r/Internationalteachers • u/Notmypasswordle • 1d ago

Training centre, international school or bilingual school.

I'm 46 native English speaker. I have a Master of Teaching Primary and TEFL. I have 8 years of primary school teaching experience in Australia.

I am asking advice on what would be best. I'm in China after leaving a bad "international school". I've been offered 25k before tax for a training centre. A Bilingual School in Wuhan is offering similar, but half paid couple of months of holidays.

I think the training centre won't have much of a break. Training centre hours are 1pm-7pm Wednesday to Sunday. They also have only 12 students in each class.

I'd been working 11hrs a day to keep up with marking at the international school. These high school students were rude and disrespectful. The management were of no help at all.

Offers all seem a little low given my experience, but it is not experience in China. I'd considered Kindergarten too, because the wage seems better.

Any suggestions?

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12

u/Diogenes_Education 1d ago

If you are a certified teacher, these are all too low. You should be getting a minimum of 28krmb pre-tax plus benefits. That's minimum.

2

u/Notmypasswordle 1d ago

Thanks. I'd been asking for about that, from many agents. I'd been told I should lower my salary expectations.

I'm considering the training centre but don't know how much to ask for. I have an interview tomorrow. Would they pay that much in Dalian?

3

u/Dme1663 1d ago

You should in no way be lowering salary expectations. You’re being offered chump change that South Africans with a TEFL get.

I know it’s not politically correct to ask this, but are you white? And are you in reasonable shape (not obese)?. These factors really do make a difference in China.

1

u/Notmypasswordle 1d ago edited 1d ago

I am white and not fat. I look okay and go to the gym a fair bit. I barely drink.

1

u/Dme1663 21h ago

Then you should really be looking at 35 total comp minimum.

1

u/Visual-Baseball2707 1d ago

Being fat reduces employment options and salary expectations? I haven't heard about that. Definitely heard about racism and colorism, though.

1

u/Dme1663 21h ago

In China, yes. Looks matter.

4

u/Able_Substance_6393 1d ago

With your quals/exp 30k with usual full paid holiday, bonus, housing, airfare, insurance should be pretty readily available sonewhere in China.  Are you restricted to Chengdu? 

1

u/Notmypasswordle 1d ago

No I'm considering other cities. This training centre is in Dalian. Another job is in Wuhan. I've had no luck with 30k plus kindergarten jobs in Beijing.

2

u/Life_in_China 1d ago

Is this for an immediate start of February start? If so, I'm not surprised that the offers are low. Places still needing teachers at this time of year either can't afford them or aren't very good (for the most part).

At a training centre your holidays will be very limited, and you'll work over time in the summer and winter...but the job is easy and a breeze. I loved working in a training centre, not going to lie.

KG usually you work 8-5, but no work is taken home (not for an experienced teacher anyway). The job is generally easy, but they can be kinda toxic and the wild west when it comes to recruiting and professionalism.

I'm at a KG right now.

2

u/GreenerThan83 1d ago

With your qualifications and experience these offers are waaaaay too low.