Job Discussion Forums

[Lute451]

I apologize if this topic has been covered before. I did do a search for winter holiday, spring festival, teaching break...etc. It came up with zero results each time.

I was just told by the school that our last day of class is on the 10th. This is when we get paid for work between Nov. 10 to Dec. 10th. So that means that the 8th is the last day that we have class before the winter holiday. (I know that I'm lucky that I even got told when the last day of class was.)

We don't have to be back for teaching until March 1st. Is it normal to have that long of a winter holiday for the FTs? The last day of normal classes for the school is Dec. 15th, then they will be studying for exams. As least, that is what we were told. This is a public high school, so I'm not sure if that makes a difference with the scheduling.

We are not being paid for the months that we are not teaching. So no pay for Dec, Jan or Feb. We were expecting the no pay issue for Jan and Feb, but we thought we were teaching all through Dec. Did we screw that up on the contract? Do FTs normally get paid for the months that they do not teach?

We are going to be traveling to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand at the end of Dec for about two weeks. Then we were planing on traveling throughout China for the rest of our winter holiday. Now that we have so much time, I'm not sure we have enough money saved for that long of a tour! How much money can you get by with traveling through China?

Again, sorry if this is been discussed at length. If there are current threads, please point me to them. Thanks.

[Steppenwolf]

How can we know the answser if you forget to explain your particular sitatuion?

If you were on contract with a public school your holidays would be paid for. I assume you are working in a training centre, and yes, they reserve the right to pay only for a job done.

IT is sometimes hard for them to sign up new takers right after the spring festival. Of course, I would prefer to cfall it "poor planning" or "poor class scheduling".

[Lute451]

I'm sorry that I wasn't clear. It is a public high school. The contract does state that we will get paid a week for National Day and for a week in May. We also get paid for Christmas. We just weren't aware that their Winter Holiday was 3 months long. I know the students are in classes, I'm just not sure why we aren't needed for teaching until March 1st.

So, normally FTs don't get Dec through March 1st off? Or if they do its paid?

We weren't expecting to have three months of no salary, just two. We knew we would not be teaching in Jan or Feb...this was discussed before taking the job. We didn't know that Dec wouldn't have work though.

[7969]

4-5 week holiday at chinese new year is normal. 3 months is not. nobody gets a three month paid chinese new year holiday at a public school. something strange going on where you are.

[kev7161]

I'm going to guess you are teaching "Oral English", yes? It seems, from what you say in your story, that they are putting your classes on the back burner, so the kids can concentrate all their time on their "written" English in preparation for some big test before Spring Festival break. Personally, in my 3+ years here, I've never heard of this. Have you been having any problems with this school? Are you quite sure you are employed with them come March 1st? Do you have to vacate your apartment? Have you been allowed meals on campus and, if so, are you still allowed to eat at the school canteen? Have you asked or has anyone told you exactly why you are stopping your classes so early (I would ask just out of curiousity)? Were you told pre-contract that you would not be paid for December, January, AND February? (*whew!* that's a LOT of money!) Was it in your contract (and what kind of contract did you sign, if you don't mind me asking, that you'd allow them not to pay ANYTHING for lost days even though school is in session?) that you'd get paid for December? It all just sounds a little unusual to me is all.

[Lute451]

Yes, we are teaching oral English. We take a 40 minute class from the Chinese English teachers once a week. So we have 20 40 minute classes. Each class only sees us once a week.

We knew pre-contract signing that we would not be working Jan or Feb. We were told that it was for winter holiday. We are the only FTs at this school.

We are not leaving our apartment, which is on campus. We still get meals in the school canteen for free. When we were planning our trip, we asked our FAO when our last day of classes were...he told us the 15th. The students would then use all their time to study for the tests. Today we were told our last day would be the 10th (8th really, the 10th is a Sunday) to correspond to our pay schedule. We get paid on the 10th for work between Nov 10th - Dec 10th. We did not expect to not be working in December.

I honestly thought having Jan and Feb off was normal for FTs. The school told us upfront that we would not teach during those months due to the holiday. We knew that we would not be paid for those months before signing the contract, but we didn't know about not working in December.

We have had issue with classroom management. The Chinese teachers told us that they would work with us next semester to help keep the kids in control during our class time. So I don't think we are fired or anything. The teachers and FAO have always made us feel welcome and have helped us out with many things.

The contract we signed was pretty fair...I mean, I'm not an expert obviously, but we read through Dave's and made them change somethings on the contract. They were up front about Jan and Feb, and like I said, I thought that was normal for FTs to not work during those months. It's December that has me worried. We've been living thinking that we would have December's paycheck.

They even said that if we wanted to come back from our winter holiday earlier, they would help us find part time work until school started for us again on March 1st...so I don't think they are trying to get rid of us.

I think I answered all of the questions...if not, please don't hesitate to ask for further information. This school has been nothing but nice to us and we have nothing but nice things to say (aside from lack of paying attention/talking during our classes).

[voodikon]

it probably doesn't matter what anybody here says anyway--you're pretty much at the mercy of your school, aren't you?

[ChinaAndrew]

I teach in a high school.FT have 3 weeks off, two of which are paid.I would agree with the others its sounds unusally long.If your strapped for cash, why not do some freelance, is that allowed by your contract?You could always teach privately for a month then take 2 off for travelling.

[Leprecoon]

Also, if you are strapped for cash the school may front you some money... I worked for a school once, they had a policy of giving all new teachers a loan of RMB1000 when they arrived, and another Uni I worked for paid my flight bonus after a month instead of at the end of the contract....

Maybe not the ideal solution, however it sounds like you have a good relationship with them and it might be an option. Better than spending a fortnight's holiday locked indoors eating ramen noodles and watching TV!