Job Discussion Forums

[Freedom]

Hi!

I've been offered a job with a government run public school. 20 hrs a week for 5500, with my apartment paid for. I have to option to work more for more money if I want to. There are 50 kids per class which sounds standard for China, I will have an assistant, and some control over the curriculum.
In negotiating, I am not allowed to email a foreign teacher already with the school, I do not sign the contract until I am there - they want it done face to face, and I must trust them to reimburse my plane ticket. I've taught in Korea before, and the plane ticket process was the same thing, but I always had a signed contract. I can choose payment either in cash or in Bankcard.

What I want to know is - for those who have already taught in China - is this a good deal? What should I watch out for? Are there any questions I should ask? I am concerned since they won't let me talk with a foreigner until I am there.

Thanks for your input.

Freedom

[NateM]

Most everything sounds fairly normal to me except:

[randyj]

Ditto. What are they trying to hide?

[Guest]

The two new teachers at my School were given my email address and both contacted me while I was in Australia. I gave them the rundown on the City and on the School - the pros and cons as I saw them.

I would be extremely worried about the fact that they will not let you contact existing and previous teachers at their School - makes me think they have something to hide, but maybe I am just reading something into it that is not really there.

The final decision has to be yours and lets face it, we all take pot luck when we come to China for the first time - some get lucky, and some do not. There is always the encouraging thought that if the job does not pan out, there are plenty of other jobs available here.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Freedom wrote:

[Asialiner]

The best advice anyone has given me was to contact another foreign teacher from the school before accepting ANY position. I went through three schools before selecting the one where I now teach. The other schools sounded great, but a few foreign teacher stories let me know I wouldn't be happy there, so I kept looking. Were the other schools bad? Maybe not, but they just weren't for me. One school seemed a little control happy with curfews and wanted to know who was visiting your apartment. Another school was a little too laid back and didn't always pay on time. The third school was in a cold city where it snowed and the classrooms didn't have heat. Being from Texas, I knew I wouldn't last there. But, back to my point, I wouldn't have known these things, or even thought to ask about them if I hadn't contacted a foreign teacher.

There are many schools in China. Most seem to pay 3500-4000 per month, but in most places, it's more than enough to live comfortably. I've started looking for a new school for next term, and believe me, I won't accept any offer without talking to a foreign teacher first.

Happy Hunting!

[Roger]

Public school that pays 5500? That's good, man! Not average, not so-so - it's good! OK, so some middle-schools pay higher, but at universities pay seldom exceeds that amount.
But you left us in the lurch about other pertinent facts; do you get paid holidays? Holiday allowance? Airfare? How many months does your contract cover, how many will be paid?

Fifty students in one class? Can be terrible, man, but can be manageable.

However, I do have a proviso to add: I don't think you are going to be hired legally because middle schools are no longer permitted to recruit foreign techers. That's why it is imperative for you to clear the fogs surrounding your employer.

This may be why they don't want you to communicate with their current expat teachers; personally I don't really assume this has to be for sinister reasons. OFten their foreign teachers are a pain in their asses, and they don't want them to bad-mouth their employers. WHich many foreign teachers are happy to do...

Do your homework better - does the public school hire you (with a work visa)? Or is it going to be a tutorial centre that will loan you to them?

[Ludwig]

[lagerlout2006]

I wonder if you are dealing with an agent here..Might explain why everything seems so top secret...

I would really want to see the contract--can't they e-mail a sample?.As they say the Devil is in the details. 20 hours can be OK. 5 classes a day Mon-Thurs for example. Or it can be a nightmare-nights weekends etc. And the holidays. What about a possible curfew? Should also ask about the flat...

5500 is good-I have made more and less here..As Roger says it is high for a public school. In fact I wonder if it's possible...Most Unis have a pay scale imposed from above and even PH D's do not always get 5500..But it could be based on 16 hours with some OT.

One last thing arrive prepared with lesson plans. Books are terrible here but they expect a lot from foreigners. Chinese will be coming in to watch your class and taking notes...

[Lee_Odden]

Freedom:

I would be very concerned that they do not want you to communicate with other foreign teachers, regardless of their motivation. They are asking you to make a decision in a vacuum; personally, I wouldn't agree to it. You don't mention whether they have already sent you a contract to examine. You can't accept the position without first knowing all the terms. If they do not want to send you a contract before you arrive and do not want you to communicate with any other foreign teachers, I would walk away from it.

[Sechelt]

Holy alarm bells, Batman! Yes, it's possible they have but one current FT, who is not on good terms with the school. However, by providing NO FT's you can contact, is more than a little suspicious. I've had a couple of schools say that to me. I quickly, and firmly, replied with a no.
There are also far too many questions left open- their lack of information is another indication of them not being co-operative. In China, information is thought of as being much more valuable than gold. Trouble is, if no one shares the info., it's actually usless- if you had $1 million sitting in an old hope chest in your basement, but never made use of it, it would effectively be useless. That all said, good (even so-so) schools will have little trouble in providing enough details and answer your questions, for you to make an informed decision. As this school has not done so (and, likely will not), I suggest giving this one a pass.
As for what to check in a contract, have a look at Dave's Sticky, "Contract Survival Tips."
P.S. 5,500 kuai/mo. is quite high for a public school, especially when they provide an apartment- keep this in mind when looking elsewhere.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]