Job Discussion Forums

srbutler · Joined: 17 Jun 2009 Posts: 4

I recently received an offer from the Jiangsu department of education for either Wuxi or Xuzhou, my pick depending on the age level I want to teach. I went through a contact offered through my university (Mark Bolding and his program CNET - China Needs English Teachers) who does passive recruiting for them because he's a former teacher. The job is 4000RMB/month+1000RMB housing, 16 hours/week, basic insurance, 8000RMB flight reimbursement at the end. I know that's a pittance for an experienced teacher, but see my qualifications below to say if it's horrible for me.

1) After the application process I was offered the job, but with condition as to my visa application: I have to send in my formal acceptance this Monday (it's Friday evening for me) in order for them to process the F-visa with the rest of the teachers they've hired. I can wait longer to send acceptance, but the hiring person said I may have to apply for a tourist visa to come for the training if I wait too long. Is this visa situation acceptable?

2) I am an first-time ESL applicant, fresh out of college with a BA from a good US university, native English, a degree in Chinese language, no TEFL, and some experience traveling in China. I'm at various stages of completion for different ESL jobs, and this one was the first I'd finished. I'm afraid of getting a better offer a week or two down the line and already having an agreement with this job. Is that time frame too short for me to make a legitimate decision? Am I being too picky, and should take the first job available to me?

3) Do any of you have any experience in either city, Wuxi or Xuzhou? I'm familiar with Wuxi through a TA I had in college, and it seems like a reasonable enough city in terms of having stuff to do and access to other larger cities, but I've never even heard of Xuzhou. Do they offer an at least moderately comfortable life?

Sorry for the long post, I just have a lot on my mind right before this rather large change in my life up to now.

Mister Al · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 840 Location: In there

16 hours or 16 ACH (ie 45 minute period)? RMB1000 pm housing? You'll be living in a dump for that price unless you are sharing. Do they find you a place? What about deposits and rent in advance, generally at least 3 months? Do you pay this? Overall the salary and housing allowance is crap, particularly for Wuxi.

srbutler · Joined: 17 Jun 2009 Posts: 4

16 45 minute periods, with the 4000 minimum per month guaranteed (so not some trick of hours vs. periods). They said they'd help me find a place and suggest living with another one of their teachers. I have received nothing about deposits or rent in advance, what should I be asking them about this stuff?

Thanks for responding.

The Ever-changing Cleric · Joined: 19 Feb 2009 Posts: 1523

Mister Al · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 840 Location: In there

sui jin · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 184 Location: near the yangtze

Xuzhou is a big city at the northern (poorer) end of Jiangsu. It is a train hub, so easy to travel to Xi'an, Beijing, Nanjing etc, but also it has bad air pollution and is a noisy city. I certainly would not recommend it for a first taste of China.

I agree with other posters who say the salary is too low.

Fred Smith · Joined: 06 Dec 2008 Posts: 77

Anybody notice the part about F visa.

If it's a government agency why are they offering an F visa?

Not to mention slave wages.

xiao51 · Joined: 06 Feb 2009 Posts: 208

By any chance this Jiangsu Department of Education that you are talking about..

is it really Jiangsu Services for International Education or something like that...

called JSEIE or something like?

Please answer and I can tell you more.

srbutler · Joined: 17 Jun 2009 Posts: 4

Actually, yeah, on the bottom of their stuff they sign JESIE. Are they stringing me along/scam artists?

God I feel so naive in this process. I am pretty strongly leaning towards not accepting this job anyway because of the acceptance deadlines.

Hansen · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 737 Location: central China

The idea of living with a local, if that's what is being offered, is absolutely unacceptable. Don't do it.

xiao51 · Joined: 06 Feb 2009 Posts: 208

shenyanggerry · Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 619 Location: Canada

No 'Z' = not legitimate. If you go there get an 11' pole. I wouldnt touch it with a 10' one.

defenestration · Joined: 16 Jul 2009 Posts: 23 Location: Wait, what?

srbutler I don't know if you check back here, but I am very curious about what you decided and the outcome. I am leaving for Xuzhou in a little over two weeks and it is through the same CNET program you mentioned.

srbutler · Joined: 17 Jun 2009 Posts: 4

Defenestration:

I ended up changing my whole plan of attack in China, and instead am attending Tsinghua Uni in Beijing for a year. It ended up being affordable enough that it was worth it to me, since the entire reason I was going to China was to continue my study of Chinese. I hope you enjoy your time over there and I wish you luck.

defenestration · Joined: 16 Jul 2009 Posts: 23 Location: Wait, what?

Thanks, and good luck to you, too.