Job Discussion Forums

[Talkdoc]

[Roger]

[Wearjak]

[cujobytes]

Talkdoc. Xit happens everywhere, and while I feel it was a very mean spirited thing to do, (dragging a young couple all the way from Canada only to tell them they aren't needed) it's not at all like TPR and only happened due to an oversubscription of teachers as the previous poster pointed out. They do not regularly treat people this way. Trust me, I know all parties involved, I believe in light of the situation TPR was as sympathetic to their situation as they could have been.
Anyway, the story has a happy ending, they camped in my spare room for the week or two it took them to find new jobs. They now have their own very nice apartment (not a school apartment), have good jobs making good money, many friends and a pretty good life, due to the fact that they are both wonderful, charming people in great demand. TPRs loss.
Thingfs have a way of working out here.

[Talkdoc]

[arodeorowdy]

I too have read many horror stories that made me a little gun shy about coming to China. But all in all, my situation has just worked out GREAT! I have a great job, like everyone around me, have a good agency that works to make me happy and so I don't have any complaints at all.

So what if one comes over here and their job falls apart. Just know that there are far too many schools looking for F/T this time of year to worry about that. Of course if "you" are a newbie to traveling it's understandable that you'd be worried about what would happen if the bottom falls out. Just know, that the supply of F/T is far below what the demand is. Truthfully, that's why I can work here. But since I work/play with 3 - 5 year olds it doesn't take a degree to teach in my position, it takes a certain personality to do it; which I have and throughly enjoy.

I've been reading this board for the last year and I'm not fully aware of the pitfalls of working w/o a Z visa. Lately I've been crossing the HK border every weekend, so I wonder sometimes what would happen if "they" find out. But unless they catch me at school...how would they? BTW, the owner of my school, he owns 4 in SZ., works in the SZ. school dept. in some capacity.

Cheers, Rowdy

[Kai6854]

CUJOBYTES writes:

[yaco]

Many schools/colleges/language institutes/ universities prefer teachers to arrive in China with a Z Visa for one reason.

It is a bureaucratic nightmare to get a Z Visa issued in a Chinese Embassy.

I know from my experience that I encountered 7 trips to the Chinese Embassy before getting a Z Visa.

And of course they stuffed it up and gave me a single entry instead of multiple entry Z visa.

My school which employs 78 Foreign teachers gets teachers to arrive in HK and organises an L Visa and the Z Visa is issued 2 to 3 weeks after arrival in China.

The school found that they were losing teachers because the Z Visa process was too bureaucratic.

And often when you purchase a Z Visa it is hard to get reimbursement from your employer.

[ChinaMovieMagic]

I also had a good experience w/TPR...back in 2000-2001.
Yes...the school Administrator was unaware of TPR theory/methods.
I was given freedom to teach w/my Movie Magic aopproach. The school was (is?) located inside a park, just a few blocks from the waterside w/fishing boats always coming-and-going. I also taught at Gateway.

NOTE that Zhuhai--when I was there--was the only place in China where one could get a Visa at the border. A "very special relationship" exists between the schools and the Visa folks. At Gateway, I taught a special program for Visa officials. Keep in mind that Macau is just bordering Zhuhai.

Perhaps also relevant...the owner of TPR is a very interesting chap w/a very good taste for music. Like the 2 owners of Gateway, he also is of the Bahai faith, and is an ethical person. The 2 schools have a friendly rivalry, which can be good for teachers.

Zhuhai is a good place to start your China experiences.

[cujobytes]

Kai6854, Well, OK, I can only speak from my experience in 2002-2003. Fair enough I'm not up to date. I find it unbelievable that they are charging (and so much) for the training. But you know why I'm not still there, I got offered a far more intresting position in private industry.
Anyway, I'll see you at the Cohiba on Sat. night. (It's my birthday so bring gifts) Congratulations on your move by the way.
Talkdoc, it'd be great to see you up here. Bunny and I will be down in
Zhan jiang for the spring festival next week, so time and finances permitting we'll pop down for beer or two in Hainan.

[GregSka]

*beep* the Bahais, having sex with people you aren't married to and getting shit faced is a much more fitting religion in China.

Happy Birthday Cujo

[Ariadne]

Hi jgirl,

I know you must be reeling from all the advice and information you have been getting. It can be very hard to sort out the facts anywhere, but trust me that in China it is particularly difficult. I'll tell you my story and you can add it to the pot.

I found my university job through Dave's, interviewed over the internet and telephone, and came to Zhuhai on a tourist visa as advised by the school. As soon as the FTs arrived we signed contracts, had our physicals, and the school started working on the permits and visas. Yes, we did teach illegally for a few weeks, but that was explained away by saying that the applications had been submitted. One FT was not able to obtain a Z visa because of a health issue and he was let go.

Some people say that a medical exam from home will work just fine in China if you insist. While that may be true for them, it is not true for everyone. Count on having your exam done in China.

You can no longer get a visa at the border if you are from the US, so get your tourist visa before you leave home or plan to spend some time in Hong Kong or Macau before crossing the border. I know this because I trusted the folks who said I could get a visa at the border and ended up spending 3 days in Macau. You can get a tourist visa in one day, but not if you arrive on a Friday afternoon, and you have to go to the PRC Legation office to get it. Things changed last year when the US and China started playing visa one-upsmanship games.

Be sure to take along sufficient 'get started' and emergency funds. It will be awhile before you get paid and you will have to eat and do laundry and play before the first paycheck arrives. Guys seem to be a lot better at living with one towel and one spoon than gals. This advice would apply to any move anywhere in the world. Take enough cash and/or a credit card so you can live AND have an escape route if necessary.

Another poster already stated that some things you just have to take on faith. I'm sure you have already realized that a signed contract and a Z visa do not necessarily guarantee that all will be well.

Zhuhai is a nice place. I'm pleased to be here and happy with my school.

Good luck to you whatever you decide.
.

[Roger]

[jgirl]

Thank you to everyone who has helped me out. I have decided against teaching in China. I do not feel comfortable with the visa situation. Call me naive, but I like to do things the right, legal way. It is a non-negotiable for me. TPR actually sounds like a decent place compared to others, but I just don't think China is where I need to be. I will probably look for a teaching job in Central or South America. I work with a lot of Spanish speaking children right now and learning Spanish will help me out when I return to the U.S. I have told my boss that I will most probably be returning next year and she is happy that I have decided not to go. I work with people that I love right now. Many of the people who are teaching in China seem to be a little bit bitter and "hard ass" (That is a good thing; I'm sure it is neccesssary to keep from getting taken advantage of). But anyways, all the people who emailed me were very kind and I can tell that they really care enough to make sure that people know the real deal before they come to China, so thank you very very much.