought about national plus schools or IS in Indonesia? Compared to state and private schools in China they might value your training and experience more..

[SandyG20]

Just look at the price of a plane ticket from the USA to China - not cheap - and the salary level would limit visits back home.

My first choice has always been China - and I am a licensed teacher and can't find a great salary either.

The international schools are VERY competitive and require in person interviews in most cases - again that takes money!

[sojourner]

Donb2222,

You mentioned that you regard a starting salary of 5 K as "too low". Yet, I have come across reports that starting salaries can be as low as 2 K - especially at lower level unis/colleges in the more remote parts of the country . Recently, a former colleague (with a BA, TESOL cert, and about 3 or 4 years teaching exp in China) advised me that he had accepted a uni job, somewhere in the NE, that only pays around 3.8 K ! !

But for a newbie with at least a Master's degree, a final offer of 5 K is quite good. For a BA holder, then 4K - or maybe 4.5 K, with a bit of luck.

I'm intrigued that, as a first year teacher in this country, you are on 8 K ! Exactly what kind of institution are you working for ? A corporate training centre, by any chance ? Certainly not a uni - other than, possibly, one that has a JV arrangement with a foreign uni, or/and one where you are working something like 20 to 24 hours pw !

Peter

[donb2222]

Almost every job that was offered to me had salaries of at least 4.500 RMB, 6.000 RMB was a very common offer.

I am at a public high school, 16 hours per week.

[sojourner]

Naturegirl,

In a previous posting you mentioned that you would be willing to work up to about 24 hours pw - provided that you were paid something in the vicinity of 8 K ! Should you be offered a uni job that pays 5 K for about, say, 14 or 16 "teaching hours"pw, accept it - and, make yourself available to a local primary school for 8 hours pw, where you might get between 3 and 5 K, considering that the latter place will not be providing you with a flat, airfare reimbursement, etc. Maybe, in your initial dealings with a recruiter for a uni job, you could also ask that person if he/she could also arrange such a second job for you.

Re the (seemingly) low salaries for FTs - even for those who are well-experienced - it would appear that higher rates of pay are offered for those who have had previous experience IN CHINA, rather than experience in other countries. I know of one FT who, prior to coming here, had worked for over 20 years at secondary schools in his own country - do you think that his current employer offered him an exceptional salary that would reflect his long teaching experience ? Nawww !

FTs salaries are low for a number of reasons - mostly, it appears, related to the law of supply and demand. Reports that there is "plenty of work"; slack admin procedures re the checking of one's qualifications; cheap beer; "plenty of (supposedly) friendly women"; etc, are just too much for a lot of (usually) male losers to ignore ! Also, there are the unpaid volunteers, "missionaries" (who are willing to work for low pay, and who may be financially supported by their fellowships back home); as well as retired couples who are not too concerned with the salaries being offered, as long as they are provided with a "nice, pleasant, secure flat".

If you want a reasonably good salary, here ,in China, you need to stay put for a couple of years - rather than going off to teach in Korea, Mexico, etc. Also, one would need to gain additional qualifications - a Master's degree, it appears. is much more highly regarded in China than a practically-oriented diploma-level qualification (eg DELTA);although having both might pay dividends if dealing with an FAO who is quite savvy with Br/American academic and TESL qualifications.

Peter

[Buck Lin]

Sometimes but not always these high paying jobs will kill you. Teaching the priveleged in CHina is not that easy. They rule and it is quite common to hear about teachers sent packing (CHinese and foreigners) because the students didn't like them. Have you ever taught classes where forty students all thought they were the best in the class? This year I am taking a slight salary cut but the stress level has come down ninety percent from last year.

[Hansen]

Yes, I agree with Buck. The privileged, child or adult, are highly spoiled in China. If you think Pu Yi was the last Emperor, just talk to some of China's nouveau riche. Talk about euro trash, ha!

Explain to me how a teacher on a three thousand a month salary can build rental apartments for half a million RMB, even with a partner. The grey income here is enormous, inconceivable

Buying jobs is very common for those with some guanxi but not enough for a freebie. 20 years salary is not an uncommon price. To whose pocket does that money go?

I certainly don't understand all this but I know it is going on, right under our noses.

Some Chinese English teachers require their pupils to attend tutoring off campus at a fee which goes into the English teacher's pocket.

Don't believe that you make so much more than the poor Chinese teachers. Few of us own two flats, a car, and are in line for paid retirement from the Chinese when we get old.

I can't understand why anyone without an ulterior motive would want to teach in China. When I first came here, I could have made more money in a day than I made here in a month.

But I like the wushu, the food, and the uh... so forth. Fresh baozi in the morning is so much tastier than almost any western breakfast. When in Japan, I came upon a little place in Kyoto that served great pancakes. I couldn't believe it. I still prefer the baozi

[donb2222]

3.000 a month is the number that I hear most often for the Chinese teachers salary.

[naturegirl321]