I'm an English teacher in the United States that has just finished his credential. I was thinking of gaining some ESL experience overseas, specifically in China. I wonder if anyone would care to give advice about going. What are some good questions to ask a recruiter?
I would really appreciated the advice. Thanks
Teaching China
Moderators: Dimitris, maneki neko2, Lorikeet, Enrico Palazzo, superpeach, cecil2, Mr. Kalgukshi2
"What are some of the questions I need to ask a recruiter?"
My advice: Don't go through any agents in the first place! They perform zero service but cash in heavily - 10'000 RMB per transaction, sometimes more, which is 4.5 times the minimum pay for expat teachers!
Here is what you should discuss with any potential employer in China:
- Work load: State-run schools 12 to 18 periods a week.
Private training centres 20 to 25 periods a week; extra time = extra
pay (hourly wage 80 to 100 RMB).
- Holidays: State-run schools pay you during the regular holidays except
the summer recess from mid-June through the end of August. Here, you
have to ask whether your vwork visa will cover this period, and this
depends on whether the contract says you are on their pay roll up to
the end of August (although you will most likely not be paid!).
In private training centres, summer holidays are the busiest period
of the year, so you will have to work then. Your holidays will be
natiional holidays such as spring festival (2 to 3 weeks in Jan.-Feb.),
May 1 (perhaps one week!), and National Day (October, perhaps one
week). It is not common to give you time off for holidays as defined
by Western calendars (Christmas, New Year, and so on).
- Work visa: A very important point, and one that puts many schools
out of reach as they cannot legally employ Westerners (but still try, and that is why many resort to using the services of an agent!): Ask
them whether they can sponsor you! They must take you for a medi-
cal check to test your HIV status, then the PSB can grant them a so-
called 'Z' visa. This sets them back around 2000 RMB (which they
should bear by themselves), and some try to shake off this liability!
- Here are the benefits: Public schools normally pay around 3000 to 4000
RMB per month (see workload above); private training centres work
you more time (and especially on weekends), but they offer 5000 to
6000 RMB (no more than 25 periods a week), and sometimes even
7000 or more. In Peking and Shanghai, salaries are somewhat higher
but living conditions there are different. In SH for instance, expats
often have to fend for themselves on the private housing market.
- You also stand to get a round trip paid for. SOmetimes they only
offer a flat 5000 or 7000 RMB at the end of the year. My advice is
to haggle with them over whether they can pay it prorata, with
every monthly salary.
THis may be an elegant way of avoiding losses at the end of your
tenure.
- If you want to change jobs midstream, you will need a release
letter. You can't legally switch jobs - the same as elsewhere in the
world!
- And, I don't know why you want to move to China, but you have your
reaasons. Expect a potentially bumpy ride here. To avoid unnecessary
upsets, try to get posted to a relatively developed area - Shanghai and
its environs (including Suzhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wuxi, Nanjing),
Peking (and Tianjin), or Guangdong (north of Hong Kong.
In these regions you are never far away from an international airport, consulates and a comparatively intact infrastructure and local expats.
Good luck
Roger
My advice: Don't go through any agents in the first place! They perform zero service but cash in heavily - 10'000 RMB per transaction, sometimes more, which is 4.5 times the minimum pay for expat teachers!
Here is what you should discuss with any potential employer in China:
- Work load: State-run schools 12 to 18 periods a week.
Private training centres 20 to 25 periods a week; extra time = extra
pay (hourly wage 80 to 100 RMB).
- Holidays: State-run schools pay you during the regular holidays except
the summer recess from mid-June through the end of August. Here, you
have to ask whether your vwork visa will cover this period, and this
depends on whether the contract says you are on their pay roll up to
the end of August (although you will most likely not be paid!).
In private training centres, summer holidays are the busiest period
of the year, so you will have to work then. Your holidays will be
natiional holidays such as spring festival (2 to 3 weeks in Jan.-Feb.),
May 1 (perhaps one week!), and National Day (October, perhaps one
week). It is not common to give you time off for holidays as defined
by Western calendars (Christmas, New Year, and so on).
- Work visa: A very important point, and one that puts many schools
out of reach as they cannot legally employ Westerners (but still try, and that is why many resort to using the services of an agent!): Ask
them whether they can sponsor you! They must take you for a medi-
cal check to test your HIV status, then the PSB can grant them a so-
called 'Z' visa. This sets them back around 2000 RMB (which they
should bear by themselves), and some try to shake off this liability!
- Here are the benefits: Public schools normally pay around 3000 to 4000
RMB per month (see workload above); private training centres work
you more time (and especially on weekends), but they offer 5000 to
6000 RMB (no more than 25 periods a week), and sometimes even
7000 or more. In Peking and Shanghai, salaries are somewhat higher
but living conditions there are different. In SH for instance, expats
often have to fend for themselves on the private housing market.
- You also stand to get a round trip paid for. SOmetimes they only
offer a flat 5000 or 7000 RMB at the end of the year. My advice is
to haggle with them over whether they can pay it prorata, with
every monthly salary.
THis may be an elegant way of avoiding losses at the end of your
tenure.
- If you want to change jobs midstream, you will need a release
letter. You can't legally switch jobs - the same as elsewhere in the
world!
- And, I don't know why you want to move to China, but you have your
reaasons. Expect a potentially bumpy ride here. To avoid unnecessary
upsets, try to get posted to a relatively developed area - Shanghai and
its environs (including Suzhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wuxi, Nanjing),
Peking (and Tianjin), or Guangdong (north of Hong Kong.
In these regions you are never far away from an international airport, consulates and a comparatively intact infrastructure and local expats.
Good luck
Roger
-
nihaoangel
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2003 2:49 am
- Location: China
Re: Teaching China
Hello,ramjet
It is very nice meeting you here.I'm teaching English here in china.I think we can exchange some teaching experiences.What do you think?
Do you mind telling me your e-mail?Thankx
Good luck.
Ang.
It is very nice meeting you here.I'm teaching English here in china.I think we can exchange some teaching experiences.What do you think?
Do you mind telling me your e-mail?Thankx
Good luck.
Ang.
Hello!! I am a student at the University of Oklahoma, nearly finished with college, and I have been presented the opportunity to visit Qingdao, China this summer to visit my father who is currently residing there on business. I am very interested in prolonging my stay and trying to find a job as a teacher. I have no experience in the Chinese language, but I am very eager to learn. I would ultimately like to find a teaching position for my girlfriend as well, who happens to be an education major and is almost finished with her studies.
Please give me your ideas on the feasibility of these plans!!
thanks
Please give me your ideas on the feasibility of these plans!!
thanks
You have some time left before the new semester begins, unless you want to come here subito and start work at a language mill.
I would suggest two things you can do:
- Familiarise yourself with what's in store for you via this website's
Employment forums - you will find two forums dedicated to China,
one is job-related, the other is gossips.
- Post your CV and see what's happening. Also, try other sites that
offer you this free service.
I think, you need to lower your expectations on China and take what you get. For some, this is quite sufficient, for others this might be a challenge.
But I do urge you to browse through Dave's China-related forums so you know China is no holiday camp waiting for you!
I would suggest two things you can do:
- Familiarise yourself with what's in store for you via this website's
Employment forums - you will find two forums dedicated to China,
one is job-related, the other is gossips.
- Post your CV and see what's happening. Also, try other sites that
offer you this free service.
I think, you need to lower your expectations on China and take what you get. For some, this is quite sufficient, for others this might be a challenge.
But I do urge you to browse through Dave's China-related forums so you know China is no holiday camp waiting for you!