Job Discussion Forums

[fitzsystar]

I am planning on living with my boyfriend in five different locations within china, for 2 to 3 months per site, while he works on contract. Is it possible for me to take on private students, and does anyone know how to do that legally? Is this commonly done? Alternatively, do companies sometimes hire teachers short-term?

Thanks - I appreciate your expertise!

[MyTurnNow]

Running a SCHOOL is complex in China, but private lessons are easy. I've never encountered or heard of any legal issues surrounding them.

It's pretty common to give private lessons, and most definitely possible, but it's not always easy to find students...much depends on where you are. Advertise as best you can, hang around English corners, and make friends...these are among the best way to get the word out. Getting to be known for great results is even better. If you're going to be in Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou, try the local expat magazines for advertising yourself and finding leads. 'Thats' magazines (That's Beijing, That's Shanghai, etc.) is one of the best. They're online at http://www.thatsmagazines.com

Your short-term nature may work against you...a lot of students want someone they can work with for an extended period. And by the time people start to know who you are, it may be time to move on again...it takes time to find students in many cities.

Pricing is a difficult issue with private lessons. Many teachers price themselves out of their local markets by wanting too much, while the students will (sometimes tearfully) attempt to con you into working for insultingly low rates. If you can, nose around and find the prevailing rate in your area. IMHO it's better to not work at all (while your boyfriend has some income coming in, anyway) than it is to work for too little money. Never forget that your time is VALUABLE.

Yes, a lot of schools hire on short-termers...often as a result of sudden loss of one or more teachers, causing the school to scramble around for even a temporary replacement. (Whether this is because the schools are often bad or the teachers are often flaky, or both, is highly debatable.) Many schools also welcome an available substitute on tap.

5 different locations, at 2-3 months each. Uhhhh, what school is your boyfriend going to work for? (PM me if you wish)

MT

[Roger]

The truth is that NO, you canNOT do this LEGALLY, but many do it illegally.
Besides, moving around the country in such a short time is disruptive to your teaching and your students' needs.
I can't imagine any training centre accepting you on this basis!

But, if you hook up with people in an informal way, why not?
English corners - I hate them, but it's true they serve as get-together points, and I was picked up by employers more than once at such sites.

[naturegirl321]

two to three months at five different places, what in the world is your boyfriend going to be doing?

[MyTurnNow]

Roger, are informal private lessons actually illegal here??? I know that calling yourself a "school" can add complications, but I've never heard of anything regulating informal private lessons. What have you seen on this?

Short-time teachers ARE disruptive, but I've often seen schools turn to them because they were already disrupted anyway. An awful lot of teachers leave like thieves in the night....sometimes justified, sometimes not. When this happens schools will usually grasp at about any straw that will at least buy them some time to hire a "long-term" replacement.

In my management days I had little trouble with this, but I definitely placed great value on someone who was available to substitute...especially in towns that had few foreigners lurking about.

MT

[rick_martin_78]

just wondering:

how does one go about visa extensions, etc., without getting help from a school.

I found that my school extended my tourist visa 2 or three times, and after that, they had to break out some major guanxi to have it changed to a business visa.

If you "go it alone" and tutor indenpendently for a year or so, is it possible to handle these visa issues alone, without making trips to hong kong?

[fitzsystar]

naturegirl321; my partner is working for a company called Raytheon. He sets up radio communications towers for commercial airlines. As most of the sites are quite rural, I'm afraid it will be a real challenge to find students who have the means to pay for lessons.

As for a visa; I may be able to get some help from his company. (I made friends with the woman who arranges their travel plans) But that's still hypothetical.

Thanks for all your input; any suggestions on finding students for such a short time are appreciated! (and whether or not an attempt is worthwhile)

[Roger]

You can probably get a dependant's visa, but that does not grant you the right to work.

However, in reply to MTN, my answer would be:
There is a half-forgotten law in the statute book that says that any congregation of people numbering more than 3 (or maybe 5) needs formal approval from the PSB...
IT's something akin to the demonstration right in some Western countries; if you stage a protest in front of the authorities' palaces, you must go through some elaborate rituals before they allow you to do that.
In China, it may be more tricky - a foreign person might be a spy, a religious zealot or an agent provocateur...
It would be best if the places where her boyfriend performs his job could facilitate lessons.
The above-mentioned law may be better remembered by the PSB in rural parts of China...

[gerard]

Last time I was in HK they were selling 1-year multiple entry visa for 900 RMB.

Part time students are not that easy to find -esp in smaller areas. Maybe contact schools and just see if they will hire you part time. Very possible esp if there are no expats in these areas.

[MyTurnNow]

Ah! Yes, Roger, this is indeed true. I had just been assuming that by "private lessons" she meant 1-on-1, for a congregation of 2. Organizing classes can indeed open you up to possible problems beyond the lack of freedom of assembly.

I think this is a law that only gets invoked if you're causing other trouble...sort of like Oklahoma's "prevailing speed" traffic law that lets them arrest or cite you if they really want to no matter what speed you're going. If it weren't, you couldn't even eat a Chinese dinner here! But it is quite accurate to say that the involvement of a foreigner will greatly increase the degree of observation and risk.

Rick and others: please don't forget that if you don't have a Z visa and a residence permit you are not legal to work here or rent an apartment. The risk of violating this may be fairly low, but it is REAL...and the price of getting caught may be quite high. PLEASE get legal...the ass you save may be your own.

From Chapter VII, Article 44 of the Blue Book: "Aliens who found employment without permission from the Ministry of Labor of the People's Republic of China or its authorized departments shall have their posts or employment terminated and may at the same time be fined up to 1,000 yuan, and those whose offences are serious may at the same time be ordered to leave the country within a specified time." It goes on to say that those hiring you under such conditions will be forced to fire you, they may be fined up to 50,000 yuan, and obliged to repay the government's expenses in deporting you.

In addition, you can be fined, detained, or deported for staying here illegally, renting an apartment without documents and registration of the residence, etc. etc. etc. It can all add up to a LOT of damage...

MT

[MyTurnNow]

Fitzsystar, if your husband is here on a Z visa, then you are eligible for one as well. Chapter 1, Article 4 of the Blue Book defines a Z visa as being given "to aliens who come to China to take up posts or employment and to their accompanying family members. Your husband's company should be able to (nay, obliged to) help you obtain one. So you can get legal to enter and reside here, however, this may not include the right to work here. Best bet is to check with your husband's company contacts and/or the Chinese Consulate nearest you.

MT

[Roger]

Very interesting,MTN; what "blue"book are your quotes from?
Can I buy a copy somewhere?

[MyTurnNow]

The actual title is Law of the People's Republic of China On Entry and Exit of Aliens. It's riveting reading....pour a cognac, stoke up the fire, put some soft music on, and curl up with it sometime.

My current employer had the PSB come in and give us a general talk about visas and documents, not trying to subvert the government, not touching their women, etc. etc. etc. and they were bearing a copy of this book. I asked them your question- where can I get one?- and after a brief flustered look they simply handed me theirs.

I see English-language law books (this one is bi-lingual) in a lot of Xinhua and Foreign Languages bookstores...they may be able to get it for you. If you're in a larger city the PSB may have them available. Given the circumstances of getting mine, this is the best I can tell you.

MT

[ChadwickKent]

MTN your copy may be blue but mine is greene.

Same content.

Happy Chinese New Year.

[MyTurnNow]

Not surprising...this book covers the national-level laws but seems to have been published locally by your friends and mine over at the Division of Aliens & Exit-Entry Administration, Shanghai Public Security Bureau.

MT