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Salary/Contract Advice for an English Teacher

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  1. #1

    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Posts
    59

    Salary/Contract Advice for an English Teacher

    Hello fellow teachers, here is my dilemma:
    I am an English teacher in Hong Kong, and over this past academic year I taught kindergarten. I was hired by an agency which paid me a salary of 18000/month to perform teaching duties at two specific kindergartens. The agency would like to have me resign a contract with them, and I expressed an interest to do so. Before stating the school I would be teaching at next year, they offered me a general contract giving me a 1000/month raise, bringing my salary up to 19000/month. I had no intention of signing without having the school specified, but essentially this meant they would be willing to pay me 19000/month for doing the same job I did last year (same working hours, teaching duties etc). I expressed an interest in teaching Primary this year and they found a school, where I interviewed and they loved me. During the interview however, it became clear that this job entailed much more work. First of all, work hours were increased to a 42.5 hour work week, instead of the 40 hour work week which I performed last year, and which was stated in the general contract for 19000/month. On top of that, this school was requesting that I design and implement a new curriculum for the school, to become the copyrighted property of that school at the end of the year, to be used for future teaching years. Also they would have me create, plan and teach an after school program once a week, to have working hours balanced out by leaving earlier Fridays. It all sounded great to me and I am game to have more responsibilities and more challenges at my job, but clearly I would need to be compensated for the additional work, especially for the curriculum design. I broke down my salary requirements for that school, stating in a very reasonable and detailed email to my agency that 19000 is for the regular teaching duties, +3000 for the curriculum design +1000 for the after school program =23000/month. This was not an inflated salary but rather what I believed to be a very reasonable request. The agency told me that the most they could offer me was 19000, not even a counter offer!

    My question to all of you is what do you consider a reasonable salary for English teaching duties PLUS curriculum design at a primary school, and what is a standard amount of profit for the agency to make off of me per month? Remember this is not the government EDB scheme, nor is it an international school, it is a government aided Catholic school, which looked very nice, less than 5 years old with a lot of resources. Also I am qualified with a Canadian University degree in psychology and a cert. TESOL from Trinity college. My two schools last year loved me and I have gotten a lot of praise from various short courses I have taught for my agency, and praise from the agency itself.

    I Apologize for the essay here, but I figured it is easier to give more details now so people don't have to ask for them later. Thanks everyone!


  2. #2

    Join Date
    Nov 2009
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    Tuen Mun
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    Even after the agency takes its cut, and assuming this school is in a (relatively) inexpensive area for rent and general housekeeping, no way I'd do that job for under 25K a month, with 13th month pay.

    N.A. likes this.

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    1,966

    why not sign directly with the school?

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  4. #4

    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    33

    I know many people who don't even work in a school with huge student populations and they are earning more than 25K/month with little experience!

    Unless you love working in a school environment, why not consider working for one of the many private learning centres that offer higher wages, especially if you design curriculums for them. I know not all are grt but they are many who offer good wage structures for what is relatively little work (approx 4 teaching hrs/day)

    N.A. likes this.

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Sai Kung
    Posts
    8,561

    do you need visa sponsorship? if not, i may be interested in interviewing you.... let me know if you are interested and would like to send your CV to me.

    thanks!
    cara

    N.A. likes this.

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Tuen Mun
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    Ditto Carang..

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  7. #7

    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Posts
    923

    If the above two response are anything to go by, you are taken for a bargain. I would shop around and be a bit more savvy in negotiations (and confidence) and push for a higher value. Good luck.

    N.A. likes this.

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    4,905

    19k per month is low for a qualified teacher. Go look for a NET job with the government and you'll be making twice more.

    The salary scale of APSM is from around HK$22,240 to HK$43,010 (approx. US$2,851* to 5,514*) per month (12 months a year). Candidates with a Post-graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) or equivalent (not TEFL/TESL) qualifications will enter at HK$24,540 (approx. US$3,146*) per month. Those without a local recognized teacher training qualification or equivalent will not be permitted to proceed beyond a salary bar which is at present set at HK$28,380 (approx. US$3,638*) per month.

    On top of that is a 15% gratuity and a 16K allowance per month an signing bonuses if you continue beyond the first contract.

    Last edited by gilleshk; 22-07-2011 at 08:56 PM.
    N.A. likes this.

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Sai Kung
    Posts
    8,561

    I have actually been looking for someone for a while. It is extremely difficult to find GOOD, fun, interesting teachers for young children.

    When I posted job advertisements stating native-English speaking teachers only. I received dozens of applications, only 2 of which were native-English speaking. This creates a bit of a problem.

    I have no problem paying market rate IF the person is suitable.


  10. #10

    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Tuen Mun
    Posts
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    I'm not interested but my agency is looking for k teachers and would pay better for the right people..