Job Discussion Forums

[jeffinflorida]

I would like to ad that your school staff, including your FAO, may come up to you and ask you if you are interested in doing side work as well - even if your contract has the no side work clause.

This is not a trick but these people may in fact know someone who is in need of English tutoring and may in fact benefit directly or indirectly ( make some cash or score points for future favors) as a result of your work.

I worked at a school and it had the same no outside work clauses...and the FAO personally asked me to do some tutoring for a high school student in my apartment during nonworking hours. And the little creep paid me 125 an hour for a 2 hour session twice a week.

So it was ok with me to make an extra 500 rmb a week in cash paid on the spot whilst in the comfort of my apartment and under the recommendation of the FAO...

I will add that the thought of that i was doing something illegal never entered my mind... Side work is abundant in many places.

[SnoopBot]

In Beijing there seems to be a growing trend towards more hours these days.

Contracts are stated at the nominal 20 hours per week...

Within those actual 20 hours in a classrooom are hidden hours now.

Travel and teach gigs
English Corners
Official Functions
Favors
Extra work on the fly.
Office hours

If you work outside the school and REFUSE to work these extra activities mentioned above, it is a good possibility some type of punishment will follow.

So far I've seen only threats being made, and one contract not renewed.

In the future who knows what will happen, years ago eveyone turned a blind eye to these things aqnd the hours were 12-14 per week which left a lot of time for second job positions.

Times have changed, they want to get as much as possible out of you as English is a cash cow for many in the admin departments. If you can do the work of 2 teachers the better the savings and often the bigger the pocket money going to some admin official type.

With all of this mentioned the LAST thing a school wants to do is hire an extra teacher because you're too busy teaching at second jobs.

You can still teach at second jobs and NOT tell anyone and get away with it. - You must be more caqreful now doing this.

However, this is after you have put in a good solid 20 hours in the classroom with additional 10 hours + a week spent on unpaid activities.

Most of the second jobs I had were on the weekends and the result for me was teaching 7 days a week with a high burnout level and I don't think I could do this longer than 6 months at a time.

Some places will strictly forbid you to work any extra JOB and write this into the contract.

The common attitude in China is this:

"If you have the time and energy to work a second job, you need more work and hours at THIS job."