Job Discussion Forums

[adbrad]

I'm a recent graduate of university with no working knowledge of Mandarin or Cantonese, and was offered a contract through Guangzhou Worlda Cultural & Educational Consulting Services. I want to teach Kinder, but don't particularly know what the chance of that is, as the company recruits for all education levels, and places applicants after signing.

Here's a general summary of the package:

Contract period- 4-5 months, or 10 months
6800 RMB a month
Shared/Private accommodation-Air-conditioner,Washing machine, Shower machine, fridge, bed and mattress included
Roundtrip airfare with completion of contract
18 contract hours/ week (25-27 40 minute classes/week) Monday- Friday
Visa assistance
Accident insurance(RMB120000)

What do you all think about this? Anyone have experience with this educational company?

I appreciate your input greatly! Thank you.

Below is the detailed account.

Our company's wetsite: www.worldaedu.com ;
Employment License: A2-4430003
Full Time ESL Foreign Teacher Positions:
1. Contract Period: 4-5 months(one semester) or 10 months (2 semesters);
2. Position Level: Kindergarten, Primary School, Mid-high School,Adult program
3. Work hours: 18hours (25-27classes/25-40minutes) Monday to Friday
Note: 2 and a half hour Lunch break is not considered work time; Work hours are the actual minute�s teacher teaches class.
4. Arrival Date: 25th August, 2011
5. Worlda company Pay (A) or Pay (B):
(1)Pay (A) Monthly pay 6800RMB(before tax) + accommodation + flight reimbursement +hotel fee +work visa assistance, accident insurance, limited teaching and
living assistance etc.
(2)Pay(B)Monthly pay 9300 (before tax;This remuneration has covered accommodation, flight,insurance costs) +work visa assistance, and
no benefits and no reimbursements of accommodation, flight and hotel fee.
6. (1) Systematic Free Pre-Job Training:
Giving free training to help teacher to be able to teach independently in class. Pre-job training takes averagely3 5 days. Teachers are not paid for pre-job training.
(2)Pre-Job Training Contents:
Chinese laws, local government policies, work regulations, management and operation ,teaching requirements ,lesson format, class
activities, games, songs ,chants ,culture differences.
All new teachers should attend pre-job training.
(3) Class Size: About 30 kids in kindergarten, 40 students in Primary school, 50 kids in middle school.
Class Age: kindergarten 3-7; Primary 8-12; Middle School 13-17;
Class Period: 20-40minutes in Kindergarten; 40 minutes in Primary; 40-45minutes in Middle School
(4) Placement:
Either to be placed in one of these levels( Kindergarten /Primary/ Middle School / Language School )
Once teacher sends the signed contract and medical test report, thecompany will secure teacher a position.
(5)Transportation Time：20-45minutes are a normally expected standard.
Guangzhou is a big city ,from east side to the west takes 2-3 hours of driving (specially rush hour or traffic jam). All schools
locate in downtown or civilized area which is easily accessible by bus & subway.
(6) School Reschedule: It happens 2-3 times of rescheduled classes temporary due togovernment holiday, big events,local holiday,School Sports Meeting, Mid-Exam etc.
(7) Teaching Material Provided:
The Company or school will offer text book or curriculum. All teachers must follow company's, guide, teaching plan and work
with teaching department staff as a team to provide qualified services.
( School Start Date: September 1st, 2011
(9) Dress Code: Formal dress code for 1st school week; Casual one later.

7.Company pays teachers differently according to teachers' qualifications (knowledge, major, relevant certificate,work experience,
work requirements,training assemment etc). Monthly pay should be kept confidential and should not be discussed between staff,
teachers and clients.

8.Pay (A) Benefits:
(1)Free accommondation( Shared or Individual one; monthly rent is paid by Company).
Company only provides basic facilities and furniture. (Including:
Air-conditioner,Washing machine, Shower machine, fridge, bed and mattress) Teacher bears the responsibility of buying bed
sheet, cooking stoves stuff of their own .
(2) Accident insurance(RMB120000)
(3) Work visa assistance
(4)Airfare reinbursement（RMB8000 for 2 semesters.Company pays teacher's flight reinbursement at the end of hte contract in order to get guarantee).
Note: More than 4 months less than 10 months flight reimbursement 4000RMB,Less than 4 months will be RMB4000/4 months X
actual months=flight reimbursement.
(5) Hotel reimbursement (No more than RMB400, economical room for 3-5 days).
(6) Airport Pick-up fee(RMB150) paid by Company
(7) Work visa document Fedex fee (RMB300) is paid by Company
9. Teacher's Cost:
(1) Average monthly living cost in Guangzhou,China is RMB2500.
(2) Average monthly utilities fee is RMB200-350.
(3) Internet fee: Averagely RMB200/month,5-7days for installation
(4) Visa Fee:
(A) Physical test fee in America: USD/CAD30
(B) Passport photo fee in US and China (different requirements by Chinese Government ): USD 5 and RMB 30
(C) Work visa application rush fee: USD /CAD100-200
(D) Physical test fee in China:(RMB 448(USD/CAD 59): RMB 448 (USD/CAD 72.) Government requires a second test.
(E)Residence permit fee: RMB 400(USD/CAD59)The entire work visa application process totally takes almost 2 months and one week to complete.
(F) Teacher pays the flight fee to come first(Averagely a round trip USD1000-1200) and attain reimbursemnt at the completion
of Contract.
10. Candidates requirements:
(1) Honest, hard working, responsible, mature, communicative
(2) Native Speaker, easy going, bachelor degree ,TESL or relevant experience priority.
(3) No Criminal record, not picky, age (20-50)
(4) Resume
(5) Passport copy
(6) Passport photo (Scanned one)
(7) Degree copy, certificate copy
( Medical test result and Arrival month

[Laurence]

I very much doubt there would be a stove - Chinese cooking is more about frying in the wok than baking and roasting. Most kitchens have two gas hobs, a microwave and a fridge.

Traditionally, the sink seems to be smaller than the bloody wok.

Those are low wages, but you are probably used to living on the breadline if you have just graduated. The hours are high too, and it sounds like you could be working in more than one school, so there would be travel time and split shifts.

The way they organise their contracts (not 6 or 12 months) appears to be intended to avoid paying you for Chinese new year and summer holidays.


Do they provide legal working papers? Z visa?
Or are they expecting you to receive money illegally on a F or L visa?

[shoulderdocca]

Never heard of it

WHY would you even consider taking a job where you have ZERO clue as to who/what you will teach? That's entirely moronic and anyone who did such a thing deserves to be "screwed" as so often happens. Any job that won't agree in a contract as to who you'd teach is one that you shouldn't work with. Negotiate and agree prior to signing the contract!!

Shared or Private housing? Why not ask them?

What is a shower machine?

How would WE know if you have to buy a stove? Ask them !

I don't play the game of clock hours/contact hours/etc. with employers. I agree to teach a number of classes only. And, as the law requires that 50 minutes maximum = 1 class hour (50 minutes teaching + 10 minute break) there is your one clock hour. Any contract I have, I ensure that I teach a certain number of classes only and refuse to take a job when they start adding the clock minutes. - as there is a huge difference between 16 classes a week versus say 28 clock hours. Your willingness to be loaded is up to you.

120,000 RMB accident? They have issues with accidents there?

[adbrad]

[Bisis]

I don't have any specific experience with this company. That being said, the contract looks fine to me. The wages are nothing spectacular, but it's true that cost of living will be low there. I would definitely ask them about the housing and whether or not it's shared or individual...you will want to avoid being stuck with a bad roommate.

If being in a kindergarten is really important to you, then definitely talk to them about that, don't assume it will work out. If that's what you want, you can definitely get a job guaranteed to be in a kindergarten.

On the plus side, having housing included makes your transition much easier. I am also impressed at how upfront they are with outlining your expected expenses. If your unsure, ask to speak with 2 or 3 of their foreign teachers...you're not going to offend them with this request.

[tianfuoe]

The only thing I can say is Do Not Assume Anything! If it isn't specifically stated in the contract, they can do what they want, when they want, how they want and you have two choices.....go along...or leave suddenly!

The salary is way too low. I was making 6,800 a month on a twelve month paid contract my first year here and my class load was only 13 classes a week (40 minutes each class). Now, I'm teaching 14 classes a week (45 minutes each class) for 8,000 a month on a twelve month contract.

The grade level you will be teaching should be stated in the contract. The hours/class periods should be state in the contract. Where you will be teaching should be stated in the contract. If more than one school, who pays for transportation and who provide transportation should be stated in the contract. Exactly what "visa assistance" means should be stated in the contract.

If they are unwilling to do this...walk away!

This is obviously a recruiter/sub-contractor. Once they get you to sign the contract, their work is done and you probably won't hear anything from them other than to change your schedule anytime they want to so you can fit into their particular needs on any particular day. If you complain, you will most likely slowly (or quickly) disappear from their listing of available teachers and your hours will dissolve into nothingness....

[choudoufu]

[rogerwilco]

[Non Sequitur]

I think rogerwilco has it sussed.
Why is the lunchtime not paid time?
They are anticipating you complaining about having to commute between schools over that time.
You need answers to specific questions about proximity of classrooms to apartment and whether all teaching is at one site.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

The school has a high profit margin.

50 middle school kids per class? Enjoy that, too.

If this is your first time teaching, it's not what you want. You're gonna be used and abused judging by the contract. Long hours, unanswered questions....

[Adeem]

It is a dog. 18 clock hours for 6800 is crap.

All the rest is hot air. That is the one thing that will pee you off if you take this job, and feeling undervalued is the worst.

[samanraufi]

OP did you end up taking this job?

I'm looking at the contract now and any feedback would be appreciated about this school. If anyone can comment it would be very helpful. TIA

[rogerwilco]

[The Steakinator]

I just got out of a contract with this company and needed to hire a lawyer to make the recruiter ("Mary" Yu) release me during the 90 day probationary period guaranteed by Chinese law.

The school they put me in wasn't bad, it was actually quite nice, but the company isn't so much a recruiter as someone who farms you out to schools. I was offered the same contract and it's just not worth it. I now work at an international school making twice what I made with "Mary" Yu.

When I resigned, she sent me e-mails repeatedly making the typical threats of canceling my RP and FEC. In the end, nothing happened because I made sure I had my FEC and passport in hand. I hired a junior lawyer fro 5,000 RMB to get me my release letter and pay.

If you're in a contract (especially with Worlda) and you want out, look up the name "Joe Rocha III." He's an American lawyer working in Guangzhou. Tell him you want the junior lawyer for 5,000 and everything will work out just fine...

[TeachersUnite]

I see this post dates back a few years but this company is still up to no good. They will tell you whatever you want to hear about the position and location and lie straight to your face if you ask questions about the contract. Know that whatever the company can do to you in the contract will be used against you. I tried to resign and the company refused to let me resign and I left China. I am currently looking into an attorney and will consider Joe Rocha III mentioned in this post as well as the list of attorneys in Guangzhou available from the U.S. Consulate. To any of you out there reading these comments, AVOID GUANGZHOU WORLDA CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, LTD. AT ALL COSTS!!!