I think that if teaching French should earn more than teaching English, then Dutch should definitely earn more than French as it's a smaller country than France.
Just my opinion :)

PS: I don't think teaching skill and knowledge of a language matters, just bargaining skill :) who's with me on that?

Haha, you definitely made the point with the bargaining skill ! ;)
Thank you all for all those answers ! Very useful !

Not a scam. The government tells the universities what they can pay employees, and they do not have any room to negotiate usually.

True, it is not a scam. Also true that government at some level is involved with foreign teacher employment and this involvement sets or suggests minimum levels of remuneration, accommodation standards etc. However, universities are not constrained if there is a need to pay above these rates. Numerous foreign employees are being paid above the standard, though clearly public sector salaries in education remain low in Kunming. So there is room to negotiate, particularly if an individual can demonstrate that they are worth more.

I was offered 4100 for 10 teaching hours a week, but the salary could get higher if I take extra hours for 80 rmb/hr... True, they pay two, three times higher in the private schools, that's why I made a choice not to work in the uni. Another question is, does it help to have a university experience on your CV? I'm a non-native speaker either, so maybe it is worth to survive on 4000 rmb for a while, to find a better job in future...

Anyway, Karina, where are you from? Откуда? :)

Hello Viajante,

I am not Russian, I am from France ;)

Wow, suggest you go to some other education centers, I know some of them pay more than 6000 RMB per month with living package. And if you had some educational background, I think you could possibly get more. Or if your employer is generous they will put you on a trainning, and when you are ready, they will pay you more.

@passportokunming
1."...suggest you go to some other education centers" - Which ones?

2.".....some of them pay more than 6000 RMB per month with living package." - Again, which ones and can you provide DETAILS of the FULL package, including what is required of the teacher (hours, number of students, weeks per annum, leave etc.

3. "And if you had some educational background...." Kindergarten, PhD? Can you be just a trite more specific?

4. "Or if your employer is generous they will put you on a trainning (Sic) ...... - What sort of training? We are discussing Kunming Universities here.

This is your second post, what knowledge and experience do you genuinely have about employment conditions in Kunming public sector universities?

Many readers on here are likely to be interested in genuine information, not just empty claims. Once more, the topic is based, roughly, on public sector university remuneration here in Kunming. Thanks in anticipation.

@nnoble

Good questions and points.

From what I know 4000 is about average. There are some people who negotiate higher salaries. I know this for a fact. 5,000 is possible but not very easy to get. I've heard that high schools pay more than universities but mainly for English teachers.

Outside classes can yield above 100rmb per hour, 150-250 is possible if you can find the people and they have the means. I get 150rmb for a private student. People will always try to negotiate you down so you have to be willing to say no.

French is not as easy to sell as English. Most people want English so finding students for French should be more difficult. I was asked to teach a group of YunDa grad students who were going to France to study English.... that was a big surprise!

I don't think you were ripped off.

Your contract probably forbids outside work but if you have private students in your home and don't work through another school I think it is possible. The difficulty is finding private students.

Private schools make you teach lots of hours and leave little free time. I like the universities because you have a set schedule and lots of free time. I frankly don't think the private schools are worth the extra money unless they give you limited hours and a good schedule.

Anyway all of this is moot because you probably have signed a contract and breaking your contract, unless you have a valid reason is a bad idea if you want to stay on in China.

Bon chance!