> I find it quite humorous that so many schools that want REAL teachers
> only offer 3000-5000rmb monthly and then claim that it is maybe 5
> times what "local Chinese" people make. Then a statement
> usually follows claiming that it is very easy for
> "foreigners" to live on that sum of renumeration.

> First of all, MOST English teachers are NOT "local"
> Chinese. Because we ARE "foreigners", we must return to the
> REAL world. We have commitments and bills to pay in the REAL world.
> We DON'T have a family/friends support system we can use to help us
> through difficult times while in China (like when a Chinese school
> DOESN'T pay what they agreed upon, forcing us to spend what little
> money we have saved!).

> Secondly, if you are an average western male, and this is important,
> NOTHING fits in China! I can't shop in the same stores as Chinese
> because I am 5 inches taller and 70lbs heavier than the average
> Chinese male. My shoe size is 47-48 by Chinese measurement. I MUST
> shop in the expensive department stores if I want to wear something
> that DOESN'T look like a factory reject or is 2 sizes too small!

> Thirdly, the "delicious" Chinese food we are often offered
> for "free" ususally ends up making us sick 50% of the time.
> If I want to eat AND work the next day I must have western quality
> food. That means GREATER expense for cooking and dining out!

> Lastly, teaching isn't merely IMPARTING knowledge, but also keeping
> ABREAST of the lastest information and events. That means buying
> newspapers, magazines etc. if I am to have some sort of dialogue and
> interaction in classes where students LIKE to talk about various
> topics and events. Once again this means GREATER costs than
> "local Chinese" (a newspaper alone costs me 23rmb per
> edition).

> If Chinese schools want GOOD teachers, then pay GOOD wages. There
> DOESN'T seem to be a problem with those same schools making 'GOOD'
> profits from English teaching, so part with some of those profits if
> you want quality teaching.

> Thank you

China isn't alone in this, look at Thailand. The same excuses and reasons are prevalent here as well. Schools are first and foremost businesses. Schools cry out for quality teachers, the Ministry of Education insist on qualified teachers, but then limit schools to paying teachers low salaries, that can't compete with international schools that pay far more.

Thai teachers get jealous of foriegn teachers' salaries and continually snipe and complain, they forget the social safety net the local teachers have that foriegn teachers do not have.