Job Discussion Forums

[jaj]

On my contract, it states 90 teaching hours a month are required but later it refers to 8 hours shifts. Then it brings up workshops, meetings and demo classes that don't fall under monthly teaching hours. Is this standard? Also, it says if students cancel lessons, I don't get paid. Is that standard too? Trying to figure out what my real income and hours will be against what's in writing.

Also, regarding housing. I'm supposed to check into a hotel for a few days while an apartment is found for me. Is this simpler than it sounds? Anybody know how much I need to afford a hotel for a few nights and downpay on an apartment? I'm going north to Dalian.

Thanks!

[Bud Powell]

RUN!

[talentedcrayon]

This doesn't sound like a very good job offer. Whether students come or not isn't your problem. If the school doesn't like you, they can fire/not renew you (which is legitimate). But, not paying a teacher because a student doesn't show up? Not normal.

I agree.

Run

[roadwalker]

I agree that doesn't sound like a good deal. A lot of language schools have extra duties as assigned, including demos, but I think most of them will pay you a salary which isn't dependent on students' attendance. Usually they'll be advertised as 40 hours a week with 20 or 25 contact (teaching) hours, sometimes fewer.

As for a hotel and finding your own apartment (is it paid for by the school?), not having been in Dalian in a decade, I'd guess you'd need at least 200 RMB (plus refundable deposit) per night for a room you'd be comfortable in. And an apartment is probably at least 2000 per month in Dalian, perhaps more, so figure on paying at least 3 months of that up front. I.e.: minimum USD$1000 and likely more to much more. Finding your own apartment is common in Beijing and Shanghai but less so in other cities. Things change, but most adverts I see in other places still seem to provide school-owned housing. I think it's better to live in school provided facilities unless you have experience in China and speak the language. On the other hand, it's a good learning experience for you to have to deal with landlords abroad.

I'd also give this one a pass.

[jaj]

well, the school has offered to assist me in finding an apt. They do it for all the teachers. The school has a decent reputation. I don't want to turn down this job offer in search of one better that doesn't exist. I'm a newbie. No experience. They're offering a housing allowance of $1000 a month after a three month probation period, The salary's not too bad...just wondering what others with more exposure to contracts think. I've heard nitpicking over a contract can create tension. I don't know if it's worth it since the salary's comparatively decent...

[roadwalker]

[mike w]

Too many red flags!!!!!!!!!

[El Macho]

[jm21]

I don't think 1,000rmb per month is nearly enough to rent a decent place in Dalian.

Do you have some sort of problem that makes it difficult for you to find work? I would want a salary of at least 18k per month to even consider that job.

[JamesD]

Apologies for being too lazy to list the warnings. Take BP's advice and run. This is a horrible deal.

[direshark]

Put out your application to more places. The contracts and the offers will start rolling in, and you can simply choose the best - and most unambiguous - offer available. You'll quickly see that this is a relatively bad offering unless you are desperate in some regard.

You should NOT have to be making assumptions on such little information to figure out what the hell the contract is offering in terms of working hours and compensation.

A standard contract will tell you how many hours you have to work a week with a guaranteed monthly income and then list the benefits - end of story. In my case, it's 16 hours max per week and 4600 RMB monthly, plus paid airfare, housing, travel bonuses, etc.

[Non Sequitur]

[RW8677]

[RW8677]

[kungfuman]