TEFL Locations in China - Jobs & Contracts
Basic Contract, Deduction from Salary, Job Prospect
ESL Jobs in China, TEFL Courses in China, Teach English China, China Guide
Featured Listing
Teach English in China
TEFL
Certification with ESL Job
in China. Salary USD 750 onwards per month / Accommodation / Visa / Work permit
www.tesolcoursechina.com
Basic contract
The contents of the new standard contract for employment of foreign teachers
include the following:
(1) Terms of Contract;
(2) Work assignment of employee;
(3) Employee's monthly salary;
(4) Employer's obligations;
(5) Employee's obligations;
(6) Modification, cancellation and termination of the contract;
(7) Bails;
(8) Arbitration.
The formal contract should be signed before you come to China. In case one party of the contract requires modification of the original contract, agreement should be reached through consultation, and the modified, added or cancelled content should be confirmed in written form. Before the agreement is reached, the contract should be executed according to the original clauses till the expiration date of the contract. In case the employee requires termination of the contract due to force majeure, certificate issued by relevant institution should be presented, and with employer's consent, the employee should bear the expenses of leaving China. Should the employee terminate the contract for no reason, he/she should pay the bail to the employer in addition to the expenses of leaving China.
Before signing the contract, do read the clauses very carefully and understand what you will be offered during your teaching stint.
China has a multi-tiered system of tax liabilities for foreigners, which has lead to some confusion, particularly over the so-called “90 day rule”. We identify specific likely scenarios and the tax liabilities as follows:
The first RMB 4,000 of your earnings in China is tax free. That does not mean you can rush out and declare salaries of RMB 4,500! The tax bureau is wise to this and will demand to see concrete proof of your earnings elsewhere. If you can’t provide this they may refuse to register you, effectively immediately making your presence in China illegal. China however is quite fair on taxes, and allows, via a stepped system of rates, a quick calculation system, being a further deduction against salary. The table below demonstrates salary brackets and tax rates, plus the quick tax deduction system.
Your Total Liability can be calculated as follows:
Salary x Tax Rate, less Quick Deduction Figure = Tax Bill
Salary Tax Rate Quick Calculation Deduction
To RMB 24,000 20% RMB375
RMB 24,001- 44,000 25% RMB 1,375
RMB 44,001- 64,000 30% RMB 3,375
RMB 64,001-84,000 35% RMB 6,375
RMB8 4,001 – 104,000 40% RMB 10,375
In excess of RMB 104,000 45% RMB 15,375
There is a lot of confusion surrounding the law of taxes and if teachers should pay taxes back home, or in China. When offered a high salary it becomes very necessary to weigh the differences between working in Shanghai making 6,000 RMB at 30 periods / wk versus making 3800 in a smaller town working only 16 periods. Additionally to avoid double taxation, teachers, lecturers and researchers may be exempt from Chinese income tax for one, two or three years. You can purchase a copy of the tax treaties published by the State Administration of Taxation for 360 RMB.
The TEFL market in China is large and is growing as every year passes. With China opening up to the West and the growing inclination of its people to learn English, the need for ESL/EFL teachers has been on the rise. It is becoming increasingly common for middle class Chinese families to send their children to private English lessons. The Chinese government understands that most foreigners who teach in China receive salaries in their home countries that are considerably higher than those paid to local Chinese teachers, and also enjoy a higher standard of living. Foreign teachers are guaranteed a minimum standard of western accommodation and salaries that almost match those received in their home countries.
The Chinese attitude toward education could provide some obstacles of its own. In middle schools, Chinese students are known to be driven to succeed, often attending school six days per week with plenty of assigned homework. The exam-driven system often means that material not related to testing may receive a cool reception. As such, teachers should expect students to require a lot of study materials in order to help them succeed.
An average Chinese teacher salary is about 800 to 1200 RMB per month. Most teachers sustain their family in a reasonable manner and enjoy a comfortable, local lifestyle earning this amount. Teaching English in China will not make you rich. The average foreign English teacher's pay is about 4,500 to 6,000 RMB per month. If you are keen on experiencing the culture of China, learn a little Chinese and feast on the endless variety of exotic foods while pursuing your passion for ESL teaching, then China is the place for you to be in. Food and taxes are next to nothing in China.
Because of the government's ongoing role in education, the best way to get a job teaching English in China is to arrange it before leaving home. You have two options. You can either apply directly to one or several schools where you think you'd like to work, or you can simply apply to the Chinese government (in Beijing or via the embassy in your home country) and, if hired, you will be placed at a school. The earlier you start the application process the better. This could be even a year before you hope to begin teaching would not be impractical.
Academic degrees do matter in China. An applicant with a master's degree usually is given preference over one with a bachelor's degree, but it's not unheard of to get a teaching job without a college degree. Your opportunities are a lot better if you are TEFL trained. Besides teaching in regular schools, TEFL trained people can also find jobs in English language training centers in China. These include teaching people of all ages and levels. This, in turn, can generate more opportunities as pupils approach you about special tutoring for their children, giving a speech at their company, etc. You can pick and choose the type of jobs you want. The opportunities for ESL teaching in China are boundless.