Job Discussion Forums

[TheAwesomeXpress]

Hi there, first post!

My girlfriend and I are applying for ESL work in China, and after sending an application to the Hebei Institute of Communication I got sent back a contract. I haven't signed it yet, don't worry .

No interview, no follow-up questions, no nothing.

Is this unusual?

Thanks!

[therock]

I saw this position in the job section. Salary of 7000rmb is certainly above average, but they didn't mentioned how many classes / hours a week you have to teach. How many is it?

Yeah, it's common for employers to offer you a contract without an interview, especially government schools and schools in less than desirable locations, as long as you have sent them all the documents they requested. Don't worry about that.

Overall the offer is not bad, the job is at a public institute which reduces the chances of getting scammed, you could do a lot worse. Shijiazhuang is dump, but it is near Beijing and a great place to learn Mandarin.

Did you have to send them a copy of a criminal background check?

[TheAwesomeXpress]

I found out that it'd be 20 teaching periods a week, so I guess that's very reasonable considering the salary.

I didn't have to send them a CBC, but I have one anyway, as we tried to apply to EPIK before .

What makes you say it's a dump? As long as it has good shopping for the gf then I'm happy!

[Miles Smiles]

Seven thousand rmb for twenty class room hours? That's reasonable? You need to take into account the time spent preparing lessons, reading the book(s), correcting test papers, and going to and from class.

How many different subjects will you be teaching? Every extra subject taught adds to the work load.

Find out how far your apartment (I assume it's part of the package) is from where you will be teaching.

I am addressing only SOME of the facets of your possible contract and stay in China.

You may be accustomed to working forty hours per week at a non-teaching job and figure that twenty hours of teaching will be a snap.

Ain't so.

[Lobster]

Miles is right, 20 hours is a full load and any additional subject, especially writing, will keep you more than busy. That city also has terrible pollution, even for China.

RED

[therock]

[GeminiTiger]

If you you and your girlfriend have degrees and are young you are a premium package in China. I recommend you look for something like 5000 rmb per month, 16 hours max. In a city that you desire. Do not teach writing unless you really enjoy that idea, get a conversational English job.

I've taught writing twice, it aged my soul several years.

[TheAwesomeXpress]

Wow thanks for all your advice, it's really appreciated.

We've decided not to go for it; the pollution was what really did it for us.

Thanks!

[therock]

[choudoufu]

if two of you will be teaching at the same uni, they don't need to
know you're a couple. try to get them to agree to a housing
allowance for off-campus accommodations.

two allowances combined would rent a nicer place, or would cover
both lodging and beer.

[creztor]

Agree with the other poster who said what should the OP do instead of taking the job for 7k RMB? Check the jobs listed here and you will see most uni jobs are 4.5k to 6k at best for around 16 hours, so 7k for 20 hours isn't that bad, slightly less on a per hour basis but it isn't as if you are working for free. I love how these people chime in and say "the job sucks!" or "the pay is crap you shouldn't sell yourself so cheap" but then fail to offer any alternatives.

[maxand]

good luck living in shi(t)jiazhuang! lol