Job Discussion Forums

jedi smurf · Joined: 23 Nov 2009 Posts: 6

I have never taught before, and I am being asked to sign a contract that is only for five months, running from the third week of February until the end of July. It is for 12,000 a month teaching kindergarten in Foshan, housing included. I would get round-trip airfare, 5,000 bonus and three weeks' paid holiday at the end of the contract. Is this a good deal or should I be leery? I just always assumed that contracts are for a year unless you begged for six months. The school says that they don't do one year contracts starting in February because they don't want teachers leaving in the middle of the school year. That makes sense to me, but I just want to make sure that this non-standard arrangement isn't something that should concern me.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

You don't have to be paranoid and they can still be out to get you.
No it looks OK and harmonising the contracts to the school year beginning Sept makes sense.
That said, if they don't offer you a new 2016/2017 contract, do you get half your airfare refund, all of it, or none of it?

jimpellow · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 913

What have they said about the z-visa? It costs a school a lot in terms of time and expense to procure one as you know. I find it hard to believe they would do that unless they were really intent to have you continue after that, or, they intend to have you work illegally.

Without that z-visa, you have no recourse if they stick it to you on the back end, which this contract is heavily loaded on.

jedi smurf · Joined: 23 Nov 2009 Posts: 6

jedi smurf · Joined: 23 Nov 2009 Posts: 6

JamesD · Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2015 1:38 am Post subject:

That start is right after the new year holiday so it's possible they have a teacher who has to cut short his contract and will leave then. Since that teacher may not get the airfare or any other bonus for finishing they can transfer it to you. Or maybe they screwed up the schedule and just realized they are a teacher short for that term and are willing to add incentives.

Either way, if they supply a Z and you think they're on the up and up why not got for it? Kindy teaching is not easy but it's only 5 months and gives you the opportunity to test the waters while getting some experience.

jimpellow · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 913

Yes, I think if you obtain the z-visa !!!BEFORE!!! you arrive then the odds are in your favor that it is an odd contract, but they intend to keep you around if you and they are happy.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

This is a good thread. OP had gotten most of his/her ducks in a row and posted to see if there were fish hooks he/she hadn't seen.
Two items were queried - airfare and visa and had already been covered off by OP.
Best.

Brunouno · Joined: 18 Apr 2013 Posts: 129

Sounds like a pretty sweet deal for someone with no experience. Like a previous poster mentioned, though, keep in mind that kindergarten teaching isn't easy, and it's very tiring. How many astronomic teaching hours a week do they expect from you?