Job Discussion Forums

Calories · Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 361 Location: Chinese Food Hell

Hi, I'm a newbie hoping to go to China sometime in the new year. I've been reading all your complaints and I can't help but laugh. You all seem to thrive on the frustration that being an esl teacher provides. What scares me the most is that I'm actually looking forward to it.

I thought reading posts would help me get an idea of what to expect but, I think this forum has made me come to the conclusion that I should expect nothing and simply continue to prepare for my trip (health stuff, financial stuff ect.) and study as much as I can.

The only thing I am worried about is an employer who will take advantage of my inexperiance and refuse to pay me. My esl course instructor warned our class that it can happen and did happen to him once and he was left stranded overseas with no money and a work that he was not being paid for. Does this happen very often in China? I figure there is a high demand for ESL teachers and I'm not sure, would it be easy enough to find a new job? Most of my money is in credit and I'd prefer to save that for emergancy supplies/ticket home if need be.

Keath · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 3:45 am Post subject:

Well said calories..

vikdk · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 1676

use this forum also to find some other teachers near to the place you are going to work - if the worse comes to the worse you can always try knocking on someones door - problem is when you first come out here, you can feel so damn lonely - if you get to know somebody here, somebody with experience, problems that once looked like mountains can suddenly turn into mole-hills.

pancakes · Joined: 03 Nov 2005 Posts: 76

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

Don't sweat it! most of us use these forums to vent our rustrations with like-minded people. If it was truly that bad, most folks would have stopped doing this a long time ago.

If you're scarred of being ripped off, i'd recommend starting with a gig at a public school (especially university) to minimize the chances of that happening.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

it happens to CHinese employees quite often - no pay for months, then suddenly sacked. A current issue concerns ex-PLA engineers (working for the army) that lost their jobs in Shenzhen and have gone on demonstrations asking for their pay.

But as a foreign teacher you can't engage in riots without further drastic action against you. It may happen less often to FTs because if you are legal your employer may feel you could apply the law against them since your contract has been approved by the PSB.

Anyway, this is no reason to not do your due diligence. It is imperative you not come here without ga safety net of your own. Enough cash to tide you over droughts!