Job Discussion Forums

[Babala]

I have seen many posts lately about teachers complaining that they are unhappy with their schools and contracts. Of course there are bad schools out there and we can't always tell what we will be getting into but you do lessen the risk if you do some research BEFORE signing that contract.

For the Newbies : There are plenty of posts here relating to salary, hours and contracts, use them.

For the non-Newbs : I have seen a few posts here from people who have said they have had 3 or 4 bad schools in a row. Why is it that? I had a bad school my second year here. I basically blame myself as I signed a contract in haste and didn't do any research on the school. I was so relieved when my contract finished and I could move on. After that experience I vowed that I would always check into a school closely before signing on. I think we all have to remember to always do the research before going to any school no matter how long you have lived here.

[erinyes]

The Canonical Questions... so lets make a lits of questions you must ask!

I'll begin:

1 - Email address of a previous foreign teacher.
Perhaps the MOST important!!!
This simple request says a lot. If they won�t give you one it's probably because they don't trust any of their FT to give a good review of the school. If that's the case, then most likely they have never had a happy FT working there. Other possibility they are a new school - ARGGG, run hide!

In regard to the OP's comment - I have always been happy with the jobs I have had, but it is no wonder that people have trouble. Fishing through SO MUCH rubbish to find a good job in this country seems to get harder and harder. And the Chinese people seem to get better and better at making crap look like diamonds.

[amandabarrick]

2 - This is usually the first thing I ask a school when looking at jobs: How many classes, the size of the classes, the frequency of the classes, etc...
Too big of a class load or a horrible work schedule would definitely ruin your living experience in China. But you can prevent it by asking all these questions before signing.

3 - Office hours per week. If it doesn't already say in your contract.

4 - I also see many complaints about living accomodations. If it is possible, visit the school first and look at where you will be living before signing the contract. You wouldn't move into an apartment back home before looking at it, the same would apply here in China.

5 - I also see a lot of complaints about the city you are teaching in. If it is not possible to visit the city first before signing the contract, try researching it as much as possible before moving to your new city to teach.

AB

[tw]

Wasn't there a similar thread on questions new teachers should ask before accepting a job offer from a Chinese employer?

It is good to ask questions first to avoid getting nasty surprises. But be careful: if your potential employer is in a city where there are plenty of foreigners floating around looking for work, then they can just simply grab the first Joe Blow if they feel that you are too much trouble. I asked a lot of questions before coming to Hohhot but most of them were to my American colleague who was kind enough to answer any and all questions.

[clark.w.griswald]

I agree somewhat with tw.

Although the above are all great questions to ask, and is information that you really should know before accepting a position, you need to weigh this up with the fact that you don't want to appear too demanding. There is of course nothing wrong with having demands, the problem is that sometimes these lists of questions can overwhelm Chinese staff whose English ability may not be the best.

It would likely be true that any institution that could provide comprehensive answers to these questions is probably going to be a safe bet, but such institutions are likely few.

I would recommend choosing around five questions that are most important to you and ask these first. As you progress through the application process you can slip in a few more questions. Always put them in point form as this makes it easier to see them.

Finally, I really think that wording is important, for example:

Are there any classes on weekends as I don't work weekends?

Could probably be better said as such:

What days does the teacher have free?

At the end of the day you get the same information which you can then make your decision with, but you don't appear so demanding.

[erinyes]

[enigma]

Lots of good advice here.

One other thing for newbies to think about, especially those who have never before lived in a developing country, is that even a relatively good situation in China may take a few months to get used to. It can take that long to wrap your head around the way people think and do business, as well as to adapt to the lifestyle. (And of course, some people never do...)

[Louras]

Schools will lie, make promises and deceive you. You can find out whatever you like before going to a school - you will still get screwed. This is a hit and miss situation and 90% of the time it is a miss. Come and be prepared to accept a lot of screwing. If you are lucky it might not be as bad. We all live with Damocles over our heads - it's the ones who can deal with it the best that survives. If you expect Utopia then stay where you are. Only the fittest will survive - then again I'm not that fit and I've survived so far. There is no point in lulling newbies into a false sense of security - the sooner the chinese know how we feel the better. Is there anybody out there that can suggest how we can change this situation? Who is 100% happy with what they got and doesn't feel screwed? I would really like to know.

[clark.w.griswald]

This was a pretty useful thread with some good quality advice until Louras's post that is.

I realize that I am more optimistic than most people who post on this forum, but then I have good reason to be. I have been in China for over 10 years now and while I have worked for employers that I didn't enjoy working for I have only had one or two who tried it on. They were not 'ripping me off' as such but they certainly weren't being honest either. I pursued them through the system (not the courts - just through administrative reviews which were all free and conducted in English) and I received a favorable outcome in each case.

I have been ripped off twice during my time in China, both times by foreigners! I have never been ripped off by a Chinese person (to date touch wood!)

[vikdk]

you can be happy and content here - but you should surely come into this game expecting to be screwed, an experience that should teach anyone that to get anything here next time round you have to do the screwing.

by the way clark griswald do you work as an FT here in china - what are your qualifications with regard to all the "fine" advice you give? I'm just a little curious.

[Louras]

I might have come on too strong. It's just that the positive experiences I had here are so far in the minority I don't know what to do. Glad you lived to enjoy the better half. Like to know other peoples experiences though. I repeat that I'm just pissed with what I'm suppose to endure - again. I am not a newbie but sometimes feel like I am.

[clark.w.griswald]

[kev7161]

[Louras]

Thought you smart people would understand that. It is of course not originally from Rocky Horror. Clark, I would really like to know how you have managed to enjoy such smooth sailing over the "last decade"? The last 3 years has been the "Wild West" for me - I don't know if it is only bad karma. The picture you paint is, if anything, as one-sided as the one I did. How do you stay so very positive. Please teach us that important life skill so that we all can become such content individuals as you seem to be.

[clark.w.griswald]