Job Discussion Forums

nicknz · Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 9:41 pm Post subject: Is this a reasonable request?

I am currently considering a teaching position with a school in China. This will be my first time teaching ESL and I have never travelled to China.

Is it a reasonable request, having been offered a job, to ask my potential employer for the contact details of another foriegn teacher at their school so to obtain a "reference" of sorts?

tofuman · Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Posts: 937

Reasonable? It's essential. But they may lie and say it can't be done.

Talkdoc · Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 696

Yes, it is essential: but keep in mind that communicating with someone who will offer you a balanced critique will not be so easy. You need to consider that the school is only going to give you the names of current and former teachers who they believe will speak well of the school (or, at the very least, will not hurt their recruitment efforts).

You should ask for the names of at least two foreign teachers; preferably one who has completed his or her contract and has returned home. If the school balks at all at this request (I mean, if they even blink), ran away as fast as you can. As a rule, Foreign Affair Officers (FAOs), Western recruiters and directors of studies (DOS) are not the most reliable source of information about a school; their jobs are to bring you in, not to tell you about all the sordid details regarding problems in accommodations, school management, living environment and others.

Do a search on these forums (or read the sticky above) regarding what a contract (school) should offer you and, related, "things to watch out for." Then prioritize your concerns and ask pointed questions about these particular issues. You should also check the Job Information Journal on this forum (and others on similar sites) for a post-employment report of the school. Remember though, that most of these reports are written by people who have either had a particularly bad or great time at the school (which may or may not be representative of what you will encounter). You should also ask a few questions about and then consider the source of the information: A recent and relatively young graduate who is �just passing through� can be expected to have a different viewpoint than a professional educator with many years of former teaching experience.

Finally, post a request for information about the school on this forum: chances are someone here will know something about it - either directly or through hearsay.

Good luck to you.

Doc

brsmith15 · Joined: 12 May 2003 Posts: 1142 Location: New Hampshire USA

Agree with tofuman. If they show any signs of resisting your request to talk with or email FT's, RUN! Run away. Good schools will gladly give out names and the only thing you have to guard against are "plants." In other words, the ref they give you might just be one of THEM.

Run a search on this website also.

ContemporaryDog · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 1477 Location: Wuhan, China

You should be able to get such a reference, although bear in mind that its NO guarantee of the positives/negatives of the school!

I got a glowing reference of my school from a guy who was there before. He mentioned nothing about the 2 curfews the school used to have (a. having to be in the office from 8.30 til 5 every day and b. having to be home by 10.30pm each night).

Those curfews HAVE now been dropped by my school, but it would have been nice to know about them before making the decision to come here. I suspect this guy was getting paid a certain amount to give them a good write up and gloss over this.

tofuman · Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Posts: 937

I received an inquiry from a prospect after she had signed the contract. I gave her a fair assessment of the situation. I knew she wanted to travel. I knew the school would not allow it.

She backed out of the contract after a lot of work had been completed to secure her visa. I was told that the PSB might flag her name to inhibit future entry to China.

I'm glad she did not come, but inquire before signing the contract.

cujobytes · Posted: Fri May 13, 2005 4:24 am Post subject: >

Just wondering why and how a school could/would disallow a person to travel?

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

Last year there was a teacher here that was just as disappointed with this school as most FTs, yet on the school's website, there is a lovely testimonial from the selfsame teacher! Hmmmmm.

roostasha · Joined: 27 Oct 2004 Posts: 72 Location: China

It might sound obvious, but make sure you ask for a home number, not the number at the school. You don't want to talk to someone while they are standing right in front of their FAO.

Yu · Joined: 06 Mar 2003 Posts: 1219 Location: Shanghai

It is a little helpful.

I got a contact at the school to talk to, BUT through a friend not the FAO. Husband is an alum from my school, and got a friend to get me a contact.

The contact provided very little useful information.

nicknz · Posted: Fri May 13, 2005 11:37 am Post subject:

Thanks for the advice guys. I have asked to speak to a current or former teacher. The school wants me to work evenings and weekends, which im not entirely sure I want to do anyway.