Job Discussion Forums

ms_casillas · Joined: 11 Feb 2009 Posts: 26

I asked the recruiter the following questions: these were his
answers. I a want to check with you all to see if they are normal.

1. Why doesn't it state in the contract that school breaks
are paid (Winter, summer vacation).

reply: you will have 3 hodiday pay, i confirm this with Ms ___, there is no problem

2. When will my airfare be reimbursed?

reply: normally, according to my experience, the school will repay your airfare at the end of each term

3. Why aren't the hours per week stated in my contract ?

reply: the teaching hours is 10-20 per week, this is confirmed by Ms ___, I will forward you questions to Ms ____ as well

Ok, can you all please help me with these three questions;
am I being unreasonable??

I am used to doing this in Japan...

thanks!!!

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

Seriously? The number of hours per week, the holidays and the terms of repayment of airfare are not in the contract? What IS in the contract? I'd give this school a pass and definitely give this helpful recruiter a pass. I know I've seen sample contracts over the internets so you can search for that. Here is some discussion of what you should be looking for in a Chinese EFL teaching contract: http://middlekingdomlife.com/guide/english-teaching-contracts.htm . It sounds like your b.s. detectors are working properly...

suanlatudousi · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Posts: 384

Often schools will do one of the following:

* 50% at the end of each of two terms

* 100% at the end of your contract

You need to be sure it is stated in the contract

evaforsure · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 1217

sometimes they lay u off just before the end of the year so as to not pay you.....the air tkt..this is a standard trick of Chinese employers.. that is why I recomend a salary increase monthly to cover the tkt cost...it is always better to handel your own expenses then to rely on the chinese business to provide the funds after the fact...get the money up front and you can never go wrong...

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

There is nothing wrong with getting specific points written into the addendum of your contract. Generally, there is a vague "Chinese" contract in English which has standard offerings that most schools are required to give. If you want specifically to get full pay (or even partial pay) for the winter and summer holidays, that needs to be negotiated and listed in your addendum (the exact amount you will expect). Same with airfare. If they are offering you a full refund of whatever price you paid for your ticket, make sure it says exactly that, otherwise you may see a 5000 yuan offering instead (make sure you save ticket stubs, receipts, boarding stubs, e-ticket communications, etc. in order to get a somewhat hassle-free refund). Most schools will pay 1/2 refund just before the Spring Festival holiday and the other half near the end of the school year. I asked my school for a 25/75 split this year and they agreed. I knew I'd spend the money if I got it so I was trying to be prudent.

Telling you will teach 10-20 hours seems so vague but at least you know it won't be more than 20, right? However, if you are being offered the same pay for (possibly) 10 hours that you would be earning for (possibly) 20 hours, then that may concern you - - unless of course, the salary offered is generous enough that it doesn't really matter. Don't forget of course that you could teach, say, one or two of your teaching hours starting at 8:00 AM and then have a looongggg break before teaching a final hour at 3:30PM. Are there requirements that you have to stay on school grounds? Is your home close enough that you can go there during that possible 5-6 hour break? Is the shopping and other things close enough that you can take care of errands during these breaks? These are all assumptions on my part of course, but something for you to think about.

suanlatudousi · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Posts: 384

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

I didn't say it would be an issue, just giving the OP something to think about. Sure, if the school says, "we are paying you 6000 rmb for working up to 20 hours a week" and the OP is fine with that - - then it's NOT AN ISSUE. If the OP ends up being assigned only 10 or 11 hours instead, then good for him/her. I'm just advising the OP to clarify as many things as possible before he/she accepts a job so there will be fewer POSSIBLE disappointments upon arrival. Personally, I wouldn't want to be working, say, 12 hours a week and then being stuck in an office for long periods between classes twiddling my thumbs, regardless of the pay. I'd rather a) be teaching for most of my scheduled hours, then go home or b) find a job that paid more for 20 hours and then working all those 20 hours. But that's just me.

GoPies · Joined: 19 Sep 2004 Posts: 589 Location: Melbourne

Regarding airfares, my first school paid after the end of the 12 months contract on production of a receipt. One colleague just gave them the airline ticket - you know the pink slips with the exorbitant price before all the discounts? They paid in full - about double what she had actually paid!
Since then they have capped the repayment at 8000RMB I think.
They set a time during which you had to present your evidence.
My current school didn't mention recompense even though it is in the contract. When I brought it up half way through my second year, they said I had to request it on paper, with receipts and boarding passes (which fortunately I have).
I'm interested to know if any schools just pay the fare equivalent even though you may not have gone home.

englishgibson · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 4345

of course some schools/center do just pay that. you just have to have it in your contract as reimbursement and not a "flight ticket". however, some ask for a receipt which you could "purchase" at a travel agency for a little fee.

cheers and beers to all kinda reimbursements we get on top of our monthly salaries