Job Discussion Forums

[Ben H Nevis Jnr.]

I'm teaching at a public middle school. It's a lovely brand new building and to usher in the new era they have decided to hire a foreign teacher for the first time. I'm on a fairly standard contract. 7300 RMB a month for 24 forty minute lessons a week. Theoretically I should be teaching the same lesson to each class, but in practice each grade needs a different lesson and I need the variation. A few extra hours spent planning is worth its weight in sanity. Then came the 25th hour, as it were. Teach the Chinese teachers one lesson a week for no extra pay. OK, it'll help me build rapport with them and could provide a bit of light relief after the class of death. Why not. Then they wanted me to work office hours even though it isn't in my contract. We came to the agreement that as I often use the internet in preparation I don't have to do office hours until the internet in the office is operational. This could be months away yet. I'll cross that problem again when it arises.

Basically as one low pressure system skirts the northernmost headlands, another looms on the horizon out to the west. One of them is going to make a direct hit sooner or later if I don't choose wisely. The next storm brewing in the teacup concerns making up missed classes. I was off with a stomach bug for a day back in September. I was happy enough to lose the pay, but they said that as the parents have paid in advance for my classes, it would be 'inconvenient' for them to be given any money back. Given the amount of red tape and receipt stamping that would be involved I have no doubt this is true. But couldn't they just offer the parents a rebate on the next month ? Apparently not. So last week I taught 30 lessons, in addition to my usual 3 hours of privates on Saturday. I've definitely felt the extra workload and I'm not keen to repeat it. Teaching unruly little terrors for 7 lessons in a day is definitely a strain on the vocal chords.

However, they haven't been the only classes I've missed. With it being a new school, the timetable has been somewhat changable, to return to the meteorological analogy. Sudden exams at 2 in the afternoon and phonecalls at 9.30 am asking me to get to the class for 10 am instead of 10.50. Oh really? The bus from your flat takes 40 minutes. We didn't know, but no we won't pay for your taxi. Thus I acquired a handful of missed lessons of their making. Some of which were made up later in the day if convenient, but most of which remain missing.

There was also a school trip, on a Friday, that I was asked to go to, though not obliged to participate in. I had hurt my foot and would gladly have stayed at home that day but I went along, just to show support. Now the school is trying to persuade me to make up the missed lessons from rescheduling and this missed Friday. I am not contractually obliged to, but as they put it, since they LET me make up the classes I missed becasue of me, so as not to lose salary, I should try to help them by finding time for the lessons missed because of them. I tried to think Chinese on this one, and said that I have already helped them by allowing myself to be bored into a stupor during their trip for the sake of them gaining face from my attendance. Put more diplomatically of course. They seem to be able to turn this around into me owing them two favours because they invited me on their trip (lunch and admission paid for) AND let me make up those other lessons.

I want to resolve this without kicking up a fuss as I like the school and imagine it's more of a simple cultural clash with me being their first FT, than any malicious intent. Should I just ignore their requests, tell them I don't have time this week, repeat that for a few weeks and hope they stop asking me ?

[shenyanggerry]

I think you've accomodated them too much already. Politely tell them no. You've seen how one favour results in a push to do even more. Make sure office hours are paid or refuse to do them.

[MoggIntellect]

Yeah, I mean, this isn't just advice for being in China... give someone an inch and they'll take a mile... or in this case a free inch and they will ask for a mile. Think of it this way. You want to deliver the best possible teaching for your students. If you are burnt out from office work, then your lessons will suffer. Your primary obligation is to your students as stipulated in the contract.

"I'm sorry, I don't have time right now." Is a good response to that.

"I'm not looking for any more work right now." Is another one.

"I'm afraid if I take on more work my classes will suffer. I want to give my students 100%. I'm happy to help the teachers because I care about the school and the students, but I really cannot realistically take on more work."

For Christ's sake get some balls!

But I think you should do it in a very PC way. Confrontation is not good unless they back you into a corner. It is best to use statements like the above as much as possible. Highlight what you already do, and decline any more.

[kev7161]

I think the OP probably already knew what needs to be done, maybe just needed a few words of confirmation from some regular posters. Just by writing it out, he may have come to the same conclusions as most of us would. I hope you let us know what you end up doing.

[Roger]

So much is certain: you offer a finger, and they seize your whole body! Even if they weedle that finger of yours out of you, they will hold on fast and demand more of the same.

BUt on the other hand, missed classes do have to be made up. There is no way around this. Either you lose pay, or worse: your job, or you give way.

It would seem to me, however, you are working for a private employer, probably a training centre. That inevitably means you have to put up with much more arbitrariness and rescheduling, not seldom in the last few minutes. They are opportunists after all, not charities! This is why it is imperative for you to arrive at some modus operandi set in concrete.

They suggested you put in office hours; the logic behind this is: they want to control you (which I deem legitimate). You could be AWOL and actually be making extra money, which they would mind.
The other, more compelling reason is: they want you near their boss so that such glitches as the one requiring a taxi ride early in the morning could be avoided.

For Chinese staff your working conditions are Paradise, and that's why you will end up making ever more concessions until your advantages over Chinese teachers have been whittled down to a less impressive size.

I do not envy you. In your situation you have to either stand very firm and probably accept the fall-out, or you show good grace and obey - which could lead to you being excessively at their mercy and getting exploited.

I wouldn't work for more than 5 periods a day; that is my personal maxiumum (but others have opined here that it's theirs too). 5 periods a day plus whatever it takes to prep is almost a full day's work. More than 5 periods, even if you can recycle lessons, is too exhausting in this profession.

[7969]

i too live about 40 minutes from the school. i've learned enough now that when i dont want to be disturbed i unplug my phone, turn off my mobile, and if someone really needs me, they're going to have to work a bit harder to find me. doesnt solve your initial problem, but is one little trick to make yourself unavailable if necessary.

agree with other posters, just say no. free time is free time. you're busy outside of class and have other commitments. i used to have a problem saying that (most of us probably have in the past) but no i have no problems telling the school i have plans that i cant/wont change. depending on circumstances of course.... i can be flexible.

7969