Job Discussion Forums

[revilo]

I have the Foreign Expert Certificate and I thought I could sit back and chill....but that's not the case.
My co-worker was buggin me for the last week to take the online exam as part of SAFEA's program to quantify as much info as possible on foreign teachers who work in the glooooooooooorious Peoples Republic. The test is a combination of TEFL concept knowledge, Chinese student knowledge, basic Chinese law knowledge (including visa requirements), and a writing test.
Writing test question: Do you think work is becoming more stressful and less leisurely today? You have 15 minutes to write 200 words, Lao-wei. BEGIN!

Jeez. I forgot to mention that there is a personality test which is supposed to measure how well you play with others. How you see yourself in terms of confidence and as an agent of change. the sad part is that it will be available for all employers to see..... I lied on the personality part because:

1. it's an invasion of privacy
2. it's none of their F'n business

I hate playin' games with Chinese. They don't pay me enough for their BS.
On the plus side, my contract is only for 1 year and waiting for the visa cut one month off it. Have you guys heard of this test and have you taken it?

[Javelin of Radiance]

If your co-worker say do it then get on with it. Don't forget who signs your paycheck

[johntpartee]

I had to do this twice a few years back.

[jm21]

I did those, but no one can tell me what a good or acceptable score is. Some of the questions on the multiple choice part didn't really even make sense and who the hell knows who's grading the written test. Utter and complete waste of time but hopefully makes someone happy.

[Shroob]

I think this is the thing that floats around every few years, I remember having to do it once. Like you I was uncomfortable putting in personal details to a website I've never heard of before. So I just fudged the input. My passport number was 0000000000, my answers random, fake name, fake address, fake employer. Nothing ever came of it. Sent an email off to my boss saying it was done, 'Thank you, Shroob'...never heard anything about it.

I refused to be judged by criteria that made no sense. As JM21 said, the questions were horrendous. I can't remember them now, but I'm sure far back enough in my post history there will be a few. Think along the lines of 'Are you an autumn or summer person?' or, 'If it's raining do you think a) I'll get wet so take an umbrella b) It's a horrible day I'll stay home c) At least the crops will be watered.'

EDIT: Found the thread where this topic was discussed before:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=96040&highlight=passport

Have a look at some of the questions... welcome to China.

[fat_chris]

[fat_chris]

[WLamar]

[muffintop]

Tell your co-worker you completed it.

If that fails....tell him to piss up a rope.

If Mr. Personality above would like to show where it states that this online thingy is actually REQUIRED...that would be great.

[NoBillyNO]

[Bud Powell]

I've never been asked to take the test, though, strangely, other FTs in my school were asked to take it. That was 4 years ago or so.

[fat_chris]

[NoBillyNO]

[tangal]

This test is a yearly requirement for all language center tutors at my new university and is included in the paperwork for all RPs and FECs. I was told by someone in HR that scores don't matter, making it more of a formality than a benchmark, but based on my experience taking the test seems a fair and reasonable price to pay for the salary and benefits of my current position. The test also seems to be based on generally accepted methods and principles of academic and psychological testing. In other words, I doubt it’s much different from the tests certain Western employers might require of their employees. My hunch is that foreign academic types are involved in running the SAFEA dog and pony show. After completing the test, I was instructed to print and hand in to HR my personal Knowledge Test and Writing Test Report, which included my member code, name, birthday and gender, and my score and analysis of the evaluated tasks. Easy peasy Japanesey!

[Javelin of Radiance]