Job Discussion Forums

[obe]

Hello,

I am wondering what you guys think of this situation. I originally applied for an English teaching position with a middle/high school, but after reviewing my resume they seemed more interested in my extensive Computer teaching background than my English teaching background. They mentioned they may want me to teach Computers (word, excel, powerpoint, access/database, outlook�), and put forth some initial salary expectations. The next day I received an email informing me that they would also really like me to teach Science (Math included), Business (my formal degree) and English (writing, reading, speaking and listening), with a new salary expectations.
According to them I will earn a base pay of 3000ish rmb/month and an additional 95 rmb per class per day never to be less than 18 classes per week (the actual numbers equal out to be about 10,000rmb/month working the minimum 18 classes a week). I have been assured this will be at one location, and I will not be farmed out. This seems like it would be a good wage if I were teaching oral English, but subjects such as Math, science, Computers, Business and English (writing, reading, speaking, listening) take considerably more time to prepare for and administer than just Oral English. I think 18 class hours of multiple subjects will easily take up more than 40 hours a week. I think they are low balling me on the salary to a huge degree. Do subject teachers in China demand more salary than their oral English counterparts? I would imagine so.
What do you guys think?

Thanks

[slareth]

It's hard to judge. Until you truly understand what they expect of you, this will all be guesswork.

For example..if you had to teach Access in English from scratch it would require a lot of work. If you only have to teach them how to use Access USING English, that is fairly simple and would require little prep work depending on your qualifications.

In 18 hours a week across such a wide range of classes I would have to guess you would not be going very deep into any particular subject.

Do not expect a higher wage for things like listening, reading, or writing but if your qualifications and abilities back you up, you can push for a higher wage for IT related classes if they do more than scratch the surface.

[Ariadne]

Whenever you have an additional course it requires additional time for everything... securing materials, lesson preps, writing/grading exams, and figuring/entering grades at the end of the term. 18 hours of the same Oral English class, no big deal, but 18 hours with three or four different courses would be a much heavier load. I would suggest that you try to negotiate fewer weekly hours (14 or 16) with a maximum of three different courses.

.

[dharma86]

Yeah I say either less hours or less subjects to teach!

[daCabbie]

Just say NO! If they want you they will be reasonable. If they want you to teach four separate subjects, ask them to pay you 4x the original amount.

How much would it cost them to hire and give benefits to four teachers?

Any school that asks a teacher to teach math, science, English and another subject is crazy. They are cutting too many corners. They know that and so do you (that is why you are here).

What have they done in the past? Avoid answer like, 'the Chinese teachers do it" or "all the FT's do it" these are often lies.

If they say, 'well how about we give you two subjects and less hours" get it in WRITING!!!! There is no such thing as 'you have my word' or 'guaranteed' in China, they mean almost nothing if you do not know the person.

Are you speaking directly to the school or a recruiter? Ask!!

Almost everything, in this story, from hours to money to honesty; say RUN, IMHO.

Yes, the school (or recruiter) is trying to work all this out before a contract is signed, that's a plus, but.....

[El Macho]

Teaching 18+ hours of classes that have homework and require separate planning requires huge, unpaid effort outside of class. To me, there's no way is that is worth �10,000/month; YMMV depending upon your qualifications, previous work experience, previous salary, expectations, and self-worth.

[slareth]

[choudoufu]

we really don't know much of anything. the employer is all
over the map on this. it could wind up being 18 different
classes, each with 100 students.

[Halapo]

I have yet to meet a Chinese teacher who teaches more then one subject. I know a fair number that teach 2-3 classes a day, but always the same subject, day in day out, for the whole year.

Just teaching 1 English lesson, 12 times a week, I have 2-4 hours planning, and then 1-2 hours marking per classes (12-24 hours marking). So 18 classes would be a lot of marking and then to triple the planning time?

Maybe things can be worked out ( they might not be expecting much in the way of teaching and maybe more like babysitting some of those classes ). I would try to get a better idea of how intense a lesson they expect.

And yes, is your contact a recruiter or school? I can see a recruiter billing you out for four subjects, paying you for one and pocketing the rest. I would hope a school FAO could be more helpful.

[obe]

Thanks for all the great responses.
I don�t want to give out to many details in case they troll these forums, but the school is located in one of the three largest cities in China.
At this point the salary has been set around 12500. They said the offer may increase if I agree to teach math classes.
I�m not sure how the system works, but it seems this middle school gets all of its foreign employees from this agency. I get the feeling they are building a profile in hopes of selling me to this middle school. I think they want to offer this middle school a teacher who can teach anything.
I told them before I would sign anything I would need to know the exact classes they wanted me to teach. The director of this agency has told me that I don�t need to worry about the Chinese learning the math, �they are very capable and already know most of it�. According to her, it seems, the math courses are very easy to teach. I get the feeling she would tell me anything to get me to sign on as a math teacher.
I�m interested to see how this will all turn out. My next interview will be with the director of studies at the middle school. Hopefully they can come up with course schedule and salary I will accept.
My ideal position would be with a University. I like students that age, and I have a ton of experience teaching at that level (in the States). My goal is to learn the language and enjoy the culture. I don�t think this job will allow that, but maybe I will be surprised.

[NigerianWhisper]

Are you a home country certified teacher?

[flyingscotsman]

[choudoufu]

[Mister Al]

The salary plus extra per class is pish. What about the holidays? Or of you happen to fall ill for a week or so?

I would take no less than a maximum of 3 subjects for a minimum RMB1200 every month. Plus RMB150 minimum for each hour more than 18 per week. And that's only if the hour is an academic hour (40-50 minutes). And a rent-free apartment!!!!!

[obe]