Job Discussion Forums

[Horselover Fat]

Hello,

The school that I am working at is not telling us the dates for our February break. We have been asking them for more than a month now and they just say that our break will begin between the 3rd and the 10th and it will end sometime around the 24th.

This is frustrating because we have family visiting and they need to know when to book their plane tickets. Also, our school claims they do not know when the new semester will begin so we should be back from traveling no later than the 24th.

My major question is: is it normal for a school not to know the dates of a holiday that is only a couple of weeks away? We feel that the school is messing with us on purpose. We want to travel around as long as possible and we don't want to get back on the 24th like they say, and wait around for a week to start teaching.

Thanks!

[eslstudies]

[jeffinflorida]

It's poor communication which is a typical problem in most schools. Many times the general annoucement is not made until several days before the actual days off.

Sometimes you just have to ask your fao or dean many many times until you get an answer.

I would get pissed because one school i worked at would change the schedule - cancel classes for the whole school- and not tell me until the day before. This sucked much becasue i would like to travel on the weekends and if they gave a friday or monday off it would help for me to know in advance so i could do something.

[Steppenwolf]

This is indeed the "normal" modus operandi at Chinese schools - for FTs, not for Chinese employees. The school does have a school calendar.
It's just that the FTs fit in roughly and have to put up with such uncertainties tocover unplanned for emergencies as theyarise. In principle, your classes probably end earlier than those of your Chinese colleagues, so the schol wants to make sure that you are not enjoying a premature beginning of holidays.
Don't worrytoomuch - get your folks to come as early as possible because come February,there is bound tobe a huge crunch on China's transportation systems.

[11:59]

Bear in mind also that it is not really so much a break or holiday, as more a re-scheduling of your classes. Any time had 'off' in that period will usually have to be made up.

[prof]

While some might call this 'normal' I do not.

It's also unacceptable.

Your FAO needs to be re-educated on how to deal with foreign staff.

I would demand a meeting and some answers. If they say they must wait for the local government to make the call I suggest you ask what the holiday schedule was last year and EXACTLY when the you can expect a firm answer.

If they still refuse to give you specifics I suggest:

1. Ask a friendly Chinese teacher (they likely know).

2. Set your holiday NOW and then tell the school. They'll panic if you're timing is off by a week. Tell them you are booking a ticket for so and so on Monday. Watch them squirm.

3. Find another school next year. Life is tough enough. You don't need to deal with these kinds of idiots who can't understand your very reasonable request.

[eslstudies]

[TravellingAround]

The school can at least give you a date when you definitely won't be working even if there is a time when they aren't sure which day the classes will end.

There must be a set number of days where they can say there definitely will be no school.

At the uni I worked at I was handed a yearly school calendar during the week before the academic year started. That was a public institution...if they can do that when why can't others? There may be a day a two out but no need for more than that. Also...why do the Chinese teachers always seem to know when it will be?

Demand some more accurate answers. What is this; amateur dramatics? The way I look at it is this...would they do this to a Chinese teacher?

The answer is...

[stil]

Aks your students when their exams begin and you will know when you are off. You may be free before that but you will at least know the latest date.

[Yu]

Yeah,
This situation is completely normal.... your problem is that you are trying to make plans.... It is most likely that the school does not know their schedule yet. I know it may feel like they are messing with you, but they are really messing with everyone. The reality is that it hasnt been decided or the people who decided havent informed anyone. Good Luck. Feb 18 to 24 is the official holiday, so you should be able to count on those days off.

[kev7161]

double post - - - grrr, crappy internet slowness these days (is that shallow of me in light of the fact that people may have lost much more than internet in the earthquake last month?)