Job Discussion Forums

Wiganesi · Joined: 02 Oct 2013 Posts: 46 Location: UK

Hi,

I just got a good offer from Jianghan University, Wuhan.

I am however, hugely concerned with a particular area of the contract concerning a breach penalty

hochhasd · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 422

hochhasd · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 422

dean_a_jones · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 1151 Location: Wuhan, China

FYI that is the standard language of the state-issued SAFEA contract. Your school should issue an appendix with that, which will go into more specific detail about the contract with the school (flight allowance, apartment situation, visa fees etc.) which sits alongside the SAFEA contract, and is usually more relevant. If they added anything about contract breach to this part of the contract, then the wording of that will be key.

Wiganesi · Joined: 02 Oct 2013 Posts: 46 Location: UK

I should have said, this isn't purely an ESL job, It's teaching Biology. I'll be teaching specialized English too and will likely take a part time ESL job to supplement my earnings. So I don't know if the campus is in the same area as the ESL parts.

During my interview I was told that the University is a 50RMB taxi from Wuchang and Hankou which is decent I suppose. I'll clarify with a few questions before signing anyway. When I google mapped it it said like 50 minutes walk to Hankou, although I suppose the campus is all over the place.

Thanks for the warning though, I'll be sure to clear this up.

Are these breach of contract clauses common in the contract then? What kind of stuff would you have to do to activate them?

Has anyone here worked for/ know anyone who has worked for this University?

Wiganesi · Joined: 02 Oct 2013 Posts: 46 Location: UK

Thanks Dean, I think maybe I'll get a few things cleared up in the appendix. They are offering a rate of 80RMB/Hour for overtime. That's less than the standard hourly rate which is weird so I need to get that cleared up too.

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

Bud Powell · Joined: 11 Jul 2013 Posts: 1736

Heed Hochshad's advice. I looked into Jiangnan in Wuxi. At the time, there were two systems in place: the old in which Lambton was not involved, and the other in which Lambton required FTs to follow a program with micromanagement. The pay was okay, and the accommodations looked okay, but I contacted two teachers there, both of whom said that they were not happy with the Lambton program. One was really unhappy with living in Wuxi. He was a Ph.D. (I knew of him in the U.S.).

I'd pass on Jiangnan. Any school that isn't capable of administering its own programs isn't worth teaching for.

The sample contract that I was sent required 20 hours of instruction per week. What does your contract require?

Wiganesi · Joined: 02 Oct 2013 Posts: 46 Location: UK

The contract doesn't stipulate hours a week just hours a year- I'll get hours a week inserted into the appendix. I've got to stress that this isn't a pure ESL job- I'll be teaching mainly Biology. I'm assuming that Lambton is some sort of English teaching program?

The job offer said no more than 16 hours a week and I'll be getting paid /month. Pretty good deal?

hochhasd · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 422

twilothunder · Joined: 09 Dec 2011 Posts: 442

It's a terrible deal for subject teaching.

hochhasd · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 422

Javelin of Radiance · Joined: 01 Jul 2009 Posts: 1187 Location: The West

Wiganesi · Joined: 02 Oct 2013 Posts: 46 Location: UK

What would you say is a standard deal for subject teaching? I think I'm going to take it as it will be my first proper job and I think it's decent pay for the hours. Thanks for all the issues you've all brought up though, I'll make sure I get clarification on these issues.

twilothunder · Joined: 09 Dec 2011 Posts: 442

For a first job it's not bad, I suppose. See it as a stepping stone.

I am a subject teacher (postgraduate degree but no teaching qualification). Never been paid less than 16000 rmb/month including first job (Tier-1 cities though).