Job Discussion Forums

LeopoldBloom · Joined: 08 Jul 2010 Posts: 57

I first taught in China back in 1999. Things were good for FT's back then and China was a genuinely poor country. I was treated with respect and the benefits, relative to most Chinese were good. I had a chance to do service for a needy country and was respected and appreciated for my work. I also had rights and freedom of movement to another job if this one didn't work out, just as I'd experience in the USA or another country that guarantees basic rights to workers.

Fast forward to 2010, when I left China, and the picture has changed dramatically for the worse:

1) Salaries have barely moved upward for FT's despite incredible development in China.
2) FT's are no longer respected in China. You will be viewed as a bum who couldn't get a job back home by 90% of Chinese.
3) And most importantly, your human rights in the form of worker's rights are zilch, nada, non-existent. They realize the sacrifices and major adjustments you've made back home to come there and that you won't leave so easily. They expect that you will put up with their demeaning and awful treatment for the long run.

That's the situation in China today. Please give very careful consideration to any position in China. You're moving to a country where you will have no worker's rights. Do you understand this? Really?

I'm now happily working in South Vietnam for over a year. It's a great place to work and you have worker's rights, freedom of movement and the salary is at least as good, often better than China.

All the best fellow travelers,

Bloom.

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

Lobster · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 12:24 pm Post subject:

Thank you for your personal observation of teaching in China. No thanks given for extending it to the whole field. Glad you're happy in South Vietnam, a country that hasn't existed since 1976. You've been away from China for 2 years and were driven to post this now because...

RED

it'snotmyfault · Joined: 14 May 2012 Posts: 527

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

Unfortunately, the truth in what a lot of the OP says cannot be denied. The part about the lack of respect for FTs is mostly due to many schools willingness to hire ANY Caucasian face with a pulse. Yes, these people cannot get jobs in their own countries because they're not teachers and many of them are bums.

Many employers jerk FTs around, cheat them, change contract terms on a whim; self-inflicted because the "teachers" let them get away with it.

However, the blanket condemnation to ALL teachers and ALL of China is (fortunately) not true.

rogerwilco · Joined: 10 Jun 2010 Posts: 1549

I do not think it is as bad as the OP is making it out to be, but I do agree that the attitude towards FT's is changing.

In the past we were generally viewed as people that were here to help develop China.
Now, we are often viewed as migrant workers that are being helped by China.
That is a big difference in attitude.

Money is power and respect in China.
In the past we had the money and the power.
Now, China has the money and is gaining power.

Chinese do not respect the weak and needy.

choudoufu · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 3325 Location: Mao-berry, PRC

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

And so it ever was... China is no longer considered a frontier posting, where willingness to travel there was about all that was required. (Actually, there are probably several areas in China where it is at least partially still true.) The economy and infrastructure have progressed, perhaps in some areas for the worse, but overall for the better. I still get treated as special by some, but not as much as before. I usually hate getting treated as special, but sometimes it has sure come in handy. Workers have very little rights and fewer jobs in most parts of the world.

Thanks for the warning, though, OP. And thanks for alerting everyone to the workers paradise that is South Vietnam.

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

Find a good job, it can be an interesting and rewarding place to work. Work in a crap job, it is a depressing and frustrating place to be.

Where is this not the case?

It can be a bit of a crapshoot the first time you come over, especially if you lack the right qualifications and experience or do bother doing your research. Once you get established and have your feet on the ground, it is up to you to make the best of your situation and find your place.

Again, this is the case in most locations.

Always nice to hear when someone has found a place that works for them, and that they enjoy. But be careful not to stray into the former smoker/found religion territory, it is never a good look. It's even worse when the person is still here and doing it...

scholar · Joined: 18 May 2012 Posts: 159

China is still a good place, but it only needs foreigners who wish to follow China's regulations, respect its customs, and flow with the general manner of living.

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

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

I agree with the OP as he speaks from reasoned experience and gives multiple examples of how things have changed. Anyone disagree with the content of his post?

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

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