Job Discussion Forums

IvanaShaanxi · Joined: 18 Jun 2012 Posts: 100

Hello, I have got an offer from a private primary school in Beijing for teaching so-called " Language Arts" (that's how they called it, supposedly it should mean speaking, reading, writing) 26 classes per week with a studio-like flat provided as accommodation.
What do you think of the offer?
Is 26 classes per week too much?
I worked in a Shaanxi middle school (taught only oral English there) but Chinese teachers there who taught "regular" English lessons used to say that even 15 classes per week is a busy and tiring schedule.
What is your opinion?

twilothunder · Joined: 09 Dec 2011 Posts: 442

26 classes (presuming minimum 40-45 minutes) is too much.

After about three weeks on that schedule you will be jaded, irritable, spending all of Tuesday wishing the week was over already, delivering poorly thought out content to your students.

Miserable, don't do it. *I know because I once agreed to do a similar scheduled, in exchange for what I thought was very decent overtime pay. It wasn't worth it.

IvanaShaanxi · Joined: 18 Jun 2012 Posts: 100

Thanks. I discussed it with a person in charge of foreign teachers and her answer was something like: "Well it all depends whether you like children or not, I suppose. If you like them, you\ll gain energy from being in class, if you don't like them, you will feel exhausted"

GeminiTiger · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 1:29 pm Post subject:

I like beer but after about 6 I still don't want anymore.

Denim-Maniac · Joined: 31 Jan 2012 Posts: 1238

IvanaShaanxi · Joined: 18 Jun 2012 Posts: 100

Hi,
yes, the classes are scheduled from 9 till 4:30 Monday- Friday and every lesson lasts for 45 minutes. The offer is from 8k- 12k, but I suppose me being a non native guarantees I'll get the salary at the lower end of the scale.

Thanks for taking the trouble of answering to my thread

Kysorb · Joined: 30 Jul 2010 Posts: 253 Location: Beijing

26 classes a week should pay about 12-13k, even from a non native country the school isn't going to charge less for your class so you might as well except the same money as a native country

I did 28 with 1 day off a week for 20 weeks last year. It is doable if you are coming for the money but not if you are wanting to travel around the city trying new things.

Also a big question is does the school provide you with lesson plans, if they do then higher #'s are not as bad. If you have to create your own lessons like I did you will need to factor that out of your free time.

Would I do it again? Only if I had 2 consecutive days off and the schedule was balanced. not 2 hours on Monday and 10 on Wednesday and 2 more on Friday.