Job Discussion Forums

[deedle]

Ok, so, yes, I am an English teacher. I should, therefore, know the English language, right? And I do! I swear.

Except....what does the expression "in arrears..." mean? My contract states that I will receive such-and-such amount net monthly "in arrears"..and I have no idea what that means. I can't exactly email the Director back and say "could you clarify this for me", as I don't want to come across stoooopid.

Thanks!

[Malsol]

LATE

[deedle]

Late? Ok. So they pay me one month for the last month's work? Exactly what am I supposed to do that first month? Is this the usual way?

[Voldermort]

Well, you would have to clarify this with the school. But instead of sounding stupid tell them the truth, it doesn't exactly make sense.

Most schools in China, you work the first month, then get paid for it. I get paid on the last working day of the month, but I have known some schools where they would pay you on or before the 10th of the following month. If your contract states "paid 1 month in arrears" this would mean you work for 2 full months before receiving any salary. This is unheard of in China and leaves you wide open to being exploited.

Put it to your school in exactly the same manner as I have above, and see what the response is. If indeed you have to work 2 months before being paid, walk away!

[Brian Caulfield]

They mean that at the end you get it in the derriere or rear end .

[danielb]

It means you work a month (probably a little over) and then get paid.

[bearcanada]

The word "arrears" refers to money, and means money that has already been earned and should be paid.

The phrase "in arrears" means you will be paid at the end of the period of time during which the money was earned.

If you are to be paid 'monthly in arrears', then you will work for the month of May and be paid on May 31. A Chinese school may or may not adhere to a dictionary definition of the term.

In North America, we usually pay our cable TV and phone bills monthly in arrears, which means we get the month's service first and then we pay.

.

[deedle]

Much appreciated! You guys are just too smart. I'm going to get in touch with the Director of the school and see exactly what he means. In any case, I guess that I should have enough money to last for the first two months. Anyone want to lend me some?

Thank you!

[Malsol]

Hey Deedle - you agree to work for two months before being paid and you will be diddled not deedled.

[deedle]

Haha! Just call me diddy.

Sooooo let's end this thread, shall we? I was in touch with my potential employer and all he means by "in arrears" is that I have to work first, then get paid at the end of each month. Why not just say that? Why confuse the English teacher?

[Malsol]

deedle - you need to teach up, not just down.

[Paul Barufaldi]

Here's some context for you, courtesy of the Grateful Dead:

"I know the rent is in arrears
The dog has not been fed in years
It's even worse than it appears
but it's all right.

Cows giving kerosene
Kid can't read at seventeen
The words he knows are all obscene
but it's all right"

-hope that clears things up:)

[bearcanada]

Paul;

The lyrics are cute, but they raise a valid point. We often use the expression "in arrears" to mean 'late', and a bank will ask you to pay your 'arrears' or tell you your payments are 'in arrears'.

I believe these are all inappropriate uses of the expression, but maybe the usage has become so common that the word does simply mean 'late' to most people.

I wouldn't think a teaching contract would adopt the common usage, but who knows? If it did, then it should simply mean that the school will pay you 'late' every month. Now what?

.

[Malsol]

It is also descriptive of prison sex, but we should not be teaching that definition either.

[Sinko]

Oohh, wasn't that an innuendo? Or is that an Italian suppositiory?