Job Discussion Forums

[Ebes=-]

Hello,
New teacher considering signing on with a company in Shenzhen. I will list my contract/offer details, qualifications, and a few questions.

JOB DESCRIPTION

10,000 RMB/month
3,000 RMB/month housing allowance
4,000-8,000 RMB bonus based on performance
6,500 RMB resigning bonus
7.5 hr/day, 5 days/week schedule in contract, actual schedule may be less.
40 hr maximum working hours per week.
18 or fewer 30-60 min classes/week
150 RMB/hour O/T pay, optional
4 or 5 weeks half-paid vacation, all national holidays
40-60 kids/class in public school ages 7-10
10 hours/year "free work" (wtf) marketing/promotion/training, with excess hours paid at 200 RMB/hour
1 month probation, normal salary
SD Provides a legal z visa before I leave Canada + invitaiton letter, residency permit, FEC permit, working permits
privates acceptable granted official approval" -grey area?

QUALIFICATIONS

30+ white male, Canadian
BA in humanities
120 hour in-class TESL recently completed in Canadian school, A+ grade/excellent review 2 solid LoRs
No teaching experience other than practicum in TESL

QUESTIONS

Is half-pay for paid vacation standard in China?

The contract is in quite poor English, and a few sentences make no sense whatsoever. Is this standard?

Is a lengthy email asking questions to clarify the contract is a good idea?

Will they be willing to change parts of the contract, or do I just sign it in good faith and hope things work out?

I want to renegotiate for for a higher salary of 1200 RMB/month, Is this greedy, stupid, or a good idea?

I am in touch with 4 current teachers, and 1 past teacher. All seem to have good things to say so far.

Thanks, all feedback/responses are appreciated, except the snarky ones.
-=E=-

[getbehindthemule]

Is half-pay for paid vacation standard in China?
I'm not sure, I've asked a similar question in a previous post. It's weird as my contract always states something like '2 weeks paid hoidays for winter break in line with school hols', but I always get 4 weeks off fully paid.

The contract is in quite poor English, and a few sentences make no sense whatsoever. Is this standard?
Again I'm unsure, probably, but mine is written very professionally.

Is a lengthy email asking questions to clarify the contract is a good idea?
You need to be clear and content with the terms of your contract before you sign so, yes.

Will they be willing to change parts of the contract, or do I just sign it in good faith and hope things work out?
No, never, never, never sign in good faith and hope things work out!!!

I want to renegotiate for for a higher salary of 1200 RMB/month, Is this greedy, stupid, or a good idea?
Good idea!

I am in touch with 4 current teachers, and 1 past teacher. All seem to have good things to say so far.

Well done and that's very positive imo
I wish you the best of luck!

[Non Sequitur]

[Ebes=-]

This is oral English.

Number of classes is up to 18, apparently the classes are anywhere from 35-45 minutes. Most teachers I've talked to have 14-16 classes.

No mention of assessment.

Hope that clarifies things.

Mule, thanks for the affirming + helpful response.

-=E=-

[Non Sequitur]

Is there a set text of dialogues?
If not your first semester will involve a lot of resource creation.
After that it's a doddle - apart from the energy factor.
The catchphrase for Oral is TTT. 'Teacher Talk Time'. Minimise it!
Happy to PM about activities.
NS

[Ebes=-]

Thanks! Once I'm working, I will.
Cheers!

[jimpellow]

The pay seems low to me considering it is Shenzhen. I think you should negotiate.

40-60 little emperors and empresses a class?

My opinion on the seemingly increasing habit of stripping down of holiday pay has been that it is due to schools offering higher salaries upfront to try to attract teachers in an increasingly tight market. It pains the owners to actually increase total salaries so they attempt this route.

Additionally, their overhead has increased substantially with the new visa process and contribution to social tax. I think they see the reduced holiday pay as the teachers' contribution to offset this.

[kev20]

Ebes I'm not in agreement that you should try to negotiate on the basic salary. The chances are you will be out in the sticks as at this time of year they will have filled most of the inner city schools. The good thing about that is your housing allowance will fully cover your rent. But you have no experience of teaching so your leverage for getting a higher salary is nil. If you want to negotiate a higher than basic salary you should have higher than basic qualifications/experience.

I'd be interested to know the outcome however if you do ask for more. Good luck.

[OhBudPowellWhereArtThou]

4,000-8,000 RMB bonus based on performance


Don't count on this. You could be the best teacher in the world, but if the little ones, the parents, and/or administrators complain (and you can count on that for sure) about anything, kiss that goodbye.Performance is a highly subjective criterion. That brings your pay down to 10,000 rmb for 40 hours. Not such a good deal.


Advice: Run.

[Ebes=-]

Hey folks,

Sorry for the interminable response time.

I asked for a 12,000/month salary. They agreed to up it to 11,000. Not bad for no extra qualifications?

As of June, I have a small incisional hernia, result of a surgery in May that is beginning to bother me slightly. My medical form, (the last doc my company needs to process my z visa) which I just sent in Friday mentions it, but not that it bothers me sometimes.

The hernia is small, but the risk of it developing into something more significant remain if I don't repair it. This company wants me there ASAP, and I've signed. Frankly, I want to get going pretty badly.

Frustrated that this is coming up now, just before I want to go.However, my doc suggests that I deal with it prior to leaving the country, as I may catch trouble if I don't. Dealing with surgery overseas seems lame.

Any feedback on this unrelated but important issue?

Budpowell, Everyone I've spoken to in this company works less than the contracted 40hr/week. There's time for privates aplenty, with little chance of office hours, even though the contract does mention it. That's a main attraction for me, to be honest. The wording guarantees 4000 bonus, but if my performance is 80/100+ for the duration of the contract, I'll be given the 8000 instead. I'm counting on the pay, housing allowance, and the privates to make money. However, if I do act on this minor surgery, they'll need to wait for me or reject my application.

[OhBudPowellWhereArtThou]

OP,

I'm glad that it works for you. I wouldn't touch that contract with a ten foot Watusi.

[nomad soul]

[Osiry]