Job Discussion Forums

[North China Laowei]

Edited by poster.

[eslstudies]

[Hansen]

It is ridiculous that an FT would even consider a contract which requires them to pay expenses. Just say NO! There are schools offering good contracts. Work for one.

All expenses paid. That includes private flat and utilities. My school includes all the free bottled water I can drink.

Z visa in your passport before you leave for China.

Air fare arranged to your satisfaction. That used to include round trip. Perhaps that has changed. You should not be "sacrificing" to work here.

That round trip ticket could approximate 2 months salary. If you are not paid for summer and winter vacation, that leaves 9 working months. That's close to 25% of your annual salary you are losing. Pay your own utilites on top of that, which could amount, just for winter, to ~ 2500 RMB. You are getting reamed.

What you are being deprived of is not going to help the poor people of China. It may be going into the pocket of someone who is a lot better off than you are.

Chinese teachers receive decent retirement benefits, significant home acquisition perks, and numerous other benefits. Many, if not most, own automobiles and more than one home. The way things are now in some provinces, perhaps all, when you hit 60, you are shown the door, not rewarded for years of service. No gold watch, no pension, just zou ba.

The "developing country" myth has worn thin. China recently had a trillion dollar + surplus with which it was shopping for international companies. They are also working on a ~500 billion dollar stimulus package.

No reason for you to be living like a peon while your employers are buying second and third homes. I have seen absolute rat holes offered by prestigious universities. OTOH, some high schools offer much better accomodations and packages. Go with one of those. High school kids can be a lot of fun. And the schools can be much more appreciative of the presence of an FT.

Those who give to the rich shall be in want themselves.

Schools must meet certain criteria to qualify to hire an FT under the Z visa program. These criteria were designed by the government to protect FTs from exactly the type of thing many posters here are crying about. Exploitation, poor living conditions, etc. Schools/companies participating in the Z visa program are supposed to offer adequate housing. They are inspected by an administrative body prior to certification. Sure, some show the inspectors one place and then give the FT another, but that's a different issue.

A Z visa in your passport before coming to China can take a lot of the unknowns out of the experience. The living arrangements are included in the appendix to the SAFEA contract. The appendix is prepared by the school, not the government. There is room for lots of negotiation there, especially after you have developed a relationship with the school. If the appendix is bad to start with, it should tell you a lot about the school's attitude toward you.

[ralph wiggim]

Damn Hanson I really love you.

You ever gonna buy me something?

Great post Hanson....

It's easy to let schools take advantage of a teacher. So many do it. I turned down a job because the room was total crap. I know the dude that took the job. Nothing works, no cooking, no internet, no computer, nothing. And the school just yesses him to death - and he is there since September. They have fixed nothing. And this isn't some poor school it a school that has Western school inside and makes a heap of money.

And his room is crap...

[gregmcd101]

It is ridiculous that an FT would even consider a contract which requires them to pay expenses. Just say NO! There are schools offering good contracts. Work for one.

I do. There is one questionable clause but i weighed it up against the other sweet clauses and made my decision.

All expenses paid. That includes private flat and utilities. My school includes all the free bottled water I can drink.

Gas included but not electric - just the 500 stated.

Z visa in your passport before you leave for China.

check

Air fare arranged to your satisfaction. That used to include round trip. Perhaps that has changed. You should not be "sacrificing" to work here.

Check

That round trip ticket could approximate 2 months salary.

Check

If you are not paid for summer and winter vacation, that leaves 9 working months.

I am paid 12 months a year with full medical

That's close to 25% of your annual salary you are losing. Pay your own utilites on top of that, which could amount, just for winter, to ~ 2500 RMB. You are getting reamed.

Assuming a three month summer 2500 less the 1500 i recieve means it costs me 1000 RMB to stay warm. That does not feel like a ream, it equates to approx. one quarter of one month's overtime payments. Another reason I took this contract was the 14 class hours clause and the freely available overtime. For 9 months a year I could easily survive on the OT alone. Unlike many co-teachers i have no problem with working 20+ hours a week, and enjoy the rewards in my ample free time



What you are being deprived of is not going to help the poor people of China. It may be going into the pocket of someone who is a lot better off than you are.

I dont feel deprived, and I admire the entrepenurial spirit, even if i cannot spell it



No reason for you to be living like a peon while your employers are buying second and third homes.

I really, really don't. I fly when i travel as the allure of train travel has receded for me. I estimate 50-60 nights a year in decent though not extravagent hotels. I goto the bar/starbucks/decent eateries at will. i live better than 90% of people back home

I have seen absolute rat holes offered by prestigious universities.

As have I, put my present accom. is the best I have seen, and I have seen a few. I knew this in advance as i requested a video tour of the residence be emailed to me


OTOH, some high schools offer much better accomodations and packages.

Good to know

Those who give to the rich shall be in want themselves.

Refer to the peon answer above

[eslstudies]

[Hansen]

ESL,
What's the problem with "accomodations"? American Heritage Dictionary, fourth edition, defines accomodations as "room and board; lodging."

That reflects the meaning of the sentence, does it not?

[eslstudies]

[North China Laowei]

It is my understanding that it is a long-time unwritten policy and courtesy of one member of this Board to another that we refrain from commenting upon typographical errors, perceived errors in grammar, syntax and the like.

I can only hope that this thread returns to the topic of the OP and that we all remain gentlemen and ladies within this thread. It has been remarkable, of late, to see note the amount of civility that has returned to this Board.

[gregmcd101]

[eslstudies]

Sorry Greg, that's just the way the quote function works.

[Hansen]

Accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accomodation

Thanks for pointing that out!

Greg, It sounds as if you are satisfied with your contract. That's good. Everybody else should be as well, satisfied with, not yours, but their own, contract.

In my experience, after developing a relationship with my employers based on a few years of service, there has been a willingness on their part to make substitutions and changes that I prefer.

Things can, and do, improve.

[eslstudies]

[quote="Hansen"]Accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accomodation

quote]

[Hansen]

accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation
accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation
accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, accommodation.