Job Discussion Forums

ottawau · Joined: 12 Feb 2012 Posts: 5

Hey,

So I'm currently in a B'ed program in Ontario. Got an offer at an international school in China. I was under the impression that I wouldn't be eligible for a work visa until I was two years out of school is this the case? When I asked the school about it they told me not to worry about the Visa stuff they had it under control...

Thanks

therock · Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 1266 Location: China

What will you be teaching? Where is the school located?

Normally International schools require experience as do the government for issuing work permits. Qualified English teachers are a dime a dozen, so if this is the subject you will be teaching, the school is more likely a wannabe International school.

The two year rule is interpreted differently from city to city, in other words if the school says that getting the work permit is no problem and send you the documents needed to apply in your home country, then you have nothing to worry about.

ottawau · Joined: 12 Feb 2012 Posts: 5

The school is in Shunyi (Beijing Suburb), it is a Bilingual School that markets itself as teaching the California state standards as well as the Chinese curriculum.

The offer was for Grade 1

side note: is an offer of 17'000rmb before tax appropriate for that part of China? (housing included)

PathToChina · Joined: 04 Feb 2012 Posts: 17 Location: California U.S.

ottawau · Joined: 12 Feb 2012 Posts: 5

any advice on how to best be careful or research?

Accommodation is written into the contract as provided. I was sent a pay scale that listed my after tax salary as 14'955rmb.

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

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

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

ottawau · Joined: 12 Feb 2012 Posts: 5

Thanks for the info all it is much appreciated.

If anyone else has anything to add please do.

I spent a couple years living in Seoul could I equate cost of living (accommodation aside) as being pretty similar between the two cities?

ecubyrd94 · Joined: 25 Aug 2011 Posts: 77

Even if that is for ESL teaching, it is a much better deal than the usual language mill. I only assume that it is a lower tier international school (based on pay). Will you get full paid vacation and for how long? If you do and it is for the long breaks that fall during winter and summer, then even the better. So what if you have to work a 40 work week; don't understand why people make such a big deal of that. I'll take a 190 day calendar school year teaching twenty 40 minute classes per week making over 20k rmb (housing allowance factored) any day over many of the alternatives offered here. Good luck in your decision, OP.

I've no idea about the city that school offer is in, but I lived/taught 5 years in Seoul and I find Shanghai (where I am now) cheaper on the whole.