Job Discussion Forums

flyingrab · Joined: 07 Sep 2004 Posts: 5

Hi,
Great to read your post, glad you are doing well. I would be most grateful if you could pass on any info, if any, that you may have on ABC Foreign Language School in Shanghai,
Many Thanks Very Happy

little grass · Joined: 01 Sep 2004 Posts: 4

Hi Bill,

Just curious, does one of your part-time jobs sort out your visa for you? I learned last year, as well, that being tied to one school fulltime is not for me (esp. if you can't stand the school!) I now have one primary job (at a university, they take care of the visa) and some p/t tutoring and pre-school work. However, ideally I would like to break away from the university and just do "free-lance" but wonder how it would work visa-wise.

dan allan · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 38

I have been in SH since Jan. Worked as a DOS for a few months and took the summer off. I am now working at 1 part-time job and looking for another one in addition to getting privates and my own company classes.
Full-time is a drag due to the fact you can make more cobbling together 2 or 3 p-t gigs. Just be sure the taxes are being paid by the company or you handle it correctly yourself (I'm not sure how to do this). You can get 200 plus for corporate training although I'll settle for less depending on other factors. I think it is important to NETWORK as it is difficult to find decent companies and to share information. Email me if you are like-minded ie Bill. Teachers should stick together; I'm no backpacker but here for the long haul. Well, that's my 2 bits worth for now.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

I think, little grass is a problem case for us teachers in China; people like him want a legal sponsor and then, they want to skip their sponsor to be free and to cash in.
A legal sponsor has the sole rights over you; freelancing is freelancing, and if you stoop to that level you should pay for your overheads - visas and deportation charges.

little grass · Joined: 01 Sep 2004 Posts: 4

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Well, I see your point a little better, lady; sorry for my confusion about your gender.
But if we are only working such short workloads every week we ought to be grateful for not having to slave our lives away as office slaves do.
What's more, I have been to perhaps a 100 countries, and not a single one allowed tourists to start earning local currency (without paying tax) and abusing the local housing market. Teaching is a sensitive field; people engaged in this occupation ought to have good character.
Backpackers who only come for the thrill and to fill their pockets again may not have the moraquality needed in handling local children and even adults!

My university does allow me to earn extra; if yours doesn't you are in a different situation to mine. I agree, 3500 is a pittance for a university job, more so in Shanghai.
But you signed your contract in full knowledge of its implications, didn't you?