Job Discussion Forums

[Guest]

I THINK my first class is on Feb. 8th - but like you I am not really sure and will not be until about the 7th. GOOD LUCK

[garbotara]

[metalgeek]

same sort of thing.
Was talking to my college studnets on Friday and giving them the first part of their exam, when I was informed that there chinese english prof has been telling them I was going to be giving them a final exam on january 8th (a thursday) I teach them on friday's.
They were told this over a month ago, I was never informed. on top of this, I don't even work at the college on thursdays and have to teach a different class that day. needless to say, the final exam follows my schedules, not my never told administration one.

[Roger]

You can tell them your bloody free-thinking opinion - but they have the longer handle and never care how their recklessness ruins your holidays.
I guess we should all make a firm stand for them to WRITE DOWN EVERY CHANGE OF DIRECTION, AND SEAL IT OFFICIALLY.

So long as they can muddle through all year by giving out instructions and orders orally we will always have to put up with such nonsense.
It should be entered in every contract that only WRITTEN AND SIGNED INSTRUCTIONS ARE BINDING.
If you don't show up on the appointed day, they have a fine reason for dismissing you subito!

[dishuiguanyin]

(I'm trying to combine two topic threads in one posting, )

1. Schedules (or lack thereof)
I've insisted on a clause in our contracts, something along the lines of, "foreign teachers only do stuff (work weekends before holidays, miss classes due to labour weeks or sports days, judge speech competitions etc) when they get advance warning - preferably in writing, minimum of 48 hours ahead."
Of course, the college never actually manage it, but this clause has improved their awareness of the cultural problem foreign teachers have with Chinese scheduling. That, plus a few pointed, "sorry, can't do it, I've already made other plans" and we're getting at least 24 hour notice now, for everything, including Christmas dinner with the President...

2. Orphanage visiting
Also did it, in my last job, every Sunday. Just wanted to say that the Amity Foundation (Chinese based and run NGO) http://www.amityfoundation.org/frm/aaw_sw.html run a great orphanage programme, they work with the orphanages to provide what is needed: funding for individual medical care for certain orphans, help with foster programmes, "foster granny" programmes, money for a new washing machine, whatever. If you can get them in contact with the orphanage leaders, they'll find a way to help which is practical, useful, and (I think this is important) Chinese - thus no "face-saving" on the part of the local or city-level government officials. Wu An'an, the Social Welfare director, has a high level of English and is used to dealing with both foreigners and Chinese officials.

[struelle]

[Guest]

I believe I am getting a visit from two people from the Amity Foundation next week. One is from the U.K. and the other is from China. I think her name is Wu An. Thanks for your advice

[mr pink]

Some would say that the Chinese teachers have to put up with the BS and ridiculous management so the foreign teachers should too.

Well I didn't complain when everyone else got a National Day bonus. Nor did I complain when the rest were given lap top computers to use in the classroom. I was understanding when my assistant didn't tell me about meetings, days off, classes being cancelled, students transfering, special field trips, until the day before or the minute before or never at all.

After a semester though, I had had it with the lack of information and being excluded--tonight was the school's spring festival party which I found out ten minutes before it began and I wasn't included in the raffle for TVs and cash

The point isn't the goodies. It's the fact that foreign teachers are so superfulous to education in the opinion of many in China that we're forgotten and treated merely as a luxury item that occasionally needs maintenance.

So when I found out that every teacher was getting a sack of rice and a jug of cooking oil for Spring Festival but me, I blew up. The headmaster found out and promptly ordered apples and oranges to be sent pronto!

My point is that you should stand your ground and make your mind known before you're pissed off over a sack of rice. It's worth your sanity.

Now the trick is to find a place to store twenty pounds of apples and oranges where the rats won't get to it

happy spring festival to one and all,

mr pink

[Taishan]

There are more methods than getting angry, refusing to work etc etc. Try getting onside with the school by taking the leaders and or teachers out for a meal when you want to get some information. Bring a pen and ask the biggest boss or your department leader some questions like: when is this? What will be expected of me? etc. Ask him or her when they are drunk. So you can say 'but Mr X said this before'.
Your expenditure should be returned when they will almost certainly bring you out for a meal to return your favor, as most Chinese people should, allowing you to find out still more. If they don't return your favor, it's a sign that they don't respect you (probably not your fault, but probably why they don't tell you anything) or that you owed them a favor in their view, then it's time to try something more aggressive.