Job Discussion Forums

[Shan-Shan]

A'Moo:

Wonderful post. It does amaze me when institutes require advanced qualifications when pay is pitiful by international ESL standards. And then there are those stellar Chinese co-workers who feel superior because they can read vocabulary lists to students, and retain a job, while any FT attempting to follow their modern example would find said job snatched away before Friday.

And as for the "historic" sites: they pretty much all only exist in history books. I especially love enticements like "come and teach in XXXX, China's largest petroleum field" or "experience life in XXXX, the site of a peasant uprising against (someone)..." There likely are some sinophiles who are able to enter trances and communicate with peasants from thousands of years back, and thus enjoy the historical significance of a place despite the noxious atmosphere. Unfortunately, most FTs, and all Chinese, cannot perform these particular acts of self delusion.

[southern bluefin]

Hi Horizontal H.

In respect of your post (farther above), I just have a comment. My hunch is that the pay is at that level because of the link between BNU and HKBU. According to their speel, this is the first such co-operation between a mainland university and an HK uni. As such (i.e., being the first one), yes, it would be unique for now.

However, I have heard of higher pay at a Chinese university (in the north) though, but this was for an HOD role.

Maybe in future the south Zhuhai / Shenzhen will be the place to go for the best paid jobs as more institutions enter articulation agreements with HK universities. I hope this will start a trend. I'm assuming such business models allow higher pay. This article might be of interest to some:

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China_Business/HB18Cb05.html

[Joe C.]

[daeckardt]

[quote="Mosley"]
If you choose to work for this outfit, be warned-you'll be working by the HOUR which means that you aren't paid for holidays! Nor are you paid for marking, lesson planning, etc. Even more insulting, you are not paid for English Corners, speech contests, special lectures & staff meeetings. But get this: if you miss any of those, you are liable for a salary deduction! Every term, 20% of your pay is withheld to make sure you're a good little boy who won't complain about the BS you've been sucked into.



I can go along with this complaint. I don't like that they take 20% of my pay each month, but I did get that amount back over the holiday so although it was not as much as it would have been if I was working, I did get money. I don't like the unpredictibility of the pay because of holidays, but I do like the pay that I do get.



Other reasons to avoid this contract:
1)You'll work for atrocious management-a Chinese dean who you never get to talk to & a Western "director" who defies description of incompetent leadership. It would take a psychiatrist's conference research paper to properly describe this guy. Suffice it to say that not only does he not care about you, but rather, he holds you in utter contempt, especially if you're a good teacher and/or dare to complain about anything. His meetings have 2 purposes: to give him lesson ideas & some semblance of a social life.

I agree with this part. The western director is not very informative and likes to talk a lot. I saw the dean maybe three times in the fall term. I think we had one meeting all term.



2)You are given zero for curricular support. OTOH, if a student or spy(aka "monitor") complains about your lesson(s), your a-- is grass.


I agree about the lack of support. If you want to make copies, the office cops an attitude. They are willing to do one or two, but if you dare to ask for enough for one class (let alone 22), they really balk at it. Last term, I only did copies once. I did do a syllabus this term which cost me 180RMB. That is the only copying I hope to do. As far as I know, I had no complaints about my teaching.


3) Two fine foreign teachers(IMHO) were fired from FFL for no other reason than they were dedicated & didn't put up w/s---. 'Nuff said? And no, I wasn't one of them-though I'm sure I'd've been turfed if I'd been silly enough to ask for a 2nd contract.


I know there are a lot of teachers that have returned for a second year, but I don't know if I will even if they ask me to return.


4)I was promised a 16 hr. wk. which soon became a 20 hr.wk. & then 24-the latter in direct violation of the contract.


I was told 16-20 hours. I tried for more, but since my brother (who has a family was given less hours than I had, I gave him some of mine last term so I wound up with 20. This term I have 22 each week. My brother is on a leave right now so I was given one of his classes. If he does not return, I don't know if they will hire (try to hire?) another teacher or if I will have that extra class for the duration. I wouldn't mind having more money.


5) No printer in the crappy computer room. No A/C in the classrooms.

I don't use the computer room on campus as I have my own computer. If I need to print something, I just put it on the memory stick and go to the copy shop. It doesn't cost that much for one copy. I do wish they had A/C, but I can deal with it.


6)The campus is very isolated w/lots of construction noise-very demoralizing.

I can agree with this point. There is a tunnel being blown right outside my window and it often makes noise late at night. I don't like taking the busses into town because it is almost always standing room only.

Sigh. I could go on & on . Let me just finish by saying that the FFL teachers I worked with were, despite some personal differences, a fine bunch in 2005-06. FFL didn't deserve them.

Don't work for FFL. And if you do, rage against the management. HA

The teachers I have worked with are a good bunch of people. We had three leave after the fall term and three new ones come in for the spring. I like the people, I just don't like the fact that each class only meets 1.5 hours every two weeks (unless they are English majors).

[daeckardt]

I am interested in going to Zhuhai. Out of interest, if someone were to live in the campus accommodation, would RMB$2,000 per month [with the rest to be saved] be a realistic budget? I don't mind extra hours.

I am generally able to get by on 2000 RMB. If I am able to stay away from my brother and his son (who are notorious for spending my money), I can get by really cheap. I usually figure 40 RMB a day for food and incidentals (you can get by cheaper if you eat in rather than out, but I hate to cook) and some money for transportation whether you take a bus or a taxi. I spend about 1000 a month on food and then spend money on other things. My January check went for a trip to Thailand and my February check bought the computer I am using now. I like the extra hours so maybe I can build up my savings again so I can take my next trip.

This may be a silly question - do you need an apartment deposit if you want to go into the campus accom?

Unfortunately they do require a 500 RMB deposit for the campus accommodation. Most schools I have seen do request that (one I saw wanted 1000).

Did fans in the classroom make the topical conditions bearable?

Fans helped a little, but it was still uncomfortable.

I hope this helps.
Debbie

[daeckardt]

S. Bluefin: As far as a realistic budget goes, keep in mind that w/FFL @BNU-Z you will average something like 5000-5500/mo. With FFL that is NOT paid every month...during holiday periods you get paid squat. You can live OK...but forget about saving much unless you're a monkish hermit.



I can only say what I have got year to date, September through February. For me, it has averaged out to about 7000. It has ranged from 4471 for 50 hours (when there were only second year students and a holiday) to 8900 for 102 hours. I don't know what you were doing, but I get by really nice on that. And I was able to save enough money to take a five week trip over the spring break.

[daeckardt]

[tw]

You are aware that instead of making four straight posts in the same thread, you could have just gone into your first post from today and edited it eh?

Also, any chance you can use the quote feature? It's not very hard to learn.

[mlomker]