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Q: Have any of you declined a big pay raise?
I have heard of some teachers that have declined big pay raises. The reason being is that they only work at a school becuase of the visa. They have successfully diversified their incomes doing sales, freelance work, etc. If they would become too expensive for the school, the school would let them go to find a cheaper teacher.
10 years 2 weeks ago in Money & Banking - China
Usually the big pay raise would mean a bigger workload. And that big pay raise couldn't even match up to the diversified earnings. So if it's accepted then you'd have less time for diversification.
I never got any offer of pay raise in China!
Promise of evaluation at my start, and then pay rise at my current place, but School never talked about my work again.
However, how it looks today (Contract expire on May 3rd), School never planned to hire me again. Either, they have another FT (what I doubt), or their intension was just to learn form my work here!
School confirmed in Nov. last year, they will extend our present Contract after May 3rd, but as it looks to me now, they just wanted to see our way of English teaching.
They are 'pulling my skin' off my body last 3 weeks of the Contract. Dirtbags!
juanisaac:
Well, maybe a really nice person in China will help you find another job. Let us hope that person exists.
JacobJohn:
That sucks, man! It's a very common experience and that's why working in China it's no future guarantee at all. You are simply at the sake of them. Giving your best to them, to only end up belittled and despised. This is how people giving all their best, honest and full hearted are spat at in their faces. It's just the Chinese way.
What are you going to do? From your posts everything looked to be a nice experience at your school so far. I am sure you will find another place and I hope to hear you will find it very soon. Change will cost you a bit or more, but you will make it to another school if teaching is what you're planning to do in the following months.
Give the right thought to all you're through right now and a right decision. Avoid emotions and bitterness. Be ready for the next step in your life in China.
icnif77:
'bitterness makes you ugly!' I'll find another School!
When I do something, I do it with my heart! I can't do any job 'half ass'. So, my students enjoyed my lessons. My main goal in China is to 'make them like English language'.
For them it's as terrible experience to learn (and listen) English, same as it is for me to listen Chinese. Kids here know, we're buddies. I had great time. I even made plan 'how to teach English, if you don't speak English' as guide to Chinese teachers at my School. But, they surprised me with 'nickel&diming' on my pay. 'Sun shines everywhere I step'
chamaflauge:
You are really an English teacher? A joke right? Your English is horrible. Here I am as a black person having to work all the way in Songjiang because the racists bastards wonˊt hire us in the inner ring. The irony. China is so backwards.
icnif77:
@chamu: yes, I work as an English teacher in China last 5 Y. Rec. letters I hold are all in Chinese, but they are apparently very good, as my new employers always tell me. Currently, I'm working with young students G 3-6. They all scream when, I show up in the classroom. At my present School, Chinese teachers told me, students suddenly changed their attitude toward English. However, School doesn't have money to pay me to work here. None of Schools in China I was, ever complained over my English ability. I was tested from time to time with Grammar rules Qs, but none of more serious tests was ever required.
It looks like, Chinese want happy face, who'll make their kids happy too. Chinese teachers English level in China is so low, that they are able to judge one's English ability only after they see hers/his Native English passport. Chinese cannot judge English same as you can.
Why are you here, if 'bastards' don't give right value to your proper English? Maybe, you should try Middle East, Russia, EU, Africa or Turkey, instead? I don't have any chance in mention countries, because I'm Non-native. Irony? Only irony I see is you. Why do you want to change China? Take it as it is. Maybe, Chinese aren't racist. My Chinese GF was 'afraid' of Black people. I don't know why, but she didn't think Black person is 'less worthy and not equal'! She would never ever let her daughter attend class with Black teacher. Take them as they are. I know, I do. I don't have time in my life to change them. I wouldn't call them names either. I'd move away. Good luck!
juanisaac:
at Chamaflauge. Dood relax. This is not an English writing contest. I worked three years in the U.S.A. in the E.S.L. department of a high school, and I am also working in a rural town. The schools here prefer straight out of school back packers who look nice but do not have a clue about what they are doing in the classroom.
In defense of icnif77, he is writing a quick response to your query and he will make mistakes just like you and I. How do you know he is not qualified or has vast experience teaching?
Some posters here need to be less grammar and spelling Nazis. There is no need to denigrate each other.
icnif77:
@chamu: You are really an English teacher? A joke right? Your English is horrible
it's the same as I would ask you: 'Are you Black' hihihih?
'Stuff your Native English ability, and you're ......., in China.....'
I never ever said that!
Depends on what.you call big. Most pay raises in the teaching game are modest at best.
Decline an extra few grand because they dont wanna be too expensive? Highly doubtful.
Declined a "promotion" because they didnt want a higher workload or more responsibility? Very common.
I refused a raise after I saw a guy laid off after business got slow.Job Security is mighty then a raise in the long run.
HR: Here's a nice raise.
Me: Well thank you but you can keep that and buy your self a new suit.
HR: Why?
Me: I saw Patrick get laid off last year and his only fault was that he earned too much money.
HR: How did you know that?
Me: Greg married your HR assistant Ashley, she spilled the beans and told us the real reason and more during the wedding party.
HR: Oh.
Me: Yeah, Oh...Let me know when the contract is fixed
Yup. I have taken a reduction in extras to make myself cheaper, for the same reason you mention above IM.
I was made redundant 2 years ago and I don't want to go through that again.
Ummm - I'm on more than I expected/demanded 
Qualifications help! (and I just started new elite classes, and we share the money 50/50!)
I am looking at working at a lower wage. But it will be a higher wage per productivity unit. That will give me time to do freelancing at 200+ per productivity unit.
I used to work at training schools, hence the dunce cap. Maybe they technically pay a higher salary...but they make it up when it comes to shit hours, idiot staff members, mysteriously leaving chunks of money out of your monthly salary (no, not taxes), and general illegal bullshit. I now work at a university and teach two days a week. Technically, I get paid about half as much as I made at training schools, but I make truckloads more in my off hours as any training school would pay me.
I used to work at training schools, hence the dunce cap. Maybe they technically pay a higher salary...but they make it up when it comes to shit hours, idiot staff members, mysteriously leaving chunks of money out of your monthly salary (no, not taxes), and general illegal bullshit. I now work at a university and teach two days a week. Technically, I get paid about half as much as I made at training schools, but I make truckloads more in my off hours as any training school would pay me.
