Post: #651

Enjoying my time in China so far (honeymoon phase somewhat). I'm only doing around 15 hours a week for now, looking to network during my time off and keep studying the language which has been okay so far.

Post: #652

(11-07-2016 03:57 AM)Suban Shelvey Wrote:  Enjoying my time in China so far (honeymoon phase somewhat). I'm only doing around 15 hours a week for now, looking to network during my time off and keep studying the language which has been okay so far.

How do you like Hangzhou?

Post: #653

(11-07-2016 05:34 AM)Suits Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 03:57 AM)Suban Shelvey Wrote:  Enjoying my time in China so far (honeymoon phase somewhat). I'm only doing around 15 hours a week for now, looking to network during my time off and keep studying the language which has been okay so far.

How do you like Hangzhou?

I like it so far, I'm quite a way from the city centre which is a bit of an issue. There is a good mix of everything. I haven't ventured out for much entertainment yet so I'm looking forward in that respect

Post: #654

Update..

First full month paycheck in the books. I worked 30 hours a week and netted $22 US an hour after my bonus. Pretty awesome, especially as a Canadian with our shitty dollar. I'm planning my first stint abroad in a few months as long as my second review comes back positive.

I've had a number of guys message me and apply. I would definitely have a go at it if you have the qualifications (bachelors degree from Canada/U.S and 1 year teaching experience). I should note they only hire about 10% of those who apply so its not easy (despite the seemingly easy interviews). They are a bit picky.

If you want any more information feel free to send me a PM. I'm happy to give back a bit to the forum!

Post: #655

(10-25-2016 03:21 PM)NomadofEU Wrote:  Just made the transition from hired teacher to earning my income mainly as freelance here in Kiev.
I worked for my school for a year, I loved the job and never had better students, but I couldn't turn down the money this bank agreed to pay me to train their employees in-house (over triple what I was making at my school).

Basically I used my first year as a teacher as a stepping stone. I got good training, the curriculum wasn't rigid and allowed me freedom to create my own exercises and ignore whole lessons in their book if I chose to. I took what I developed as a teacher at my school and will now implement it for better pay.

I start my new gig tomorrow and I've been preparing lessons the past two days. I'm excited and nervous because, as Suits said, if I don't deliver to their expectations it's going to hurt me financially.

Suits, $50 an hour is amazing. I'm probably still another year away from hitting that pay-grade. How many hours a week do you work on average?

It is easy to make $50/hr when you are scamming people like Suits.

Post: #656

7 day ban for Raul

Post: #657

(11-26-2016 01:18 AM)RaulValdez739 Wrote:  

(10-25-2016 03:21 PM)NomadofEU Wrote:  Suits, $50 an hour is amazing. I'm probably still another year away from hitting that pay-grade. How many hours a week do you work on average?

It is easy to make $50/hr when you are scamming people like Suits.

I make $30 per hour on my weekend teaching job in rural Thailand, so it isn't hard to believe that you can earn $50 in Beijing. I know a few guys earning 1500 baht ($42) per hour in BK as well.

Post: #658

(11-26-2016 02:03 PM)Kamaki4 Wrote:  I make $30 per hour on my weekend teaching job in rural Thailand, so it isn't hard to believe that you can earn $50 in Beijing. I know a few guys earning 1500 baht ($42) per hour in BK as well.

When quoting hourly rates for English teaching, it's helpful to specify:

1. Are you earning this rate for 10 hours a week? 15 hours? 30 hours? 40 hours?
2. Does this rate include travel time?
3. Does this rate include prep time?
4. Does this rate include marketing/networking (if freelance)?
5. What is the cost of living like in the area where you live/work?

Without this kind of information, the rate itself isn't very helpful to those considering following in your footsteps.

Post: #659

(11-26-2016 03:11 PM)ElFlaco Wrote:  

(11-26-2016 02:03 PM)Kamaki4 Wrote:  I make $30 per hour on my weekend teaching job in rural Thailand, so it isn't hard to believe that you can earn $50 in Beijing. I know a few guys earning 1500 baht ($42) per hour in BK as well.

When quoting hourly rates for English teaching, it's helpful to specify:

1. Are you earning this rate for 10 hours a week? 15 hours? 30 hours? 40 hours?
2. Does this rate include travel time?
3. Does this rate include prep time?
4. Does this rate include marketing/networking (if freelance)?
5. What is the cost of living like in the area where you live/work?

Without this kind of information, the rate itself isn't very helpful to those considering following in your footsteps.

Before I go into detail I would like to make it clear that I don't consider myself a professional teacher. I haven't completed a CELTA or TEFL course and arguably shouldn't be teaching in a formal setting, let alone teaching English to college students during the week.

What I do understand is perception and looking the part trumps everything else in Thailand. I spend more time staying fit, sleeping well and flying to BK to shop for a sharp looking black wardrobe, than lesson plans. I am also the only foreign teacher who shows up for the many ceremonial events at the college. Guess who they approach first when an English language 'expert' is needed, the guy with a B Ed who dresses like he is going to Red Lobster for lunch on the weekend or ...

1. That rate is for 4 hours on Saturday, but the owner of the language school would be ecstatic if I taught 6 one hour blocks on Sat and Sun.

2. No, but I requested 400 baht to cover fuel and maintenance for the commute to the small town south of the city I live in. The drive to the school takes less than 30 minutes by car.

3. I do very little prep, mainly printing out a lesson plan already formulated from previous stints. Almost every class deviates from the lesson plan anyway because they are very interactive and I try to turn it into a fun English social hour. Though I do find myself wishing I could think of creative ideas similar to what Suits is doing.

4. The language school handles that end.

5. I live in a pleasant provincial capital in Northern Thailand, where a starting salary for a Thai teacher at the college I work at is less than $300 per month. That said most of the educated locals employed in low paying gov't jobs have at least one side gig and the family unit is tight with shared income and property passed down through the generations, so most are far from poor. The food court at the college serves man sized bowls of Khao Soi for 70 cents or large sized Thai dishes for 85 cents. I work with a foreigner who eats an omelette with rice every day for 50 cents and lives in a $70 Thai style apt with kitchen, but why live like that when you can rent a house for an extra $100. My lifestyle would be considered 4 or 5 star by the locals, living in arguably the best condo complex in the city replete with an infinity salt water pool, gym and an embarrassingly high level of security and service; this costs $200 per month.

Post: #660

(11-26-2016 11:59 PM)Kamaki4 Wrote:  What I do understand is perception and looking the part trumps everything else in Thailand.

Prospective teachers, listen up! Soft skills (and looking/acting/playing the part) are key to making this gig work. I need to upgrade my wardrobe.

Post: #661

(11-26-2016 11:59 PM)Kamaki4 Wrote:  

(11-26-2016 03:11 PM)ElFlaco Wrote:  

(11-26-2016 02:03 PM)Kamaki4 Wrote:  I make $30 per hour on my weekend teaching job in rural Thailand, so it isn't hard to believe that you can earn $50 in Beijing. I know a few guys earning 1500 baht ($42) per hour in BK as well.

When quoting hourly rates for English teaching, it's helpful to specify:

1. Are you earning this rate for 10 hours a week? 15 hours? 30 hours? 40 hours?
2. Does this rate include travel time?
3. Does this rate include prep time?
4. Does this rate include marketing/networking (if freelance)?
5. What is the cost of living like in the area where you live/work?

Without this kind of information, the rate itself isn't very helpful to those considering following in your footsteps.

Before I go into detail I would like to make it clear that I don't consider myself a professional teacher. I haven't completed a CELTA or TEFL course and arguably shouldn't be teaching in a formal setting, let alone teaching English to college students during the week.

What I do understand is perception and looking the part trumps everything else in Thailand. I spend more time staying fit, sleeping well and flying to BK to shop for a sharp looking black wardrobe, than lesson plans. I am also the only foreign teacher who shows up for the many ceremonial events at the college. Guess who they approach first when an English language 'expert' is needed, the guy with a B Ed who dresses like he is going to Red Lobster for lunch on the weekend or ...

1. That rate is for 4 hours on Saturday, but the owner of the language school would be ecstatic if I taught 6 one hour blocks on Sat and Sun.

2. No, but I requested 400 baht to cover fuel and maintenance for the commute to the small town south of the city I live in. The drive to the school takes less than 30 minutes by car.

3. I do very little prep, mainly printing out a lesson plan already formulated from previous stints. Almost every class deviates from the lesson plan anyway because they are very interactive and I try to turn it into a fun English social hour. Though I do find myself wishing I could think of creative ideas similar to what Suits is doing.

4. The language school handles that end.

5. I live in a pleasant provincial capital in Northern Thailand, where a starting salary for a Thai teacher at the college I work at is less than $300 per month. That said most of the educated locals employed in low paying gov't jobs have at least one side gig and the family unit is tight with shared income and property passed down through the generations, so most are far from poor. The food court at the college serves man sized bowls of Khao Soi for 70 cents or large sized Thai dishes for 85 cents. I work with a foreigner who eats an omelette with rice every day for 50 cents and lives in a $70 Thai style apt with kitchen, but why live like that when you can rent a house for an extra $100. My lifestyle would be considered 4 or 5 star by the locals, living in arguably the best condo complex in the city replete with an infinity salt water pool, gym and an embarrassingly high level of security and service; this costs $200 per month.

Fantastic post! Period.

$200 and you get an infinity pool, seems like a good deal to me.

Post: #662

I'm happy with my job at the moment, second full month and I'm up to $2800. Planning to go abroad soon but a little concerned as I need a solid Internet connection while I am away.

Just referred the first forum member to be hired, congrats to him! Also have a friend who just started to apply, so hopefully she gets it too.

Post: #663

I've signed up for a 120hr TESOL course doing it now. I've a British passport and am thinking either Vietnam or HK would be nice to go to upon completion. I'll not be a scumbag and I'll read through this 27 page thread before asking questions.

Very excited about all this.

Post: #664

Recently I have received a couple messages asking me about China and how easy is it to make good money in China coming from the West. Im guessing they were mass sent to people in this thread. I thought I would give some new info after moving from the North to the far South.

I actually lived in far South my first year in China and it was really good for me, I loved the climate and the people. I made a lot of money. My first year salary in 2005 in the south was never reached in the 10 years in the north if you can believe it. I eventually made a lot of money tutoring in the North after I moved there, but the university job my first year paid very good money, even in 2005. I moved North to learn mandarin which I think achieved more or less, depending on how much Im using it and keeping it fresh, especially reading.

I was making good money in the North since I had positioned myself in a 2nd/3rd tier city but was at the best university in that province. I started tutoring some of the university teachers children and once you do a good job all the mothers talk and after a while I was doing 8-10 hours on Satuday/Sunday plus some weeknight tutoring plus extra jobs here and there weekdays. I made good money, but it took a while to get into. I moved to the North to learn Mandarin so for the first few years I didn't do any extra teaching, just frugal living and then during the summer I had a 9 week paid holiday. I took the trains to Xinjiang, hard seat tickets if you understand what those are, 35 hours, went all over. But I didn't actively search for tutoring jobs for a long time, so I didn't know how it would be when I went to another place and had to start all over.

After moving to South China into a new university it took me several months to get into tutoring. Some shit jobs popped up now and again but I would rather chill out that do that. But finally a coworker asked me to teach their child and in the cafeteria I met another teacher randomly who happened to also be from the same city as where I lived in North China before, she told me she would make me good Northern Chinese food (southern food still tastes like shit after 6 months). I met her family and the neighbor family, now both of them want me to tutor their kids. I should remark that I speak to them in Mandarin so it wouldn't have been possible without it. Then finally one of my friends is moving back to the USA this summer so now he is sending me the jobs he doesn't want. All this tutoring is 300-350 yuan an hour. 1-2 kids at a time. Usually an hour and half each time.

So I would say that if you were coming to China with zero mandarin experience and got a job at a training school or a university, it would take at least a year to really start making good money unless you were a machine about it. Personally I suffered from culture shock when I came. Not right away, but after 6 months or so there were things I didn't like about China and it was obvious they weren't going to go away. So either I had to change and accept it or leave. It took a while to accept them and get used to China. There are many, many people who don't get used to China and leave or drink themselves into a stupor, lose their jobs and leave, etc.

Then there is the issue of laying the pipe with all the Chinese girls. Many people drink, smoke, eat very unhealthy foods and fuck a lot of girls. Doing that will get in the way of making decent money in China. I make my money not from business deals or anything high flying like that, but by tutoring hundreds and hundreds of hours plus my normal teaching load. Its a marathon of doing similar shit for years, keeping a good attitude about it and being professional. Drinking, waking up late, being hungover, spending a lot of time chasing chicks gets in the way of that. So that's something to keep in mind. None of the guys who make good money grinding out tutoring are alcoholic womanizers. I personally don't drink much, maybe one a month, 1-2 beers/glasses of wine. Always with dinner. I do spend time chasing tail but never at the expense of good sleep and being prepared for class, though after many years I don't need to do much of that anymore. So I should also say that if you come here and don't have experience teaching ESL then that will also be many, many hours of preparation until you know what works for you and how you like to teach. That's more time.

So is there good money to be made in China? I think there is for teaching, even without a teaching license and working at a high school, though it appears more money can be made that way than university jobs plus tutoring. But I would caution and say you probably wont be saving 30k+ USD right at the beginning unless you get lucky or you are working 50 hours a week, which is really draining. It takes time to get clients for tutoring, it takes a lot of time to speak Mandarin so if you want that then there is time lost instead of making money. Add in going after women, drinking, having fun, seeing friends, these things all get in the way of making the highest salary possible with an hourly rate type of job. Just some things to think about.

Post: #665

[delete]

Post: #666

For anyone considering taking a CELTA course, check out this video. This chick is a good example of the kind of Eat-Pray-Love types who were on my course years ago. Near the end, there's some footage of her actually teaching a class. That should give you an idea of what you're getting into.





If you're just looking for a way to fund your travels for a year or maybe two and not especially drawn to language teaching, a better plan may be to work at home and save up there. Actual teaching involves shitty hours and low pay, usually.

By the way, when she says "a TEFL" (an acronym for the name of the field: Teaching English as a Foreign Language), she's referring to any alternate certificate in the field, possibly by a non-recognized institution or issuing body. A piece of paper.

Post: #667

I am now almost 6 months into my teaching online. Couldn't be happier with the ability to travel around the world, make decent money and work whenever I want. Teaching online is perfect for countries that offer low salaries or people that are mobile/ wanting flexible work.

Post: #668

(02-27-2017 07:19 PM)Road_Less_Taken Wrote:  I am now almost 6 months into my teaching online. Couldn't be happier with the ability to travel around the world, make decent money and work whenever I want. Teaching online is perfect for countries that offer low salaries or people that are mobile/ wanting flexible work.

I've considered going into this myself once I complete my 6-week vacation and am very close to completing an online TEFL. Do you find it to be easy work, enough pay to live on, and a field manageable to get involved in with no teaching experience?

Post: #669

(02-27-2017 04:43 PM)ElFlaco Wrote:  For anyone considering taking a CELTA course, check out this video. This chick is a good example of the kind of Eat-Pray-Love types who were on my course years ago. Near the end, there's some footage of her actually teaching a class. That should give you an idea of what you're getting into.





If you're just looking for a way to fund your travels for a year or maybe two and not especially drawn to language teaching, a better plan may be to work at home and save up there. Actual teaching involves shitty hours and low pay, usually.

By the way, when she says "a TEFL" (an acronym for the name of the field: Teaching English as a Foreign Language), she's referring to any alternate certificate in the field, possibly by a non-recognized institution or issuing body. A piece of paper.

What does this phrase mean? That she is overly optimistic?

Post: #670

(02-27-2017 04:43 PM)ElFlaco Wrote:  This chick is a good example of the kind of Eat-Pray-Love types who were on my course ...

(02-27-2017 10:33 PM)Heart Break Kid Wrote:  What does this phrase mean? That she is overly optimistic?

From the movie title. A travel whore.

Post: #671

(02-27-2017 07:33 PM)yankeetravels Wrote:  

(02-27-2017 07:19 PM)Road_Less_Taken Wrote:  I am now almost 6 months into my teaching online. Couldn't be happier with the ability to travel around the world, make decent money and work whenever I want. Teaching online is perfect for countries that offer low salaries or people that are mobile/ wanting flexible work.

I've considered going into this myself once I complete my 6-week vacation and am very close to completing an online TEFL. Do you find it to be easy work, enough pay to live on, and a field manageable to get involved in with no teaching experience?

The teaching itself is very easy, honestly as long as you are patient and like kids it will be a breeze. I am making 2.5-3K a month right now working between 20 and 30 hours a week. It all depends where you work, if you are working in New York that's a horrible wage, if your working in the Philippines your stacking paper. For my company they want teaching experiance but it doesn't have to be English you could be teaching something else, like math or music classes.

Post: #672

(02-28-2017 04:22 PM)Road_Less_Taken Wrote:  

(02-27-2017 07:33 PM)yankeetravels Wrote:  

(02-27-2017 07:19 PM)Road_Less_Taken Wrote:  I am now almost 6 months into my teaching online. Couldn't be happier with the ability to travel around the world, make decent money and work whenever I want. Teaching online is perfect for countries that offer low salaries or people that are mobile/ wanting flexible work.

I've considered going into this myself once I complete my 6-week vacation and am very close to completing an online TEFL. Do you find it to be easy work, enough pay to live on, and a field manageable to get involved in with no teaching experience?

The teaching itself is very easy, honestly as long as you are patient and like kids it will be a breeze. I am making 2.5-3K a month right now working between 20 and 30 hours a week. It all depends where you work, if you are working in New York that's a horrible wage, if your working in the Philippines your stacking paper. For my company they want teaching experiance but it doesn't have to be English you could be teaching something else, like math or music classes.

But isn't it difficult to make 3k a month teaching English in the Philippines? Aren't the wages there and in South East Asia in general even lower than what you put?

Post: #673

(02-27-2017 04:43 PM)ElFlaco Wrote:  For anyone considering taking a CELTA course, check out this video. This chick is a good example of the kind of Eat-Pray-Love types who were on my course years ago. Near the end, there's some footage of her actually teaching a class. That should give you an idea of what you're getting into.





I saw this video when I was doing my CELTA - such a fucking annoying bitch, and the cunt got a Pass-A CELTA! What the fuck, she's a total fucking airhead.

Did I mention I hate this bitch?

Post: #674

(03-01-2017 10:51 AM)Heart Break Kid Wrote:  

(02-28-2017 04:22 PM)Road_Less_Taken Wrote:  

(02-27-2017 07:33 PM)yankeetravels Wrote:  

(02-27-2017 07:19 PM)Road_Less_Taken Wrote:  I am now almost 6 months into my teaching online. Couldn't be happier with the ability to travel around the world, make decent money and work whenever I want. Teaching online is perfect for countries that offer low salaries or people that are mobile/ wanting flexible work.

I've considered going into this myself once I complete my 6-week vacation and am very close to completing an online TEFL. Do you find it to be easy work, enough pay to live on, and a field manageable to get involved in with no teaching experience?

The teaching itself is very easy, honestly as long as you are patient and like kids it will be a breeze. I am making 2.5-3K a month right now working between 20 and 30 hours a week. It all depends where you work, if you are working in New York that's a horrible wage, if your working in the Philippines your stacking paper. For my company they want teaching experiance but it doesn't have to be English you could be teaching something else, like math or music classes.

But isn't it difficult to make 3k a month teaching English in the Philippines? Aren't the wages there and in South East Asia in general even lower than what you put?

Yes you are completely right. But as I am teaching online you can teach from wherever you want with a stable internet. So making 3K in the Philippines or wherever you want for that matter is possible.

Post: #675

(03-04-2017 03:18 PM)Road_Less_Taken Wrote:  

(03-01-2017 10:51 AM)Heart Break Kid Wrote:  

(02-28-2017 04:22 PM)Road_Less_Taken Wrote:  

(02-27-2017 07:33 PM)yankeetravels Wrote:  

(02-27-2017 07:19 PM)Road_Less_Taken Wrote:  I am now almost 6 months into my teaching online. Couldn't be happier with the ability to travel around the world, make decent money and work whenever I want. Teaching online is perfect for countries that offer low salaries or people that are mobile/ wanting flexible work.

I've considered going into this myself once I complete my 6-week vacation and am very close to completing an online TEFL. Do you find it to be easy work, enough pay to live on, and a field manageable to get involved in with no teaching experience?

The teaching itself is very easy, honestly as long as you are patient and like kids it will be a breeze. I am making 2.5-3K a month right now working between 20 and 30 hours a week. It all depends where you work, if you are working in New York that's a horrible wage, if your working in the Philippines your stacking paper. For my company they want teaching experiance but it doesn't have to be English you could be teaching something else, like math or music classes.

But isn't it difficult to make 3k a month teaching English in the Philippines? Aren't the wages there and in South East Asia in general even lower than what you put?

Yes you are completely right. But as I am teaching online you can teach from wherever you want with a stable internet. So making 3K in the Philippines or wherever you want for that matter is possible.

Ah, gotcha. I think I might go the online route as well. Seems like the only country where you can make some OKAY money (for Asia, I suppose) are places like Korea and Japan, unless you're Middle East bound in terms of actually being in the classroom.

Making 30k+ a year in SEA would be pretty sweet, I should get on that.