Job Discussion Forums

adrian_sojourner · Joined: 06 Jan 2011 Posts: 9

Hello all,
I had an interview with one of the Web International schools near Shanghai and like what they offer. They expect 40 hours a week but pay well + accommodation. I think it could be a nice place to begin my ESL career. I am curious what your experiences are of Web, current or past, and where/which school (there are many).

Thanks.

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

what's the pay, if I may ask?

flyingscotsman · Joined: 24 Mar 2010 Posts: 339 Location: Suzhou, China

WEB has a so so reputation but is know for making you work a lot and for firing employees shortly before the contract expires to save on airfare.

They have a high turnover and employee burnout is high and moral often low. If the students complain about you for ANYTHING more than a few times they will fire you.

adrian_sojourner · Joined: 06 Jan 2011 Posts: 9

Hi flyingscotsman,
Can you elaborate a little? I'm curious if this has been your personal experience? Or other teachers you know/have talked to? And, there are many Web schools, could these experiences be isolated or a general experience of many?
Thank you.

flyingscotsman · Joined: 24 Mar 2010 Posts: 339 Location: Suzhou, China

mnguy29 · Joined: 23 Jan 2008 Posts: 155 Location: USA

I worked for one in a city near shanghai. It was not a good gig! After two months they tried to get me to go to a new city which I said no to. There were many problems! I resigned and went to a different one in the same city.

Zorak03 · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 1:05 pm Post subject:

I have worked at a Web in South China for three years. I have had a positive experience. Management doesn't seem to be on the ball, but they stay out of the FT's hair usually. Co-workers are awesome and pay is high. The only bad things are if you need help with something no one will really help you and they will not assist with visas. If you can take care of yourself without someone holding your hand; just want to come in, do your job, go home and get paid then its a great place to work.
However, I am one of the black-sheep who recommends that a person NOT come on a Z visa because it give the school a lot of control over you. I have personally witnessed two horror stories that would have been easily avoided if the victims had not been tied down with a Z visa. I would recommend you do get a legal visa but you should check the school out first. In my experience blindly obtaining a Z visa from a school you know little about is riskier than coming on another type of visa.

adrian_sojourner · Joined: 06 Jan 2011 Posts: 9

I was able to speak with two former teachers who had good things to say about this one school. However, another forum poster pointed out to me that the high pay is really low by comparison, when you break it down by hour (at 40 hours per week). I've decided not to take the offer, mainly because of the long hours. With fewer hours, I'll have more time for exploring and possibly tutoring one-to-one.

Wow, I'm curious what others have to say in response to your z-visa advice, Zorak03. From what I've learned so far, that's the only legal way to obtain employment (and the Foreign Expert Permit following) in China, especially if coming from abroad. Maybe it's different once there and working? Please elaborate, if you're so inclined...

Zorak03 · Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 4:54 am Post subject:

I am expecting to get flamed for my advice. Technically according to the law, at least in Guangdong, you are allowed to come on an L/F visa and then apply for a work permit if the teacher is urgently needed. Also, according to the law you are only allowed to work if you have a residence permit. However, this is China and the law means little to nothing in reality. I have never known of a case of a teacher getting deported, its always a friend of a friend story. I personally know of two schools that got raided by the PSB and all the teachers had F visas. The cops came in, video taping everything, they lined all the teachers up and took photos of them, thanked them, said all is ok and left. That was around the Olympics and since then all teachers have had no problems getting their visas renewed and most are still working today.
The two people I mentioned in the previous post got a job offer while still in their home countries. The school sent all the documents to them and they got a Z visa, came to China and converted it into a residence permit. The school turned out to be a horrible place to work, the apartments were filthy, with a rat problem, the pay was always late/short and the school broke almost every line in the contract.
The two said teachers attempted to get help from the PSB, however the school had connections so the PSB always sided with the school.
After the teachers had enough, they left and the school had them blacklisted so now they are unable to obtain residence permits and have to work on F visas.
In 95% of the horror stories I hear involving teachers working on F/L visas, the teacher shares a lot of the blame for staying. If you are not on a residence permit, and the school does not treat you good, you are free to leave and there isnt jack the school can do about it. If you choose to stay and be treated like garbage then that is your fault. A good example is the case of Darren Russell in GZ.
That being said, if you do work for a decent school and you trust them I recommend getting a residence permit, but only if you trust them.