How viable is it to work as a teacher in China?

Question

I just got a job offer from a college in Beijing and it's for an English teaching position, they say they pay between 5000 and 7000 yuens a month. i'm not familiar with life in there so i was wondering if you could give me a tip if I should take it or not, oh they also offer free housing and transportation and an extra fee for food at the campus. so please help me should I take this?

Answer 1

maybe for 6 months not worth it long term

Answer 2

Ni how ma!

China is buying up international teachers by the truckload.  Keep this in mind as you negotiate your contract.  Most international schools/colleges offer health insurance, settling in allowance, car rentals... the list goes on.

Use this website to compare your proposed Chinese salary with what you make here.

http://www.salaryexpert.com/index.cfm?fu...

Whether or not you take the job has less to do with the salary and more to do with your ability to handle an extended stay away from your family and friend support systems, how tolerant you are of other cultures, how tough your stomach is and other factors.

One last note: you may make less overseas but it is possible to save much more than here while still living comfortably.  Last year my teaching salary was just under 30,000 dollars US but I saved almost 20k while still traveling to 6 new countries, eating out several times each week, employing a maid, a gardener and a driver.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Well, firstly, just to be clear, you'd be making about 8,000 -11,200 USD a year, though if they're offering free housing and transportation, that's almost pure profit.  Also, in China, their school yars are waaaaaaay longer, only 2 months of summer break, and much fewer holidays than in teh US.

Beijing is fairly modernized, and can't be more smoggy than LA.  If you're comfortable living in a big city, and speak Chinese (I'm assuming you do, or else you couldn't really teach there, could you?) I'd say go for it.  Teachers are well respected in China, and people from the West are respected even more.   If you don't like it, you'll only have to put up with it for one year at the most.   Also, if you're talking about THE Bejing University (Bei Jing Da Xue) then it will be fantastic for your resume, it's basically teh Harvard of China.