Job Discussion Forums

creeper1

Private langaugage schools seem to offer better pay.

Why are universities considered better jobs (by a lot of ppl)?

Is it vacation and few working hours?

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

The following will tell you everything you need to know:

Your thoughts please - job choices

Why teach at University instead of Language Mill?

Would you consider university ESL your dream job?

JoelTeacher · Joined: 01 Oct 2011 Posts: 5

great!!

CJD · Joined: 19 Jun 2009 Posts: 116

well you only work 7 months a year but get paid for 10... and during those 7 months you're probably only working 10-15 full hours a week.

if you look at how much you make per hour, most language schools don't really pay more than universities.

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

Said this before but bears repeating.
Assign a cash value to the items like accommodation, paid holidays, subsidised cafs and like someone else has said the remuneration per hour is comparable.
If you want a career then a language chain can offer DOS and management which not available in public unis.
Over 3 public unis and colleges I think they are less variable one to t'other than language schools.

Lobster · Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 9:17 am Post subject:

auchtermuchty · Joined: 05 Dec 2009 Posts: 344 Location: Beijing

If you can find a good uni job the pay can be quite a bit higher per contact hour of teaching over the course of your contract. Most big cities offer lots of reasonably paid part-time work to supplement your pay, and you have the flexibility to take long holidays. You're also not dependent on generally dodgy employers (mills) for your visa and/or recommendation letter (for a new visa).

Miajiayou · Joined: 30 Apr 2011 Posts: 283 Location: Nanjing

cormac · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 768 Location: Xi'an (XTU)

Personally, I think the hassles involved in working for a private school far outweigh the lower salaries of a university. As long as you don't go looking for trouble generally the university will keep you out of their internal politics and you can just enjoy yourself, whereas private schools tend to look to cut corners everywhere and you (The FT) end up paying in either time or money.

Three years ago I earned 5k for working at KK (Private) in Xi'an. I've heard the salaries are now at 6k for the same hours (half teaching half compulsary admin hours). At my university I work 16 hours total and get 4500k. At the private school, my holidays had to be fought over and I'd be lucky to get many or even to be paid much for them. At the University, I get plenty of holidays (I could almost say too much) and I get paid for all of them. As with both private and University, I do some makeup classes for some holidays.

The true advantage of universities comes in three aspects. 1) Private schools tend to cater to kids and teens, which are rather high energy work considering the hours worked. Whereas my university is rather... relaxed about classes. 2) The hours for classes in private schools tend to be the evenings during the week (although you might have to go in early for admin hours) and the whole weekend. One day off a week. (I know some schools have different setups but they're similar.) My University classes are all between 8am and 6pm.. 3) Lastly, and most importantly, (for me) private schools are dodgy about contracts whereas most universities will stick to the letter. That can't be underestimated.

creeper1 · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 2:13 am Post subject: Surprised at the low salary

Maybe I am not going to consider China then.

Cormac your salary is paid monthly? I done a quick currency conversion. 5000 Yuan is equivalent to 592 Euros. Shocked

That is pitifully poor. You have an Irish name. Are you from Ireland? If so you'll know that simply by lying on the dole you get 188 Euros a week minimum. 4 * 188 = 752 Euros.

What on earth is the point in living in China? I guess it must be purely for the experience.

dean_a_jones · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 1151 Location: Wuhan, China

cormac · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 768 Location: Xi'an (XTU)

Lobster · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 11:46 am Post subject:

I think cormac hit the nail on the head. It's all about purchasing power in your day-to--day life. For example, if you had 5-6k to throw around every month, you could eat at a decent Chinese rstaurant almost every night, buy a new wardrobe or a home stereo system, e-bike etc. I don't think you could live like that on the dole in Ireland or anywhere else.

RED

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

But living on the dole is so coooool. . . imagine the stories you could tell your grandkids.

Miles Smiles · Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 1294 Location: Heebee Jeebee

My college:

Higher-than-average pay for my eastern province

Low work load (I worked 4.5 hours per week last term. It's higher this term, but it'll drop again in the spring).

Great FAO.

Excellent accommodations: Four rooms with upholstered furniture.

Free board. No utilities. Bottled water delivery.

FREE fireworks extravaganza four nights per week.

HUGE blood-sucking mosquitoes.

Bats equipped with stealth technology flitting about the campus.

The list goes on and on.