Job Discussion Forums

rap60 · Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Posts: 53 Location: Brisbane, Australia

I just saw the question regarding living in Qingdao on a 'western' salary as I was about to post a similar question. My wife and I (plus 3 year old) are looking to relocate to Qingdao to teach english. We have posted our resume here and with a number of online TESOL job boards, probably we are a little early for the July - September intake, all though we have already received a firm offer from a school which is for a wage of 6000 rmb each and kindergarten schooling for our daughter if required. Accom provided. is 12,000rmb a month a liveable wage? we are happy to live buying local produce, public transport etc would this kind of wage allow some luxuries (coffee beans/import chocolate etc on occassion) would it allow for us both to have mobile phones with moderate usage i.e we have a son in Australia we would like to keep in contact with. i realise that to those of you who have done this before that these are probably naiave questions but humour us and any info/insight appreciated. And any 'extra' expenses we may not have thought of. Cheers

The Ever-changing Cleric · Joined: 19 Feb 2009 Posts: 1523

12,000 is quite good, you wont have any worries. I also think you could bank a significant part of that money as well.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

As you say - that's 6000 per teacher and on Qingdao rates that's good.
But do be clear what you are letting yourself in for.
How many teaching hours?
How many consecutive days off?
Will both you and your wife's schedules be compatible with each other and with your child's schedule?
Are there unpaid admin hours?
Is all teaching at the same location or are you 'mornings here, afternoons there?'
Where is the apt relative to the teaching task?
Is the winter (Chinese NY holiday) paid?
Utilities paid?
Airfare?
Access to subsidised cafeteria?
Is it Qingdao proper or outlying suburbs?

LanGuTou · Joined: 23 Mar 2009 Posts: 621 Location: Shandong

From a purely financial point of view, 12000 rmb in Qingdao is quite high. There is no problem getting by on that kind of salary especially if your daughter's kindergarten fees are inclusive.

Be careful though about bringing such a young child to China. Health and hygiene are not the best. I would advise trying to secure medicare insurance in your own country that allows treatment in an international hospital (at least one, perhaps more exist in Qingdao).

This is purely precautionary and I don't want to give the impression that you will be faced with impending danger. However, medical insurance provided by schools is usually limited and only allows treatment at Chinese medical facilities that can, at best, be outdated.

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

Without knowing the hours per week you must put in, what kind of school it is, and other factors thrown in, I can simply only advice that I and others who live in smaller cities pull in at least 100 RMB an hourly working rate.

So when they say "western salary"... I don't think that less than 1000 USD a month could be considered "western".

mgafunnell · Joined: 29 Jun 2007 Posts: 89

it's fine. if you're a good teacher you might find your chinese colleagues trying to hire you on the side to teach their children. remember: your 1st contract is just a foot in the door. if you build a decent reputation as a teacher, you'll have to beat off extra gigs. there is more work here for foreign teachers than in any other country i have seen. i have taught in china, south korea, england and have done tutorials in north korea and canada. china is best