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james0
Joined: 23 Jun 2007
Posts: 29
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 Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 3:30 am Post subject: Any new opinions about SHANE in Beijing? |
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Hello, I am looking at a contract from Shane in Beijing that looks fair. 18 hours for 6600, plus 400 housing subsidy. School sponsored housing is 1200-1300 in a 2 bedroom joint with another teacher. Its at a primary school in Haidian in front of 30-40 6,7,8 year olds.
I have no experience, I've never been to China, but I speaky some Mandarin.
Does anyone have any up to date opinions or information regarding Shane in Beijing? I would appreciate it, as theirs is the only solid offer I have so far.
Okay thanks!
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vikuk
Joined: 23 May 2007
Posts: 1842
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| Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 3:38 am Post subject: |
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shane - a primary school - do I smell farming??????
If it is farming the FT out to other institutions (enabling the primary school to employ you through a visa acquired by Shane) - be careful I do believe rules are more strictly observed in Beijing!!!!! |
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james0
Joined: 23 Jun 2007
Posts: 29
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| Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 3:49 am Post subject: |
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| These rules would apply to my visa status, in so much that I am legally allowed to work for Shane, and not through Shane? |
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vikuk
Joined: 23 May 2007
Posts: 1842
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| Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 4:14 am Post subject: |
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By the letter of law yes, since the work unit you're employed at will be Shane, not any primary school who probally don't have legal permission to employ an FT - and can only use them in cooperation with an outside training body in private classes outside normal school hours. In such circumstances, a mill organising these kind of classes that are held during school hours could be paying under the table to get the local authorities to look the other way - so the chances of illegal FT's being caught should be slim. If they're not doing this - and the operation is illegal - then maybe the FT's should look out!!!!!
By the way before taking my word on this ask for more - mine is only one opinion - and maybe in your specific situation not 100% correct. |
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cj750s
Joined: 26 May 2007
Posts: 701
Location: Donghai Town, Beijng
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| Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 8:55 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| plus 400 housing subsidy |
ask for 2K at least...
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| 1200-1300 in a 2 bedroom joint with another teacher |
each? |
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brsmith15
Joined: 12 May 2003
Posts: 1142
Location: New Hampshire USA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 9:48 am Post subject: |
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Ah, zero james,
You're naive. Be careful of this deal. Turn it down and do some research here at Dave's. You're just the type the low-life schools are looking to hoodwink. Share a room? Nah! |
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u24tc
Joined: 14 May 2007
Posts: 125
Location: Dalian, China
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| Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 11:32 am Post subject: |
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Bet that 18 hours is not total. You can expect to do extra additional office hours and other various stuff but guess what.... Shane WON'T pay you for them, so expect to only get paid for the 18 hours.
Deal seems a little dodgy to me. Do some more research. |
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james0
Joined: 23 Jun 2007
Posts: 29
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| Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 3:16 pm Post subject: |
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but no one else wants to be my friend on the internets 
Shane has been so accomodating |
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vikuk
Joined: 23 May 2007
Posts: 1842
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| Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 5:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Shane has been so accomodating |
Have you queried them with regard to the legality of the teaching position - how straight they are with the answer may give you a clue to their brand of accommodating. |
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SnoopBot
Joined: 21 Jun 2007
Posts: 740
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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Three things I would find out about or dislike.
1. Farming out, this could be a minor thing or a MAJOR issue as others mentioned. Will you be farmed out near your living area and school, or is this going to be 10 miles away thru 3 hours of traffic jams with you footing the transport cost.
2. Sharing room, this can be a blessing. You have an instant friend to hang out with. Both have common interest cool ect. or you can get the nutter type who drives you nuts all day/night long. 50/50 chance
3. 400 rmb is not much for your own place, it's a joke. Try 2000 rmb for the Haidian district area for a western style place to live.
The 6600 a month is on the high side, for 18 hours expect an university to pay 5000 for 20 hours. But as someone else has mentioned is there hidden unpaid hours here or not.
I would ask for a contact number of a teacher working there already to ask these questions.
Beware of getting an Email from a Western Teacher with Chinglish styled writing telling you how great it is there.
Often, some dodgy places will force their office aids to write these letters, you can even find these types of "It is so great to work here" posted on ESL sites that were obviously written by Chinese staff. |
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james0
Joined: 23 Jun 2007
Posts: 29
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| Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 5:44 pm Post subject: |
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| the school said that I would work 3-4 days at a state school during the week, and then friday nights or weekend days at Shane to make up the additional hours, and that they are "partners" with the state school so its okay for my visa to come through them. |
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u24tc
Joined: 14 May 2007
Posts: 125
Location: Dalian, China
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| Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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| james0 wrote: |
| the school said that I would work 3-4 days at a state school during the week, and then friday nights or weekend days at Shane to make up the additional hours, and that they are "partners" with the state school so its okay for my visa to come through them. |
BAD...... |
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james0
Joined: 23 Jun 2007
Posts: 29
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| Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 10:52 pm Post subject: |
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| I wasn't too excited about the possibility of teaching on friday nights or weekends. Is that visa situation suspect? |
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vikuk
Joined: 23 May 2007
Posts: 1842
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| Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 12:01 am Post subject: |
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The word "partner" certainly doesn't clear up the legality aspect of the advertised work - and if that's the best Shane can come up with to convince you that this is a legit job - then your alarm bells should be ringing. Ringing not because of the chance at getting caught and deported, but more at the potentially bad service you'll receive from Shane - after all if they can't be more �straight-up� with their info during the hiring process what's going to happen after you've taken the job.
If that primary school is kosher - then Shane can supply its SAFEA number (this is proof of permission to employ an FT) - why not ask them for it. |
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SnoopBot
Joined: 21 Jun 2007
Posts: 740
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 12:19 am Post subject: |
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| james0 wrote: |
| the school said that I would work 3-4 days at a state school during the week, and then friday nights or weekend days at Shane to make up the additional hours, and that they are "partners" with the state school so its okay for my visa to come through them. |
You need to find out about this, to work your full hours is usually expected but what if this is the case. (I use this example because it's happened to FT's in the past at other schools)
1. You teach at school A on mon, weds, fri for 2 hours each day = 6 hours teaching
2. You teach at school B Tues and thursday for 3 hours each day = 6 hours.
Total 12 hours
So you must make up another 8 hours (for 20 hours) on the weekends at Shane)
20 hours a week. (typical hours no problem)
Here is the kicker
Getting to school A takes 2 hours to and 1 hour from = 3 X 3 = 9 hours/wk
Getting to school B takes 2 hours both ways = 4 X 2 = 8 hours/wk
Total 12 hours actual teaching
17 hours travel time to A and B
8 hours weekend makeup time (to meet 20 classroom hours)
Grand total 37 hours per week, plus NO transportation stipends
Not a great deal now is it?
So it works out to almost a regular 40 hour a week job , but 7 days a week.
You must ask these questions:
1. How far away are these schools from the Shane location/your residence
2. Who pays for the transportation costs
Going from point A 10 miles to point B during Rush hour in Beijing's traffic mess can take hours, and none of this is counted as part of your teaching hours. Standing 3 hours on a smelly bus with people shoving you is a nightmare. Or paying 150 + RMB for a one-way taxi fair stinks too.
If these schools you will be teaching at are located within bicycle or walking distance to your main residence /work than this is a typical normal deal and a salary of 6600 is good. Many of us with a masters degree in education from a top certified university get paid lower than this.
If you have these hidden hours, then I would'nt accept unless you can count the travel hours towards your teaching hours or use them to offset working on weekends.
I don't know about Shane, but I do know any FARMING out and in my opinion totally stinks. I've been there, I did this before to teach Business styled Technical Project Management classes in the Beijing Business District.
I thought it would be good experience for me, and found out that sitting in a car stuck in traffic at 11 pm at night (classes start at 7 am) without eating all day every weds night was not a good deal after all. My university needed someone to go to an Offshore Engineering Group, I was the guy with the EE and MBA, so I accepted.
I accepted to do this for experience , so it was my fault. The only person I had to blame was me, myself and I. So I endured it for the 6 months and chalked it up to "won't happen to me next time."
These are the items you must ask them about. The best advice comes from those of us that have been in these situations before. |
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