Job Discussion Forums

Lobster

So, how do you feel, in general, about the people you work for? Like any poll, this one will have its shortcomings. Please feel free to add comments about your boss and admin, but no comments on the poll questions themselves please.

RED

xiguagua · Joined: 09 Oct 2011 Posts: 768

Is this about the FAO or the higher ups? I'm sure most of us have little to no actual contact with the higher ups.

dean_a_jones · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 1151 Location: Wuhan, China

I have two sets of admin, one side dealing with pay, reimbursements, visa, housing etc. and the other with the academic side of life.

In terms of my everyday life, that academic staff are great where I am. They treat teachers well, do a pretty good job of keeping on the ball in terms of communication, listen to suggestions, implement changes and encourage all teachers to work together as a coherent unit. We often arrange lunches or dinners together, along with some of the other, younger CTs. It is not perfect, but I think of myself as lucky in terms of my job considering what I hear from others. So I would judge them an A.

The other side are not as great, but they are actually rarely dealt with. Pay is always on time, which is most important. They sometimes need a really strong kick to get them moving on other things, but rarely do things not work out in the end on their side (also a nudge from the academic office is also usually available which helps). If I was scoring them, it would be a C as they generally seem indifferent and it can come across as a bit rude.

So I suppose a combined score would be B, but I voted for top as I don't see my interactions as split 50/50 between each side, but rather 85/15 in favour of the academic side of life.

Opiate · Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Posts: 630 Location: Qingdao

Hmmm...this is a little difficult.

My 'FAO' is a Canadian born Chinese. He is terrible on many levels but I do not envy his position one little bit. His boss is great though (Chinese). The owner (Chinese) is an OK guy but a bit clueless on what to do with his school. I've never had any significant issues with pay and the school generally leaves me alone. The FAO/manager guy tries to add things to our plate every semester and every semester he gets ignored with zero repercussions.

I do not live on campus so I do not see how quickly the school responds to housing issues. Most classroom issues are handled immediately.

Input is listened to (if one avoids the manager) and usually acted upon if it is reasonable.

I have few complaints outside of our manager/fao guy. I gave them a B in the poll but they are more like a B+ all in all.

Lobster · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 4:47 pm Post subject:

The poll is supposed to grade the people you interact with most frequently. It could be the big boss, a manager. supervising CT, a DoS or the FAO.

RED

Guerciotti · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 5:39 pm Post subject:

I give admin (= FAO) an A. The department I work for ... ahhhhhh no. Not sure how to grade them.

Now they like me. My students like me, so admin likes me. I teach oral and writing so I guess that's a big help for them. They asked for input. I suggested they lose all their books but I'm not sure which books to recommend and it seems they're loathe to replace the books in any event.

They want suggestions using the current books but I never use those books so ... Well, I use the first 80 pages of the writing book, but nothing else.

Schedules and communication are problematic at best. I proactively ask so I can prepare and it - whatever it is - changes. For example I did the in-class test for an oral English class for other majors. That afternoon I was told we don't do their test. We are not responsible for that. OK. That's not what they told me before. Four weeks later, when grades are due, they asked for those test grades. Call me what you want but I stopped asking. It is a waste of time. I don't yet know my schedule for next semester and right now I don't care. It will probably change the day before classes start, and it will be worse. Sorry, bit of venting there.

As far as the FAO; few problems. Problem + patience + communication = solution. They did not pick me up in Beijing when I flew back this August but ... well I guess we can't have everything.

xiguagua · Joined: 09 Oct 2011 Posts: 768

It's a bit hard for me to grade my school on the terms of implementation of my ideas/needs. Simply put, most things are out of their hands.

Like Dean A Jones my school has two sides, the FAO deals with day to day stuff like my apartment, visa, payments and all those logistics while the Academic side is handled by a head teacher for the foreigners.

Both sides were great. When dealing with anything both parties were able to solve the problem promptly. I have an excellent relationship with both of them and we always enjoyed each others company. I never had a problem with them.

HOWEVER, there are things that are over their heads that they have no control over. I kinda feel like these problems that they really have no say over should effect their grade on something like this. Throughout my 3 years at that school, I can't say that I encountered any problems. There were definitely things i'd want to improve for the school, life of students, etc, but they had no say in that.

The school administration themselves though outside of my FAO and head teacher basically ignore all the FT's and treat them as expendable. Individually I would give them A's but the school as a whole I would probably give a C or D just because of their treatment of the students. They at least treat me fine though I guess. Sad

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

Good idea for a poll. I recommend this for a sticky, since it might help give a generally representative idea to those on the fence as to whether to come to China to teach, and what to expect from the workplace.

MisterButtkins · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Posts: 1221

I would have chosen B but I don't have any academic input. That's not really my job IMO. My boss is respectful. She helps to take care of problems that arise. Other than that I don't talk to her other than when she drops off my salary once a month. Which is fine, IMO.

Kiwi303 · Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 8:50 am Post subject:

I actually have 3 sets...

I work for the International College of the Uni, they handle my pay, helping me with such things as setting up the bank account, purchasing a cellphone, either supplying equipment or seeing that I know where to obtain my own supplies, they tot up overtime work and issue extra pay vouchers for the unis finance office to pay out on... Etc and so on.
They also work with the other departments and farm me out when needed by other schools/departments on campus. I've taught classes that were under the aegis of the School of Foreign Languages before when the SFL FT's were fully booked.

Then there is the University FAO office and the Waiban. I have very little to do with them now I have my FEC and RP from the SAFEA and PSB, they interface the university with the outside beaurcracy, but have very little to do with actually working with the FTs within the university. They work for all the FTs on campus, not just the International College ones like me, but also the Foreign Language FTs and the visiting international speakers and lecturers.

Then there is the third group, the Head Teachers, they assign classes, classroms, issue the textbooks and give curriculum guidance, tell me when they need test results by so I can create and set exams and return the results...

tomhume89 · Joined: 15 Feb 2011 Posts: 103 Location: Changsha

I get treated extremely well (A). I get time off when I ask (a week off for Christmas), I get banquets, everybody is incredibly friendly and the teachers come to my lessons and we discuss what's good and bad about it.

But then, I treat them well- I go to the English department meetings even though it's not in my contract to do so, I go to the school meetings (again, not in the contract), I buy the principal sweets and stuff when I go home and I try bloody hard in class.

They treat me like a real teacher, and I totally appreciate that- so that means I have to turn up early when others have to and go to long boring meetings, but then I also get the red packets at the start of the semesters too.

Opiate · Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Posts: 630 Location: Qingdao

This is the most positive thread I have seen so far. Waiting for the parade rainers to chime in about their terrible jobs......

Lobster · Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 11:06 am Post subject:

I'm waiting too. It seems that, despite the frequent allegations that Chinese bosses are tyrants and FTs little more than an abused sub-class, most people here are fairly happy with their bosses and admin.

RED

knight4ever · Joined: 02 Sep 2010 Posts: 49 Location: Shenzhen

My boss is not perfect by any means but she treats me well. The center director is very friendly and he talks to me like I'm his equal. Being that I'm the oldest employee at my center, my boss and CD often ask for my input on personnel matters and better ways to help our students.

All in all, I'm quite happy with the management at my school.

veronica2 · Joined: 16 Jan 2012 Posts: 45

I voted A+. I know I might get some flack for that. But I will explain.

China is in a critical period of fast growth and transformation. The driving force of its economic growth relies increasingly on the development of science and technology and innovation in education and management, which require high-quality personnel including foreign experts. The general feeling I get is that China is pursuing more favorable policies that will help attract more foreigners with expertise to work. Also, local governments are working to create better conditions for us to work and live.

My impression is that China welcomes foreigners with expertise to work in the country and China will provide them with good working and living conditions.

Just my thoughts. If people don't agree, no problem! We all have our own ideas and can share. (Please don't flame me.)