Without doubt, public universities are the only way to go for anyone considering teaching in China. I really can't thing of anything positive about working at a training centre. I worked at two of them, two of the most horrible experiences in my life! I stuck to the public schools only after that. I'll never fall into the language mill trap ever again!

That is the failing of the private sector, in the public sector, no office hours, you finish your classes, you are free to leave, you have no classes on one day, your whole day is free. Most get burned out on training centre work.

Yep, that is generally true of the private sector in China. But each to his own. I, for one, just like you probably have, have met too many stressed-out language mill FTs to ever consider switching from the public to the private sector. What's more, I need virtually all of my weekends and evenings to chill out totally, as well as long seasonal vacations.

I agree with that post. Who wants to come to China and burn themselves out and make some dishonest school owner rich? I'm 49, I've had enough of that corporate slavery nonsense in the West.

I feel working at a public university is the only viable option.

I'm surprised to read the opinion that working in the public sector is far superior to working in the private sector with regards to salary. Quite possibly it is area dependent because in my 8 years experience in the Dalian area private sector gross wages are much higher than public schools. Granted weekly work hours are often longer since most require office hours in addition to actual teaching hours. I found your post to be an interesting perspective even though like mine it included no supporting details.

That's a really LOW salary!

Not in Baotou it isn't. Especially for low hours and with free apartment chucked in. Said FT could save 4,000 rmb (400 quid) per month and still live ok, especially with plenty of time to do tutoring at 150-200 an hour.

You needn't feel sorry for me because I'm on 5500 a month. That's not the whole story. Read on, please.
Friday the 19th of December of last year was the first day of my Spring Festival holidays, and I will resume teaching on the 2nd of March. Ive received my December salary and my January salary to date. My February salary will be paid to me at the beginning of March. So I've no complaints at all.

Where else can you get more than two months' salary while on your seasonal holidays? Certainly not in the private sector!

I'm making 5500 a month. I only teach 10 clock hours a week in a senior high, and it isn't much money, but I am comfortable and am enjoying my time here. I don't drink noe smoke, but I eat out in a nice restaurant at least once a week and cook western food for myself (buying cheese and more expensive meat, etc.). As well, I know some people blowing through 9,000 a month. They are out every night, always take taxis instead of the bus, never cook at home...

Liveable is totally different for every person. My city can be as expensive as Shanghai or as cheap as any other 2nd tier city in China. It's up to you. Do you go to bars? Do you eat at western restaurants every day? My city has really nice street food (a fantastic bowl of noodles for 5rmb outside my school) and they have a very upscale area with all the western amenities and prices.

I find salaries here (in teaching) to be a bit low for such a nice, modern city. Nice place to live. LOts of expats with loads of cash locally in the business world.

Most of the teachers I have met so far here are either in relaxed jobs in the public sector on low salaries, or working themselves to death in the private sector for a mediocre salary. Luckily, I have the necessary academic qualifications to work public. I'd never work private as I know I would hate the accompanying stress and long hours. The extra salary wouldn't compensate for the increased stress and loss of free time.

Ha! Most of them don't even see it as a real job, simply a way to secure a visa for their extended sex tour of Asia!

You're completely right that they will never understand just how rewarding this job is. Seeing understanding and comprehension dawn on a kid's face is by far the best thing about this job for me. Giving a child the ability to communicate in a different language is just such a wonderful experience.

One thing though, unfortunately most of the troll here haven't returned home, tail between legs... No, they're still sleazing their way across China, doing part time conversation classes and thinking this makes them experts on ESL.

You'll note one has already implied you're not a native speaker. Please do ignore them!

I worked at EF Dalian under a wonderful DoS so I know they can be good places to work given the right team, I'm really glad your EF is one of those!

Hi Beth,

Let the trolls come, I am happy where I am in my life and my job. Let the haters hate, for after all they are the ones who don't get the full understanding of this job and as a result have became bitterly negative towards the job. They are the ones who tried and failed, and had to go home with their tails tucked between their legs, to return to that comfort zone of a boring normal life.

I just realised that there was very little ever said about my school on this site - I guess that's a good thing considering it's been operating for 5 years - so I wanted to post something to let people know that it's actually a good place to be.

I have been to Baotou,and am not impressed by your post at all. While I like the inner mongolian food, and find some of the ethnic mongolians there very friendly and interesting, you do realise it is a province much like Siberia where the ne'er do wells were sent to, and has a bad reputation, even amongst other han chinese. The lamb and milk and yoghurt is excellent.

Why defend EF though? why not work at a public gig?

Great that you're a happy worker/teacher @ EF Baotou, and good to see a positive post on this board for a change. I think you have what it takes to enjoy teaching and working in China. Unfortunately, many of our fellow posters do not have what it takes upstairs to do so. That's indeed a pity!